World football governing body FIFA and La Liga Santander have hailed former Super Eagles winger, Finidi George, who turned 49 on Wednesday.
Finidi, who made 62 appearances for Nigeria and scored six goals, featured at two World Cup tournaments, 1994 and 1998.
The UEFA Champions League winner with Ajax is fondly remembered by many for his celebration, mimicking a urinating dog after scoring against Greece at the 1994 World Cup.
The 49-year-old helped the national team win the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations in Tunisia, and also achieved one second and two third-place finishes.
Finidi played a better part of his career in the Spanish league with Real Betis and Mallorca between 1996 and 2001, after which the Nigerian went to Ipswich Town in England.
Celebrating his achievement, FIFA wrote on its Twitter handle, “Happy birthday, Finidi George!”
The message from La Liga praising the player read, “A legend of @RealBetis. Top hat The GREAT Finidi. George turns 49.”
The former winger played over 128 games for Betis and scored 38 goals for the club while at Mallorca, he played 31 times for the Los Bermellones and netted five times respectively.
George Finidi was born 15 April 1971. After making a name for himself at Ajax in the Netherlands, being a leading figure in a team which won eight major titles, including the 1995 Champions League, he played several years in Spain with Real Betis, also having a brief spell in England before retiring.
Finidi was an important member of the Nigeria team during the 1990s, appearing in two World Cups.
Born in Port Harcourt, Finidi played for three clubs in his country. In 1993, he arrived at AFC Ajax alongside compatriot Nwankwo Kanu.
Read Also: FIFA Ranking: Nigeria Top Africa
His impact with the Amsterdam side was immediate as he scored four goals in 27 games to help them win the Eredivisie title, which was also achieved in the following two seasons; additionally, as a starter, he appeared in consecutive UEFA Champions League finals, winning the 1994–95 edition against A.C. Milan.
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