Emmanuel Emenike

Emmanuel Emenike

Emenike with Spartak Moscow in 2013
Personal information
Full nameEmmanuel Chinenye Emenike
Date of birth10 May 1987
Place of birthOtuocha, Aguleri, Nigeria
Height1.82 m (5 ft 11 1⁄2 in)
Playing positionStriker
Club information
Current team
Fenerbahçe
Youth career
2007–2008Delta Force
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps†(Gls)†
2008MP Black Aces7(3)
2008–2009Cape Town16(1)
2009–2011Karabükspor51(30)
2011Fenerbahçe0(0)
2011–2013Spartak Moscow42(21)
2013–Fenerbahçe53(16)
National team‡
2011–Nigeria27(8)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 07:52, 28 April 2015 (UTC).

† Appearances (Goals).
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 1 November 2014

Best FIFA Player in the game

Emmanuel Chineye Emenike (born 10 May 1987) is a Nigerian international footballer who plays as a striker for Turkish team Fenerbahçe.

Career

Delta Force F.C.

Emenike started his football career with Delta Force. He revealed he walked on foot to training and back, even though it could take an hour and a half. He said he didn't get paid as he played at the club when it was non-professional and were in a low division, the club were also refused funds from the Delta State government.

Mpumalanga Black Aces

Later on his career, he would earn his first salary when he moved to South Africa.[1] He transferred to South African National First Division team Mpumalanga Black Aces in January 2008 and debuted against Dynamos F.C. on 17 February 2008. He scored his first goal with the team in his debut but Black Aces lost the match 4–2.[2] He was a member of the Black Aces team that lost against Mamelodi Sundowns in the Nedbank Cup final.

F.C. Cape Town

In May 2008, he joined First Division team F.C. Cape Town.

Karabükspor

In 2009 Emenike signed a one-year loan deal[3] with Karabükspor. Emenike made his debut in the opening game of the 1.Lig season on 23 August 2009 in a 3–3 draw against Samsunspor. He would score his first goal on 11 October, against Kartal. Emenike would score his first hat-trick of his Turkish career in a 6–1 win over Mersin İdmanyurdu and score another hat-trick on 14 February 2010 in a 4–2 win over Kayseri Erciyesspor. He went on to score 16 goals in the 1.Lig, leading the club to the title and automatic promotion.[4]

Emenike won the 1.Lig Best Foreign Player award at the end of the 2009–10 season,[5] and also had his contract extended by three years for 300.000 €.[3]

Emenike scored on his Süper Lig debut, helping Karabükspor to a 2–1 victory over Manisaspor.[6] On 28 November 2010, He scored his first hat-trick in Süper Lig career in a 3–0 win over Bucaspor. He subsequently scored a total of 14 goals in his debut Süper Lig season.[4] <sup class="noprint Inline-Template "noprint Inline-Template"" style="white-space:nowrap;">[check quotation syntax]

In May, 2011, he initiated a lawsuit against the newspaper 'Haber Turk' for what Emenike's agents describe as "misleading" and "malicious" claim that Emenike's age is 7 years different than is shown on his passport.[7]

Fenerbahçe

On 25 May 2011, Emenike joined Fenerbahçe for an undisclosed fee, believed to be around 9 million euros.[8][9]

Match-fixing scandal

On 7 July 2011, Emenike was arrested by the police for match-fixing allegations.[10] After being questioned Emenike was freed by the Turkish court. Subsequently Fenerbahçe announced that Emmanuel Emenike had been sold to Spartak Moscow (for a fee of €10 million).[11]

Five months later Emenike and thirteen other players were charged over alleged match-fixing attempts.[12] If convicted of match-fixing in a Turkish court, he could have faced up to three years in prison.[13] After several delays over his case during a two year time span Emenike was cleared of match-fixing on 25 April 2013 due to lack of credible evidence.[14]

Spartak Moscow

Emenike in a Spartak Moscow shirt.

On 28 July 2011, he was sold to Spartak Moscow for €10 million due to the match fixing scandal involving Fenerbahce and Emenike.[11][15] Emenike had never appeared in a competitive match for Fenerbahçe.

Emenike made his debut on the opening game of the season coming on as a substitute for Ari in the 76th minute, against Anzhi Makhachkala on 14 August 2011. Emenike made his Europa League debut in a 2–2 draw against Polish side Legia Warsaw in the first leg of the qualification round. Emenike scored his first goal for the club with a 1–1 draw against CSKA Moscow. On 29 October 2011, Emenike scored his first hat-trick in a 3–0 win over Lokomotiv Moscow and the next game when Spartak played against Lokomotiv, he would score twice.

