Former West Bromwich Albion striker and Africa Cup of Nations winner Brown Ideye has confirmed his retirement from professional football after a long and storied journey spanning nearly two decades.
The ex-Nigerian international was part of the Super Eagles team that triumphantly lifted the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations, and capped 28 times with six goals between 2010 and 2016.
Across his club career, he amassed a record of 382 appearances and scored 141 goals across eleven clubs on four continents.
His senior journey took him from Bayelsa United to European stints with Sochaux, Dynamo Kyiv scoring 34 goals in 74 appearances, appeared 24 times for West Brom and registering four goals in the Premier League, Olympiacos, Malaga, and others.
Most recently, Ideye returned to Nigerian football with Enyimba FC. In April 2025, he earned a Man of the Match award for a match-winning performance underlining that his impact remained strong.
In his retirement announcement on his social media platform, the 36-year-old conveyed mixed emotions and deep gratitude.
“After much thought and consideration with mixed emotions, I’ve decided to retire from professional football. I will first like to thank God for the talent and the long career I’ve enjoyed,” he wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
He extended his thanks to his family, coaches, teammates, agents, journalists, and supporters across his clubs and country.
The Nigerian reflected that football offered him “incredible joy, sad days, opportunity to travel, lifelong friendships and unforgettable memories.”
He added: “Thank you, Nigeria, for the opportunity you gave me to wear the national colour and be among the Super Eagles.”
Despite retiring as a player, Ideye is stepping into his next phase in football. He has accepted a player development role at Atlantic Business FC in Nigeria’s TCC League.
The forward’s legacy underscores his consistency, adaptability, and loyalty from The Baggies to Enyimba, from European nights to lifting the AFCON trophy. A commendable journey complete and now, a new chapter begins.
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