The Sunderland striker is 34 and a scorer of some super strikes during his long career.
Happy birthday Jermain Defoe!
The Sunderland striker turns 34 on Friday and despite his youthful looks is slowly getting towards the end of his glittering career that has seen him spend 17 years in the top flight.
Forget cake + balloons, it’s goals galore for @IAmJermainDefoe‘s birthday! Enjoy them all https://t.co/6qJxIswkau pic.twitter.com/FwEhH3eY01
— Sunderland AFC (@SunderlandAFC) October 7, 2016
From West Ham to Tottenham. to Portsmouth and Tottenham once more, to Toronto for a season in Major League Soccer and then a return to the Premier League courtesy of The Black Cats, Defoe has scored goals wherever he has been.
Netting 258 in 615 appearances makes it hard to narrow down which of his goals rank amongst the very best for Defoe, but these five strikes definitely represent the former England international at the peak of his powers.
So sit back, relax and enjoy some of Jermain Defoe’s best ever goals.
West Ham vs Nottingham Forest (FA Cup third round) – January 2003
One of the earliest goals in his career and what would soon become a trademark Defoe strike, the then-20-year-old picked up the ball just outside the corner of the penalty area and taking on the Forest defender, turned him on the inside before firing low into the corner past Darren Ward.
Defoe would have to score again late on to seal the win against Forest 3-2, but The Hammers made it safely through to the fourth round of the FA Cup.
Tottenham vs Wigan (Premier League) – November 2006
With competition from Dimitar Berbatov and Robbie Keane at White Hart Lane, Defoe would eventually leave Spurs the next season, but not before showcasing the sort of goals that made him a firm fan favourite.
Receiving the ball from Berbatov, Defoe tied Emmerson Boyce in a knot before blasting home his 50th Premier League goal in some style.
Spurs went on to win 3-1 and Defoe ended his last full season at Spurs (until the next time) with 18 goals in all competitions.
Tottenham vs Manchester United (Premier League) – September 2009
In his most prolific season in North London, not many of his 24 goals were better or quicker than his bicycle kick against Manchester United.
Opening the scoring within the first 60 seconds of the match, Spurs may have been on the end of a 3-1 defeat come the 90 minutes end of the game but it was still a pretty good goal!
England vs Italy (Friendly) – August 2012
It may be three years since his last cap for England, but he made 55 appearances for his country in a nine-year spell from 2004 and this effort against Italy was one of the best of his 19 goals for the Three Lions.
Not just the strike, but the counter-attack too after defending an Italy corner made the goal even more perfect, which takes place around the 4:00 mark.
Sunderland vs Newcastle (Premier League) – April 2015
One way to endear yourself to your new fans is to score an absolute screamer against your fiercest rivals, so Defoe had no trouble reintroducing himself to English football just a year after leaving for Toronto FC.
This wonder volley against Newcastle was enough to secure bragging rights over The Magpies and in the grand scheme of things help secure The Black Cats’ survival from relegation.
Here’s to 258 goals Jermain, with more still to come.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
