Kenneth Omeruo

Kenneth Omeruo
Personal information
Date of birth17 October 1993
Place of birthAbia State, Nigeria
Height1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Playing positionCentre back or Right back
Club information
Current team
Middlesbrough
(on loan from Chelsea)
Number22
Youth career
2010–2012Standard Liege
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps†(Gls)†
2012–Chelsea0(0)
2012–2013→ ADO Den Haag (loan)36(2)
2014–→ Middlesbrough (loan)34(0)
National team‡
2009Nigeria U177(1)
2011Nigeria U205(0)
2013–Nigeria28(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 21 March 2015.

† Appearances (Goals).

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 11 June 2014

Kenneth Joasiah Omeruo (born 17 October 1993) is a Nigerian professional footballer who plays for Middlesbrough on loan from Chelsea and the Nigerian national team as a centre back.[1][2]

Omeruo signed for Chelsea from Standard Liege in January 2012 and upon signing went on loan to Dutch top-flight side ADO Den Haag. Then only 19, he impressed enough in the Eredivisie to earn a call up to the Nigerian national team.

Now a regular international, Omeruo has represented Nigeria at the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations and the 2013 Confederations Cup in Brazil. Omeruo cemented a place in the starting line-up at the Africa Cup of Nations as it turned into a wonderful tournament for the Super Eagles and they emerged from the tournament victorious.[3]

Club career

Early career

Omeruo had spells at Sunshine Stars and Anderlecht as a trailist before he was signed from the Anderlecht academy by Standard Liège.[4]

Chelsea

In January 2012, Chelsea signed Omeruo from Liège and immediately loaned him out to Eredivisie club ADO Den Haag.[5][6] In May 2014 Nigeria World Cup-bound Omeruo agreed a new three-year contract with Chelsea.[7]

Loan to ADO Den Haag

Omeruo joined ADO Den Haag on an 18-month loan deal which kept him at the club until the end of the 2012–13 season.[8] On 3 March 2012, Omeruo made his debut for ADO Den Haag against SC Heerenveen which ended in a 0–0 draw.[9] On 19 April 2012, in a game against FC Groningen Omeruo scored his first goal for ADO Den Haag.[10]

On 28 April 2012, Omeruo scored against VVV-Venlo in the 19th minute, although just three minutes later scored an own goal.[11] He is the only player in the Dutch league ever to score a goal, an own goal and receive a red card in one match.

Loan to Middlesbrough

On 7 January 2014, Omeruo joined Middlesbrough on loan until the end of the 2013–14 season.[12] On 1 February 2014, Omeruo made his debut for Middlesbrough in a 0–0 draw against Doncaster Rover.[13] On 8 April 2014, Omeruo was sent off in the 82th minute after picking up a second yellow, although the Boro had to finish the game with 9-men (Ben Gibson was also sent off late in the game), the Boro still managed to see earn a 3–1 win victory against Birmingham City.[14]

He rejoined Middlesbrough for the 2014–15 season,[15] making his first appearance against Birmingham in a 2-0 win.

Omeruo has become a huge fan favourite at Boro and an ever present in defence. Omeruo is tipped to go on and become a future Chelsea regular.[16]

International career

Omeruo played for the Nigerian Under-20 team that reached the quarter-finals at the 2011 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Colombia.[17]

On 9 January 2013, at the age of 19 he played for the senior team for the first time in a goalless draw against Cape Verde. He then went on to play in all of Nigeria's matches at the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations as Nigeria went on to win the competition for the third time.[18]

Later that year he was selected for Nigeria's squad at the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup and played in all of the three group games as Nigeria finished third in their group.[19]

Omeuro was named in Nigeria's final squad for the 2014 FIFA World Cup and started in all four games as Nigeria finished second in their group and were eliminated by France at the Round of 16.[20]

Playing style

Omeruo has been described as a "tall, rangy but strong centre-back" and a "level-headed and determined youngster".[21][22]

Personal life

His younger brother Lucky is also a footballer, who currently plays for Rangers International of Enugu[23] and for the Nigeria national under-20 football team.[24]

