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Former Super Eagles and Chelsea left-back Celestine Babayaro’s net worth, profile, age, career, achievements, and records.
Celestine was one of the two Babayaro brothers that were part of the Atalanta 1996 Olympic team that won gold.
His brother, Emmanuel Babayaro, was a goalkeeper, while he played at left back. Celestine Babayaro went ahead to represent the Super Eagles and build a name for himself in the English Premier League and UEFA Champions League.
However, there was a twist at the start of his career that would change everything for life. Find out what it was and all you need to know about the defender in this article.
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What is Celestine Babayaro's real name? (Celestine Babayaro Real Name)
Celestine Babayaro background
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Celestine Babayaro was born to Mr. Iroka, a former IT employee, and Mrs. Esther Iroka in Southern Kaduna, which is a state in the northern part of Nigeria.
Celestine grew up with a passion for football alongside his brother, Emmanuel, and this passion saw them join a football academy owned by an Alhaji Sabo Babayaro of Jama'a Road in Kaduna State.
Alhaji Babayaro was such a big influence on players in his academy that they all adopted the ‘Babayaro’ name as their last name, and these players included Celestine and his brother Emmanuel.
Babayaro's early career saw him rise through the ranks of the Nigerian youth football system, representing Plateau United’s youth team, where he impressed scouts with his speed, defensive prowess, and attacking flair.
He also represented Nigeria at various youth tournaments, including the FIFA U-17 World Cup in 1993, where he gained valuable experience and recognition.
In 1996, at the tender age of 18, Babayaro made a bold move to Europe, signing for Belgian club Anderlecht. His time in Belgium proved to be a stepping stone, as he continued to develop his skills and adapt to the demanding European style of play.
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Babayaro's breakthrough came when he joined Chelsea, becoming one of the Nigerian stars in the English Premier League and establishing himself as a mainstay for the Blues team.
He also played for Newcastle United in the Premier League before making the switch to Los Angeles Galaxy for a brief stint.
Babayaro also enjoyed a good international career, representing Nigeria at the youth level and at the senior level.
However, Babayaro's career was not without its challenges. He faced injury setbacks and personal issues, but he always persevered and bounced back stronger.
How old is Celestine Babayaro? (Celestine Babayaro age)
Celestine Babayaro was born on August 29, 1978, making him 46 years old as of August 2024.
What state is Celestine Babayaro from?
While Celestine Babayaro was born and grew up in the northern state of Kaduna, he is originally from Amaigbo Nkwerree, in the south-eastern state of Imo.
His parents, Mr. and Mrs. Iroka, are both from Imo State. His father is from Amaigbo in Nkwerre Local Government Area, while his mother is from Amanato in Ideator Local Government Area.
Celestine Babayaro club career
Celestine Babayaro's club career spanned several for almost a decade and a half and across different countries.
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He began his professional journey in Belgium with Anderlecht in 1994, where he gained valuable experience and adapted to the European style of play.
Babayaro made history at Anderlecht by becoming the youngest player to ever compete in the Champions League at just 16 years and 86 days old. He also holds the unfortunate distinction of being the youngest player to be sent off in a Champions League game; both happened when he started against Steaua in the 1994/95 group stage.
In 1997, Babayaro made a significant move to join Chelsea in the English Premier League, becoming the first ever Nigerian player to represent the club. The deal was worth £2.25 million, a club record paid for a teenager at the time.
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At Chelsea, Babayaro became a valuable asset, contributing to the club's success. He played 197 times for the club, scoring eight times while helping the club win trophies like the FA Cup victory in 2000 and the UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup in 1998.
In 2005, Babayaro left Chelsea and joined Newcastle United for an undisclosed fee. He spent two seasons with the Magpies, making a significant impact on the club's defence.
However, due to recurring injuries, Babayaro was released from his contract with the club by mutual consent in 2007, and a compensation package was agreed upon.
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Babayaro's final active year was with LA Galaxy in 2008, whom he joined on a three-year deal in January. However, his time with the club did not last more than three months, as the defender was not impressed by how the club treated him.
He featured just once for the club in a 45-minute cameo against FC Seoul; he received a yellow card and conceded a penalty in the process. The club and player decided to part ways in March.
Babayaro would go on to have a trial with English club Portsmouth at the invitation of manager Harry Redknapp with a view to signing, but the coach revealed that he would not offer the defender a contract.
He retired from professional football in July 2010, ending a successful career that spanned close to a decade and a half.
Celestine Babayaro International career
Celestine Babayaro's first introduction to international football was in 1993, when he was part of the Nigerian team that won the FIFA U-17 World Cup.
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However, his senior debut did not come until 1995 against Uzbekistan in the Afro-Asian Cup of Nations.
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The following year, he played a key role in Nigeria’s Olympic team that won gold at the 1996 Atlanta Games, earning a spot on the tournament's all-star team after his performance, which included a goal in the gold medal match against Argentina.
Babayaro represented Nigeria at the 1998 FIFA World Cup in France and the 2002 FIFA World Cup in Korea and Japan. He also captained the Olympic team at Sydney 2000.
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Despite being part of the Nigerian squad for the 2004 Africa Cup of Nations, Babayaro was controversially sent home for disciplinary reasons.
While he never formally announced his retirement, his last appearance for the national team came against Morocco in a group stage match.
Celestine Babayaro achievements
Anderlecht
Belgian First Division: 1994–95
Belgian Super Cup: 1995
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Chelsea
UEFA Cup Winners' Cup: 1997–98
UEFA Super Cup: 1998
FA Cup: 1999-2000
FA Charity Shield: 2000
Nigeria U17
FIFA U-17 World Championship: 1993
Nigeria U23
Olympic Gold Medal: 1996
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Nigeria
African Cup of Nations third place: 2004
Individual
Belgian Young Professional Footballer of the Year: 1994–95, 1995–96
Ebony Shoe Award: 1996
Celestine Babayaro net worth
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According to Forbes, Celestine Babayaro’s last known net worth was $3 million.
However, the former Chelsea defender was declared bankrupt in 2011 and was chased by creditors who took him to court for loans of large amounts he refused to payback.
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Babayaro was listed bankrupt in an announcement printed in the London Gazette.
Celestine Babayaro wife
The former Nigerian defender is possibly single as of 2024, as there is no news out there about being with a spouse.
However, it could also be that he secretly had a wedding after he vowed to get married before the year 2021 ended.
Celestine Babayaro son
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Babayaro has a son, Ryan Hyacinth, who was born in 2006 and is also a football player.
Ryan is in the Newcastle United academy and was tagged ‘the new Messi’, once impressing Spanish manager Rafa Benitez, who invited him to train with the academy.
Celestine Babayaro house
Babayaro once owned a £475,000 property on Laleham Road in Shepperton, Middlesex.
However, he was unable to pay for the upkeep of the house after being declared bankrupt.
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