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{{short description|Nigerian footballer}}
{{Distinguish|Uche Kalu}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2020}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Kalu Uche
| caption =
| fullname = Kalu Uche
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1982|11|15|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Aba, Abia]], [[Nigeria]]
| height = 1.79 m
| currentclub =
| clubnumber =
| position = [[Forward (association football)|Forward]]
| youthyears1 = Osusu pillars F.C
| youthclubs1 = [[Enyimba International F.C.|Enyimba International]]
| youthyears2 = 1999–2000
| youthclubs2 = [[Heartland F.C.|Iwuanyanwu Nationale]]
| years1 = 2000–2001
| clubs1 = [[RCD Espanyol B|Espanyol B]]
| caps1 = 2
| goals1 = 0
| years2 = 2001–2005
| clubs2 = [[Wisła Kraków]]
| caps2 = 54
| goals2 = 11
| years3 = 2004–2005
| clubs3 = → [[FC Girondins de Bordeaux|Bordeaux]] (loan)
| caps3 = 24
| goals3 = 1
| years4 = 2005–2011
| clubs4 = [[UD Almería|Almería]]
| caps4 = 172
| goals4 = 39
| years5 = 2011–2012
| clubs5 = [[Neuchâtel Xamax]]
| caps5 = 14
| goals5 = 6
| years6 = 2012
| clubs6 = [[RCD Espanyol|Espanyol]]
| caps6 = 15
| goals6 = 5
| years7 = 2012–2013
| clubs7 = [[Kasımpaşa S.K.|Kasımpaşa]]
| caps7 = 34
| goals7 = 19
| years8 = 2013–2014
| clubs8 = [[El Jaish SC|El Jaish]]
| caps8 = 8
| goals8 = 4
| years9 = 2014–2015
| clubs9 = [[Al-Rayyan SC|Al-Rayyan]]
| caps9 = 16
| goals9 = 17
| years10 = 2015
| clubs10 = [[Levante UD|Levante]]
| caps10 = 16
| goals10 = 5
| years11 = 2015
| clubs11 = [[FC Pune City|Pune City]]
| caps11 = 11
| goals11 = 4
| years12 = 2016–2017
| clubs12 = [[UD Almería|Almería]]
| caps12 = 28
| goals12 = 5
| years13 = 2017–2018
| clubs13 = [[Delhi Dynamos FC|Delhi Dynamos]]
| caps13 = 15
| goals13 = 13
| years14 = 2018–2019
| clubs14 = [[ATK (football club)|ATK]]
| caps14 = 11
| goals14 = 1
| years15 = 2021–2022
| clubs15 = [[Águilas FC|Águilas]]
| caps15 = 21
| goals15 = 1
| totalcaps =
| totalgoals =
| nationalyears1 = 2003–2012
| nationalteam1 = [[Nigeria national football team|Nigeria]]
| nationalcaps1 = 37
| nationalgoals1 = 6
| club-update = 3 March 2019
| nationalteam-update =
}}

'''Kalu Uche''' (born 15 November 1982) is a Nigerian professional [[Association football|footballer]] who plays as a [[Forward (association football)|forward]].

He spent most of his career in Spain, mainly with [[UD Almería|Almería]], with which he amassed [[La Liga]] totals of 117 matches and 27 goals (212 appearances and 45 goals all competitions comprised). He also competed professionally in Poland, France, Switzerland, Turkey, Qatar and India.

A [[Nigeria national football team|Nigeria international]] in the 2000s, Uche represented his country at the [[2010 FIFA World Cup|2010 World Cup]] and the [[2010 Africa Cup of Nations]].

==Club career==
===Early years===
Born in [[Aba, Abia]], Uche's career began in Nigeria with [[Enyimba International F.C.]] and [[Heartland F.C.|Iwuanyanwu Nationale]]. In the [[2000–01 Segunda División B|2000–01 season]] he joined [[RCD Espanyol B]] in Spain, failing to receive any [[RCD Espanyol|first-team]] opportunities and competing with the reserves in the [[Segunda División B|third division]].

