| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Ikechukwu Uche | ||
| Date of birth | 5 January 1984 | ||
| Place of birth | Aba, Nigeria | ||
| Height | 1.71 m (5 ft 7 in) | ||
| Playing position | Striker | ||
| Club information | |||
| Current club | Granada (on loan from Villarreal) | ||
| Number | 20 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Amanze United | |||
| 2000–2001 | Iwuanyanwo Nationale | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 2001–2003 | Racing Ferrol | 28 | (2) |
| 2003–2007 | Recreativo | 133 | (50) |
| 2007–2009 | Getafe | 55 | (11) |
| 2009–2011 | Zaragoza | 18 | (1) |
| 2011– | Villarreal | 0 | (0) |
| 2011– | → Granada (loan) | 10 | (1) |
| National team‡ | |||
| 2007– | Nigeria | 34 | (13) |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 6 November 2011. † Appearances (Goals). |
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Ikechukwu Uche (born 5 January 1984 in Aba) is a Nigerian footballer who plays for Granada CF on loan from Villarreal CF, as a striker.
He spent most of his professional career in Spain, having arrived in the country before the age of 20.
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Uche's footballer career began with Amanze United and Iwuanyanwu Nationale. Aged just 17, he moved to Racing de Ferrol in the Spanish second division, appearing in 24 games in his second season, which ended in relegation for the Galician team.
Uche then joined another club in the country's second level, Recreativo de Huelva, for a fee of $300,000, and scored 12 goals in his first season, becoming the league's top scorer in 2005–06, at 20 in just 28 games (with five braces), as the Andalusians returned - as champions - to La Liga after a three-year absence.
In his first top flight year, Uche scored on eight occasions. Notably, he netted in three consecutive matches in November 2006 (with wins at Celta de Vigo and against CA Osasuna), as Recre finished eight.
For 2007–08, he joined Madrid's Getafe CF, mainly being used as a substitute. On 29 November 2008, also from the bench, he netted in a 3–1 home win over Real Madrid.[1]
In July 2009, Real Zaragoza, recently returned to the top flight, agreed terms to sign Uche, subject to medical.[2] He was presented officially on the 22nd, and signed a four-year contract.[3] In only his second match, a 1–4 loss at Sevilla FC, he suffered a severe knee injury, going on to miss seven months.[4]
Uche recovered fully for Zaragoza's 2010–11 pre-season; however, he suffered another knee injury, being ruled out for another six months.[5] His return to action took place on 19 February 2011, as he played 20 minutes in a 0–1 home loss against Atlético Madrid, hitting David de Gea's bar in the dying minutes of the game, after an individual effort.[6]
On 2 March 2011, Uche made his first start of the season, at home against Athletic Bilbao. On the 55th minute, he scored the final 2–1 for the Aragonese - his first goal since May 2009 - and cried profusely as he celebrated.[7]
In the last day of the 2011 summer transfer window, Uche was purchased by Villarreal CF, being immediately loaned out to fellow top-divisioner Granada CF. On 17 September, he scored the game's only goal against the team that held his rights, in a home fixture.[8]
Uche made his debut for Nigeria in 2007. He was part of the squad that competed in the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations in Ghana, helping the Super Eagles to the quarterfinals.
Correct as of 15 November 2011
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