Taye Taiwo

3.1. Early career

Taiwo began his football career in Nigeria, playing for Nigeria Division 1 club Gabros International and later for Nigeria Premier League side, Lobi Stars. His performances in the Nigerian leagues attracted attention from European clubs, leading to his move to France.

3.2. Olympique de Marseille

On January 10, 2005, at the age of 20, Taiwo moved to France, signing a three-year contract with Olympique de Marseille for a reported transfer fee of 200.00 K EUR. He was brought in to fill the void left by Bixente Lizarazu's departure to Bayern Munich. He faced competition for the left-back position from players like Salomon Olembé and Kōji Nakata. Taiwo became known for his powerful left-footed shots, with one shot in a 2006 Coupe de la Ligue semi-final reportedly reaching a speed of 81 mph ^{(130 km/h)}.

3.2.2. 2005-06 season

Ahead of the 2005-06 season, Taiwo was linked with a move to Eredivisie side PSV Eindhoven in a player exchange deal, but Marseille's president Pape Diouf dismissed the possibility. He subsequently signed a contract extension, keeping him at the club until 2009. Taiwo started the season strongly, establishing himself as the first-choice left-back. He scored his first goal of the season in a 3-2 win against BSC Young Boys in the first leg of the 2005 UEFA Intertoto Cup's third round. In the return leg, he assisted Samir Nasri's winning goal, securing Marseille's progression. Taiwo then helped Marseille win the Intertoto Cup after defeating Lazio and Deportivo de La Coruña.

On August 14, 2005, he scored his second goal for the club in a 1-1 draw against Lyon. He played in both legs of the UEFA Cup first round against Germinal Beerschot, converting a penalty in the shootout that saw Marseille win 4-1 after a 0-0 aggregate draw. After a one-match suspension, Taiwo scored upon his return in a 1-0 win against Heerenveen on November 24, 2005, helping Marseille qualify for the UEFA Cup knockout stage. Following his return from international duty in January, he continued to hold his first-team place. After another suspension, he scored in the Coupe de France semi-finals against Rennes, helping Marseille to a 3-0 win and a spot in the 2006 Coupe de France Final. Eight days later, on April 29, 2006, Taiwo started in the final against Paris Saint-Germain, which Marseille lost 2-1. By the end of the 2005-06 season, he had made fifty appearances and scored four goals across all competitions.

3.2.3. 2006-07 season

Taiwo's strong performances for Marseille and at the 2006 Africa Cup of Nations attracted interest from several European clubs, including Juventus, Inter, Werder Bremen, and Chelsea. However, he expressed his desire to remain with Marseille. He began the 2006-07 season by playing in both legs of the UEFA Intertoto Cup against Dnipro, with Marseille advancing on away goals after a 2-2 aggregate draw.

In the UEFA Cup Qualification Round against Young Boys, Taiwo received a straight red card in the 4th minute, though Marseille still progressed on away goals (3-3 aggregate). He contributed to four consecutive clean sheets in the opening league matches. On September 17, 2006, he scored his first goal of the season in a 2-1 win against Bordeaux. His second goal came in the return leg of the UEFA Cup first round against Mladá Boleslav, although Marseille lost 4-2 on aggregate. Three days later, on October 1, 2006, Taiwo scored his third goal of the season in a 3-0 victory over Toulouse. However, he was sent off again on October 22, 2006, in a 4-1 loss to Lyon, resulting in a two-match suspension. Upon his return, he re-established himself as the first-choice left-back. On January 24, 2007, Taiwo scored his fourth goal of the season in a 3-1 win against Auxerre. He played a crucial role in Marseille's run to the 2007 Coupe de France Final. In the final against Sochaux, Taiwo played the full 120 minutes of a 2-2 draw and successfully converted Marseille's first penalty in the shootout, but the team ultimately lost 5-4. He finished the 2006-07 season with 47 appearances and four goals in all competitions.

3.2.5. 2008-09 season

At the beginning of the 2008-09 season, Taiwo made his 100th appearance for Marseille in the opening game against Rennes, assisting the third goal in a thrilling 4-4 draw. He played in both legs of the UEFA Champions League Third Qualifying Round against Brann, helping Marseille win 3-1 on aggregate to reach the group stage. Taiwo continued to be a regular starter at left-back. During a 2-1 loss against Atlético Madrid on October 1, 2008, he was subjected to racist chants from the opposition's supporters.

