Kenneth Omeruo
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Date of birth | 17 October 1993 | ||
Place of birth | Abia State, Nigeria | ||
Height | 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) | ||
Position(s) | Centre back or Right back | ||
Team information | |||
Current team |
Middlesbrough (on loan from Chelsea) | ||
Number | 22 | ||
Youth career | |||
2010–2012 | Standard Liege | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2012– | Chelsea | 0 | (0) |
2012–2013 | → ADO Den Haag (loan) | 36 | (2) |
2014- | → Middlesbrough (loan) | 22 | (0) |
International career‡ | |||
2009 | Nigeria U17 | 7 | (1) |
2011 | Nigeria U20 | 5 | (0) |
2013– | Nigeria | 17 | (0) |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 17:34, 23 August 2014 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 11 June 2014 |
Kenneth 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]
ADO Den Haag (loan)
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 19 April 2012, in a game against FC Groningen Omeruo scored his first goal for ADO Den Haag.[9] 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 (against VVV Venlo).
Middlesbrough (loan)
On 7 January 2014, Omeruo joined Middlesbrough on loan until the end of the 2013–14 season.[10]
He rejoined Middlesbrough for the 2014–15 season, 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.
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.[11]
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.[12]
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.[13]
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.
Playing style
Omeruo has been described as a "tall, rangy but strong centre-back" and a "level-headed and determined youngster".[14][15]
Personal life
His younger brother Lucky is also a footballer, who currently plays for Rangers International of Enugu[16] and for the Nigeria national under-20 football team.[17]
Career statistics
- As of 6 January 2014.[18]
Club Performance | League | Cup | League Cup | Continental | Total | |||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Club | Season | Apps | Goals | Assists | Apps | Goals | Assists | Apps | Goals | Assists | Apps | Goals | Assists | Apps | Goals | Assists |
England | Premier League | FA Cup1 | League Cup | Europe | Total | |||||||||||
Chelsea | 2012–13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Total | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
Netherlands | Eredivisie | KNVB Cup | Other | Europe | Total | |||||||||||
ADO Den Haag(loan) | 2011–12 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 2 | 0 |
2012–13 | 27 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 29 | 0 | 0 | |
Total | 36 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 38 | 2 | 0 | |
England | Championship | FA Cup | League Cup | Europe | Total | |||||||||||
Middlesbrough F.C(loan) | 2013–14 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 0 |
2014–15 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 0 | |
Total | 18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 0 | |
Career total | 54 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 52 | 2 | 0 |
- 1Also includes other competitive competitions, including the FA Community Shield.
Honours
International
References
- ^ Eredivisie. "Kenneth Omeruo, ADO Den Haag". Eredivisielive.nl. Retrieved 31 May 2012.
- ^ "Kenneth Omeruo". Worldfootball.net. 17 October 1993. Retrieved 31 May 2012.
- ^ "Is Nigeria's Kenneth Omeruo Chelsea's best kept secret?". BBC Sport. 4 December 2013. Retrieved 6 January 2014.
- ^ "Meet Kenneth Omeruo, the best Chelsea player you've never heard of". FourFourTwo. 6 January 2014. Retrieved 6 January 2014.
- ^ "Chelsea linked with move for Standard defender Kenneth Omeruo". ESPN Soccernet. 7 January 2012. Retrieved 31 May 2012.
- ^ "Chelsea Sign Nigerian Youngster Kenneth Omeruo". Goal.com. 8 January 2012. Retrieved 8 January 2012.
- ^ "OMERUO AGREES NEW CHELSEA CONTRACT". africanfootball.com. 26 May 2014. Retrieved 28 May 2014.
- ^ "Chelsea linked to Omeruo". Sky Sports. 7 January 2012. Retrieved 7 January 2012.
- ^ Barry Glendenning (9 May 2012). "The Knowledge | English football's only joint own goal". London: Guardian. Retrieved 31 May 2012.
- ^ "Boro Seal Omeruo Loan". Middlesbrough FC. 7 January 2014.
- ^ "U-20 Nigeria international, Kenneth Omeruo set for Dutch debut". Goal.com. 2 March 2012. Retrieved 31 May 2012.
- ^ Oluwashina Okeleji (10 January 2013). "Nations Cup 2013: Nigeria pick six locally-based players". BBC Sport. Retrieved 10 January 2013.
- ^ "Nigeria to take new-look squad to Confederations Cup". BBC Sport. 9 June 2013. Retrieved 10 June 2013.
- ^ "Meet Kenneth Omeruo, the best Chelsea player you've never heard of". FourFourTwo. 6 January 2014. Retrieved 6 January 2014.
- ^ "Is Nigeria's Kenneth Omeruo Chelsea's best kept secret?". BBC Sport. 4 December 2013. Retrieved 6 January 2014.
- ^ "Lucky Omeruo, younger brother of Chelsea of England and Super Eagles defender, Kenneth Omeruo". BBC Sport. 4 December 2013. Retrieved 6 January 2014.
- ^ "Foreign player's pay stops Omeruo - MTNFootball". MTN. 14 July 2013. Retrieved 14 July 2013.
- ^ Soccerway profile
- Use dmy dates from April 2012
- 1993 births
- Living people
- Nigerian footballers
- Nigeria international footballers
- Association football defenders
- Chelsea F.C. players
- Middlesbrough F.C. players
- ADO Den Haag players
- Eredivisie players
- The Football League players
- Nigerian expatriate footballers
- Expatriate footballers in England
- Expatriate footballers in the Netherlands
- 2013 Africa Cup of Nations players
- 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup players
- 2014 FIFA World Cup players
- Nigerian expatriates in England
- Nigerian expatriates in the Netherlands
- Africa Cup of Nations-winning players