The journey of Yakubu Ayegbeni to becoming Nigeria’s highest-scoring player in the Premier League is as extraordinary as it is inspiring.
The striker, known simply as Yak, went from playing barefoot on the dusty streets of Benin City to scoring 95 goals in England’s top flight — a record that still stands for a Nigerian player.
From barefoot street football to global stage
Yakubu grew up in a modest home in Benin City, often playing without football boots on hard, uneven pitches.
“Yeah, growing up in Benin City, where my mum and my dad still live, with six brothers and a sister—I’m the only one that played football,” he recalled.
“Like I always say, growing up you play in the streets with no football shoes. I was lucky enough to buy my own shoes and then buy my own kids’ shoes now.”
Speaking exclusively to Sky Sports, the former Super Eagles star admitted that the first time he wore proper football boots, he felt uncomfortable and returned to playing barefoot, quickly earning the nickname “the best player without shoes”.
“We had this game we were playing, and they gave me football shoes to wear,” he said.
“As soon as I put them on—less than three minutes, I’m telling you—I took them off and put them on the side. I couldn’t play because I had never used shoes before.
I thought, you know what, let me play barefoot. The ground was really hard — no grass, nothing like the pitches in England. I played barefoot, and I was the best player. They started calling me ‘the best player without shoes.’”
That resilience and determination shaped his approach to the game. Yakubu revealed how his passion for football convinced him to pursue it over academics.
“I told my dad, football is my passion. This is what I want to do—it’s my job,” he said.
After a brief spell in Lagos, he moved to Israel with Maccabi Haifa, where his goals in the Champions League—including strikes against Manchester United—turned heads across Europe.
“That Champions League run brought attention to me,” he said. “Everyone started asking, ‘Who is this guy?’”
His performances helped Maccabi reach the group stage and opened the door to a move to England.
When Harry Redknapp brought him to Portsmouth on loan in 2003, few fans knew what to expect.
Yakubu adapted quickly to the physical demands of English football.
“My first Premier League goal was at the Etihad,” he recalled. “That was the first ever Premier League goal scored at that stadium. From that day, when I scored, it gave me confidence. I believed I could score goals in the Premier League.”
His goals helped Portsmouth secure promotion and establish themselves in the Premier League.
The £20,000 that got away
One of the most memorable moments of Yakubu’s early years in England came in May 2004, during Portsmouth’s 5-1 win over Middlesbrough.
He scored four goals that afternoon — a stunning feat that any striker would cherish. But instead of celebrating wildly, Yakubu left the pitch with mixed emotions.
Before the season began, Redknapp had jokingly promised him a personal £20,000 bonus if he reached 20 league goals.
“Todorov, the other striker, got injured,” Yakubu explained. “Harry pulled me aside and said, ‘Yak, you’re playing at the weekend.’ You know Harry — he loves to talk, and he’s very persuasive.
He asked me, ‘How many goals do you think you’re going to score this season?’ I said, ‘I know I’m going to score goals.’
He said, ‘Can you get 20 goals?’ I said, ‘Yeah, I’ll get you 20.’ Then he said, ‘If you get me 20, I’ll give you 20 grand from my own pocket.’ I said, ‘Sure, deal.’”
Yakubu finished the season with 19, leaving him one short despite his four-goal haul in the final game.
“I was happy to score four but still disappointed,” Yakubu admitted. “I kept thinking about that one more goal. It would have been a nice holiday bonus.”
Redknapp later laughed about the bet, praising Yakubu’s hunger and attitude, traits that endeared him to teammates and fans as well.
Feeding the Yak: A cult hero across clubs
Yakubu went on to play for Portsmouth, Middlesbrough, Everton, and Blackburn Rovers, scoring consistently and becoming a reliable striker.
Fans across these clubs remember the popular chant: “Feed the Yak, and he will score.”
“At Everton, the chant began: ‘Feed the Yak and he will score,’” he said. “It was the same at Blackburn Rovers. When I signed there, we were fighting relegation. I remember the manager, Steve Kean, saying, ‘Just feed him. If he scores, it’s the best time of his life.’
I scored 17 goals that season. It’s crazy that we still got relegated despite that — it hardly ever happens.”
His 95-goal tally places him fifth among African scorers in the Premier League, behind Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mané, Didier Drogba, and Emmanuel Adebayor.
Yakubu remains proud of his journey.
“To be a boy from Benin who grew up playing barefoot and then score 95 goals in the Premier League… it’s something special,” he said.
“Records are meant to be broken, but to be in that list is something I’m proud of.”
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