On November 1, 2008, he scored his first goal of the season in a 3-1 win against Saint-Étienne. He then captained the club for the first time that season in the Coupe de France first round against Besançon RC, scoring the equalizer and successfully converting a penalty in the shootout as Marseille won 5-4 after a 1-1 draw. On February 1, 2009, during a 1-0 loss against Sochaux, Taiwo was deemed at fault for the only goal, drawing criticism from manager Eric Gerets. He quickly redeemed himself by contributing to five consecutive clean sheets for the team between February 8 and March 7, 2009. He also played in both legs of the UEFA Cup third round against Twente, converting a penalty in the shootout that saw Marseille win 7-6 after a 1-1 aggregate draw. Taiwo scored twice in a 4-1 win against Grenoble on April 12, 2009. However, he suffered a groin injury during a 2-1 loss to Shakhtar Donetsk in the UEFA Cup quarter-finals, which led to Marseille's elimination and sidelined him for three weeks. He returned to the starting lineup on May 13, 2009, against OGC Nice, assisting Marseille's second goal in a 2-0 win. Marseille finished second in the league, narrowly missing out on the title to Bordeaux. For his strong performances, Taiwo was named in the Trophées UNFP Team of the Year for the second time. He concluded the 2008-09 season with 52 appearances and four goals across all competitions.

3.2.6. 2009-10 season

Ahead of the 2009-10 season, Taiwo was linked with a move away from Marseille due to his reported desire to play in the Premier League. However, he ultimately announced his intention to stay with the club. He started the first seven matches of the season at left-back. This run was interrupted when he suffered a knee injury during a 4-2 win against Montpellier on September 19, 2009, and was substituted in the second half. Taiwo returned to the starting lineup on September 30, 2009, for a UEFA Champions League match against Real Madrid, which Marseille lost 3-0. After his return, he was occasionally benched between October 17 and November 8, 2009, as manager Didier Deschamps preferred to play Gabriel Heinze at left-back. By mid-November, Taiwo regained his starting position when Heinze moved back to center-back.

On December 12, 2009, he scored his first goal of the season in a 2-0 win against US Boulogne. Following the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations, Taiwo returned to the starting lineup on February 7, 2010, against Valenciennes, in a 5-1 victory. For the rest of the 2009-10 season, he continued to compete with Heinze for the left-back spot, sometimes being placed on the substitute bench. Taiwo scored his second goal of the season on March 21, 2010, with a characteristic long-range left-footed strike in a 2-1 win against Lyon. In the 2010 Coupe de la Ligue Final against Bordeaux on March 27, 2010, he played the entire match as Marseille won 3-1, securing the tournament title. He scored his third goal of the season in a 2-1 win against Boulogne on April 17, 2010. In a match against Rennes on May 5, 2010, he came on as a 57th-minute substitute in a 3-1 win, which clinched the Ligue 1 title for Marseille for the first time in eighteen years. Taiwo finished the 2009-10 season with 37 appearances and three goals in all competitions.

3.3. AC Milan

On May 9, 2011, A.C. Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri confirmed the signing of Taiwo along with French defender Philippe Mexès, with both set to join Milan for the 2011-12 season. However, Taiwo suffered an ankle injury that sidelined him for about a month. He made his debut for Milan on September 24, 2011, in a 1-0 home league win against Cesena, where he was later replaced by Luca Antonini.

In December 2011, Taiwo expressed his disappointment with his limited playing time at Milan in an interview with the French sports newspaper L'Équipe, citing issues with coach Massimiliano Allegri and being frequently on the substitute bench. Despite this, Taiwo reiterated his commitment to AC Milan. He made six starts for the club in all competitions, totaling eight appearances before seeking a loan move. Taiwo also won the Supercoppa Italiana with AC Milan in 2011.

3.4. Queens Park Rangers (loan)

On January 24, 2012, Queens Park Rangers (QPR) secured Taiwo's services on a loan deal from AC Milan until the end of the season, with an option to buy him permanently for a fee of around 3.50 M GBP. Upon joining, he was assigned the number 34 shirt. Taiwo stated his intention to make an immediate impact at QPR rather than sitting on the bench.

