Biography
Powerful and experienced striker Adebola joined the Tigers in Summer 2011 to add squad depth to Nigel Pearson’s side. He made little impact and moved on the following May.
Born in Nigeria, Adebola was raised in Liverpool from a young age and started his career at Crewe Alexandra. His goals were pivotal in Crewe getting promoted to the second tier, form which led to a move to Birmingham City in 1998. His goalscoring record continued to impress with the Blues and in 2002 he moved to Crystal Palace, then Coventry City a year later. He started well for the Sky Blues but his form dropped and he had further moves to Bristol City and Nottingham Forest prior to joining Hull City. Interspersed with those permanent moves were several loans.
Adebola spent the latter part of his solitary season at the KC Stadium being loaned out to Notts County. Released by the Tigers in 2012, he signed for Rochdale and had a reasonably successful start to the season before being loaned to Wrexham. That was Dele’s last season in the football league, a single season at non-league Rushall Olympic being his last club.
Adebola qualified for the Nigeria national team through birth, but rebuffed several attempts to involve him in their Africa Cup of Nations squads. He accepted an invitation to play for Northern Ireland, being eligible through his open UK citizenship, but he never played a senior match for them either.
Details
Nationality: Nigeria
Date/Place of Birth: 23 June 1975, Lagos (Nigeria)
Hull City First Game: 5 August 2011, Blackpool H (Championship), 36 years, 43 days old
Hull City Final Game: 29 November 2011, Southampton A (Championship), 36 years, 159 days old
Clubs
Crewe Alexandra (1991-1998), Bangor City (1993-1994, loan), Northwich Victoria (1994, loan), Birmingham City (1998-2002), Oldham Athletic (2002, loan), Crystal Palace (2002-2003), Coventry City (2003-2008), Burnley (2004, loan), Bradford City (2004, loan), Bristol City (2008-2009), Nottingham Forest (2009-2011), Hull City (2011-2012), Notts County (2012, loan), Rochdale (2012-2013), Wrexham (2013, loan), Rushall Olympic (2013-2014)
Hull City Record
Career: 10 apps, 0 goals
Dele Adebola| Season | LGE App | LGE Gls | FAC App | FAC Gls | FLC App | FLC Gls | EUR App | EUR Gls | OTH App | OTH Gls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011/12 | 2 (8) | 0 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |