Reuben Gabriel

Reuben Gabriel Biography / Profile

Reuben Shalu Gabriel was born in the ancient city of Kaduna, Nigeria, on September 25th, 1990. He is a professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for Finnish club Kuopion Palloseura. Gabriel was a great revelation in Nigerian football in 2012 giving credit to the late Stephen Keshi’s decision to groom a squad of players from the local scene. The then Kano Pillars midfielder showed strongly why players of the Nigeria Premier League need to be included in the national team.

Reuben Gabriel Age

Reuben Gabriel is 34 years old.

Reuben Gabriel Career

Gabriel began his illlustrous career playing for his home team Kaduna United between 2007 and 2009 from where he moved to Enyimba International. In 2011, he joind Kano Pillars where he experienced one of his greatest seasons in 2012. He won the league with Pillars in 2012, and featured in th CAF Chanmpions League. His versatility and composure in midfield earned him comparisons with former Arsenal player Patrick Vieira. He joined Scottish Premiership Club Kilmarnock on a three-year contract in April of 2013. But after failing to win a regular place in the team after recovering from injury, he gave notice to the club in November that he wanted to quit. He returned to fitness in August following a three-month spell on the sidelines with a groin injury. "I'm happy that my wish to leave was granted. The plan is to explore other avenues," Reuben told told BBC Sport. He was released in January 2014. Despite the prospect of an offer from English Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur, he signed for Belgian side Waasland-Beveren in January 2014. He had been training with Spurs and had begun discussions to join them and then be loaned immediately. After spending ten months in Belgium, he penned a three-year contract with Boavista FC. Despite the freezing of squad rosters by FIFA, the midfielder was allowed to join the Portuguese team as he had been a free agent when the transfer market closed early September, following the expiration of his contract with Waasland-Beveren. While at the club, he attempted to re-establish himself as a top European player in a bid to take a leading role for club and country. After two years at the club, he joined AS Trencín of Slovakia signing a one year contract with an option for two years. He joined Finnish side KuPS from Trencin on a year deal with the option of another year based on some variables in March 2017.

At international level, Gabriel has played 12 matches for the Nigerian national team. Despite the fact he did not appear in any match of the 2013 African Cup of Nations he was the part of the 23-players squad in this tournament which ended for Nigeria with a gold medal. At the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, he appeared in the round of 16 against France where he played 30 minutes.

Reuben Gabriel Awards

In October 2012 while playing for Kano Pillars, Gabriel was named both the Player of the Year and the National Team Player of the Year at the 2012 League Bloggers Awards (LBA), held in Lagos.

After winning the African Cup of Nations with the Super Eagles in 2013, he was awarded the Member of the Order of the Niger (MON) by former president Goodluck Jonathan.