Uche then transferred to [[Wisła Kraków]], playing there until 2005 – winning the [[Ekstraklasa]] three times and [[Polish Cup]] twice – except for the [[2004–05 Ligue 1|2004–05 campaign]] when he represented [[FC Girondins de Bordeaux]], on loan.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.uefa.com/memberassociations/news/newsid=220779.html|title=Uche gives Bordeaux a go|publisher=UEFA|date=30 August 2004|access-date=20 November 2008|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121024061315/http://www.uefa.com/memberassociations/news/newsid%3D220779.html|archive-date=24 October 2012}}</ref>

===Almería===
For [[2005–06 Segunda División|2005–06]], Uche moved to [[UD Almería]], and was instrumental in helping the [[Andalusia]] club to its first ever [[La Liga]] promotion in [[2006–07 Segunda División|his second year]], scoring eight league goals (with three in the last five matches). He made his debut in the competition on 26 August 2007, [[Substitute (association football)|coming from the bench]] in a 3–0 away win against [[Deportivo de La Coruña]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.elmundo.es/elmundodeporte/2007/08/26/futbol/1188157520.html|title=Recital del Almería en su regreso a Primera|trans-title=Almería recital in their return to ''Primera''|newspaper=[[El Mundo (Spain)|El Mundo]]|language=es|date=26 August 2007|access-date=25 May 2016}}</ref>

On 11 January 2009, profiting from the absence of first-choice [[Álvaro Negredo]], Uche netted both goals in a 2–2 draw at Espanyol.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://soccernet.espn.go.com/report/_/id/252876?cc=5739|title=Espanyol 2–2 Almeria|publisher=[[ESPN FC|ESPN Soccernet]]|date=11 January 2009|access-date=7 August 2011|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121026131241/http://soccernet.espn.go.com/report/_/id/252876?cc=5739|archive-date=26 October 2012}}</ref> On 5 December, he scored his team's second goal at [[Real Madrid CF|Real Madrid]] for the 2–1, but the hosts eventually rallied back to 4–2.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://soccernet.espn.go.com/report/_/id/275739?cc=5739|title=Ronaldo endures eventful night|publisher=ESPN Soccernet|date=5 December 2009|access-date=7 August 2011|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121026131147/http://soccernet.espn.go.com/report/_/id/275739?cc=5739|archive-date=26 October 2012}}</ref>

In the following summer, Negredo was sold to [[Sevilla FC]] – via Real Madrid – and Uche became Almería's most important attacking reference.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://futbol.as.com/futbol/2009/08/30/mas_futbol/1251613616_850215.html|title=Sin Asenjo ni Negredo|trans-title=Neither Asenjo nor Negredo|newspaper=[[Diario AS]]|first=Carlos|last=Cariño|language=es|date=30 August 2009|access-date=25 May 2016}}</ref> He finished the [[2009–10 La Liga|2009–10 season]] with a career-best in Spain nine goals,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.diariodealmeria.es/deportes/Kalu-Uche-trio-Soriano-Crusat-Piatti-clave_0_368363712.html|title=Kalu Uche y el trío Soriano-Crusat-Piatti, la clave del gol|trans-title=Kalu Uche and the trio Soriano-Crusat-Piatti, the key to goal|newspaper=[[Diario de Almería]]|first=Paco|last=Gregorio|language=es|date=13 May 2010|access-date=28 July 2020}}</ref> including a brace on 4 May 2010 against [[Villarreal CF]] in a 4–2 home win, which all but certified permanence in the top level for another year.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://soccernet.espn.go.com/report/_/id/275905?cc=5739|title=Almeria boost survival hopes|publisher=ESPN Soccernet|date=4 May 2010|access-date=7 August 2011|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121026131202/http://soccernet.espn.go.com/report/_/id/275905?cc=5739|archive-date=26 October 2012}}</ref>

Uche was only available to manager [[Juan Manuel Lillo]] one month into [[2010–11 La Liga|2010–11]], due to fitness problems.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://futbol.as.com/futbol/2010/09/17/mas_futbol/1284704812_850215.html|title=Kalu Uche se desvive por reconquistar a Lillo|trans-title=Kalu Uche goes the extra mile to win Lillo over again|newspaper=Diario AS|first=Rafa|last=Espino|language=es|date=17 September 2010|access-date=25 May 2016}}</ref> In the second match upon his return, on 26 September 2010, he scored twice in a 2–0 victory at Deportivo for Almería's first win of the campaign,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://soccernet.espn.go.com/report/_/id/302086?cc=5739|title=Uche breaks Almeria duck|publisher=ESPN Soccernet|date=26 September 2010|access-date=7 April 2011|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121024145653/http://soccernet.espn.go.com/report/_/id/302086?cc=5739|archive-date=24 October 2012}}</ref> going on to net seven in 32 games as the club was finally relegated after a four-year stay.

