| Michael Bakare | |
| Fullname: | Michael Adewale A. Oluwabunmi Bakare[1] |
| Birth Date: | 1 December 1986 |
| Birth Place: | Hackney, England |
| Position: | Forward, defender |
| Currentclub: | Glacis United (player-manager) |
| Clubnumber: | 14 |
| Years1: | 2006–2007 |
| Clubs1: | Hertford Town |
| Years2: | 2007 |
| Clubs2: | Waltham Forest |
| Years3: | 2007–2008 |
| Clubs3: | Welwyn Garden City |
| Years4: | 2008–2009 |
| Clubs4: | Leyton |
| Years5: | 2009–2010 |
| Caps5: | 19 |
| Goals5: | 1 |
| Clubs5: | Welling United |
| Years6: | 2010 |
| Caps6: | 5 |
| Goals6: | 0 |
| Clubs6: | Thurrock |
| Years7: | 2010–2011 |
| Caps7: | 35 |
| Goals7: | 13 |
| Clubs7: | Bishop's Stortford |
| Years8: | 2011–2012 |
| Caps8: | 10 |
| Goals8: | 5 |
| Clubs8: | Chelmsford City |
| Years9: | 2012 |
| Caps9: | 9 |
| Goals9: | 0 |
| Clubs9: | Macclesfield Town |
| Years10: | 2012 |
| Caps10: | 11 |
| Goals10: | 0 |
| Clubs10: | Southport |
| Years11: | 2012 |
| Caps11: | 1 |
| Goals11: | 1 |
| Clubs11: | → Droylsden (loan) |
| Years12: | 2012–2013 |
| Caps12: | 14 |
| Goals12: | 5 |
| Clubs12: | Chelmsford City |
| Years13: | 2013–2014 |
| Caps13: | 12 |
| Goals13: | 1 |
| Clubs13: | Dover Athletic |
| Years14: | 2014 |
| Caps14: | 17 |
| Goals14: | 5 |
| Clubs14: | Tonbridge Angels |
| Years15: | 2014 |
| Caps15: | 11 |
| Goals15: | 1 |
| Clubs15: | Braintree Town |
| Years16: | 2015 |
| Caps16: | 2 |
| Goals16: | 1 |
| Clubs16: | → Bury Town (loan) |
| Years17: | 2015 |
| Clubs17: | VCD Athletic |
| Years18: | 2015 |
| Clubs18: | Witham Town |
| Years19: | 2015–2016 |
| Caps19: | 21 |
| Goals19: | 3 |
| Clubs19: | Welling United |
| Years20: | 2016–2017 |
| Caps20: | 8 |
| Goals20: | 0 |
| Clubs20: | Wrexham |
| Years21: | 2016 |
| Goals21: | 4 |
| Clubs21: | → Billericay Town (loan) |
| Years22: | 2017 |
| Caps22: | 4 |
| Goals22: | 2 |
| Clubs22: | Warrington Town |
| Years23: | 2017–2020 |
| Caps23: | 81 |
| Goals23: | 30 |
| Clubs23: | Connah's Quay Nomads |
| Years24: | 2021 |
| Caps24: | 1 |
| Goals24: | 1 |
| Clubs24: | Hereford |
| Years25: | 2021 |
| Caps25: | 11 |
| Goals25: | 4 |
| Clubs25: | Fjölnir |
| Years26: | 2021–2022 |
| Caps26: | 7 |
| Goals26: | 4 |
| Clubs26: | Leatherhead |
| Years27: | 2022 |
| Caps27: | 2 |
| Goals27: | 0 |
| Clubs27: | Arbroath |
| Years28: | 2022 |
| Caps28: | 11 |
| Goals28: | 2 |
| Clubs28: | HIFK |
| Years29: | 2023 |
| Caps29: | 4 |
| Goals29: | 1 |
| Clubs29: | Enfield Town |
| Years30: | 2023– |
| Caps30: | 26 |
| Goals30: | 2 |
| Clubs30: | Glacis United |
| Manageryears1: | 2024– |
| Managerclubs1: | Glacis United (player-manager) |
| Club-Update: | 11:42, 13 January 2025 (UTC) |
Michael Adewale A. Oluwabunmi Bakare (born 1 December 1986) is an English professional footballer who plays for Glacis United. Formerly a forward, Bakare converted to a defender later in his career.
Bakare started his senior career in the 2006–07 season, playing for Hertford Town and Waltham Forest.[2] [3] The following season, Bakare signed for Welwyn Garden City.[4] In 2008, Bakare signed for Leyton, before spells with Welling United,[5] and Thurrock. In 2010, Bakare joined Bishop's Stortford.[6] It was here where he first made a real impact, converting from a full back and midfielder to a forward player.
Following an impressive 9 goals in 14 games early in the 2011/12 season, Bakare joined Conference South club Chelmsford City, in a free transfer on 19 October 2011.[7] He continued to impress at his new club, scoring 5 goals in 10 games, which earned Bakare a move to Football League side, Macclesfield Town on 17 January 2012.
Bakare signed on a free transfer,[8] and made his first appearance as a substitute against Swindon Town on 21 January 2012. He was however limited to substitute appearances at Macclesfield, not starting a single game, and was released by the club, following their relegation at the end of the 2011/2012 season, making only 9 appearances.[9] His last game was against Southend United on 5 May 2012.
Conference National club Southport took Bakare on trial in July 2012. After a single appearance in a friendly against Skelmersdale United it was announced manager Liam Watson had signed the player to a contract for the 2012–13 season at the club's AGM on 27 July 2012.
In October 2012 he joined Droylsden on loan[10] and scored on his club debut on 27 October as the club beat Colwyn Bay.
From then on he has been somewhat of a journeyman, going on to play for Chelmsford City, Dover Athletic, Tonbridge Angels, Braintree Town, Bury Town, VCD Athletic and Witham Town[11] before rejoining his former club Welling United for the 2015/16 season.[12]
On 22 June 2016, he joined Wrexham, along with his Welling teammate Nortei Nortey, on a 1-year deal.[13] He made his debut for the club on the opening day of the 2016–17 season, in a 0–0 draw with Dover Athletic.[14]
On 24 November 2016, he joined Billericay Town on loan from Wrexham until January 2017. He made his debut in a league match against Metropolitan Police where he won his side a penalty before converting it himself, in a game that finished 1–1. Following the end of his loan spell, Bakare returned to Wrexham where his contract was cancelled by mutual consent on 23 January 2017.[15]
Bakare signed for Warrington Town on 23 March 2017.[16]
In August 2017, Bakare joined Welsh Premier League side Connah's Quay Nomads, alongside his brother Mathias, after a successful trial period.[17] In May 2018, he scored in the Welsh Cup final, helping his team to a 4–1 win. In December 2018, Bakare extended his contract with Connah's Quay for a further year.[18]
On 16 February 2021, Bakare joined National League North side Hereford on a short-term deal.[19]
On 13 July 2021, Bakare signed for Icelandic 1. deild karla side Fjölnir, joining a team outside of the UK for the first time.[20]
In November 2021, he returned to England and signed for Isthmian League Premier Division side Leatherhead.[21]
In February 2022, Bakare signed a short-term deal with Scottish Championship side Arbroath until the end of the season.[22]
In July 2022, Bakare joined Veikkausliiga side HIFK until the end of the year.[23]
In March 2023, Bakare returned to England and signed for Isthmian League Premier Division club Enfield Town on a contract till the end of the season.[24]
In August 2023 Bakare joined Glacis United in the Gibraltar Football League. He was appointed player-manager the following season.