Kelechi Iheanacho

This article is about the footballer born in 1996. For the footballer born in 1981, see Kelechi Iheanacho (footballer, born 1981).
Kelechi Iheanacho

Iheanacho playing for Manchester City in 2015
Personal information
Full name Kelechi Promise Iheanacho[1]
Date of birth (1996-10-03) 3 October 1996[1]
Place of birth Imo, Nigeria
Height 1.87 m (6 ft 1 1⁄2 in)[1]
Playing position Forward
Club information
Current team
 Manchester City
Number 72
Youth career
2011–2014 Taye Academy
2014–2015 Manchester City
2014 → Columbus Crew (loan)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2015– Manchester City 35 (11)
National team‡
2013 Nigeria U17 7 (8)
2015– Nigeria U20 2 (0)
2015– Nigeria 7 (4)

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 18:16, 3 December 2016 (UTC).

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 03:37, 13 November 2016 (UTC)

Kelechi Promise Iheanacho (born 3 October 1996) is a Nigerian professional footballer who plays for Premier League club Manchester City [2][3][4] and the Nigeria national team. He has made appearances for Manchester City U-21 team,[5] as well as the Nigeria squad that won the 2013 FIFA U-17 World Cup and the Nigeria U-20 team at the 2015 FIFA U-20 World Cup.[6][7] Iheanacho was called up to the Manchester City senior squad for the 2015–16 season.[8][9]

Club career

Early career

Iheanacho was born in the town of Obogwe in Ohaji Egbema LGA, in the state of Imo.[1] As a youth, he represented Taye Academy in Owerri, the capital city of Imo. His performances for Nigeria in the 2013 FIFA U-17 World Cup led to interest from clubs in Europe; teams following his progress included Arsenal,[10] Sporting Clube de Portugal and Porto.[11] In December 2012, Iheanacho travelled to England to discuss a move to Manchester City. He signed a pre-contract agreement with the club, stating his intent to formally sign for City on his 18th birthday in October 2014.[12] In the interim, he returned to Nigeria. As the year drew to a close, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) named him the Most Promising Talent of the Year for 2013 at the CAF Awards.[13]

Manchester City

Iheanacho joined Manchester City's Academy on 10 January 2014. Before the 2014–15 season, City visited the United States on a pre-season tour, and although still not formally a City player, he joined up with the squad. He played and scored in the first match of the tour, a 4–1 win against Sporting Kansas City,[14] and scored again against Milan in a 5–1 win.[15] After the conclusion of the tour, Manchester City arranged for Iheanacho to train with the Columbus Crew until mid-October.[16]

Delays in obtaining a work permit meant Iheanacho was unable to play in England until February 2015. He made his debut at under-19 level in a UEFA Youth League match against Schalke 04, but sustained an injury after only 11 minutes.[17] After his recovery, he began to represent Manchester City at both youth and under-21 level in the latter part of the season. He played in the FA Youth Cup final, where he scored, but ended on the losing side after Chelsea claimed a 5–2 aggregate victory.[18] The following week, he scored the only goal as Manchester City beat Porto in the final of the 2014–15 Premier League International Cup.[19]

2015–16

In July 2015, Iheanacho was included in City's pre-season tour team in Australia.[20] On the tour, he set up the first goal for Raheem Sterling and scored the second goal in the win against Roma in the 2015 International Champions Cup. He also set up Sterling for the fourth goal in City's 8–1 victory against the Vietnam national team. In City's last pre-season game, against VfB Stuttgart, he came on as a substitute, scoring late on in a 4–2 defeat. Due to his impressive pre-season, Iheanacho was promoted to the Manchester City senior squad.[21]

On 10 August 2015, Iheanacho was included in a first-team matchday squad for the first time in a competitive fixture, however he remained an unused subtitute in their 3–0 win at West Bromwich Albion in their first game of the Premier League season.[22] Nineteen days later, he made his competitive debut, replacing Raheem Sterling for the final minute of a 2–0 win against Watford at the City of Manchester Stadium.[23] He scored his first competitive goal on 12 September, replacing Wilfried Bony in the final minute in a match away to Crystal Palace and scoring the only goal of the game.[24]

