Skills and Goals

Kelechi Iheanacho

Nigerian footballer (born )

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

Kelechi Promise IheanachoMON (listenⓘ) (Igbo: Ịheanachọ,[4] born 3 October ) is a Nigerian professional footballer who plays as a striker for La Liga club Sevilla and the Nigeria national team.

Iheanacho began his senior career at Manchester City during the –16 season, winning the Football League Cup.[5][6][7] He moved to Leicester City in for a reported £25 million fee, the largest ever transfer amount for a Nigerian player at the time and the second-largest for an African player after Egyptian Mohamed Salah.[8] Iheanacho was instrumental in Leicester City's –21 FA Cup success, scoring a joint-high four goals across the edition as the club won the trophy for the first time.[9][10] He also scored the match's sole goal from the penalty spot as Leicester lifted the FA Community Shield.

At international level, Iheanacho represented Nigeria's under team at the FIFA U World Cup, being named the tournament's best player and finishing as the second-highest goalscorer as he led the side to their record fourth title.[11] He would then be included in Nigeria's under team for the FIFA U World Cup,[12][13] before making his senior international debut later the same year.

Since then, he has represented the country at the FIFA World Cup, as well as the and Africa Cup of Nations, finishing as runner-up in the latter tournament. Iheanacho was voted the Most Promising African Talent twice in and and named as a substitute for the CAF Team of the Year.

Club career

Manchester City

Early career

Iheanacho was born in Owerri, Imo State.[14] As a youth, he represented Taye Academy in Owerri, the capital city of Imo.

His performances for Nigeria in the FIFA U World Cup led to interest from clubs in Europe; teams following his progress included Arsenal,[15]Sporting CP and Porto.[16] In December , 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 [17] 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 at the CAF Awards of [18]

Iheanacho joined Manchester City's Academy on 10 January Before the –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,[19] and scored again against Milan in a 5–1 win.[20] After the conclusion of the tour, Manchester City arranged for Iheanacho to train with the Columbus Crew until mid-October.[21]

Delays in obtaining a work permit meant Iheanacho was unable to play in England until February He made his debut at under level in a UEFA Youth League match against Schalke 04, but sustained an injury after only 11 minutes.[22] After his recovery, he began to represent Manchester City at both youth and under 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.[23] The following week, he scored the only goal as Manchester City beat Porto in the final of the –15 Premier League International Cup.[24]

–16 season

In July , Iheanacho was included in City's pre-season tour team in Australia.[25] On the tour, he set up the first goal for Raheem Sterling and scored the second goal in the win against Roma in the International Champions Cup.

He also set up Sterling for the fourth goal in City's 8–1 victory against the Vietnam national team.

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  • Skills and Goals

    • In City's last preseason game, against VfB Stuttgart, he came on as a substitute, scoring late in a 4–2 defeat. Due to his impressive pre-season, Iheanacho was promoted to the Manchester City senior squad.[26]

    On 10 August , Iheanacho was included in a first-team matchday squad for the first time in a competitive fixture, however he remained an unused substitute in their 3–0 win at West Bromwich Albion in their first game of the Premier Leagueseason.[27] 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.[28] 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.[29]

    Iheanacho scored his first career hat-trick on 30 January against Aston Villa in the fourth round of the FA Cup, also setting up City's fourth goal, scored by Raheem Sterling.[30] The following month, he was put in City's UEFA Champions League squad at the expense of the injured Samir Nasri.[31] During February, Iheanacho scored against Tottenham Hotspur in a 2–1 home defeat for City.[32]

    Iheanacho's next goals came on 23 April , where he scored twice against Stoke City in a 4–0 victory.[33] He followed this up with a Champions League semi-final substitute appearance on 26 April [34] Five days later, on 1 May , he scored a brace again, albeit in a 4–2 defeat at the hands of Southampton.[35][36] Iheanacho ended the –16 season with eight Premier League goals and had the best goals-per-minute ratio of any player, averaging a goal every minutes.[37] 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.[38] His goals total also meant he ended the season as City's third-highest scorer.[39]

    –17 season

    On 10 September , Iheanacho started in the Manchester derby.

