With a frame more akin to a front-rower in rugby, Adebayo Akinfenwa was told repeatedly he was “too big to play football” but was always determined to prove his doubters wrong and turn his strength into, well, his strength. This he did across a 20 year professional career, winning fans... Read more
With a frame more akin to a front-rower in rugby, Adebayo Akinfenwa was told repeatedly he was “too big to play football” but was always determined to prove his doubters wrong and turn his strength into, well, his strength. This he did across a 20 year professional career, winning fans and making friends wherever he went.
His unlikely break came in Lithuania, playing for FK Atlantas he scored the winning goal in the Lithuanian Cup Final and playing in the UEFA Cup qualifying rounds. Returning to the UK he had brief spells at several clubs before a breakthrough season with Torquay United, scoring 14 goals in 37 games and named the club’s Player of the Year. This earned a move to Swansea City, where he scored the first goal at the new Liberty Stadium and the winner in the Football League Trophy Final at the Millennium Stadium.
A broken leg curtailed his career at Swansea, but Bayo later found a new fanbase at Northampton Town, where he scored 71 goals across two spells.
In 2014 he signed for AFC Wimbledon and that season he played and scored against his boyhood club, Liverpool, in the FA Cup. Wimbledon reached the League Two Play-Off Final, which also afforded Bayo the chance to realise another boyhood dream – scoring at Wembley. This he duly did in a 2-0 victory. With his contract up at the end of the season, the post-match interview on Sky Sports went viral after he announced he was technically unemployed so any prospective managers should “hit me up on WhatsApp.”
Wycombe Wanderers manager Gareth Ainsworth duly did and Bayo built a strong relationship with both the manager and the fans over the next six years where he became the club’s leading goalscorer in the Football League. In 2020 he returned to Wembley to help Wycombe secure the play-off victory that saw them reach the Championship for the first time in their history. This time in the post-match interview, he said the only manager he wanted to hear from was Liverpool’s Jurgen Klopp, who subsequently sent him a message of congratulations.
After a long and successful career, Adebayo Akinfenwa’s last game was again at Wembley Stadium, coming on as a substitute for Wycombe in the League One Play-Off Final against Sunderland, proof that dreams do come true.
The walking definition of “extrovert”, Adebayo Akinfenwa’s post-match interviews have become legend and he has been a firm favourite with shows such as Soccer AM. Upon announcing his retirement from professional football Bayo signed with BT Sport and talkSPORT to be a presenter and matchday pundit.
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You can book Adebayo Akinfenwa through London Speaker Bureau by submitting the enquiry form on this page or calling our team. One of our consultants will respond promptly with Adebayo's current availability, speaking fees and any specific requirements for your event.
Adebayo Akinfenwa's speaking fees depend on the event format (in-person or virtual), the location, the length of the engagement and the level of customisation required. Please contact London Speaker Bureau for an up-to-date fee quote for Adebayo tailored to your event.
Adebayo Akinfenwa speaks on Celebrities, Arts & Culture, Diversity, Motivation, Performance, Sports. Talks can be shaped around your audience, industry and strategic objectives - share your event brief with London Speaker Bureau and we will work with Adebayo to align the content with your delegates and goals.
London Speaker Bureau can book Adebayo Akinfenwa for events worldwide, subject to Adebayo's schedule. Please send us your event date, location and format and we will confirm availability and handle travel and logistics on your behalf.
Virtual and hybrid keynotes are now a standard part of the speaking industry. Please contact London Speaker Bureau to confirm whether Adebayo Akinfenwa is available to deliver a virtual session for your event and on which platform (Zoom, Microsoft Teams, a bespoke studio or your own).
Most keynote speeches run between 45 and 60 minutes, often followed by a 15-30 minute Q&A. Other formats - shorter conference slots, panel appearances or longer workshop sessions - may also be possible. Share your agenda with London Speaker Bureau and we will confirm what Adebayo can accommodate.
London Speaker Bureau will brief Adebayo Akinfenwa on your audience profile, sector and objectives so the keynote can be shaped around your event. The level of customisation possible depends on the speaker and the lead time - contact us with your brief and we will confirm what Adebayo can offer.
Adebayo Akinfenwa delivers keynotes in English. This profile may not list every language available; ask London Speaker Bureau to confirm. If you require simultaneous interpretation or a multilingual format, please mention this in your enquiry and London Speaker Bureau will arrange it for you.
Adebayo Akinfenwa's areas of expertise include Celebrities, Arts & Culture, Diversity, Motivation, Performance, Sports. To get a clear sense of Adebayo's style, credentials and how they engage an audience, please review the biography, popular talks and any videos or testimonials shown on this page, or request a detailed speaker brief from London Speaker Bureau.
Adebayo Akinfenwa can be booked through London Speaker Bureau for corporate conferences, leadership events, internal team meetings, association gatherings and private client engagements where expertise in Celebrities, Arts & Culture, Diversity, Motivation, Performance, Sports is relevant. Details of Adebayo's background and previous engagements are included in the biography above; contact us if you would like a more detailed list of past clients or case studies.
Beyond keynote speeches, many of the speakers on our roster also take part in workshops, executive masterclasses, panel discussions and fireside chats. Contact London Speaker Bureau with your preferred format and we will confirm what Adebayo Akinfenwa is able to offer alongside or instead of a keynote.
We generally recommend enquiring at least three to twelve months in advance to secure your preferred date with Adebayo Akinfenwa, particularly during peak conference seasons. Where possible we also accommodate shorter lead times - please contact London Speaker Bureau to check Adebayo's current availability for your dates.