Samuel Barlay

Samuel Barlay (born 15 September 1986) is a Sierra Leonean footballer who plays as a midfielder. He has represented Sierra Leone at international level.

Club career Samuel Barlay was born and raised in Freetown. He started his professional football career with top Sierra Leonean club East End Lions in the Sierra Leone National Premier League in 2003.

Barlay signed for Malmö FF from Sierra Leonean East End Lions shortly after the 2003 FIFA U-17 World Championship. In 2006, he was on a season long loan at IFK Mariehamn in the Finnish Veikkausliiga. In 2008, he returned to "Grönvitt" after a loan spell at Örgryte IS in the Swedish second tier of football.

Barlay left IFK Mariehamn, six months before his contract was due to expire, in April 2009.

Following the end of his contract with Syrianska IF, Barlay went on trial with Syrianska FC in January 2011, before signing with Azerbaijan Premier League side FK Mughan.

Barlay left Ravan Baku at the end of his two-year contract in the summer of 2013. Following his release from Ravan Baku, Barlay signed for fellow Azerbaijan Premier League side AZAL on a one-year contract, with the option of a second.

In June 2014 Barlay returned to Syrianska, playing in the Division 2 Norra Svealand. He signed a new one-year contract with Syrianska in December 2014.

In July 2015, Barlay joined Ravan Baku for a second time.

International career Barlay was the captain of the Sierra Leone U-17 national football team at the 2003 FIFA U-17 World Championship in Finland. Barlay is a first choice at the central midfield position for the Leone Stars, as the Sierra Leone national football team is known. He won a penalty for his country which was converted by Mohamed Kallon that gave the Leone Stars a 1–0 win over South Africa in the 2010 FIFA World Cup/2010 African Cup of Nations qualifying match played in June 2008 in Freetown.

In July 2014, Barlay was suspended indefinitely, along with Ibrahim Koroma, Ibrahim Kargbo and Christian Caulker over allegations of match-fixing relating to a 2008 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against South Africa which ended 0–0. Barlay and his fellow banned players had their ban lifted in March 2015.

Career statistics

Club

International goals Scores and results list Sierra Leone's goal tally first. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition 1. 9 June 2012 Estadio de Malabo, Malabo, Equatorial Guinea 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifier