Wilfred Agbonavbare

Nigerian footballer (1966-2015)

Wilfred Agbonavbare (5 October 1966 – 27 January 2015) was a Nigerian professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper.

Wilfred Agbonavbare
Personal information
Full name Wilfred Agbonavbare
Date of birth (1966-10-05)5 October 1966
Place of birth Lagos, Nigeria
Date of death 27 January 2015(2015-01-27) (aged 48)
Place of death Alcalá de Henares, Spain
Height 1.89 m (6 ft 2 in)
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1983–1989 New Nigeria Bank
1990 BCC Lions
1990–1996 Rayo Vallecano 177 (0)
1996–1997 Écija 23 (0)
National team
1983–1994 Nigeria 15 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Club career

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In his country, Lagos-born Agbonavbare played for New Nigeria Bank F.C. and BCC Lions FC. In 1990, he moved to Spain where he would spend the rest of his career, starting with Rayo Vallecano in Segunda División.[1]

In his second season with the Madrid side, Agbonavbare appeared in all 38 league games (3,332 minutes of playing time, 27 goals conceded, second-best in the competition) as the team finished second and returned to La Liga after two years of absence. He continued to be first-choice in the following years, contributing with 31 matches to another top-flight promotion in 1995.

In 1995–96, Agbonavbare lost his starting position to Spanish international Abel Resino.[2] In the following summer, he signed for second division side Écija Balompié, being the most used player in his position but suffering team relegation.[3]

After one year in his country training to remain fit, Agbonavbare retired due to lack of offers at only 31.

References

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  1. Muñoz, Miguel Ángel (12 December 1992). "El otro potro de Vallecas – Wilfred" [The other foal of Vallecas – Wilfred]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). Retrieved 28 January 2015.
  2. Soler, Jaume (14 April 1996). "El Rayo llega con la intención de puntuar" [Rayo arrive with the intention of scoring]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). Retrieved 28 January 2015.
  3. "¿Qué pasó con...Wilfred Agbonavbare?" [What happened to...Wilfred Agbonavbare?] (in Spanish). Eurosport. 15 January 2014. Retrieved 26 March 2020.

Other websites

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