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
2014–2015 Manchester City
Senior career*
Years Team Apps† (Gls)†
2015– Manchester City 24 (7)
National team‡
2013 Nigeria U17 7 (8)
2015– Nigeria U20 2 (0)
2015– Nigeria 2 (0)

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 18:14, 1 May 2016 (UTC).
† Appearances (goals)

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 01:19, 26 March 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 Nigerian national football 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 Imo.[1] As a youth he represented Taye Academy in Owerri. 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 Manchester City on his 17th birthday in October 2014.[12] In the interim, he returned to Nigeria. As the year drew to a close, the Confederation of African Football 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, Manchester City visited the USA on a pre-season tour. Though still not formally a Manchester City player, Iheanacho 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 A.C. Milan in a 5–1 win.[15] After the conclusion of the tour, Manchester City arranged for Iheanacho to train with 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 was injured 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]

In July 2015, he was also included in City's pre-season tour team in Australia.[20] On the tour, he set up the first goal for Raheem Sterling against Roma and scored the second goal in the win against Roma in the 2015 International Champions Cup. He also set up Raheem Sterling for the 4th goal in City's 8–1 victory against Vietnam. 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 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 the 4th goal for 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, 1 May 2016, he scored two again, albeit in a 4-2 defeat at the hands of Southampton.[30]

International career

Iheanacho has represented Nigeria at youth levels from under-13 upwards.[31] 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.[32] Nigeria reached the final of the competition, where they were defeated on penalties by Ivory Coast.[33]

Iheanacho played a significant role in the 2013 FIFA U-17 World Cup, where he won the "Golden Ball" awarded to the player of the tournament.[34] Nigeria won the competition, in which Iheanacho scored six times, including a goal in the final, and provided seven assists.[34][35] 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.[36] He was part of the Nigeria squad for the 2015 FIFA U-20 World Cup in New Zealand, and featured in two matches.[37]

Iheanacho made his first team debut as a substitute in a World Cup Qualifying game against Swaziland in which Nigeria drew 0-0.[38] His first start in the Nigerian national team was handed to him on the 25th March 2016 where Nigeria drew 1-1 against Egypt in an African Cup of Nations qualifying game.[39]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played on 1 May 2016
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Europe Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Manchester City 2015–16[40] Premier League 247342220003113
Career total 247342220003113

International

As of match played 25 March 2016.[41]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Nigeria 201510
201610
Total20

Honours

Club

Manchester City

International

Nigeria U17

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. ↑ "The players representing the Golden Eaglets of Nigeria". Kick Off magazine. Retrieved 21 June 2015.
  32. ↑ "Iheanacho dedicates hat-trick to late mum". Super Sport. 21 April 2013. Retrieved 20 June 2015.
  33. ↑ "2013 African U-17 Championship". BBC Sport. Retrieved 21 June 2015.
  34. 1 2 "Golden Eaglets soar to fourth crown". FIFA. Retrieved 20 June 2015.
  35. ↑ "Nigeria win Under-17 World Cup". BBC. 8 November 2013. Retrieved 20 June 2015.
  36. ↑ "Kelechi Iheanacho is set for a move to England according to Stephen Keshi". Sky Sports. 17 December 2013. Retrieved 20 June 2015.
  37. ↑ "Kelechi Iheanacho". FIFA. Retrieved 21 June 2015.
  38. ↑ "Swaziland hold Eagles to a draw". http://www.supersport.com/. Retrieved 2016-04-25. External link in |website= (help)
  39. ↑ "Nigeria 1 - 1 Egypt Match report - 3/25/16 Africa Cup of Nations Qualification - Goal.com". www.goal.com. Retrieved 2016-03-27.
  40. ↑ "Games played by Kelechi Iheanacho in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 30 December 2015.
  41. ↑ "Iheanacho, Kelechi". National Football Teams. Retrieved 30 December 2015.
  42. ↑ "Summary – U17 World Cup – World – Results, fixtures, tables and news – Soccerway". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved 21 April 2016.

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