    He recorded an assist and his first goal of the season in a 2–1 win for City.[40] Four days later, Iheanacho came off the bench to score the final goal in City's 4–0 home win in the Champions League, against Borussia Mönchengladbach.[41] This was his first European goal for Manchester City.

    Three days after the 4–0 win, Iheanacho scored the second goal, also assisting the third, in City's game against AFC Bournemouth.[42] That goal took his 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 This list includes players such as Wayne Rooney, Ryan Giggs, Nicolas Anelka, Michael Owen and Romelu Lukaku.[36][43]

    In October , Iheanacho was nominated for the FIFA Golden Boy award, which was eventually won by Bayern Munich's midfielder Renato Sanches.[44] Previous winners of the award include teammates Raheem Sterling and Sergio Agüero.

    See full list on naijabiography.com Kelechi Iheanacho (born October 3, ) is a skillful and talented international footballer from Nigeria. He plays as a central forward for the popular Premier League team, Leicester United and the Nigerian Super Eagles.

    Iheanacho's next goal would come in the Champions League, against Celtic, in a 1–1 home draw on 6 December [45] Iheanacho's final goal of the season, and subsequently final goal for City, came against Huddersfield in a 5–1 FA Cup fifth round replay win, in which Iheanacho scored the final goal of the game.[46]

    Leicester City

    –

    Iheanacho was signed by Premier League club Leicester City on a five-year contract on 3 August ,[47] for a reported £25&#;million fee.[48] He made his debut for the club in a 4–3 defeat to Arsenal on 11 August [49] He scored his first goal for Leicester in an EFL Cup tie against Leeds United on 24 October [50] On 16 January , Iheanacho became the first player in English football to be awarded a goal due to video assistant referee, as the referee deemed that the player had been incorrectly ruled offside for his second goal.

    The goal was Iheanacho's second in a 2–0 win over Fleetwood Town in the FA Cup Third Round replay.[51]

    –21 season

    Iheanacho wasn't in the first-choice starting eleven at the start of the season, and only started two of Leicester's first 21 Premier League games. However, several injuries to key players meant that Iheanacho got an extended run of games.[52] Iheanacho then went on a goal-scoring run of 12 goals in 10 games in all competitions during March and April.

    Iheanacho scored his first Premier League hat-trick in a 5–0 win against Sheffield United on 14 March [53] A week later, Iheanacho netted a brace in Leicester's 3–1 win over Manchester United in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup, sending the club into the semi-finals of the competition for the first time since –[54] The two strikes were Iheanacho's eighth and ninth goals in his last nine matches in all competitions.[55] Iheanacho won the Premier League Player of the Month award in March after scoring five goals in three league appearances.[56]

    On 3 April, Iheanacho signed a new three-year contract with Leicester, keeping him at the club until at least [57] On 18 April, Iheanacho scored the only goal in a 1–0 win over Southampton in the FA Cup semi-final at Wembley Stadium.

    The win took the Foxes to their first FA Cup final since [58]

    –22 season

    Iheanacho and Leicester started the –22 season with the FA Community Shield against Manchester City. Iheanacho was substituted on during the 79th minute and scored the winning goal, an 89th-minute penalty against his former club.[59][60][61]

    –23 season

    Iheanacho received Leicester's Player of the Year award following a season that resulted in the club's relegation from the Premier League.[62]

    –24 season

    Iheanacho scored six goals in 26 matches in all competitions, as his club managed to achieve the EFL Championship, securing promotion back to the Premier League.