Iheanacho scored his first career hat-trick on 30 January 2016 against Aston Villa in the fourth round of the FA Cup, also setting up City's fourth goal, scored by Raheem Sterling.[25] The following month, he was put in City's UEFA Champions League squad at the expense of the injured Samir Nasri.[26] During February, Iheanacho scored against Tottenham Hostpur in a 2–1 home defeat for City.[27]

Iheanacho's next goals came on 23 April 2016, where he scored twice against Stoke City in a 4–0 victory.[28] He followed this up with a Champions League semi-final substitute appearance on 26 April 2016.[29] Five days later, on 1 May 2016, he scored two again, albeit in a 4–2 defeat at the hands of Southampton.[30]

[31] Iheanacho ended the 2015–16 season with eight Premier League goals and had the best goals-per-minute ratio of any player averaging, a goal every 93.9 minutes.[32] In all competitions he finished with a record of 14 goals and 5 assists from 35 appearances, although he only started 11 of these games.[33] His goals total also meant he ended the season as City's third-highest scorer.[34]

2016–17

On 10 September 2016, Iheanacho started in the Manchester Derby, he recorded an assist and his first goal of the season in the 2–1 win.[35] Four days later, 14 September 2016, Iheanacho came off the bench to score the final goal in City's 4–0 home win in the Champions League, against Borussia Mönchengladbach.[36] This was his first European goal for Manchester City. Two days after the 4–0 win, Kelechi once again scored the second goal, also assisting the third, in City's game against AFC Bournemouth.[37] His goal against AFC Bournemouth took his goal tally in the Premier League to 10, allowing him to join an exclusive list of players to have scored 10 Premier League goals before the age of 20. This list includes world class talents such as Wayne Rooney, Ryan Giggs, Nicolas Anelka, Michael Owen and Romelu Lukaku.[31][38] Iheanacho scored his fourth goal of the season against Southampton in the Premier League in a 1–1 home draw on 23rd October 2016.

In October 2016, Iheanacho was nominated for the FIFA Golden Boy award, which was eventually won by Bayern Munich's midfielder Renato Sanches. Previous winners of the award include team-mates Raheem Sterling and Sergio Aguero, and five-time Ballon d'Or winner Lionel Messi.

International career

Iheanacho has represented Nigeria at youth levels from under-13 upwards.[39] His first experience of a major international tournament was the 2013 African U-17 Championship in Morocco. For Iheanacho, the highlight was a hat-trick in a win against Botswana. He dedicated his goals to his mother, who died two months before the tournament.[40] Nigeria reached the final of the competition, where they were defeated on penalties by the Ivory Coast.[41]

Iheanacho played a significant role in the 2013 FIFA U-17 World Cup, where he won the Golden Ball award for player of the tournament.[42] Nigeria won the competition, in which Iheanacho scored six times, including once in the final, and provided seven assists.[42][43] In the run-up to the 2014 African Nations Championship, Iheanacho trained with the senior Nigeria squad but was released from the squad in order to travel to England to sign with Manchester City.[44] He was part of the Nigeria squad for the 2015 FIFA U-20 World Cup in New Zealand, and featured in two matches.[45]

He was selected by Nigeria for their 35-man provisional squad for the 2016 Summer Olympics, but failed to make the final 18.[46]

Iheanacho made his senior debut as a substitute in a 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifying match against Swaziland in which Nigeria drew 0–0.[47] His first start for the senior team was on 25 March 2016, a 1–1 draw with Egypt in a 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match.[48]

Kelechi Iheanacho was selected by Nigeria in friendly games against Mali and Luxembourg in May 2016. He scored in the two games providing an assist against Luxembourg.[49][50]

His performance in the friendly matches inspired further confidence within football circles in the nation and was invited to make his competitive debut against Egypt in an African cup of nations qualifying series where he provided an assist for Oghenekaro Etebo in the home game.[51]

Despite the change made in the coaching personnel in August this year, he distinguished himself again as one of the most important players in the team when he scored two super goals in the two matches against Tanzania in Uyo and Zambia in Ndola.[52]/report [53]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played on 3 December 2016 [54]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Europe Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Manchester City 2015–16[55] Premier League 268342240003514
2016–17[56] Premier League 9300202100134
Career total 3511344261004818

International

As of match played 12 November 2016.[57]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Nigeria 201510
201664
Total74

