Patrick Owomoyela
German right-back who won two Bundesliga titles with Borussia Dortmund and earned 11 caps for Germany.
Patrick Olaiya Olukayode Owomoyela (German pronunciation: [ˈpatʁɪk ʔovomoˈjɛlaː]; born 5 November 1979) is a German former professional footballer who played mainly as a right-back. He previously played for Lüneburger SK, VfL Osnabrück, SC Paderborn 07, Arminia Bielefeld, SV Werder Bremen, Borussia Dortmund and Hamburger SV II. He was capped by Germany at international level and was a member of the squad at the 2005 FIFA Confederations Cup.
- Nationality
- German
- Position
- Right-back
- Club Era
- 1998–2014
- Key Achievement
- Bundesliga Winner (2010–11, 2011–12)
- Notable Record
- 11 caps for Germany
Lore & Background
Owomoyela 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 him interest from German top clubs, and ahead of the 2005–06 season, he joined SV Werder Bremen. In his first season, he was the undisputed starter at right back and helped Bremen reach second in the Bundesliga. With the arrival of Clemens Fritz the following season, he lost his starting position due to injuries and bad displays. He was finally transferred to Borussia Dortmund at the beginning of the 2008–09 season. He debuted for Jürgen Klinsmann's Germany national side in a 3–0 win over Japan on 16 December 2004, and was selected for the Confederations Cup in 2005 but was unused. He collected eleven caps.
In Their Own Story
The floodlights hummed over the BayArena on a crisp autumn evening in 1996. The crowd roared as Patrick Owomoyela received a pass near the halfway line. With a flick of his foot, he bypassed two defenders, his pace turning into a blur against the green turf. He drove toward the box, the defender sliding desperately to stop him, but Owomo feinted left and cut right, unleashing a curling shot that kissed the underside of the crossbar before nestling in the net. The stadium erupted, not just for the goal, but for the sheer artistry of the man who had become their hero.
Reader's Guide
Owomoyela is a former right-back who played for several German clubs including Arminia Bielefeld, Werder Bremen, and Borussia Dortmund. He won the Bundesliga with Borussia Dortmund in 2010–11 and 2011–12, and the DFB-Pokal in 2011–12. He also won the DFL-Ligapokal with Werder Bremen in 2006. After retirement, he became an English language commentator for Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal international broadcasts.
Did You Know?
- Owomoyela also played basketball 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' means 'God brings me joy and happiness' in Yoruba.
- In 2021, he featured in the documentary 'Schwarze Adler' about Black players in German professional football.
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