Chiedozie Ogbene

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Chiedozie Ogbene
Personal information
Full name Chiedozie Somkelechukwu Ogbene[1]
Date of birth (1997-05-01) 1 May 1997 (age 26)[2]
Place of birth Lagos, Nigeria
Height 1.81 m (5 ft 11 in)[2]
Position(s) Winger
Team information
Current team
 Luton Town
Number 7
Youth career
Tramore Athletic
College Corinthians
Kilreen Celtic
Everton
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2015–2016 Cork City 9 (3)
2017 Limerick 32 (8)
2018–2019 Brentford 6 (0)
2018–2019 → Exeter City (loan) 14 (0)
2019–2023 Rotherham United 120 (12)
2023– Luton Town 28 (4)
International career‡
2021– Republic of Ireland 20 (4)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 21:35, 16 March 2024 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 23:57, 23 March 2024 (UTC)

Chiedozie Somkelechukwu Ogbene (born 1 May 1997) is an Irish professional footballer who plays as a winger for Luton Town and the Republic of Ireland national team.

Ogbene began his career in Ireland with Cork City and Limerick, before transferring to Brentford in 2018. After a loan spell with Exeter City he moved to Rotherham United in 2019, and then to Luton Town in 2023.

Early and personal life[edit]

Born in Lagos, Nigeria,[2] Ogbene moved with his family (including two brothers and two sisters) to Ireland in 2005,[3][4] after his father got a job in the country,[5] rejecting an offer of a job in Florida in the process.[6] He grew up in the Grange area of Cork.[7] He attended Bunscoil Chríost Rí as his primary school and Coláiste Chríost Rí as his secondary school.[4] He is a supporter of Liverpool.[4]

Club career[edit]

Ogbene played Gaelic football for Nemo Rangers and association football for Munster Senior League clubs Tramore Athletic, College Corinthians, Kilreen Celtic and Everton.[3][4] He scored 1–2 and was awarded man of the match in an under-21 final for Nemo Rangers in 2015, his last appearance for the club.[8] He quit Gaelic football to pursue his dream of playing Premier League football.[9]

He signed for Cork City in August 2015.[4] He won the Enda McGuill Cup with their under-19 youth team, and the 2016 FAI Cup with their senior team.[4]

He signed for fellow League of Ireland club Limerick in January 2017.[10] He was nominated three times for the League of Ireland Player of the Month award.[11]

In November 2017 he was linked with a transfer to English club Aston Villa.[12]

On 30 January 2018, Ogbene signed for English club Brentford on a three-and-a-half year contract for an undisclosed fee.[13] He made his league debut on 10 April 2018, making one further appearance that season.[14] He moved on loan to Exeter City in August 2018.[15]

On 29 August 2019, Ogbene joined League One club Rotherham United for an undisclosed fee, signing a three-year contract.[16][17] In 2019–20, he played a central role in Rotherham's promotion-winning season, being described by manager Paul Warne as "unplayable" after he helped Rotherham beat Bristol Rovers by 3–0.[7] He was injured between October 2020 and April 2021.[18]

On 3 April 2022 he scored a goal as Rotherham won the EFL Trophy in a 4–2 victory over Sutton United.[19]

On 27 June 2023, it was announced that Ogbene would join newly promoted Premier League side Luton Town on 1 July 2023 when his contract with Rotherham United came to an end.[20][21]

International career[edit]

He was eligible to represent both Republic of Ireland and Nigeria at international level.[4] In July 2020, Ogbene approached Republic of Ireland manager Stephen Kenny to declare his wish to play for the national team.[7] On 24 May 2021, Ogbene received his first call up to the Republic of Ireland senior squad for the summer friendlies against Andorra and Hungary.[22][23][24] He said he hoped to be a role model for other Irish players from a similar background.[25] He made his debut on 8 June 2021 against Hungary, becoming the first African-born player to represent the Republic of Ireland.[26] The Irish players had been booed by Hungarian fans prior to kick-off for taking the knee in a symbolic gesture against racism in the sport, which Ogbene asked UEFA to investigate.[27]

Ogbene scored his first international goal on 9 October 2021 in a 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Azerbaijan with a 90th minute header in a 3–0 win at Baku Olympic Stadium.[28]

Career statistics[edit]

Club[edit]

As of 16 March 2024
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup[a] League cup[b] Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Cork City 2015[2] LOI Premier Division 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
2016[2] LOI Premier Division 8 3 1 0 0 0 0 0 9 3
Total 9 3 1 0 0 0 0 0 10 3
Limerick 2017[2] LOI Premier Division 32 8 2 0 0 0 0 0 34 8
Brentford 2017–18[14] Championship 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
2018–19[29] Championship 4 0 2 0 1 0 0 0 7 0
Total 6 0 2 0 1 0 0 0 9 0
Exeter City (loan) 2018–19[29] League Two 13 0 0 0 0 0 4[c] 0 17 0
Rotherham United 2019–20[30] League One 25 1 3 0 0 0 1[c] 0 29 1
2020–21[31] Championship 11 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 12 0
2021–22[32] League One 45 3 3 0 1 0 4[c] 1 53 4
2022–23[33] Championship 39 8 1 0 2 1 — 42 9
Total 120 12 7 0 4 1 5 1 136 14
Luton Town 2023–24[34] Premier League 28 4 4 1 2 0 — 34 5
Career total 208 27 16 1 7 1 9 1 240 30
  1. ^ Includes FAI Cup, FA Cup
  2. ^ Includes EFL Cup
  3. ^ a b c Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy

