Danny Shittu

Daniel Olusola Shittu (born 2 September 1980) is a Nigerian former professional footballer who played as a centre back.

He made 346 appearances in the Premier League and Football League, including 190 for Queens Park Rangers.

In his 16-year-long playing career, Shittu played for Norwich City, Charlton Athletic, Blackpool, Watford, Millwall and Bolton Wanderers.

He played 32 games for the Nigeria national football team between 2000 and 2013.

Born in Lagos, Nigeria, Shittu moved to England when he was seven years old and raised in the "tough area of London's East End".

Growing up as "one of seven brothers and sisters", Shittu started out his football career in the youth team of Carshalton Athletic of the Isthmian League, but struggled and was released.

Shittu grew up idolising former England and Arsenal defender Sol Campbell, who Shittu grew up just down the road from in the East End.

Shittu was a childhood friend of rapper Dizzee Rascal, who described Shittu as "like a big brother".

When he was seventeen years old, Shittu was on the verge of going to university, studying computer science for a degree.

However, Shittu decided against going to university, having realised that: ‘I can't work in an office all my life – I'm going to be a footballer’’ and had ambitions by becoming a professional footballer.

Shittu wrote letters to over 92 clubs for a trial, but three clubs responded with a no. But Charlton Athletic gave him a one-week trial after convincing the club's academy that he was good enough in a "20 minutes phone call".

Eventually, his one-week trial at Charlton Athletic turned into a six-week trial, leading him to sign a one–year professional contract with them and begin to play football seriously.

Shittu started his career at Charlton Athletic, after a trial at Norwich City as a teenager.

He started in 28 games for Charlton scoring a record 14 goals as a centre back.

Soon after signing a contract extension with the club, he was loaned out to Blackpool and scored on his debut on 22 February 2001, in a 2–0 win over Lincoln City.

He then scored his second goal for the club on 30 April 2001, in a 3–2 win over Barnet.

At the end of the season, Shittu appeared two times for the side in the Football League Third Division play-off before returning to his parent club, having "met the maximum number of days allowed" at Blackpool and the club was promoted after beating 4–2 Leyton Orient in the play-off finals.

During his time there, he became a first team regular at Blackpool and became the club's fan favourite.

In the summer of 2001, Shittu was linked with a move away from Charlton, with Blackpool keen on signing him, but the move never materialised.

But instead in October 2001, he was loaned out to Queens Park Rangers.

Shittu's debut for Rangers as a loanee, away at Peterborough on 23 October 2001 in a Football League One fixture, was rather inauspicious ending in his being sent off in the 83rd minute.

His first goal came away at Chesterfield on 15 December 2001 in a game in which he was again sent off.

At the end of the 2001–02 season, Shittu went on to make twenty–seven appearances and scoring three times in all competitions.

Shittu went on to have a very successful spell at Loftus Road becoming a fan's favourite for his robust and combative performances in the heart of the defence.

QPR acquired his services permanently for £350,000 in January 2002.

He was bought by brothers Alex and Matt Winton, who also paid Shittu's wages during his first season at the club.

His first game as a permanent player was the home fixture with Bury on 12 January 2002, which saw QPR win 3–0.

Shittu then scored his first QPR goal as a permanent player on 1 April 2002, in a 3–2 win over Notts County.

In the 2002–03 season, Shittu started the season well when he scored his first goal of the season, in a 4–0 win over Mansfield Town on 7 September 2002 and scored again two weeks later, on 17 September 2002, in a 3–-0 win over Huddersfield Town.

Two years after joining Charlton Athletic, Shittu signed a contract extension with the club, keeping him until 2003.

It wasn't until on 2 February 2003, Shittu scored again, in a 4–2 win over Chesterfield.

Shittu then went on to score three more goals between 15 February 2003 and 4 March 2003, against Port Vale, Swindon Town and Huddersfield Town.

Shittu scored an opening goal in the derby on 19 April 2003, in a 2–0 win over Brentford.

Despite missing out three matches, due to a groin injury sustained in November, He went on to be a part of the team that made it to the Division Two play-off final in 2003 where Rangers were narrowly beaten by Cardiff and the team that won promotion the following season.

He made a total of 182 appearances in four seasons and scored 17 goals.

In the 2003–04 season, Shittu continued to be a first team regular for the side until he suffered a knee injury that kept him out for months in late–September, which he sustained during a 2–0 win over Sheffield United in the League Cup.

It wasn't until on 24 November 2003 when he returned to the first team, coming on as a second substitute, in a 3–0 win over Plymouth Argyle.

Following this, Shittu regained his first team place once again until he suffered a knee injury that kept him out of the season.

At the end of the 2003–04 season, Shittu went on to make twenty–four appearances in all competitions and the club were promoted to the Championship after finishing second.

Ahead of the 2004–05 season, Shittu regained his fitness when he returned to training and hoped he returned to action.