 Utaka with Sivasspor in 2013 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | John Chukwudi Utaka | ||
| Date of birth | 8 January 1982 | ||
| Place of birth | Enugu, Nigeria | ||
| Height | 1.79 m (5 ft 10 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Striker, winger | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1997–1998 | Enugu Rangers | 6 | (2) |
| 1998–1999 | El Mokawloon | 25 | (5) |
| 1999–2001 | Ismaily | 42 | (30) |
| 2001–2002 | Al-Sadd | 27 | (14) |
| 2002–2005 | Lens | 102 | (24) |
| 2005–2007 | Rennes | 63 | (22) |
| 2007–2011 | Portsmouth | 90 | (10) |
| 2011–2013 | Montpellier | 68 | (12) |
| 2013–2016 | Sivasspor | 47 | (12) |
| 2016-2016 | Ismaily | 0 | (0) |
| 2016-2017 | Nogoom El Mostakbal | 0 | (0) |
| 2017-2017 | Aswan | 12 | (2) |
| 2017–2018 | Sedan | 14 | (0) |
| Total | 496 | (133) | |
| International career | |||
| 2001–2012 | Nigeria[1] | 44 | (6) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
John Chukwudi Utaka (born 8 January 1982) is a Nigerian former footballer who played as a striker and is currently a youth coach at Montpellier HSC. He is the older brother of fellow professional footballer Peter Utaka.[2]
Utaka has played for several clubs across three continents, first for Arab Contractors, subsequently Ismaily of Egypt, and then spending a season playing for Al-Sadd of Qatar, before joining RC Lens and later Rennes in France. He has represented Nigeria at two World Cups and three Africa Cup of Nations since his debut in 2002.
During his career he has mainly been utilised as a pacy winger making him a very effective element in a team's counter-attacking style of play. He is the founder of the John Utaka Football Academy Minna, Niger state.
- ^ "John Chukwudi Utaka - International Appearances". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation.
- ^ "John Utaka To Stay at Premier League Outfit Portsmouth, Explains Brother". goal.com. 5 June 2009. Retrieved 5 June 2009.