John Utaka
Encyclopedia
John Chukwudi Utaka is a Nigerian footballer who played as a striker for Montpellier
of the Ligue 1
. He is the older brother of Peter Utaka
, who plays for OB in Denmark
.
, then spending a season playing for Al-Sadd
of Qatar
, before joining Racing Lens and later Rennes
in France
. During his career he has mainly been utilised as a pacy winger making a very effective element in a team's counter attacking.
Utaka struggled to make an impact at the start of his Rennes stint. However, he took advantage of the absence of fellow striker Alexander Frei through injury to make his breakthrough. In February 2006, he scored two consecutive hat-trick
s, against Lens
and Lyon
, and as a result received L'Equipe
's player of the month award.
In Egypt, while with Ismaily, Utaka earned cult status with the local fans. They used to chant "Oh Oh Oh Utaka, Oh Oh Oh Utaka" during the matches. He played alongside the likes of Mohammed Barakat, Islam El-Shater
, and captain Mohamed Salah Abo Greisha
under the guidance of Mohsen Saleh
, later appointed coach of Egypt.
Utaka joined Portsmouth on a four-year deal in July 2007, for a fee of around £7,000,000. He scored his
first goal on 11 August 2007 in a game against newly promoted Derby County
. Some sources claim he became the club's record signing.
On 17 May 2008, Portsmouth won the FA Cup
with a 1–0 victory over Cardiff City
. Utaka provided the cross for the winning goal which was scored by Nwankwo Kanu
.
He went on to have a poor 2008–09 season but on 27 June 2009 he confirmed he would be staying at the club for at least another season.
The salary being paid to Utaka become a talking point in light of Portsmouth FC's financial woes. With news agencies reporting an alleged 80 thousand Sterling per week salary for Utaka a reflection of the financial mismanagement of the football club. Utaka has since hit out at these reports, claiming that he earns one third of that figure.
On 23 January 2010, Utaka scored both goals in Portsmouth's 2–1 win over Sunderland in the FA Cup 4th Round.
On 29 January 2011, Utaka signed for French first division side Montpellier
, agreeing a two-and-a-half year deal for an undisclosed fee.
and was a participant at the 2002 World Cup
. He started four of Nigeria's six games in the 2006 African Cup of Nations
, in which Nigeria
finished in third place. He was also part of the Nigeria
National Team that participated in the 2010 World Cup
but was an unused substitute in the tournament.
Portsmouth:
Montpellier HSC
Montpellier Hérault Sport Club is a French association football club based in the city of Montpellier. The club was founded in 1919 and currently plays in Ligue 1, the top level of French football. Montpellier plays its home matches at the Stade de la Mosson, located within the city...
of the Ligue 1
Ligue 1
Ligue 1 , is the French professional league for association football clubs. It is the country's primary football competition and serves as the top division of the French football league system. Ligue 1 is one of two divisions making up the Ligue de Football Professionnel, the other being Ligue 2....
. He is the older brother of Peter Utaka
Peter Utaka
Peter Utaka is a Nigerian footballer with a Belgian passport currently playing for Danish club Odense Boldklub. He is the younger brother of John Utaka, who currently plays for Montpellier in France.-Club career:...
, who plays for OB in Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
.
Club career
Utaka has played for several clubs across three continents, first for Arab Contractors and subsequently Ismaily of EgyptEgypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
, then spending a season playing for Al-Sadd
Al-Sadd
Sadd Sports Club known as Al-Sadd Club is a Qatari sports club, best known for its football team of the Qatar National First Division, from the city of Doha. The club goes with the Nickname "Al-Zaeem", which translates to "The Boss", and was founded by four students on the October 21, 1969 in...
of Qatar
Qatar
Qatar , also known as the State of Qatar or locally Dawlat Qaṭar, is a sovereign Arab state, located in the Middle East, occupying the small Qatar Peninsula on the northeasterly coast of the much larger Arabian Peninsula. Its sole land border is with Saudi Arabia to the south, with the rest of its...
, before joining Racing Lens and later Rennes
Stade Rennais FC
Stade Rennais Football Club is a French association football club based in Rennes. The club was founded in 1901 and currently plays in Ligue 1, the top tier of French football. Rennes plays its home matches at the Stade de la Route de Lorient located within the city...
in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. During his career he has mainly been utilised as a pacy winger making a very effective element in a team's counter attacking.
Utaka struggled to make an impact at the start of his Rennes stint. However, he took advantage of the absence of fellow striker Alexander Frei through injury to make his breakthrough. In February 2006, he scored two consecutive hat-trick
Hat-trick
A hat-trick or hat trick in sport is the achievement of a positive feat three times during a game, or other achievements based on threes. The term was first used in 1858 in cricket to describe HH Stephenson's feat of taking three wickets in three balls. A collection was held for Stephenson, and he...
s, against Lens
RC Lens
Racing Club de Lens is a French association football club based in the northern city of Lens in the Pas-de-Calais department. Its nickname, sang et or , comes from its traditional colours of red and gold. Their primary rivals are their northern neighbors Lille OSC, whom they contest the Derby du...
and Lyon
Olympique Lyonnais
Olympique Lyonnais is a French association football club based in Lyon. They play in France's highest football division, Ligue 1. The club was formed as Lyon Olympique Universitaire in 1899, according to many supporters and sport historians, but was nationally established as a club in 1950. The...
