Biography Intro: Henry Makinwa is a Nigerian retired footballer who played as a forward. He represented 17 clubs in 11 countries during his professional career

NAME: Henry Olufosoye Makinwa

DATE OF BIRTH: 6 November 1977

PLACE OF BIRTH: Lagos Nigeria

CAREER AND PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES: Footballer

After playing for three teams in his homeland, Makinwa moved abroad at the age of 19, his first stop being Rayo Vallecano in the Spanish second division. In the following transfer window, without having appeared officially for the club, he signed for F.C. Penafiel in Portugal, in the same level.

Makinwa (known in Portugal as Maki) spent the following four-and-a-half seasons in the country, mostly for Vitória de Setúbal. In the 2000–01 campaign he scored a career-best – in Europe – eight goals in 28 games, as the Sadinos returned to the Primeira Liga immediately after being relegated; in late February 2003, he left S.C. Farense and switched to Romania with FC Rapid Bucureşti.

Over the course of the following four seasons, Makinwa never settled with a team, playing in Egypt, Portugal, Cyprus, Israel and China. On 8 November 2007, he signed for newly promoted Scottish Premier League side Gretna on a free transfer, following his release from Chinese Super League’s Tianjin Teda FC.

Makinwa made his competitive debut on 25 November 2007 against Hearts, playing the full 90 minutes in a 1–1 home draw, with Laryea Kingston scoring at both ends. He failed to score any goal in 14 official appearances and, after Gretna’s relegation and dissolve, found himself again a free agent.

In October 2009, after spending one year in Indonesia, he joined Maltese First Division team Vittoriosa Stars F.C. on a free transfer.