===Neuchâtel and Espanyol===
On 4 August 2011, Uche joined [[Swiss Super League]] side [[Neuchâtel Xamax]] on a two-year deal.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.xamax.ch/news-detail.php?idnews=454|title=Les rouge et noir passent à l'offensive|trans-title=The red-and-black go offensive|publisher=Neuchâtel Xamax|language=fr|date=4 August 2011|access-date=4 August 2011|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928152213/http://www.xamax.ch/news-detail.php?idnews=454|archive-date=28 September 2011}}</ref> He left the following [[transfer window]], however, and returned to Espanyol, immerse in a deep injury crisis to its attacking line, signing until June 2013.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.sport.es/es/noticias/espanyol/kalu-uche-ficha-por-espanyol-1368381|title=Kalu Uche ficha por el Espanyol|trans-title=Kalu Uche ficha por el Espanyol|newspaper=[[Sport (Spanish newspaper)|Sport]]|language=es|date=30 January 2012|access-date=11 March 2012|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120309172020/http://www.sport.es/es/noticias/espanyol/kalu-uche-ficha-por-espanyol-1368381|archive-date=9 March 2012}}</ref>

Uche opened his scoring account for his new club on 25 February 2012 in a 1–2 home loss against [[Levante UD]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://soccernet.espn.go.com/report?id=323808&cc=5739|title=Levante claim last-gasp win|publisher=ESPN Soccernet|date=25 February 2012|access-date=11 March 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130103022127/http://soccernet.espn.go.com/report?id=323808&cc=5901|archive-date=3 January 2013}}</ref> On 11 March, he put three past [[Rayo Vallecano]] in another home fixture (5–1).<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.marca.com/marcador/futbol/2011_12/primera/jornada_27/esp_ray/|title=Uche y Coutinho ponen la magia en Cornellá|trans-title=Uche and Coutinho bring the magic to Cornellá|newspaper=[[Marca (newspaper)|Marca]]|first=Javier|last=Estepa|language=es|date=11 March 2012|access-date=16 February 2016}}</ref>

===Late career===
On 20 July 2012, Uche moved to Turkish club [[Kasımpaşa S.K.|Kasımpaşa SK]], signing a three-year contract. On 1 October of the following year he switched teams and countries again, penning a deal with [[El Jaish SC]] in Qatar.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.qsl.com.qa/users/newsen/NewsDetails.aspx?pid=1543|title=Uche arrives in the QSL|publisher=[[Qatar Stars League]]|date=1 October 2013|access-date=7 October 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131005132123/http://www.qsl.com.qa/users/newsen/NewsDetails.aspx?pid=1543|archive-date=5 October 2013}}</ref>

Uche signed an 18-month contract with [[Levante UD]] on 29 January 2015, after a short stint at [[Al Rayyan SC]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://es.levanteud.com/noticias/levante24221.html|title=Kalu Uche ya es nuevo jugador del Levante UD|trans-title=Kalu Uche is already a new player of Levante UD|publisher=Levante UD|language=es|date=29 January 2015|access-date=30 January 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150130172444/http://es.levanteud.com/noticias/levante24221.html|archive-date=30 January 2015}}</ref> On 7 January 2016, he returned to Almería, after spending six months at [[FC Pune City]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.udalmeriasad.com/noticia/kalu-uche-regresa-al-almeria-para-potenciar-el-ataque-del-equipo-rojiblanco|title=Kalu Uche regresa al Almería para potenciar el ataque del equipo rojiblanco|trans-title=Kalu Uche returns to Almería to bolster the attack of the red-and-white team|publisher=UD Almería|language=es|date=7 January 2016|access-date=7 January 2016}}</ref> He began his third spell at the former club in February 2017, joining until 30 June as a [[free agent]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.marca.com/futbol/almeria/2017/02/24/58b0077b268e3e9a078b457e.html|title=Vuelve Kalu Uche, 'dinamita' para el ataque del Almería|trans-title=Kalu Uche, 'dynamite' for Almería offense, returns|newspaper=Marca|first=Txabi|last=Ferrero|language=es|date=24 February 2017|access-date=24 February 2017}}</ref>