    See full list on naijabiography.com Kelechi Iheanacho, a forward for the Nigerian national football team, secured the decisive penalty in a shootout triumph against South Africa during the Africa Cup of Nations semi-final on February 7,

    On 7 June, Leicester City confirmed that he would be released and not sign a new contract with the club.[63]

    Sevilla

    On 31 July , Iheanacho joined Spanish club Sevilla on a free transfer following the expiration of his contract at Leicester City.[64]

    International career

    Youth

    Iheanacho has represented Nigeria at youth levels from under upwards.[65] His first experience of a major international tournament was the African U 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.[66] Nigeria reached the final of the competition, where they were defeated on penalties by the Ivory Coast.[67]

    Iheanacho played a significant role in the FIFA U World Cup, where he won the Golden Ball award for player of the tournament.[68] Nigeria won the competition, in which Iheanacho scored six times, including once in the final, and provided seven assists.[68][69] In the run-up to the 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.[70] He was part of the Nigeria squad for the FIFA U World Cup in New Zealand, and featured in two matches.[71]

    He was selected by Nigeria for their man provisional squad for the Summer Olympics, but failed to make the final [72]

    Senior

    Iheanacho made his senior debut as a substitute in a FIFA World Cup qualifying match against Eswatini in which Nigeria drew 0–0.[73] His first start for the senior team was on 25 March , a 1–1 draw with Egypt in a Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match.[74]

    Iheanacho was selected by Nigeria in friendly matches against Mali and Luxembourg in May He scored in the two games, providing an assist against Luxembourg.[75][76]

    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.[77]

    Despite the change made in the coaching personnel in August , he distinguished himself again as one of the most important players in the team when he scored two superb goals in the two matches against Tanzania in Uyo and Zambia in Ndola, during the AFCON and World Cup qualifications respectively.[78][79]

    In June , he was named in Nigeria's man squad for the World Cup in Russia.[80]

    On 25 December , Iheanacho was shortlisted in Nigeria's Africa Cup of Nations man squad by caretaker coach Austin Eguavoen.[81] He scored Nigeria's first goal of the tournament in the 30th minute of their opening match victory against Egypt.[82]

    In December , he was called up for the Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast.[83] In the semi-final match against South Africa, Iheanacho, coming off the bench,[84] scored the winning penalty in a 4–2 victory during the shootouts following a 1–1 draw, which qualified his country to the final.[85]

    Player profile

    Style of play

    Affectionately known as the Senior Man in his native Nigeria, Iheanacho is known for his vision, dribbling, speed, finishing and athleticism.[86][87][88] Although mainly a striker, he is able to play anywhere in the final third[89][90] and is generally described by pundits as one of the most efficient strikers in England.[91][92][93][94][95]

    Reception

    Iheanacho first rose to prominence in after the FIFA U World Cup as an attacking midfielder.[96]Manuel Pellegrini has profiled him as an important and hard working player.[97] His manager, Brendan Rodgers described him as an incredible, hardworking, and a highly talented player with no ego, in an interview with BBC and Sky Sports.[98][99]FA Cup named him one of the most iconic black players in the history of the competition.[] BBC and other several media outlets profiled him as the “deadliest striker in Europe”,[] and has been deemed as the most in-form striker in Premier League while praising his speed rate at scoring goals.[] Former British strikers and sports pundits, Gary Lineker and Alan Shearer, described him as “bag of talents” and a player who has a great pace and massive potentials.[] His manager, Craig Shakespeare proclaimed him as an enormously talented player that has shown a huge amount of promise at every level in which he’s played.[] His teammate, Isaac Success described him as the best player he has ever played with in his entire career.[]

    As of , Iheanacho emerged as the player who has the best goals-per-minute record in Premier League history and currently the only African to do so, and was proclaimed Premier League and Europe's "Most Prolific Goal Scorer" by The Telegraph, Sky Sports and various other media outlets.[][] Former English Ballon d'Or nominee and pundit Rio Ferdinand has described him, saying to Sports Extra; 'Kelechi at the moment is the best Nigerian player playing in the EPL this season, because he scores goals man, he’s a goalscorer'.[] Emerging Nigerian football talents often consider Iheanacho a role model.[] He idolizes Kaka, Wayne Rooney, Didier Drogba and Leo Messi,[][] and has profiled Ronaldinho and Sergio Aguero as his inspirations,[] also Jamie Vardy who has been described by pundits as his rival.[][] But he has rejected this and cited him as a legend and a motivation for him to become a better player.[] He has also expressed his interest to emulate attacking midfielder Jay-Jay Okocha and forward Nwankwo Kanu in the Premier League and they have both cited Iheanacho as a great player and one of the best strikers in the world.[][][]

    Goal celebration trademark

    After scoring a goal, Iheanacho goal celebration trademark is going on his knees and pointing his both hands in respect to the sky which he has described wrestling legend,[][] his favorite wrestler Bryan Danielson as the inspiration behind it.