International[edit]

As of match played 23 March 2024
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team Year Apps Goals
Republic of Ireland 2021 5 2
2022 8 1
2023 6 1
2024 1 0
Total 20 4
Scores and results list the Republic of Ireland's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Ogbene goal.
List of international goals scored by Chiedozie Ogbene
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1 9 October 2021 Bakı Olimpiya Stadionu, Baku, Azerbaijan  Azerbaijan 3–0 3–0 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification[28]
2 14 November 2021 Stade de Luxembourg, Luxembourg City, Luxembourg  Luxembourg 2–0 3–0 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification
3 26 March 2022 Aviva Stadium, Dublin, Ireland  Belgium 1–1 2–2 Friendly[35]
4 22 March 2023 Aviva Stadium, Dublin, Ireland  Latvia 3–2 3–2 Friendly

Honours[edit]

Cork City

Rotherham United

References[edit]

  1. ^ "2023/24 Premier League squad lists". Premier League. 13 September 2023. Retrieved 13 September 2023.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Chiedozie Ogbene at Soccerway. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
  3. ^ a b "'I had to pick between soccer and Gaelic football but this is the dream' - Chiedozie Ogbene". The 42. 27 December 2016. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h "TEN THINGS YOU DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT CHIEDOZIE OGBENE". Brentford F.C. 30 January 2018. Archived from the original on 20 April 2022. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
  5. ^ "Africa-born Ogbene on his 'different journey' to Republic of Ireland squad". BBC Sport.
  6. ^ "Rising Ireland star Chiedozie Ogbene grateful father chose Cork over Florida". Largs and Millport Weekly News.
  7. ^ a b c "FAI begin eligibility process after Ogbene expresses desire to represent Ireland". The 42. 8 July 2020. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
  8. ^ "'Incredibly proud day for the club'". Hogan Stand. 9 June 2021.
  9. ^ "Chiedozie Ogbene: Luton Town winger reveals he quit Gaelic football to follow his Premier League dream". Sky Sports.
  10. ^ Ryan Kelly (19 January 2017). "Chiedozie Ogbene leaves Cork City for Limerick". Goal.com. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
  11. ^ Colm Kinsella (2 November 2017). "Limerick FC winger Chiedozie Ogbene nominated for Player of Month award". Limerick Leader. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
  12. ^ John Fallon and Liam Mackey (30 November 2017). "Aston Villa targeting talented Chiedozie Ogbene". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
  13. ^ "Chiedozie Ogbene: Brentford sign forward from Irish side Limerick". BBC Sport. 30 January 2018. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
  14. ^ a b "Games played by Chiedozie Ogbene in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
  15. ^ "Chiedozie Ogbene: Exeter City sign Brentford winger on loan until January". BBC Sport. 21 August 2018. Retrieved 31 August 2018.
  16. ^ "SIGNING Millers land winger from Brentford". Rotherham United F.C. 29 August 2019. Retrieved 29 August 2019.
  17. ^ "Chiedozie Ogbene: Rotherham United sign Brentford winger". BBC Sport. 29 August 2019. Retrieved 30 August 2019.
  18. ^ Slattery, Joel (28 April 2021). "Chiedozie Ogbene determined to make his mark on Championship after injury nightmare". Irish Examiner.
  19. ^ a b Peddy, Chris (3 April 2022). "Rotherham United 4–2 Sutton United". BBC Sport. Retrieved 3 April 2022.
  20. ^ "Chiedozie Ogbene joins Luton Town!". www.lutontown.co.uk.
  21. ^ "Luton sign Ireland winger Ogbene from Rotherham" – via www.bbc.co.uk.
  22. ^ "Chiedozie Ogbene - Rotherham United winger eager to be unleashed for Republic of Ireland". www.yorkshirepost.co.uk.
  23. ^ "Meet Chiedozie Ogbene, the explosive winger who's been called into the Ireland squad". Extra.ie. 24 May 2021.
  24. ^ Fallon, John (30 May 2021). "Chiedozie Ogbene: 'I am Nigerian by birth but grew up in Cork, so see myself as an Irishman'". Irish Examiner.
  25. ^ "Chiedozie Ogbene is blazing a trail with Republic". independent.
  26. ^ "Goalkeepers save Republic in Hungary". BBC Sport.
  27. ^ "Ogbene calls for Uefa action over booing". BBC Sport.
  28. ^ a b "Chiedozie Ogbene reflects on 'special night' after Republic end wait for a win". The Independent. 10 October 2021.
  29. ^ a b "Games played by Chiedozie Ogbene in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 16 August 2018.
  30. ^ "Games played by Chiedozie Ogbene in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 25 February 2020.
  31. ^ "Games played by Chiedozie Ogbene in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 29 April 2021.
  32. ^ "Games played by Chiedozie Ogbene in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 16 April 2022.
  33. ^ "Games played by Chiedozie Ogbene in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 22 April 2023.
  34. ^ "Games played by Chiedozie Ogbene in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 2 August 2023.
  35. ^ "Republic of Ireland 2 Belgium 2". BBC Sport. 26 March 2022. Retrieved 29 March 2022.
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