, and as a result received L'Equipe
L'Équipe
L'Équipe is a French nationwide daily newspaper devoted to sports, owned by Éditions Philippe Amaury. The paper is noted for coverage of football , rugby, motorsports and cycling...
's player of the month award.
In Egypt, while with Ismaily, Utaka earned cult status with the local fans. They used to chant "Oh Oh Oh Utaka, Oh Oh Oh Utaka" during the matches. He played alongside the likes of Mohammed Barakat, Islam El-Shater
Islam El-Shater
Islam El-Shater is an Egyptian footballer.El-Shater is a defender who is a regular in the right back berth for Haras El Hodood.-Honours:Al-Ahly* Bronze Medalist at FIFA Club World Cup 2006....
, and captain Mohamed Salah Abo Greisha
Mohamed Salah Abo Greisha
Mohamed Salah Abo Greisha is an Egyptian international striker. He is one of the most popular players to Ismaily of Egypt. He won 4 titles out of 6 titles Ismaily won through history...
under the guidance of Mohsen Saleh
Mohsen Saleh
Mohsen Saleh is an Egyptian football manager and former footballer. Until recently, he was the manager of the Libyan National football team but was dismissed due to bad results. -Football career:...
, later appointed coach of Egypt.
Utaka joined Portsmouth on a four-year deal in July 2007, for a fee of around £7,000,000. He scored his
first goal on 11 August 2007 in a game against newly promoted Derby County
Derby County F.C.
Derby County Football Club is an English football based in Derby. the club play in the Football League Championship and is notable as being one of the twelve founder members of the Football League in 1888 and is, therefore, one of only ten clubs to have competed in every season of the English...
. Some sources claim he became the club's record signing.
On 17 May 2008, Portsmouth won the FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
with a 1–0 victory over Cardiff City
Cardiff City F.C.
Cardiff City Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Cardiff, Wales. The club competes in the English football pyramid and is currently playing in the Football League Championship. Cardiff City is the best supported football club in Wales, averaging approximately 22,500 for...
. Utaka provided the cross for the winning goal which was scored by Nwankwo Kanu
Nwankwo Kanu
Nwankwo Kanu, OON , or simply Kanu, is a Nigerian footballer who plays for Portsmouth. He was also a member of the Nigerian national team for 16 years from 1994 until 2010...
.
He went on to have a poor 2008–09 season but on 27 June 2009 he confirmed he would be staying at the club for at least another season.
The salary being paid to Utaka become a talking point in light of Portsmouth FC's financial woes. With news agencies reporting an alleged 80 thousand Sterling per week salary for Utaka a reflection of the financial mismanagement of the football club. Utaka has since hit out at these reports, claiming that he earns one third of that figure.
On 23 January 2010, Utaka scored both goals in Portsmouth's 2–1 win over Sunderland in the FA Cup 4th Round.
On 29 January 2011, Utaka signed for French first division side Montpellier
Montpellier HSC
Montpellier Hérault Sport Club is a French association football club based in the city of Montpellier. The club was founded in 1919 and currently plays in Ligue 1, the top level of French football. Montpellier plays its home matches at the Stade de la Mosson, located within the city...
, agreeing a two-and-a-half year deal for an undisclosed fee.
International career
Utaka plays for NigeriaNigeria national football team
The Nigeria national football team, nicknamed the Super Eagles or Green Eagles, is the national team of Nigeria and is controlled by the Nigeria Football Federation . The team has ranked as high as 5th in the FIFA World Rankings, in April 1994...
and was a participant at the 2002 World Cup
2002 FIFA World Cup
The 2002 FIFA World Cup was the 17th staging of the FIFA World Cup, held in South Korea and Japan from 31 May to 30 June. It was also the first World Cup held in Asia, and the last in which the golden goal rule was implemented. Brazil won the tournament for a record fifth time, beating Germany 2–0...
. He started four of Nigeria's six games in the 2006 African Cup of Nations
2006 African Cup of Nations
-Group B:---------------------Group C:---------------------Group D:---------------------Knockout stage:-Quarter-finals:-------------Semi-finals:-----Third-place play-off:-Final:-Scorers:...
, in which Nigeria
Nigeria national football team
The Nigeria national football team, nicknamed the Super Eagles or Green Eagles, is the national team of Nigeria and is controlled by the Nigeria Football Federation . The team has ranked as high as 5th in the FIFA World Rankings, in April 1994...
finished in third place. He was also part of the Nigeria
Nigeria national football team
The Nigeria national football team, nicknamed the Super Eagles or Green Eagles, is the national team of Nigeria and is controlled by the Nigeria Football Federation . The team has ranked as high as 5th in the FIFA World Rankings, in April 1994...
National Team that participated in the 2010 World Cup
2010 FIFA World Cup
The 2010 FIFA World Cup was the 19th FIFA World Cup, the world championship for men's national association football teams. It took place in South Africa from 11 June to 11 July 2010...
but was an unused substitute in the tournament.
List of honours
Ismaily SC:- Egyptian League: Top scorer 2000-01
Portsmouth:
- FA CupFA CupThe Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
: 2008FA Cup 2007-08The 2007–08 FA Cup was the 127th season of the world's oldest football knockout competition, The Football Association Challenge Cup, or FA Cup for short. A record 731 clubs' entries were accepted for the competition....
External links
- John Utaka the Official Site
- John Utaka's profile, stats & pics Stade Rennais
- Player profile and pictures Racing Club de Lens
- Player profile and career NigerianPlayers.com