    In , the wrestler acknowledged him after he became the instrumental of Nigeria's win over Mexico with four goals that year.[]

    Personal life

    Iheanacho is from the Igbo ethnic group of Nigeria.[4] He is a Christian.[]

    Career statistics

    Club

    As of match played 14 December

    International

    As of match played 18 November []
    National teamYearAppsGoals
    Nigeria10
    64
    74
    110
    41
    92
    61
    63
    70
    Total5715
    As of match played 18 November
    Nigeria score listed first, score column indicates score after each Iheanacho goal.[]
    No.

    		Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
    127 May Stade Robert Diochon, Rouen, France&#;Mali1–01–0Friendly
    231 May Stade Josy Barthel, Luxembourg City, Luxembourg&#;Luxembourg2–03–1Friendly
    33 September Akwa Ibom Stadium, Uyo, Nigeria&#;Tanzania1–01–0 Africa Cup of Nations qualification
    49 October Levy Mwanawasa Stadium, Ndola, Zambia&#;Zambia2–02–1 FIFA World Cup qualification
    523 March The Hive Stadium, London, England&#;Senegal1–11–1Friendly
    61 June Stade Municipal de Saint-Leu-la-Forêt, Paris, France&#;Togo3–03–0Friendly
    71 September Akwa Ibom Stadium, Uyo, Nigeria&#;Cameroon4–04–0 FIFA World Cup qualification
    814 November Krasnodar Stadium, Krasnodar, Russia&#;Argentina1–24–2Friendly
    913 October Jacques Lemans Arena, Sankt Veit an der Glan, Austria&#;Tunisia1–01–1Friendly
    10 3 September Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos, Nigeria&#;Liberia1–02–0 FIFA World Cup qualification
    112–0
    1211 January Roumdé Adjia Stadium, Garoua, Cameroon&#;Egypt1–01–0 Africa Cup of Nations
    1318 June Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex, Monrovia, Liberia&#;Sierra Leone3–23–2 Africa Cup of Nations qualification
    1413 October Estádio Municipal de Portimão, Portimão, Portugal&#;Saudi Arabia2–12–2Friendly
    1519 November Stade Huye, Butare, Rwanda&#;Zimbabwe1–11–1 FIFA World Cup qualification

    Honours

    Manchester City

    Leicester City

    Nigeria U17

    Nigeria

    Individual

    Orders

    References

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      FIFA. 15 July p.&#; Archived from the original(PDF) on 11 June

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      Iheanacho kelechi biography of martin Kelechi Promise Iheanacho MON (listen ⓘ) (Igbo: Ịheanachọ, [4] born 3 October ) is a Nigerian professional footballer who plays as a striker for La Liga club Sevilla and the Nigeria national team. Iheanacho began his senior career at Manchester City during the –16 season, winning the Football League Cup.

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      See full list on naijabiography.com

      Kelechi Promise Iheanacho MON (listen ⓘ) (Igbo: Ịheanachọ, [4] born 3 October ) is a Nigerian professional footballer who plays as a striker for La Liga club Sevilla and the Nigeria national team. Iheanacho began his senior career at Manchester City during the –16 season, winning the Football League Cup.

      30 January Retrieved 30 January

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      Videos: Kelechi Iheanacho stands as an inspiration not only to aspiring Nigerian footballers but to young athletes around the world. His journey from a local talent in Imo State to a celebrated figure in the Premier League is a testament to hard work, perseverance, and determination.

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