He made his debut for QPR on February 1, 2012, starting in a 2-2 draw against Aston Villa, where his play contributed to an own goal by Stephen Warnock. Taiwo quickly established himself as a first-team regular at left-back. He assisted QPR's second goal in a 3-2 win against Liverpool on March 21, 2012. This was followed by his first goal for QPR, a spectacular curling free-kick from 27 yd out, in a 3-1 defeat against Sunderland. In the final game of the season, Taiwo started as QPR lost 3-2 to Manchester City, but Bolton Wanderers' failure to beat Stoke City meant QPR avoided relegation from the Premier League. He made 15 appearances and scored one goal in all competitions during his loan spell. Despite reports that QPR was interested in a permanent deal and Taiwo's desire to stay, the club decided against signing him, and he returned to AC Milan.

3.5. Dynamo Kyiv (loan)

Having previously expressed that he did not wish to return to AC Milan, it was announced on July 31, 2012, that Taiwo had joined Ukrainian club Dynamo Kyiv on a one-year loan deal, with an option for a permanent transfer at the end of the season. He was given the number 33 shirt upon his arrival.

Taiwo made his debut for Dynamo Kyiv on August 3, 2012, in a 1-0 win against Kryvbas, helping the club keep a clean sheet. He then played in both legs of the UEFA Champions League Play-off Round against Borussia Mönchengladbach, as Dynamo Kyiv won 4-3 on aggregate to qualify for the group stage. On September 23, 2012, Taiwo scored his first goal for Dynamo Kyiv in a 4-1 loss against rivals Shakhtar Donetsk in the Ukrainian Cup. He quickly became a first-team regular at left-back during his first two months. However, Taiwo received a three-match suspension after an altercation with Cleiton Xavier during a 3-1 loss against Metalist Kharkiv on October 20, 2012. After serving his suspension, he returned to the starting lineup on November 16, 2012, in a 1-0 loss against Metalurh Donetsk. For the remainder of the season, he rotated in and out of the starting lineup. He concluded the 2012-13 season with 31 appearances and one goal in all competitions. Following this, Taiwo returned to AC Milan as Dynamo Kyiv decided against making his move permanent.

3.6. Bursaspor

On July 5, 2013, Taiwo signed a three-year deal with Turkish side Bursaspor. He had been linked with a move to newly promoted Premier League club Cardiff City but chose to move to Turkey. He was assigned the number three shirt.

Taiwo scored on his Bursaspor debut on August 1, 2013, in a 2-2 draw against Vojvodina in the first leg of their Europa League third qualifying round tie. However, Bursaspor lost the return leg 3-0, eliminating them from the tournament. He made his league debut for Bursaspor in the opening game of the season, a 2-0 loss against Eskişehirspor. A week later, on August 30, 2013, against Antalyaspor, he assisted Bursaspor's second goal, securing the club's first win of the season. Taiwo quickly established himself as a first-team regular at left-back. He contributed to three consecutive clean sheets between October 4 and October 27, 2013. On November 9, 2013, he scored his first goal for Bursaspor in a 2-1 loss against Sivasspor. Three weeks later, on November 29, 2013, Taiwo scored again in a 2-1 win against Elazığspor, earning him a spot in the league's Team of the Week. He started every match at left-back until February when he missed one game due to a tactical change. He then rotated in and out of the starting lineup for the remainder of the season. Taiwo finished the 2013-14 season with 37 appearances and three goals in all competitions.

Ahead of the 2014-15 season, Taiwo was linked with a move away from Bursaspor as the club sought to cut costs due to financial problems, but he remained with the team. However, manager Şenol Güneş did not utilize him in the first team throughout the 2014-15 season, leading to Taiwo not playing for 12 months. In February 2015, he was fined by Bursaspor for taking unauthorized leave. On April 27, 2015, Taiwo and Bursaspor mutually agreed to terminate his contract.

3.7. HJK

On August 23, 2015, Taiwo joined HJK Helsinki for the remainder of the season, with an option for an additional year. He made his debut the following day, starting in a 1-1 draw against HIFK Fotboll. Taiwo quickly established himself in HJK's starting eleven at left-back. The club finished third in the league that season. In October 2015, HJK exercised their option to keep Taiwo for the 2016 season. He made 11 appearances in all competitions in 2015.

