Angelo Obinze Ogbonna
Encyclopedia
Angelo Obinze Ogbonna is an Italian
footballer of Nigeria
n descent who plays as a centre back
for Serie B
club Torino
.
and first team debut on 11 February 2007 against against Reggina
. He then spent the 2007–08 season on loan to Serie C1
side Crotone
.
In 2008–09, Ogbonna returned to Torino, playing mostly as a backup defender to regulars Natali
and Di Loreto
. He eventually earned his place as a starter and it was his solid performances in Serie B
during the start of the 2011-12 season than earned him a call-up to the Italy senior squad.
national team in a friendly game against Russia
.
On 4 June 2011, he received his first senior squad call-up by coach Cesare Prandelli
despite playing in the Serie B
. He is the first Torino player to be called up to the Azzurri
since 2007. Following several injuries for the Azzurri squad, Ogbonna was called up again on 5 October 2011.
On 11 November 2011, Ogbonna made his senior debut in 2-0 win in a friendly
against Poland
. He came on as a substitute for Domenico Criscito
in the 77th minute.
in the central part of the country, but managed to obtain Italian citizenship only after his 18th birthday.
On 22 December 2008 he survived a car accident near Turin
, after he lost control of his Smart automobile
and drove off a bridge into a torrent at around 5:00 am.
Italian people
The Italian people are an ethnic group that share a common Italian culture, ancestry and speak the Italian language as a mother tongue. Within Italy, Italians are defined by citizenship, regardless of ancestry or country of residence , and are distinguished from people...
footballer of Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
n descent who plays as a centre back
Defender (association football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
for Serie B
Serie B
Serie B, currently named Serie bwin due to sponsorship reasons, is the second-highest division in the Italian football league system after the Serie A. It is contested by 22 teams and organized by the Lega Serie B since July 2010, after the split of Lega Calcio that previously took care of both the...
club Torino
Torino F.C.
Torino Football Club, commonly referred to as simply Torino, is a professional Italian football club based in Turin, Piedmont, that was founded in 1906. The club has spent most of its history in the top tier in Italian football....
.
Club career
Ogbonna started his career in his native Cassino before being noted by some Torino scouts, and was later signed by the Granata youth academy. He made his Serie ASerie A
Serie A , now called Serie A TIM due to sponsorship by Telecom Italia, is a professional league competition for football clubs located at the top of the Italian football league system and has been operating for over eighty years since 1929. It had been organized by Lega Calcio until 2010, but a new...
and first team debut on 11 February 2007 against against Reggina
Reggina Calcio
Reggina Calcio are an Italian association football club, the main club of the city of Reggio Calabria. Founded in 1914, they currently play in the Italian Serie B, and play their home matches at the 27,763 seater Stadio Oreste Granillo...
. He then spent the 2007–08 season on loan to Serie C1
Serie C1
Lega Pro Prima Divisione is the name of the third highest football league in Italy. It consists of 36 teams, divided geographically into two divisions of 18 teams each. Until 2008 it was known as Serie C1....
side Crotone
F.C. Crotone
Football Club Crotone is an Italian football club based in Crotone, Calabria. Founded in 1923, it currently plays in Serie B, holding home games at Stadio Ezio Scida, which has a 9,631-seat capacity.-History:...
.
In 2008–09, Ogbonna returned to Torino, playing mostly as a backup defender to regulars Natali
Cesare Natali
Cesare Natali is an Italian footballer who plays as a defender for ACF Fiorentina of Serie A.-Atalanta:Natali started his career at Atalanta. He scored the opening goal in the relegation playoffs second legs in June 2003, but Atalanta eventually lost 1–2 and relegated to Serie B. On 30 August...
and Di Loreto
Marco Di Loreto
Marco Di Loreto is an Italian former footballer. He played over 200 matches at Italian Serie A since his debut at age 26.-Coaching career:In March 2011 he was appointed as the coach of Berretti youth team of Foligno Calcio...
. He eventually earned his place as a starter and it was his solid performances in Serie B
Serie B
Serie B, currently named Serie bwin due to sponsorship reasons, is the second-highest division in the Italian football league system after the Serie A. It is contested by 22 teams and organized by the Lega Serie B since July 2010, after the split of Lega Calcio that previously took care of both the...
during the start of the 2011-12 season than earned him a call-up to the Italy senior squad.
International career
On 12 August 2009, he made his debut with the Italy U-21Italy national under-21 football team
The Italy national under-21 football team is the national under-21 football team of Italy and is controlled by the Italian Football Federation.The team competes in the UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship, held every two years...
national team in a friendly game against Russia
Russia national under-21 football team
The Russia national under-21 football team is overseen by the Russian Football Union. The team competes in the European Under-21 Football Championship, held every two years.- Coaches :-Results:*1994: quarterfinalists...
.
On 4 June 2011, he received his first senior squad call-up by coach Cesare Prandelli
Cesare Prandelli
Cesare Claudio Prandelli is an Italian football coach and former player. He is currently the manager of the Italy national football team.-Playing career:...
despite playing in the Serie B
Serie B
Serie B, currently named Serie bwin due to sponsorship reasons, is the second-highest division in the Italian football league system after the Serie A. It is contested by 22 teams and organized by the Lega Serie B since July 2010, after the split of Lega Calcio that previously took care of both the...
. He is the first Torino player to be called up to the Azzurri
Italy national football team
The Italy National Football Team , represents Italy in association football and is controlled by the Italian Football Federation , the governing body for football in Italy. Italy is the second most successful national team in the history of the World Cup having won four titles , just one fewer than...
since 2007. Following several injuries for the Azzurri squad, Ogbonna was called up again on 5 October 2011.
On 11 November 2011, Ogbonna made his senior debut in 2-0 win in a friendly
Exhibition game
An exhibition game is a sporting event in which there is no competitive value of any significant kind to any competitor regardless of the outcome of the competition...
against Poland
Poland national football team
The Poland national football team represents Poland in association football and is controlled by the Polish Football Association, the governing body for football in Poland...
. He came on as a substitute for Domenico Criscito
Domenico Criscito
Domenico Criscito , is an Italian footballer who plays as a defender for Russian Premier League club FC Zenit Saint Petersburg. He is a versatile defender who started his career as a centre back but now usually plays at left back.-Club career:...
in the 77th minute.
Personal life
Ogbonna was born to Nigerian parents who immigrated to Italy in 1983, settling in the city of CassinoCassino
Cassino is a comune in the province of Frosinone, Italy, at the southern end of the region of Lazio.Cassino is located at the foot of Monte Cairo near the confluence of the Rapido and Liri rivers...
in the central part of the country, but managed to obtain Italian citizenship only after his 18th birthday.
On 22 December 2008 he survived a car accident near Turin
Turin
Turin is a city and major business and cultural centre in northern Italy, capital of the Piedmont region, located mainly on the left bank of the Po River and surrounded by the Alpine arch. The population of the city proper is 909,193 while the population of the urban area is estimated by Eurostat...
, after he lost control of his Smart automobile
Smart (automobile)
Smart is an automotive branch of Daimler AG. Smart is a German manufacturer of microcars produced in Hambach, France, and Böblingen, Germany...
and drove off a bridge into a torrent at around 5:00 am.
External links
- La Gazzetta dello Sport profile (in Italian)
- Profile on official club website