Introduction
Patrick Olaiya Olukayode Owomoyela (German pronunciation: [ˈpatʁɪk ʔovomoˈjɛlaː]; born 5 November 1979) is a German footballer. He previously played for Lüneburger SK, VfL Osnabrück, SC Paderborn 07, Arminia Bielefeld, SV Werder Bremen, Borussia Dortmund and Hamburger SV II. He has been capped by Germany at international level and was a member of the squad at the 2005 FIFA Confederations Cup.
Club career
Owomoyela, a right-sided defender/midfielder, began his career in lower league German football. In 2003, he made the step up to Arminia Bielefeld, then in the 2. Bundesliga.
Great performances for Bielefeld in the 2004–05 season earned Owomoyela interest from German top clubs, and in 2005, he joined SV Werder Bremen. In his first season, Owomoyela was the undisputed starter at right back and helped Bremen reach second in the league. With the arrival of Clemens Fritz the following season, however, he lost his starting position due to injuries and bad displays. Owomoyela was finally transferred to Borussia Dortmund at the beginning of the 2008–09 season, where he looked to reestablish himself in German top-flight football.
International career
Owomoyela debuted for Jürgen Klinsmann's national side in an Asian tour, playing 90 minutes in a 3–0 win over Japan, on 16 December 2004, in Yokohama. He also appeared against South Korea and Thailand, but was finally overlooked for Germany's World Cup final squad. Owomoyela has not been called up since.
Personal life
In addition to his football skills, Owomoyela is also a basketball player, having played in the German regional league before switching to football full-time. He was born to a German mother and a Nigerian father. His name "Olukayode" stems from the Yoruba words "Olu", a diminutive form of "Oluwa" or Olorun meaning "God" and "Kayode" meaning "to bring joy", which translates to "God brings me joy and happiness".
Honours
- Borussia Dortmund
- Bundesliga: 2010–11, 2011–12