Benedict Iroha

Benedict Iroha
Personal information
Date of birthNovember 29, 1969
Place of birthAba, Nigeria
Height1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)
Playing positionLeft back, Left Midfielder
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
1989Bendel Insurance?(?)
1990Iwuanyanwu Nationale?(?)
1991–1992ASEC Mimosas?(?)
1992–1996Vitesse Arnhem21(1)
1996–1997San Jose Clash33(2)
1997DC United17(4)
1997–1998Elche CF1(0)
1998–2000Watford10(0)
Total82(7)
National team
1990–1998Nigeria50(1)
Teams managed
2000–2006FC Dallas (Youth Coach)
2007Nigeria U-17 (Assistant Coach)
2007–2008Dolphins FC
2009–Heartland F.C. (Chief Trainer)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.
† Appearances (Goals).

Benedict Iroha (born November 29, 1969) is a former Nigerian association football defender.

Career

He was originally a midfielder before national coach Clemens Westerhof converted him to play left back. His club career in Europe was largely unsuccessful, and Iroha was allocated to San Jose Clash in 1996. The next season he was traded to DC United, where he won the league title. After a move to Spanish side Elche CF in 1997, he moved to Watford in December 1998, playing 10 games for the Hertfordshire side. Unfortunately a problem with bunions forced him to the sidelines, and he retired in March 2000.

International career

Playing for the Nigerian national team, he was featured in the 1994 FIFA World Cup and the 1998 FIFA World Cup as well as when they won the 1994 African Nations Cup.

Coaching career

After retiring he returned to the USA to coach in the youth department of FC Dallas. Most recently, he was an assistant with the Nigerian U-17 team that won the 2007 FIFA U-17 World Cup and head coach of Nigeria's Dolphins FC. He currently is on the staff of Heartland of Owerri.

External links