Rubin Okotie

Rubin Rafael Okotie (; born 6 June 1987) is an Austrian former professional footballer who played as a forward.

Having moved to Austria at the age of six, Okotie began his playing career with Austria Vienna. He made his professional debut in 2007 and went on to make over 50 appearances for the club before joining German side 1. FC Nürnberg. Okotie spent a season at Nürnberg, and another season on loan with Belgian side Sint-Truiden before returning to Austria to sign for Sturm Graz. A season-and-a-half later he returned to Austria Vienna where following which he had a loan stint with SønderjyskE in Denmark. In 2014 he signed for 1860 Munich where he scored 21 goals in 57 appearances before joining Beijing Enterprises Group, where he spent a full season. In 2018, he joined his final club, Belgian outfit K Beerschot VA, before hanging up his boots.

Okotie also represented the Austria national team at senior level and was part of Austria's squad at the 2016 UEFA European Championship.

Early life and career Okotie was born in the Pakistani city of Karachi to an Austrian mother and Nigerian father. Soon after his birth, his family moved to Barcelona in Spain before immigrating to Vienna when he was four-years old. Okotie joined his first football club two years later before signing for the Rapid Vienna academy at the age of ten. Three years later, he left to join club rivals Austria Vienna, where he later made his professional debut. He spent the following season on loan in Belgium with Sint-Truiden, where he scored once in ten appearances, before leaving to join Sturm Graz.

Sturm Graz Okotie failed to feature for Nürnberg again following the expiration of his loan with Sint-Truiden and in January 2012 returned to Austria to join Sturm Graz, initially on a season-long loan. He scored two goals in thirteen appearances on loan before signing for the club permanently on a free transfer at the end of the season. He scored 12 goals across all competitions during the following season's campaign before leaving the club to rejoin Austria Vienna.

Return to Austria Vienna Okotie returned to Austria Vienna ahead of the 2013–14 campaign but scored only once in thirteen appearances during the course of the season. Following discord with club manager Nenad Bjelica he left to join Danish side SønderjyskE on loan. He made 15 appearances during his spell in Denmark and scored eleven goals. He spent two seasons with in Munich during which time he scored 25 goals in 64 appearances and proved to be a crucial player in the club's relegation survival in 2015.

Beijing Enterprises Group In July 2016, Okotie joined China League One team Beijing Enterprises Group on a two-and-a-half-year deal. He scored three goals in 24 appearances over the next year-and-a-half before mutually terminating his contract with the club in February 2018.

International career

As a result of his multinational background, and prior to making his senior debut for Austria, Okotie was eligible to represent three countries at national level, namely Austria, Nigeria and Pakistan. Okotie identifies himself primarily as Austrian, however, stating in an interview with FIFA's website that "I live there, it's where I have my friends, and I think of myself as Austrian". His senior debut followed in 2008 when he selected by manager Karel Bruckner for a match against Turkey.

Career statistics

Club

International

Scores and results list Austria's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Okotie goal.

Honours Austria Vienna Austrian Cup: 2009

Austria U20 U-20 World Cup: fourth place 2007

Austria U19 U-19 European Championship: third place 2006

Individual Austria's Best Sportsteam of the Year: Austria U20 2007