🇬🇧 Harry Redknapp: “Every year he guarantees you 20 goals.” 

🇬🇧 David Moyes: “He has the power, but most of all Yak is a proven goalscorer.” 

🇳🇬 Joseph Yobo: “You are always looking for world-class players to join your team and make things better. Yakubu is one such player.” 

🇬🇧 Steve Kean: “He’s been a great servant and he’s been a great signing.” 

🎤 Fans & Media: “Feed the Yak and he will score!”

Yakubu was a true number 9. Strong, direct, and built for the penalty box. He used his body well, held off defenders with ease, and finished chances with calm confidence. His game was all about positioning and making the right runs. Give him one clear sight of goal and he punished you. He relied on power instead of flair. He did not need stepovers or fancy touches. He thrived on crosses, rebounds, cutbacks, and moments of chaos inside the six-yard box. His aerial strength made him a constant problem, and his hold-up play helped teams build attacks around him. 

He was at his best in systems that made him the focal point. Whether in a 4-4-2 or a 4-2-3-1, he loved being the main outlet, the target man, the one expected to score. And more often than not, he delivered.