
Omatsone "Sone" Aluko (born 19 February 1989) is a professional footballer who plays as a left winger. Aluko began his career at Birmingham City but failed to make any league appearances. He joined Aberdeen on loan in the 2007–2008 season and was loaned to Blackpool at the beginning of the 2008–2009 season. After just one appearance for Blackpool, he signed for Aberdeen permanently in August 2008. He left Aberdeen in July 2011 at the end of his contract. He is currently looking for a new club.
Born in England, Aluko was capped by England at all levels up to under-19 before accepting an offer to play for Nigeria.Club career
Birmingham City
Aluko was born in London[1] and brought up from a young age in Birmingham. He progressed through Birmingham City's youth system, which he joined at the age of eight.[2] He was given a first-team squad number in the 2005–06 season, and was an unused substitute in the Premier League match against Arsenal at Highbury in October 2005.[3] He made his first-team debut for Birmingham on 28 August 2007 as a late substitute in the League Cup tie against Hereford United.[4]
[edit]Aberdeen loan
In August 2007, Aluko joined Scottish Premier League club Aberdeen on loan until January 2008.[5] He made his debut for Aberdeen as a late substitute in the UEFA Cup group match against Panathinaikos on 25 October 2007. He scored his first goal for the club the following week, opening the scoring in a 2–0 victory over Dundee United.[6]
On expiry of the initial loan, it was extended to keep Aluko at Aberdeen for the rest of the season.[7]
In February 2008, as part of a performance which earned him the man-of-the-match award, he scored Aberdeen's second goal in a 2–2 draw against FC Bayern Munich in the UEFA Cup Round of 32.[8][9]
Blackpool
Aluko signed for Blackpool on a month's emergency loan on 8 August 2008,[10] and made his debut the following day as a late substitute in the Seasiders' 1–0 home defeat to Bristol City.[11]
Aberdeen
On transfer deadline day, 1 September 2008, Aluko returned to Aberdeen on a permanent basis, signing a three-year contract for a fee of £50,000 with the club.[12][13] He made his return in a 2–1 home defeat to Hamilton on 13 September,[14] and scored his first goal since rejoining the club to clinch Aberdeen's first home win of the season, a single-goal victory over Kilmarnock on 1 November.[15] Aluko went on to win the SPL Young Player of the Month award for November 2008.[16] In September 2009, the tabloid press reported that he had put his Aberdeen future in jeopardy by going to play in the U-20 World Cup against manager Mark McGhee's wishes.[17] He left the club at the end of his contract in July 2011.
International career
Aluko represented England at under-16, under-17 and under-18 level before making his debut for the England under-19 team on 11 September 2007 in a friendly against Belarus under-19.[18] He was involved in two of the goals in a 4–0 win.[19] He was selected in the 23-man provisional squad for the 2008 UEFA European Under-19 Football Championship[20] but did not make the final 18.[21]
Aluko was called up to the Nigerian national team for a friendly against the Republic of Ireland on 29 May 2009,[22] an offer which with the support of his family he chose to accept.[1] He made his full international debut in the starting eleven, forcing the Irish goalkeeper to save his 40-yard lobbed free kick and playing the first 61 minutes of the game.[23][24]
In April 2010, he was named in the provisional Nigeria squad for the 2010 FIFA World Cup,[25] but failed to make the final cut.
Personal life
Aluko's older sister, Eniola, is also a footballer who has played for England's women football team at full international level
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sone_Aluko