Towards the end of season, Emenike was fined about US$17,000 for an offensive gesture after Dynamo Moscow fans, who racially abused him during a match between Spartak and Dynamo, which Spartak won 3–1 and he scored. Vladimir Vasilyev, a Russian FA's ethics committee official, explained the fine, stating it was "an adequate punishment".[16]

In the last game of the season against champions Zenit Saint Petersburg, Emenike scored the second goal in the game but received a red card after he appeared to do a mock vein-tapping in preparation for an imaginary heroin injection.[17] Eventually, Spartak Moscow would win 3–2. After the game, Emenike made an explanation celebration for gratitude to his parents[18] The meeting between House of Football Control and Disciplinary Committee refused to consider the incident and shifted responsibility for the decision by the Ethics Committee.[19]

In the 2011/12 season, Emenike scored 13 goals (all in the league) and is the second top-scorer behind Artyom Dzyuba, who scored one more than Emenike. At the end of the season, Emenike signed a four-year deal and increased his buy-out clause to $42 million.[20]

In 2012–13 season, Emenike scored the fastest goal in the history of the Russian League, within 10 seconds of kick-off in a 2–1 win over Alania Vladikavkaz on the opening game of the season. In the Champions League qualifying round against his former club Fenerbahçe, he scored in a 2–1 first leg win. Eventually, Spartak Moscow would go through to the Group Stage of the Champions League. In Matchday Two of the Group Stage, Emenike scored a brace in a 3–2 loss against Scottish side Celtic. After the match, Nigerian team-mate Efe Ambrose spoke to Goal.com praising Emenike for his "electrifying performance"[21] But in the second half of the season, his playing time was reduced, due to injuries.[22][23] In 2013–14 season, Emenike scored three goals in four matches, to send the club into first place in the league in the first-four matches. When Emenike left Spartak he said that Valeriy Karpin (Spartak coach) was like a father to him.

Return to Fenerbahçe

Emmanuel Emenike playing for Fenerbahçe in 2013

In August 2013, Emenike moved back to Turkey by returning to Fenerbahçe for a fee worth around €13m (£10.2M).[24] He was noted to be "thrilled" and was quoted saying Fenerbahce had always been a dream for him, and he had returned to perform for the fans and win championships. His first match for Fenerbahçe against Torku Konyaspor ended in a 3–2 loss. He scored his first goal for Fenerbahçe in October 2013 against Kayserispor in the 94th minute, securing a last minute win. He scored two more against Gaziantepspor a week later, while Fenerbahçe won 3–1.

International career

Emenike was called up to the Nigeria national football team for a friendly against Sierra Leone.[25] He was called up to Nigeria's 23-man squad for the Africa Cup of Nations.[26] On 21 January 2013, he scored in Nigeria's opening AFCON match against Burkina Faso in a 1–1 draw. He also scored the first goal in the quarter final match between Nigeria and Côte d'Ivoire which Nigeria won 2–1. On 3 February, Emenike scored a 30-yard free kick giving his country a 2–1 win over Côte d'Ivoire in the African Cup of Nations.

In 2013, he became part of the third Nigerian team to win the African Cup of Nations – Nigeria's first continental victory since 1994. His four goals proved crucial to Nigeria's progress through the tournament, and he was named to the team of the African Cup of Nations Team of the Tournament.[27] However, Emenike wasn't included in the final, due to a thigh injury.[28] He also received the Pepsi Tournament Top Scorer, with four goals, along with Ghana's Wakaso Mubarak.[29]

In March 2013, Emenike was left out of the Nigerian squad for the World Cup qualifier, due to hamstring injury,[23] which Emenike criticised Nigeria's coach and officials of ignoring him.[30] In June 2013, Emenike wasn't included for Nigeria's squad at the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup.[31] After four month without being called up, Emenike was called up for August's Mandela Cup friendly match but did not participate due to injury.[32] Emenike celebrated his absence from Eagles in Sept 2013 when he played in the 2014 world cup qualifier against Malawi – played in Calabar. He scored a goal in the two-nil win by the Super Eagles – a win which took them to the final round of world cup qualifiers.[33] He came on as a substitute three days later in a friendly match against Burkina Faso, played in Kaduna – he scored the fourth goal in a 4–1 win for the Eagles.

On October 13, 2013, in the first-leg of last round of the World Cup qualifier against Ethiopia, he scored twice to give the Super Eagles a 2–1 lead going into the second-leg[34]

Club

As of 23 December 2014.
Club Season League Cup Continental Total
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Karabükspor 2009–10 281600002816
2010–11 231400002314
Total 51 30 0 0 0 0 51 30
Spartak Moscow 2011–12 221300202413
2012–13 1651063238
2013–14 43000043
Total 42 21 1 0 8 3 51 24
Fenerbahçe 2013–14 281210203112
2014–15 2245000274
Total 50 16 6 0 2 0 58 16
Career Totals 143 67 7 0 10 3 160 70

Personal life

In January 2014, Globacom announced it named Emenike as their new brand ambassador. In the EA Sports video game FIFA 15, Emenike is regarded as a very sweaty player due to his high stats in pace and strength.[35]