==International career==
Uche made his debut for [[Nigeria national football team|Nigeria]] on 21 June 2003, in an [[2004 African Cup of Nations qualification|African Nations Cup qualifier]] against [[Angola national football team|Angola]], scoring in the process.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/intldetails/2003af.html|title=2003 matches|first=Barrie|last=Courtney|access-date=15 August 2009|url-status=live|website=[[RSSSF]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120927145701/http://www.rsssf.com/intldetails/2003af.html|archive-date=27 September 2012}}</ref> He represented the nation at the [[2010 Africa Cup of Nations]], going scoreless for the eventual third-placed team.

After a solid club season, Uche was picked for [[2010 FIFA World Cup|that year]]'s [[FIFA World Cup]] in South Africa. On 17 June, against [[Greece national football team|Greece]], he opened the score from a [[Free kick (association football)|free kick]], but the Super Eagles soon were reduced to ten men and lost 1–2.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/world_cup_2010/matches/match_19/default.stm |title=Greece 2–1 Nigeria|publisher=[[BBC Sport]]|first=Paul|last=Fletcher|date=17 June 2010|access-date=17 June 2010|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100617033031/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/world_cup_2010/matches/match_19/default.stm|archive-date=17 June 2010}}</ref> In the third and last game he also scored the opener, eventually earning Nigeria's only point in the competition in a 2–2 draw with [[South Korea national football team|South Korea]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/world_cup_2010/matches/match_35/default.stm|title=Nigeria 2–2 South Korea|publisher=BBC Sport|first=Marc|last=Vesty|date=22 June 2010|access-date=30 June 2010|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100626035416/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/world_cup_2010/matches/match_35/default.stm|archive-date=26 June 2010}}</ref>

===International goals===
<ref>{{cite web|url=https://int.soccerway.com/players/kalu-uche/17887/matches/|title=K. Uche – Matches|publisher=Soccerway|access-date=16 February 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tables/04a.html|title=African Nations Cup 2004|first1=Barrie|last1=Courtney|first2=Julián|last2=Díaz Rubio|first3=Hamdan|last3=Saaid|first4=Karel|last4=Stokkermans|first5=Martín|last5=Tabeira|website=[[RSSSF]]|access-date=16 February 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oefb.at/graz-news10821|title=Premieren-Tor von Kienast beim 1:1 gegen Nigeria – Korkmaz feiert ÖFB-Debüt|trans-title=First goal for Kienast in 1:1 against Nigeria – Korkmaz celebrates national team debut|publisher=[[Austrian Football Association]]|language=de|date=27 May 2008|access-date=16 February 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://futbol.as.com/futbol/2011/11/15/mas_futbol/1321311657_850215.html|title=Los hermanos Uche guían la victoria de Nigeria|trans-title=Uche brothers guide Nigeria win|newspaper=Diario AS|language=es|date=15 November 2011|access-date=17 February 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/kaluuche-intl.html|title=Kalu Uche – International Appearances|first=Roberto|last=Mamrud|website=[[RSSSF]]|access-date=10 March 2017}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Goal # !! Date !! Venue !! Opponent !! Score !! Result !! Competition
|-
| 1. || 21 June 2003 || [[Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium|Samuel Ogbemudia]], [[Benin City]], Nigeria || {{fb|Angola}} || {{center|'''1'''–2}} || {{center| 2–2}} || [[2004 African Cup of Nations qualification]]
|-
| 2. || 27 May 2008 || [[UPC-Arena]], [[Graz]], [[Austria]] || {{fb|Austria}} || {{center|1–'''1'''}} || {{center| 1–1}} || [[Exhibition game|Friendly]]
|-
| 3. || 17 June 2010 || [[Free State Stadium|Free State]], [[Bloemfontein]], [[South Africa]] || {{fb|Greece}} || {{center| 0–'''1'''}} || {{center| 2–1}} || [[2010 FIFA World Cup]]
|-
| 4. || 22 June 2010 || [[Moses Mabhida Stadium|Moses Mabhida]], [[Durban]], South Africa || {{fb|South Korea}} || {{center| '''1'''–0}} || {{center| 2–2}} || 2010 FIFA World Cup
|-
| 5. || 15 November 2011 || [[Ahmadu Bello Stadium|Ahmadu Bello]], [[Kaduna]], Nigeria || {{fb|Zambia}} || {{center| '''1'''–0}} || {{center| 2–0}} || Friendly
|-
| 6. || 12 April 2012 || [[Maktoum Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Stadium|Maktoum Bin Rashid Al Maktoum]], [[Dubai]], [[United Arab Emirates]] || {{fb|Egypt}} || {{center| '''1'''–2}} || {{center| 2–3}} || Friendly
|}

