Nwankwo Kanu
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Nwankwo Kanu (born August 1, 1976 in Owerri, Nigeria) is a professional footballer, currently playing for West Bromwich Albion in the English Premier League. He is known for his height, which is 198 cm (6'6").
Kanu began his career, aged fifteen, at first division club Federation Works before moving to Iwuanyanwu National in 1992. After a notable performance at the U-17 World Championships he was signed by Ajax Amsterdam in 1993 for $250,000. He made his Ajax debut in 1994 and went on to play 54 times for the Dutch side, scoring 25 goals. In 1996, Ajax sold him to Inter Milan for around $4.7 million; that summer he played in the Nigerian squad that won gold at the Olympics. Kanu was named African Footballer of the Year for that year.
At Inter a medical examination revealed a serious heart defect; he underwent surgery in November 1996 to replace an aortic valve and did not return to his club until April 1997. In February 1999, after just twelve games for Inter, Kanu was signed by Arsenal for roughly $7.5 million. Initially his career was revived under Arsène Wenger, and he was named African Footballer of the Year for the second time in 1999.
Kanu's appearances for Arsenal gradually became less frequent, and in the 2004 offseason, after failing to get his contract with Arsenal extended, he moved to West Brom on a free transfer. Kanu played for Nigeria in the 1998 and 2002 World Cups.
Kanu is remembered for his classic hat-trick against Chelsea, in which one of the goals was scored parallel to the goal line.