Born in Greenwich, London, in 1972 Efe Sodje was a colourful character, and hugely popular with Gresty Road faithful. Perhaps more importantly though he is the only player to have ever represented Crewe Alexandra Football Club at the World Cup finals.

Although born in the United Kingdom, Sodje returned to Nigeria with his family at the age of 8, and that is where he began to take a keen interest in football. After playing for several clubs in Nigeria, including Delta Force, Efe returned to Britain in 1994 to try and win a chance at a professional club.

After being turned down by Wimbledon, Millwall and Luton Town, the strong defender was eventually offered the chance to play non-league football with Stevenage Borough, and immediately showed exactly what he could do.

In 1995/96 he helped Stevenage to win the Conference title for the first time in their history and, despite Borough missing out on promotion due to ground grading regulations, he stayed the next year to help them to the Semi-Finals of the FA Trophy and the 3rd Round of the FA Cup where he performed superbly in a narrow 2-0 defeat against Birmingham City.

During his time playing part-time,  Sodje also studied for a degree in business finance, but was soon to make it into the professional game when Macclesfield Town paid £30,000 for his services in 1997.

Having just reached the Football League, Macclesfield boss Sammy McIlroy wanted to strengthen his back four, and the bandanna wearing Sodje immediately wrote himself into the clubs folklore by scoring their first ever Football League goal in an opening day win over Torquay United.

Sodje helped the Silkmen to promotion in his first season at the club and made 96 appearances for the Moss Rose club, before switching to Luton Town on a free transfer in 1999.

Things didn't go according to plan at Kenilworth Road and Sodje was limited to just 14 appearances, ending the season on loan at Colchester United, before being released after just one season.

He returned to Cheshire in August 2000 when he was offered the chance to sign for Crewe Alex. Originally signed as a squad player, Efe made his debut in a 2-0 defeat at Fulham early in the 2000/01 season and never looked back.

He was a regular in central defence over the next two seasons, and also helped out at right back when called upon, until, in the summer of 2002, he was given his chance to make Nigeria's World Cup 2002 squad.

After playing in friendlies against Scotland and Kenya, Sodje scored in a 2-1 win over the Republic of Ireland and played well against Jamaica to secure his place in his country's 23-man squad for the World Cup in Japan and Korea.

Having just suffered relegation with the Alex, Sodje was suddenly playing in front of millions of people and against the best players in the world when he stepped out against Argentina in the first game, marking Claudio Lopez out of the game despite a 1-0 defeat. He missed the second game against Sweden through injury, but played again against England in the final group game, performing well against Trevor Sinclair as Nigeria held out for a 0-0 draw.

Although the Super Eagles didn't progress to the next round, it was an incredible experience for Sodje, and the first time a player, still contracted to Crewe, had featured in a World Cup Finals.

Sodje returned to Crewe to help the Railwaymen win promotion back to Division One at the first attempt as he made 34 appearances as the Railwaymen finished as runners-up in the Second Division, but a sending off at home to Wigan Athletic soured relations with Dario Gradi somewhat.

Despite having a year left on his contract, Dario allowed Sodje to leave Gresty Road in the summer of 2003, having made 116 appearances for the club.

Sodje promptly joined Third Division Hudderfield Town on a free transfer and enjoyed yet another promotion. He was named as captain of Peter Jackson's side and helped the Terriers reach the play-off final where they Mansfield Town. Sadly Efe can't remember much about the final at the Millennium Stadium, as he was stretchered off with a head injury and watched his team-mates lift the trophy after a penalty shoot-out win from a Cardiff hospital bed!

Sadly three red cards in the 2004/05 season, as Huddersfield returned to the Second Division, saw Sodje stripped of the captaincy at the McAlpine Stadium and become a peripheral figure in Jackson's side.

He was allowed to leave to join Yeovil Town in March 2005 and won promotion again as Gary Johnson's side lifted the Third Division title.

Having won promotion at five seperate clubs, Sodje is an obvious asset to any side, Sodje was on the move again in January 2006 when promotion chasing Southend United added him to their squad.

He later moved on to Colchester United and Gillingham before ending the 2007/08 season on loan at League Two side Bury.

He helped Bury reach the 2008/09 play-offs but they unfortunately lost on penalties to Shrewsbury Town in a dramatic semi-final showdown.

Career Stats