Sunday, August 06, 2006
QPR Defender Danny Shittu Joins Watford-
BBC - Watford bag Shittu from Rangers
"...Watford have signed QPR defender Danny Shittu for an initial fee of £1.6m.
The 25-year-old had looked to be heading for West Bromwich Albion after Rangers accepted a £1.5m offer. But the Hornets scuppered West Brom's plans, signing the Nigerian international on a three-year contract in a deal that could rise to £3m.
"We're signing another player who fits the Watford way, hungry to learn and to prove his worth at the very top level," said Watford boss Aidy Boothroyd..."
newsvote.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/w/watford/5250308.stmQPR OFFICIAL SITE SHITTU HORNETTEDDan Shittu has today signed for Watford after the Hornets made an improved offer for the Rangers defender.
The verbal agreement QPR had previously reached with West Bromwich Albion on Thursday was sidelined after Watford presented an offer which couldn't be ignored.
QPR will now see an improved sum up front as soon as Shittu makes the short journey to Hertfordshire, plus further potential earnings subject to various criteria being fulfilled.
The terms and conditions of further revenue generators, which incorporate appearances and future Watford success, were also an improvement on the initial offer that the Baggies had put on the table.
The lure of Premiership football and the fact Shittu would now no longer have to relocate was also too tempting for the defender to turn down.
Shittu's contract will see him stay at Vicarage Road for the next three seasons and he will be eligible to play in Tuesday night's game against Inter Milan.
Shittu signed for QPR in January 2001 from Charlton Athletic for an initial fee of £250,000, after spending two months on loan at Loftus Road.
Since his move to Loftus Road, Shittu made 172 appearances and netted 16 goals for the Superhoops.
www.qpr.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/NewsDetail/0,,10373~877736,00.html
WATFORD OFFICIAL SITE
DANNY DEAL CONFIRMED
WATFORD have today (Sunday) completed the signing of central defender Danny Shittu from Queens Park Rangers for an initial fee of £1.6m.
Danny Shittu
The 25-year-old completed formalities late last night, penning a deal that will see him stay at Vicarage Road for the next three seasons.
Shittu sat out the Hoops' seasonal opener at Burnley yesterday having previously made nearly 200 appearances for the Loftus Road outfit.
And a delighted Hornets' boss Aidy Boothroyd hailed the signing of Shittu as a major stepping-stone in his Premiership preparations.
"In Danny we're signing another player who fits the Watford way - hungry to learn, and eager to prove his worth at the very, very top level against the best.
"He is somebody that we have been chasing for some time and I'm pleased that he will now have the chance to fight for a place along with the other excellent centre-halves we have at the club."
Shittu will now link up with his new team mates and will be available for Tuesday night's high-profile friendly with Inter Milan.
The Hornets could pay up to a further £1.4m for the Nigerian international depending on appearances and further Watford successes.
Shittu was subject to a £1.5m bid earlier this week by Championship side West Bromwich Albion, but Watford subsequently had there slightly improved offer accepted by QPR Chairman Gianni Paladin
www.watfordfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/NewsDetail/0,,10400~877379,00.html?ptvParm=
Skysport - Shittu reveals Prem motivationBy Tom Adams - Created on 7 Aug 2006
Watford new-boy Danny Shittu says he had to leave QPR in order to pursue a career in The Premiership.
The stopper snubbed strong interest from West Brom to join The Hornets in a £3 million deal on Sunday, leaving a gaping hole in the Rangers backline in the process.
After almost five years at Loftus Road, Shittu was sad to leave the London outfit, but the short trip to Watford offered him an irresistible chance to test himself at a higher level during the coming season.
"To test myself in The Premiership is something I have wanted to do for a long time," said Shittu.
"I am sorry that I have to leave QPR - but it's something that had to happen.
"It's hard leaving a club that has been like a family to me for the last four years.
"I feel I'm ready for The Premiership. I will work hard.
"I believe I can deal with whatever is thrown at me, and I hope I can make a bigger name for myself than I did at QPR."
November 19, 1996
Danny Shittu - Tom Collomosse, PA Sports
AVOIDING CRIME PAYS OFF FOR SHITTU Watford defender Dan Shittu has revealed how he resisted a life of crime to become a footballer - and made his mother proud.
Shittu was born in Lagos, Nigeria, but grew up in the Bow area of east London, where the temptations to veer off the straight and narrow were frequent and numerous.
But Shittu pursued his ambition of becoming a professional player and now the 26-year-old runs a scheme to try to encourage youngsters in east London to play football instead of being drawn into crime.
And the £1.5million summer signing from QPR insisted he would never forget the debt he owes his mother Camilla, an accountant who had to raise Shittu and his six siblings.