Career statistics

As of 15 April 2015.[25]
Club Performance League Cup League Cup Continental Total
Club Season Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Netherlands Eredivisie KNVB Cup Other Europe Total
ADO Den Haag(loan) 2011–12 9000----90
2012–13 27220----292
Total 36 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 38 2
England Championship FA Cup League Cup Europe Total
Middlesbrough F.C(loan) 2013–14 1400000--140
2014–15 1902010--220
Total 33 0 2 0 1 0 0 0 36 0
Career total 69 2 4 0 1 0 0 0 74 2

Honours

International

Nigeria

References

  1. ↑ Eredivisie. "Kenneth Omeruo, ADO Den Haag". Eredivisielive.nl. Retrieved 31 May 2012.
  2. ↑ "Kenneth Omeruo". Worldfootball.net. 1993-10-17. Retrieved 31 May 2012.
  3. ↑ "Is Nigeria's Kenneth Omeruo Chelsea's best kept secret?". BBC Sport. 4 December 2013. Retrieved 6 January 2014.
  4. ↑ "Meet Kenneth Omeruo, the best Chelsea player you've never heard of". FourFourTwo. 6 January 2014. Retrieved 6 January 2014.
  5. ↑ "Chelsea linked with move for Standard defender Kenneth Omeruo". ESPN Soccernet. 2012-01-07. Retrieved 31 May 2012.
  6. ↑ "Chelsea Sign Nigerian Youngster Kenneth Omeruo". Goal.com. 8 Jan 2012. Retrieved 8 Jan 2012.
  7. ↑ "OMERUO AGREES NEW CHELSEA CONTRACT". africanfootball.com. 26 May 2014. Retrieved 28 May 2014.
  8. ↑ "Chelsea linked to Omeruo". Sky Sports. 7 Jan 2012. Retrieved 7 Jan 2012.
  9. ↑ ADO Den Haag vs. Heerenveen 0 - 0, Soccerway, 3 March 2012, retrieved 31 May 2012
  10. ↑ Barry Glendenning (9 May 2012). "The Knowledge | English football's only joint own goal". London: Guardian. Retrieved 31 May 2012.
  11. ↑ VVV-Venlo v.s. ADO Den Haag 2-1, Soccerway, 28 April 2012, retrieved 31 May 2012
  12. ↑ "Boro Seal Omeruo Loan". Middlesbrough FC. 7 January 2014.
  13. ↑ "Doncaster Rovers vs. Middlesbrough 0 - 0". Soccerway. 1 February 2014.
  14. ↑ "Middlesbrough v.s. Birmingham 3 - 1". Soccerway. 8 April 2014.
  15. ↑ "Middlesbrough complete Kenneth Omeruo loan deal from Chelsea". BBC Sport. 6 August 2014.
  16. ↑ "Doncaster Rovers vs. Middlesbrough 0 - 0" (PDF). Tosh Mag. 1 March 2015.
  17. ↑ "U-20 Nigeria international, Kenneth Omeruo set for Dutch debut.". Goal.com. 2012-03-02. Retrieved 31 May 2012.
  18. ↑ Oluwashina Okeleji (10 January 2013). "Nations Cup 2013: Nigeria pick six locally-based players". BBC Sport. Retrieved 10 January 2013.
  19. ↑ "Nigeria to take new-look squad to Confederations Cup". BBC Sport. 9 June 2013. Retrieved 10 June 2013.
  20. ↑ "France scored twice in the final 11 minutes in Brasilia to beat Nigeria and reach the World Cup quarter-finals.". BBC Sport. 30 June 2014. Retrieved 22 October 2014.
  21. ↑ "Meet Kenneth Omeruo, the best Chelsea player you've never heard of". FourFourTwo. 6 January 2014. Retrieved 6 January 2014.
  22. ↑ "Is Nigeria's Kenneth Omeruo Chelsea's best kept secret?". BBC Sport. 4 December 2013. Retrieved 6 January 2014.
  23. ↑ "Lucky Omeruo, younger brother of Chelsea of England and Super Eagles defender, Kenneth Omeruo". BBC Sport. 4 December 2013. Retrieved 6 January 2014.
  24. ↑ "Foreign player's pay stops Omeruo - MTNFootball". MTN. 14 July 2013. Retrieved 14 July 2013.
  25. ↑ Soccerway profile