Former Super Eagles of Nigeria striker and AFCON 2013 winner, Brown Ideye, on Tuesday announced his retirement from professional football at age 36, www.aclsports.com reports.
Ideye, whose last official match was the 2024/25 Nigeria Premier Football League match between Enyimba and Plateau United in Aba in May, announced on his official X (formerly known as Twitter) account late on Tuesday night.
“After much thought and consideration with mixed emotions, I’ve decided to retire from professional football,” Ideye said in a post on Tuesday night.
“I will first like to thank God for the talent and the long career I’ve enjoyed. I thank my family and friends for their unwavering love, support, and understanding till this day. This game made me and gave me everything- incredible joy, sad days, the opportunity to travel and see the world, lifelong friendships, and so many unforgettable memories.”
“To all the Agents who worked tirelessly and negotiated with clubs for my dreams to come true- thank you. To all the sports journalists who spent long hours day and night covering and highlighting my career, I owe you a depth of gratitude. To every club I’ve had the honour of wearing their jersey and representing, every coach and teammate who pushed and rooted for me to be better, and every fan who supported me through highs and lows — thank you.”
“Thank you, Nigeria, for the opportunity you gave me to wear the national colour and be among the Super Eagles. Though my time as a pro-player has come to an end, football will always be a part of my life as I enter my next chapter. Thank you all for being a part of this journey, and I look forward to still seeing you on these football streets,” the statement concluded.
Ideye made his debut for Nigeria’s senior national team in 2010 when Austin Eguavoen gave him his maiden cap in a 2-1 international friendly defeat to South Korea. He would go on to play an important role in Nigeria’s run to the AFCON triumph in 2013 under the late Stephen Keshi. He also featured for Nigeria at the FIFA Confederations Cup in Brazil. Meanwhile, he last played for the Super Eagles in 2016.
At the youth level, Ideye represented Nigeria at the 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Canada. He played five games in the tournament and scored one goal, against Costa Rica.
Brown Ideye, who won the Nigerian league title with Ocean Boys in 2006, played club football in England, Turkey, Greece, Spain, and France, among other countries. He also played in the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, Premier League, and CAF Confederation during his nearly two-decade career that saw him win league titles in Greece and a cup title in Ukraine.
Recently, Ideye was named Director of Player Pathways and Partnerships at Atlantic Business FC – a third division Nigerian club that plays in the privately owned TCC League – as he begins life after football.