International goals

As of matches played 9 October 2016. Nigeria score listed first, score column indicates score after each Iheanacho goal.[58]
International goals by date, venue, opponent, score, result and competition
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1 27 May 2016Stade Robert Diochon, Rouen, France Mali1–01–0Friendly
2 31 May 2016Stade Josy Barthel, Luxembourg City, Luxembourg Luxembourg2–03–1Friendly
3 3 September 2016Akwa Ibom Stadium, Uyo, Nigeria Tanzania1–01–02017 Africa Cup of Nations qualification
4 9 October 2016Levy Mwanawasa Stadium, Ndola, Zambia Zambia2–02–12018 FIFA World Cup qualification

Honours

Club

Manchester City

International

Nigeria U17

[50] [51] [52] [59]/report [53]

Individual

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Iheanacho: Kelechi Promise Iheanacho". BDFutbol. Retrieved 30 December 2015.
  2. ↑ Samuel Luckhurst. "Man City starlet Kelechi Iheanacho could signal start of Blues' new order". men.
  3. ↑ Simon Bajkowski (23 May 2015). "Iheanacho: I'll miss my flight to make Man City debut against Southampton!". men.
  4. ↑ James Robson on tour (30 May 2015). "Man City starlet Iheanacho dreams of emulating heroes Messi and Kaka". men.
  5. ↑ "Kelechi Iheanacho scores brace in Manchester United U21 defeat". Goal.com.
  6. ↑ Leadership Newspaper (29 May 2015). "U-20 World Cup Beginning Of Great Things For Iheanacho – Father". Nigerian News from Leadership News.
  7. ↑ "Kelechi Iheanacho arrive in New Zealand for U20 World Cup - Goal.com". Goal.com.
  8. ↑ "Iheanacho in City's first team squad next season". Football - StarAfrica.com.
  9. ↑ Rob Pollard. "Why Kelechi Iheanacho Will Be the Next Star to Come Through Man City's Academy". Bleacher Report.
  10. ↑ Adrian Back (11 November 2013). "Nigeria win Under-17 World Cup". International Business Times. Retrieved 20 June 2015.
  11. ↑ "Man City set to miss out on Nigerian wonderkid". Talksport. 31 December 2013. Retrieved 20 June 2015.
  12. ↑ "Transfer news: Manchester City deal for Kelechi Iheanacho claimed". Sky Sports. 10 January 2014. Retrieved 20 June 2015.
  13. ↑ "Iheanacho named most promising talent". Confederation of African Football. 9 January 2014. Retrieved 21 June 2015.
  14. ↑ Paul Handler (26 July 2014). "City profile: Kelechi Iheanacho". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 20 June 2015.
  15. ↑ "Jovetic strikes twice, Nigeria's Kelechi Iheanacho nets and Man City thump AC Milan". The National. 28 July 2014. Retrieved 20 June 2015.
  16. ↑ Adam Jardy (3 September 2014). "Young Manchester City Striker Kelechi Iheanacho Training With Crew". Columbus Dispatch. Retrieved 20 June 2015.
  17. ↑ "Manchester City Striker Kelechi Iheanacho Starts Individual Training". SL10. 14 April 2015. Retrieved 20 June 2015.
  18. ↑ "Chelsea retain FA Youth Cup with victory against Manchester City". The Guardian. 27 April 2015. Retrieved 20 June 2015.
  19. ↑ "Manchester City EDS v Porto: International Premier League Cup match report – Manchester City FC". Manchester City FC. Retrieved 3 July 2015.
  20. ↑ http://www.mcfc.co.uk/News/Tour-2015/2015/Official-Manchester-City-Tour-2015-squad-list/1436520345
  21. ↑ "Roma vs. Manchester City – 21 July 2015 – Soccerway". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved 21 April 2016.
  22. ↑ Sanghera, Mandeep (10 August 2015). "West Brom 0–3 Man City". Retrieved 26 August 2015.
  23. ↑ Bevan, Chris (29 August 2015). "Man City 2–0 Watford". BBC Sport. Retrieved 29 August 2015.
  24. ↑ Cryer, Andy (12 September 2015). "Crystal Palace 0–1 Man City". BBC Sport. Retrieved 12 September 2015.
  25. ↑ "Aston Villa 0–4 Man City". BBC Sport. BBC. 30 January 2016. Retrieved 30 January 2016.
