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Ademola Lookman's Europa League-winning hat-trick was "beyond anyone's wildest dreams," his former academy coach at Charlton Athletic Steve Avery said.

The 26-year-old Nigeria international scored three spectacular, unanswered goals for Atalanta as the Italian side ended Xabi Alonso and Bayer Leverkusen's 361-day unbeaten run with a 3-0 win in the final in Dublin.

Having started both legs of Atalanta's quarter-final victory against Liverpool, where they won 3-0 on a memorable night at Anfield before the Reds beat them 1-0 in Bergamo, Lookman ran riot against the Bundesliga champions.

He stole in at the back post for the first, bent the ball into the bottom corner with his right foot for the second, before rifling home into the top-right corner with his left to complete the first hat-trick in a major European final since Jupp Heynckes for Borussia Monchengladbach in the 1975 Uefa Cup


'It was written in the stars'

A clip of West Ham goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski easily saving Lookman's attempted Panenka penalty during a loan spell at Fulham circulated on social media after the game, showing what a transformative performance this was.

But for Charlton academy director Avery, the quality was always there.

"He was so exciting to watch. That second and third goal - I've seen him do that here, so I'm not surprised," he told BBC Sport London.

"You always wanted him to get on the ball, you weren't sure what would happen sometimes but you knew there was a good chance of it exciting you.

"I don't think it would have been in anyone's wildest dreams that that would have happened."

Lookman has won 21 caps and scored six goals for Nigeria, starting the Super Eagles' 2-1 final defeat by Ivory Coast in the Africa Cup of Nations this year.

But long before that, as a boy growing up in Wandsworth, south London, he played for Waterloo FC between the ages of nine and 16.

Oliver Reynolds was one of his coaches and said he saw the "Lookman of old" against Leverkusen.

"I woke up this morning and just said 'pinch me because I'm pretty sure that was a dream' - we loved every minute of it," he said.

"But, man, it was written in the stars for Ademola Lookman."

He's playing for a club that believes in him'
Lookman began his career in south-east London before moving to Everton in January 2017, where he marked his debut from the bench with the final goal in the Toffees' 4-0 victory against Pep Guardiola's Manchester City.

That would be his only Premier League goal for the club as he was restricted to just seven league starts in two seasons at Goodison Park.

A six-month loan spell at RB Leipzig followed, with a permanent move to the Red Bull Arena coming a year later in 2019.

After just one Bundesliga start and no league goals, Lookman was loaned out again and returned to London with Fulham.

He scored four times for the Cottagers as they were relegated from the Premier League under Scott Parker and spent the 2021-22 season on loan with Leicester City, scoring eight goals in all competitions as the Foxes finished eighth in the top flight.

Across five and a half seasons he started 62 of his 118 league appearances. Remove his spell from Fulham and that becomes 31 starts in 84.

Since moving to Atalanta in 2022, he has played 76 matches and started 52 of them.

"He's been playing at that elite level but the difference here is that he's playing at a club that clearly has some belief to continue to work with him and develop him, and for him to strike up a relationship with them as well," Avery said.

"Now he has fully established himself at that club, in that league, and he as put himself right up there now in terms of his European achievements."

Source: BBCSport

Nigerians to the world and kudos to as many that are doing wonderful well and promoting the image of our noble Country.

Osimhen help his club to win trophy after 20 years of trying

Lukmon help his club to win first trophy after 60 years of trying.

Asisat Oshoala doing wonderfully well and so many others I couldn't mention their names.

Congratulations to him once again on this achievement.

God bless Nigerians home and abroad.

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God Bless Nigeria.

Lookman was Nigeria's best player at the AFCON.
He was humble, hungry and efficient. While Osimhen was getting all the unnecessary attention, Lookman was spearheading the attacks.
Hopefully he will have a good start next season and bring a well-deserved CAF player of the year at the next awards.

All the 3 goals were wonderful.

Broke two records

1) First Hattrick in a Europa league final
2) Broke Bayern Liverkusen (neverlusen) unbeaten run

waaaaooh good job bro keep doing good

I never knew this was the same Lookman who attempted the failed panenka that relegated Fulham Fc. Amazing story

Nice

Nigeria boy

That's hard work and grace. Congratulations Lookman

Something of since yesterday??

That's how Nigerian journalist and blogger will over hype this guy now till he unexpectedly lose form due to pressure to impress.

Guy is a football legend in a class of his own. Congratulations sir.

I remember his goal against Cameroon on the just finished Afcon

If it was foden, English media no go allow us rest

Fantastic!

He was the most effective super eagles player in the nations cup

I knew how many times lookman spoil my ticket because I didn't look well..

I called Alonso personally and told him to look well but he said look man, I don't need that..

Still typing end result..

Awesome

It is not Lookman it is cookman infact the commentator said it looks like he is cooking his hat trick.

Congratulations, Lookman Omo Ademola

No doubt the guy is good

Star boy...

He was our best player in afcon

England will be wishing he was theirs .Sorry next time

Ademola Lookman making Nigeria proud omoluabi atata

nairalee:
Broke two records

1) First Hattrick in a Europa league final
2) Broke Bayern Liverkusen (neverlusen) unbeaten run

He broke more than two records

Pple 4rm sit-at-home order won't be happy ...

Bxos A. LOOKMAN cut dere tickets 🎟

I no go comment, E GET why

That guy made me proud. Such a calm and amazing shooter.

The first person he called to celebrate with is non one other than.........
Mama Lookman
God bless our mothers, all mothers out there....



For more interesting story about Lookman,
Click on this thread and enjoy 😋

https://www.nairaland.com/8101738/just-beginning-atalanta-hat-trick-hero#130094317