John Utaka

John Utaka
Utaka with Sivasspor in 2013
Personal information
Full name John Chukwudi Utaka
Date of birth (1982-01-08) 8 January 1982 (age 42)
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.

  1. ^ "John Chukwudi Utaka - International Appearances". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation.
  2. ^ "John Utaka To Stay at Premier League Outfit Portsmouth, Explains Brother". goal.com. 5 June 2009. Retrieved 5 June 2009.