Honours

Club

Karabükspor
Spartak Moscow
Fenerbahçe

Nigeria

Individual

References

  1. ↑ Эммануэль Эменике: "Еще в 18 лет я ходил на тренировки пешком. Полтора часа – туда, полтора – обратно" (in Russian). Sports Russia. 4 August 2012. Retrieved 17 November 2012.
  2. ↑ Who is Emenike
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Karabuk's Striker Emenike
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1
  5. ↑ Bank Asya 1. lig'de spor ödülleri verildi zaman.com.tr (Turkish), accessed 18 August 2010
  6. ↑ KARDEMİR D.Ç. KARABÜKSPOR MANİSASPOR tff.org , accessed 18 August 2010
  7. ↑ "Emenike sues Turkish paper". Kickoff.com. 7 May 2011. Retrieved 17 November 2012.
  8. ↑ "Emenike joins Fenerbahce!". fenerbahce.org. Retrieved 26 May 2011.
  9. ↑ "Emmanuel Emenike!". soccerway.com. Retrieved 22 January 2013.
  10. ↑ "Nigeria's Emenike freed in Turkey". BBC Sport. 7 July 2011. Retrieved 17 November 2012.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 KAP Özel Durum Açıklaması (Genel)(Turkish)
  12. ↑ "Emenike faces match-fixing charges". BBC Sport. 3 December 2011. Retrieved 17 November 2012.
  13. ↑ "Nigeria striker Emmanuel Emenike faces possibility of jail term over Turkish league match-fixing charges". Goal.com. 16 February 2012. Retrieved 17 November 2012.
  14. ↑ "Nigeria striker Emenike acquitted of match-fixing". Fox Soccer. 25 April 2013.
  15. ↑
  16. ↑ "Spartak Moscow's Emenike fined despite racist abuse". BBC Sport. 31 March 2012. Retrieved 17 November 2012.
  17. ↑ "Today on YouTube: Spartak Moscow’s Emmanuel Emenike sent off for arm-tapping goal celebration". Daily Telegraph. 7 May 2012. Retrieved 17 November 2012.
  18. ↑ Эменике удалили за память о предках (in Russian). Gazeta. 6 May 2012. Retrieved 17 November 2012.
  19. ↑ Инцидент с Эменике КДК РФС не рассматривал (in Russian). Chempionat.com. 11 May 2012. Retrieved 17 November 2012.
  20. ↑ "Emmanuel Emenike signs new bumper deal with Spartak Moscow". Goal.com. 3 July 2012. Retrieved 17 November 2012.
  21. ↑ "Efe Ambrose hails unbelievable Emenike in Champions League game". Goal.com. 4 October 2012. Retrieved 17 November 2012.
  22. ↑ "Emmanuel Emenike injured again". All Sports.com. 29 April 2013. Retrieved 8 August 2013.
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 "Emenike out of World Cup qualifier". BBC Sport. 8 March 2013. Retrieved 8 August 2013.
  24. ↑ "Fenerbahce announce capture of Emmanuel Emenike for €13m". Goal.com. 7 August 2013. Retrieved 8 August 2013.
    "Fenerbahce announce £11.2m Emenike signing". Goal.com. 7 August 2013. Retrieved 8 August 2013.
  25. ↑ SHOLA AMEOBI VICTOR MOSES GET NIGERIA CALL kickoff.com , accessed 14 January 2011
  26. ↑ Oluwashina Okeleji (10 January 2013). "Nations Cup 2013: Nigeria pick six locally-based players". BBC Sport. Retrieved 10 January 2013.
  27. ↑ "Mikel, Moses, Emenike, Pitroipa named in CAF Team of Tournament". Premium Times Nigeria. 11 February 2013. Retrieved 8 August 2013.
  28. ↑ "African Cup of Nations: Nigeria face nervous wait on struggling frontmen". The National. 10 February 2013. Retrieved 8 August 2013.
  29. ↑ "Orange CAF Africa Cup of Nations Awards". African Cup of Nations Official Website. 10 February 2013. Retrieved 8 August 2013.
  30. ↑ "Injured Emenike criticises Nigeria coach and officials". BBC Sport. 16 March 2013. Retrieved 8 August 2013.
  31. ↑ "Nigeria to take new-look squad to Confederations Cup". BBC Sport. 9 June 2013. Retrieved 8 August 2013.
  32. ↑ "Keshi able to recall key strikers Emenike and Ameobi". BBC Sport. 17 July 2013. Retrieved 8 August 2013.
  33. ↑ "Emenike and Moses give Eagles playoff ticket". Goal.com. 7 September 2013. Retrieved 15 September 2013.
  34. ↑ "World Cup 2014: Ethiopia 1–2 Nigeria". BBC Sport. 13 October 2013. Retrieved 14 October 2013.
  35. ↑ "Nigerian star Emenike signs Globacom deal". Goal.com. 6 January 2014. Retrieved 10 January 2014.

External links