Ahead of the 2016 season, Taiwo was again linked with a move away from HJK, but he stayed. He started the 2016 season well, scoring his first goal for HJK in a 1-0 win against IFK Mariehamn in the Finnish League Cup. A week later, on February 9, 2016, he scored his second goal in another Finnish League Cup match, a 3-3 draw against HIFK Fotboll. He continued to be a first-team regular at left-back. Taiwo's goalscoring form continued in the league, as he scored four goals between May 7 and May 20, 2016, including a brace against Inter Turku. His performances made him a fan favorite. He then scored two goals in consecutive matches on June 12 and June 18, 2016, against RoPS and SJK, respectively. He played in both legs of the UEFA Europa League first round against Atlantas, scoring a goal himself, as HJK won 3-1 on aggregate. However, Taiwo suffered an injury and was substituted in the 78th minute during the second leg of the UEFA Europa League second round, a 1-0 win against Beroe, which sent HJK to the next round. He was sidelined for two months as a result. Taiwo returned to the starting lineup on September 21, 2016, against RoPS, assisting HJK's first goal in a 2-1 win. He started in the Finnish Cup final against SJK, playing 90 minutes before being substituted, as HJK lost 7-6 in a penalty shootout after a 1-1 draw. Taiwo concluded his playing career with HJK Helsinki after their final league game against SJK on October 23, 2016. He made 34 appearances and scored nine goals in all competitions during the 2016 season.

3.8. Lausanne-Sport

On January 30, 2017, Taiwo signed for Swiss club Lausanne-Sport until the end of the 2016-17 season. He made his debut for the club on February 5, 2017, coming on as a 66th-minute substitute in a 4-4 draw against FC Luzern. Two weeks later, on February 19, 2017, Taiwo made his first start for Lausanne-Sport, playing the full match in a 4-3 loss against Basel. However, he suffered an injury that kept him out for two matches. He returned to the starting lineup on April 23, 2017, in a 1-0 win against Sion. Despite his injury, he remained a first-team player at left-back for the rest of the 2016-17 season. Taiwo left Lausanne-Sport when his contract expired at the end of the season.

3.9. AFC Eskilstuna

On August 9, 2017, it was announced that Taiwo had joined Allsvenskan side AFC Eskilstuna for the remainder of the season. He made his debut for the club on August 19, 2017, starting at left-back in a 3-1 win against Malmö. Taiwo became a first-team regular for AFC Eskilstuna, playing in both left-back and center-back positions. However, he was unable to prevent the club's relegation from Allsvenskan. He made nine appearances in all competitions during the 2017 season.

3.10. Rovaniemen Palloseura

On March 7, 2018, Taiwo joined Veikkausliiga side RoPS for the 2018 season after leaving AFC Eskilstuna. He made his debut for the club in the opening game of the season against IFK Mariehamn, contributing to a 2-0 clean sheet victory. This was followed by five consecutive clean sheets in the next five matches. Taiwo quickly established himself as a starter at left-back, occasionally playing at center-back. On August 4, 2018, he scored his first goal for RoPS against his former club, HJK Helsinki, in a 2-2 draw. Despite missing one match, he made 32 appearances and scored once in all competitions. Following the season, Taiwo signed a contract extension with RoPS for another season.

At the start of the 2019 season, Taiwo captained Rovaniemen Palloseura for the first two months. He continued to be a first-team regular at left-back. However, in a match against KPV on June 29, 2019, Taiwo received a straight red card in the 29th minute of a 0-0 draw. His two-match suspension was later lifted, and he returned to the starting lineup in the subsequent match. On September 21, 2019, Taiwo scored his first goal of the season in a 4-1 loss against KPV. He made 31 appearances and scored one goal in all competitions during the 2019 season.

3.11. Later career

On July 3, 2020, Taiwo signed for Cypriot First Division club Doxa Katokopias after leaving RoPS. However, he did not make a single appearance for the club. On October 22, 2020, it was announced that Taiwo had joined American club Palm Beach Stars in the United Premier Soccer League. In December 2021, Taiwo returned for a third spell in Finland, joining third-tier side SalPa. After making only eight appearances in all competitions for SalPa, Taiwo was released in June 2022.

