John Utaka

John Utaka

Personal information
Full name	John Chukwudi Utaka
Date of birth	8 January 1982 (1982-01-08)
Place of birth	Enugu, Nigeria
Height	1.79 m (5 ft 10 1⁄2 in)
Playing position	Striker / Right winger
Club information
Current club	Montpellier
Number	7
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
1997–1998	Enugu Rangers	?	(?)
1998–2000	Arab Contractors	45	(11)
2000–2001	Ismaily	21	(17)
2001–2002	Al-Sadd	27	(14)
2002–2005	Lens	102	(24)
2005–2007	Rennes	63	(22)
2007–2011	Portsmouth	90	(10)
2011–	Montpellier	23	(2)
National team‡
2002–	Nigeria	43	(6)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 22 October 2011. † Appearances (Goals). ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 16 October 2011

John Chukwudi Utaka (born 8 January 1982 in Enugu, Nigeria) is a Nigerian footballer who played as a striker for Montpellier of the Ligue 1. He is the older brother of Peter Utaka, who plays for OB in Denmark.

Club career

Utaka has played for several clubs across three continents, first for Arab Contractors and subsequently Ismaily of Egypt, then spending a season playing for Al-Sadd of Qatar, before joining Racing Lens and later Rennes in France. During his career he has mainly been utilised as a pacy winger making a very effective element in a team's counter attacking.

Utaka struggled to make an impact at the start of his Rennes stint. However, he took advantage of the absence of fellow striker Alexander Frei through injury to make his breakthrough. In February 2006, he scored two consecutive hat-tricks, against Lens and Lyon, and as a result received L'Equipe's player of the month award.

In Egypt, while with Ismaily, Utaka earned cult status with the local fans. They used to chant "Oh Oh Oh Utaka, Oh Oh Oh Utaka" during the matches.^{[citation needed]} He played alongside the likes of Mohammed Barakat, Islam El-Shater, and captain Mohamed Salah Abo Greisha under the guidance of Mohsen Saleh, later appointed coach of Egypt.

Utaka joined Portsmouth on a four-year deal in July 2007, for a fee of around £7,000,000. He scored his first goal on 11 August 2007 in a game against newly promoted Derby County. Some sources claim he became the club's record signing.

On 17 May 2008, Portsmouth won the FA Cup with a 1–0 victory over Cardiff City. Utaka provided the cross for the winning goal which was scored by Nwankwo Kanu.

He went on to have a poor 2008–09 season but on 27 June 2009 he confirmed he would be staying at the club for at least another season.

The salary being paid to Utaka become a talking point in light of Portsmouth FC's financial woes. With news agencies reporting an alleged £80,000 per week salary for Utaka a reflection of the financial mismanagement of the football club. Utaka has since hit out at these reports, claiming that he earns one third of that figure.

On 23 January 2010, Utaka scored both goals in Portsmouth's 2–1 win over Sunderland in the FA Cup 4th Round.

On 29 January 2011, Utaka signed for French first division side Montpellier, agreeing a two-and-a-half year deal for an undisclosed fee.

International career

Utaka plays for Nigeria and was a participant at the 2002 World Cup.^{[citation needed]} He started four of Nigeria's six games in the 2006 African Cup of Nations, in which Nigeria finished in third place. He was also part of the Nigeria National Team that participated in the 2010 World Cup but was an unused substitute in the tournament.

Career statistics

List of honours

Ismaily SC

• Egyptian League: Top scorer 2000-01

Portsmouth

• FA Cup: 2008

External links

• John Utaka the Official Site
• John Utaka career stats at Soccerbase
• John Utaka French league stats at LFP.fr (French)
• John Utaka's profile, stats & pics Stade Rennais
• Player profile and pictures Racing Club de Lens
• Player profile and career NigerianPlayers.com