"I grew up in Bow, where nearly all my friends were doing crazy things," Shittu said.
"At the age of 15 I started going to college. While I was at football training or at college, my friends would be off stealing phones.
"I always worked hard, and, when my friends found out that I had become a footballer, they all said they wished they had done the same.
"I am lucky to have my family. I am the second youngest of seven kids, and all my brothers and sisters were doing good things.
"If I had had a brother who stole cars, it would have made me do that.
"I have always wanted to make my mum proud because she gave up so much for the kids. I wanted to repay her and make her happy, not just give her money."
Shittu hopes to be part of the Watford starting XI at Portsmouth as Adrian Boothroyd's team seek their first away win of the season and only their second in the Barclays Premiership.
If Shittu plays, he will be charged with the task of stopping his fellow Nigeria international Kanu, who has scored seven times this season.
Shittu revealed that Kanu, 30, is revered in Nigeria and other African countries, and spoke of his determination to emulate the former Arsenal striker.
He added: "We have been together with Nigeria a few times and it is amazing the way Kanu is idolised in Africa.
"Everywhere you go, he is mobbed. Kanu is like a God in Nigeria and other countries in Africa.
"I look at him and think that I want to be in that position one day. He is a role model for so many people, and he is also a very nice person off the pitch.
"I have spoken to him a few times, as I have to (Newcastle's) Obafemi Martins, but, because we are spread out all over the country, we do not have time to visit one another.
"But I will not talk to Kanu before the game. At the moment, he is an enemy, and it is not about being friendly."
Boothroyd could make changes to his starting line-up for the clash at Fratton Park after watching his team thumped 4-0 at champions Chelsea last weekend.
That result left Watford 19th in the Premiership, but Shittu insisted: "We are not even thinking about relegation.
"There are only two games - against Arsenal and Chelsea - in which we were beaten by more than two goals.
"We believe that, if things go right, we can get good results."
Saturday, March 10, 2007
Ex-QPRs: Danny Shittu on Ian Holloway and Kevin Gallen
-PA Sport
SHITTU: I OWE CAREER TO HOLLOWAY
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By Tom Collomosse, PA Sport
Watford defender Dan Shittu admits he owes Plymouth manager Ian Holloway a debt of gratitude but still hopes to dump his former boss out of the FA Cup when the sides meet in the quarter-finals on Sunday.
It was Holloway who gave Shittu his break in professional football by signing the 26-year-old for QPR on an initial loan deal in October 2001.
Holloway was a big influence on Shittu's career, which reached its pinnacle when the defender signed for the Barclays Premiership outfit in a £1.5million deal last summer.
And although Shittu will be determined to knock out Holloway's Coca-Cola Championship side at Home Park, he will never forget the 43-year-old's faith in him.
Shittu said: "If it had not been for Ian Holloway, I might not be in the Premiership now.
"Ollie took a gamble on me, which is something I really appreciate, because it is nice when someone gives you a chance.
"He gave me a platform to play, so I have a lot of respect for him, and I look forward to seeing him on Sunday.
"But the gratitude can go only so far. I would still love to beat his team on Sunday."
Holloway and Hornets chief Adrian Boothroyd are known for their unorthodox approaches to the game, with Holloway as well known for his idiosyncratic post-match reflections as Boothroyd is for his unusual motivational methods.
Shittu has experienced both men's ideas at first hand, and admits there are comparisons between the two.
On his time at QPR, he said: "We turned up to training, and Ollie told us all to get into a van.
"He took us to a ballet school, and we were all wondering what was going on.
"We found ourselves carrying ballerinas, and having our photos taken; it was all very comical. I don't remember being very good at it.
"I had to carry one ballerina on my shoulder, which was really embarrassing, especially when I saw the pictures - but at least I didn't drop her.
"We have done similar things at Watford. Once, instead of training, the manager decided to take us to the cinema, although I can't remember which film we saw.
"On another occasion, the whole squad, the manager, his staff and some of the directors were made to walk over hot coals.
"Aidy is very big on making people believe they can do anything, and we felt very confident and good about ourselves after walking over the coals.
"It was a good thing to do, and it didn't really hurt."
One of the key battles at Home Park is likely to be contested between Shittu and Argyle forward Kevin Gallen, who were team-mates at QPR from November 2001 until last August.
The pair have never played against each other and Shittu is keen to make his physical presence tell early in the game.
He said: "I haven't really spoken to Kevin since I left QPR, but I am definitely looking forward to kicking him.
"The only times we played against one another in the past were during training sessions, and I believe I used to get the better of him.
"I don't know what he would have to say about that, but I don't remember him getting past me too many times."
The Hornets welcome back
- Born September 2, 1980
- Born September 2, 1980