==Personal life==
Uche's younger brother, [[Ikechukwu Uche]], is also a footballer. Also a forward, he too spent most of his senior career in Spain (they are not related to two other players, [[Uche Okechukwu]] and [[Ikechukwu Kalu]]).He is married to Stephen oforka, former mbgn miss universe, they have two children

<ref>{{cite news|url=http://archivo.marca.com/edicion/marca/futbol/2a_division/recreativo/es/desarrollo/563025.html|title=La liga de los hermanos Uche|trans-title=The league of Uche brothers|newspaper=Marca|first1=J. C.|last1=Galván|first2=J.|last2=Folqué|language=es|date=29 September 2005|access-date=18 November 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140607005226/http://archivo.marca.com/edicion/marca/futbol/2a_division/recreativo/es/desarrollo/563025.html|archive-date=7 June 2014}}</ref>

==Honors==
'''Wisła Kraków'''
*[[Ekstraklasa]]: 2000–01, 2002–03, 2003–04

'''Nigeria'''
*[[Africa Cup of Nations]] third place: [[2010 Africa Cup of Nations|2010]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tables/2010a-det.html|title=African Nations Cup 2010 – Final Tournament Details|first=Barrie|last=Courtney|website=[[RSSSF]]|access-date=22 November 2020}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.nigerianplayers.com/player.asp?pID=128 NigerianPlayers profile]
*{{90minut|3586}}
*{{BDFutbol|4029}}
*{{NFT player|pid=4852}}
*{{FIFA player|178738}}
*{{Soccerway|kalu-uche/17887}}

{{Navboxes colour
|title=Nigeria squads
|bg = #008751
|fg = White
|list1=
{{Nigeria Squad 2010 Africa Cup of Nations}}
{{Nigeria Squad 2010 World Cup}}
}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Uche, Kalu}}
[[Category:1982 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People from Aba, Abia]]
[[Category:Nigerian men's footballers]]
[[Category:Men's association football midfielders]]
[[Category:Men's association football forwards]]
[[Category:Nigeria Professional Football League players]]
[[Category:Enyimba F.C. players]]
[[Category:Heartland F.C. players]]
[[Category:La Liga players]]
[[Category:Segunda División players]]
[[Category:Segunda División B players]]
[[Category:RCD Espanyol B footballers]]
[[Category:UD Almería players]]
[[Category:RCD Espanyol footballers]]
[[Category:Levante UD footballers]]
[[Category:Ekstraklasa players]]
[[Category:Wisła Kraków players]]
[[Category:Ligue 1 players]]
[[Category:FC Girondins de Bordeaux players]]
[[Category:Swiss Super League players]]
[[Category:Neuchâtel Xamax FCS players]]
[[Category:Süper Lig players]]
[[Category:Kasımpaşa S.K. footballers]]
[[Category:Qatar Stars League players]]
[[Category:Qatari Second Division players]]
[[Category:El Jaish SC players]]
[[Category:Al-Rayyan SC players]]
[[Category:Indian Super League players]]
[[Category:FC Pune City players]]
[[Category:Odisha FC players]]
[[Category:ATK (football club) players]]
[[Category:Nigeria men's international footballers]]
[[Category:2010 FIFA World Cup players]]
[[Category:2010 Africa Cup of Nations players]]
[[Category:Nigerian expatriate men's footballers]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Spain]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Poland]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in France]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Switzerland]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Turkey]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Qatar]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in India]]
[[Category:Nigerian expatriate sportspeople in Spain]]
[[Category:Nigerian expatriate sportspeople in Poland]]
[[Category:Nigerian expatriate sportspeople in France]]
[[Category:Nigerian expatriate sportspeople in Turkey]]
[[Category:Nigerian expatriate sportspeople in Qatar]]
[[Category:Nigerian expatriate sportspeople in India]]

Kalu Uche - Revision history

WikiDwarfBOT at 17:53, 21 July 2023