  26. ↑ "Radamel Falcao: Chelsea striker dropped from Champions League squad". BBC Sport. 3 February 2016. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
  27. ↑ "Manchester City 1–2 Tottenham Hotspur". BBC Sport. 14 February 2016. Retrieved 1 May 2016.
  28. ↑ "Manchester City 4–0 Stoke City". BBC Sport. 23 April 2016. Retrieved 1 May 2016.
  29. ↑ "Manchester City 0–0 Real Madrid". BBC Sport. 26 April 2016. Retrieved 1 May 2016.
  30. ↑ "Southampton 4–2 Manchester City". BBC Sport. 1 May 2016. Retrieved 1 May 2016.
  31. 1 2 "Kelechi Iheanacho stat sums up wonderkid's class - Goal.com". 2016-09-11. Retrieved 2016-09-25.
  32. ↑ http://www.foxsports.com/soccer/stats?competition=1&season=20150&category=standard&sort=3
  33. ↑ http://us.soccerway.com/players/kelechi-iheanacho/319119/
  34. ↑ "Iheanacho Third Highest Scorer Man City". Retrieved 6 August 2016.
  35. ↑ "Iheanacho pleased with derby heroics". supersport.com. Retrieved 12 September 2016.
  36. ↑ "Manchester City 4–0 B M'gladbach". BBC Sport. Retrieved 14 September 2016.
  37. ↑ "Manchester City 4–0 Bournemouth". BBC Sport. Retrieved 18 September 2016.
  38. ↑ "Iheanacho joins select teenage club". Retrieved 2016-09-25.
  39. ↑ "The players representing the Golden Eaglets of Nigeria". Kick Off magazine. Retrieved 21 June 2015.
  40. ↑ "Iheanacho dedicates hat-trick to late mum". Super Sport. 21 April 2013. Retrieved 20 June 2015.
  41. ↑ "2013 African U-17 Championship". BBC Sport. Retrieved 21 June 2015.
  42. 1 2 "Golden Eaglets soar to fourth crown". FIFA. Retrieved 20 June 2015.
  43. ↑ "Nigeria win Under-17 World Cup". BBC. 8 November 2013. Retrieved 20 June 2015.
  44. ↑ "Kelechi Iheanacho is set for a move to England according to Stephen Keshi". Sky Sports. 17 December 2013. Retrieved 20 June 2015.
  45. ↑ "Kelechi Iheanacho". FIFA. Retrieved 21 June 2015.
  46. ↑ Oluwashina Okeleji (24 June 2016). "Kelechi Iheanacho included in Nigeria's Olympics squad". BBC Sport. Retrieved 25 June 2016.
  47. ↑ "Swaziland hold Eagles to a draw". http://www.supersport.com/. Retrieved 2016-04-25. External link in |website= (help)
  48. ↑ "Nigeria 1 - 1 Egypt Match report - 3/25/16 Africa Cup of Nations Qualification - Goal.com". www.goal.com. Retrieved 2016-03-27.
  49. 1 2 http://www.goal.com/en-ng/match/luxembourg-vs-nigeria/2231289/report. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  50. 1 2 http://www.premiumtimesng.com/sports/football/204203-iheanacho-scores-super-eagles-beat-mali-france.html. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  51. 1 2 http://www.goal.com/en-ng/match/nigeria-vs-egypt/2038209/report. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  52. 1 2 http://www.goal.com/en-ng/match/nigeria-vs-tanzania/2038215. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  53. 1 2 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kZoBjBzBiE8. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  54. ↑ "Kelechi Iheanacho profile". Soccerway. Retrieved 3 December 2016.
  55. ↑ "Games played by Kelechi Iheanacho in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 30 December 2015.
  56. ↑ "Games played by Kelechi Iheanacho in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 3 December 2016.
  57. ↑ "Iheanacho, Kelechi". National Football Teams. Retrieved 30 December 2015.
  58. ↑ Kelechi Iheanacho profile at Soccerway
  59. ↑ "Summary – U17 World Cup – World – Results, fixtures, tables and news – Soccerway". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved 21 April 2016.
  60. ↑ "FIFA U-17 World Cup UAE 2013 – Awards". FIFA.com. Retrieved 22 August 2016.
  61. ↑ "CAF – CAF Awards – Previous Editions – 2013". CAFOnline. Retrieved 22 August 2016.

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