4.1. Youth career

In May 2005, Taiwo was called up to the Nigeria U20 squad for the 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship. He made his tournament debut on June 12, 2005, in a 0-0 draw against Brazil U20, helping the team keep a clean sheet. Nigeria U20 advanced to the knockout stage after a 3-0 victory over Switzerland U20 on Matchday Three. In the next match, he scored his first goal of the tournament in a 1-0 win against Ukraine U20, securing progression to the next round. In the quarter-final against Netherlands U20, Taiwo played the entire game, which went to a penalty shootout. He successfully converted his penalty, including the winning one, sending the U20 side to the semi-finals. In the semi-final against Morocco U20, he scored his second goal of the tournament in a 3-0 win. In the final against Argentina U20, Taiwo played the full match as Nigeria U20 lost 2-1. Following the tournament, he was recognized as the third-best player, earning the Bronze Ball award, behind Mikel John Obi and Lionel Messi.

In July 2008, there was speculation about Taiwo's inclusion in the Nigeria U23 squad for the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China. It was confirmed on three separate occasions that he would not be included in the squad. In his absence, Nigeria U23 earned a silver medal, losing 1-0 to Argentina U23 in the final.

4.2. Senior career

Taiwo was called up to the Nigeria squad in early 2004 and made his senior debut on November 17, 2004, starting in a 2-1 loss against South Africa.

In January 2006, Taiwo was selected for the Nigeria squad for the 2006 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt. He began the tournament strongly, scoring Nigeria's first goal in a 1-0 win against Ghana. He then helped Nigeria win their next two matches to advance to the knockout stage. Taiwo played the full game in the quarter-final against Tunisia, which ended in a 1-1 draw. He successfully converted his penalty in the shootout, as Nigeria won 6-5. He later helped the national side secure third place in the tournament by beating Senegal 1-0 in the third-place play-off.

On June 17, 2007, Taiwo scored his second national team goal in a 3-1 win against Niger, which helped Nigeria qualify for the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations. He scored his third Nigeria goal on November 19, 2007, in a 1-0 win against Switzerland. In December 2007, he was called up for the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations tournament and was part of the final 23-man squad. Taiwo started all four matches in the tournament, as Nigeria were eliminated in the quarter-finals following a 2-1 loss to Ghana.

Following the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations, Taiwo contributed to six consecutive clean sheets for Nigeria in the World Cup qualifying round between June 1 and September 1, 2008. However, he was sent off for a second bookable offense in a 0-0 draw against Jamaica on February 11, 2009. Taiwo later helped Nigeria qualify for the 2010 FIFA World Cup after a 3-2 victory over Kenya on November 14, 2009.

In January 2010, Taiwo was included in Nigeria's squad for the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations. He started the opening group stage match, a 3-1 loss against Egypt on January 12, 2010. However, he remained on the substitute bench for Nigeria's next four matches, with Elderson Echiéjilé preferred at left-back. On January 30, 2010, Taiwo returned to the starting lineup against Algeria for the third-place play-off, helping the national team win 1-0 and secure a bronze medal.

In April 2010, Taiwo was among 44 players shortlisted for the Nigeria squad ahead of the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. He made the final 23-man squad. Taiwo made his World Cup debut on June 12, 2010, against Argentina, starting the match but suffering an injury in the 74th minute and being substituted. He quickly recovered and returned to the starting lineup against Greece, playing 55 minutes before being substituted in a 2-1 loss. Taiwo was then injured again and sidelined for the subsequent match against South Korea, which ended in a 2-2 draw, leading to Nigeria's elimination from the tournament.

Following the World Cup, Taiwo made four appearances in the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations qualification, where Nigeria was ultimately eliminated. Between 2004 and 2012, he played 53 games for the national team, scoring 5 goals. Although he had not played for Nigeria since 2012, then-manager Stephen Keshi stated in 2012 that Taiwo, like other players, was still under consideration for future call-ups.

5.1. Club statistics

5.2. International statistics

6.1. Team honours

Marseille

• Ligue 1: 2009-10
• Coupe de la Ligue: 2009-10, 2010-11
• Trophée des Champions: 2010
• UEFA Intertoto Cup: 2005

AC Milan

• Supercoppa Italiana: 2011

Nigeria

• Africa Cup of Nations third place: 2006

6.2. Individual honours

• CAF Most Promising Talent of the Year: 2006
• CAF Team of the Year: 2006, 2008, 2010, 2011
• Ligue 1 Team of the Year: 2007-08, 2008-09, 2010-11
• Veikkausliiga Player of the Month: May 2017
• Veikkausliiga Team of the Year: 2016, 2018