Chiedozie Ogbene

Chiedozie Somkelechukwu Ogbene (born 1 May 1997) is an Irish professional footballer who plays as a winger for Luton Town and the Republic of Ireland national team.

Chiedozie Ogbene
Personal information
Full name Chiedozie Somkelechukwu Ogbene[1]
Date of birth (1997-05-01) 1 May 1997[2]
Place of birth Lagos, Nigeria
Height 1.81 m (5 ft 11 in)[2]
Position(s) Winger
Team information
Current team
 Luton Town
Number 7
Youth career
Tramore Athletic
College Corinthians
Kilreen Celtic
Everton
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2015–2016 Cork City 9 (3)
2017 Limerick 32 (8)
2018–2019 Brentford 6 (0)
2018–2019 → Exeter City (loan) 14 (0)
2019–2023 Rotherham United 120 (12)
2023– Luton Town 9 (1)
International career‡
2021– Republic of Ireland 19 (4)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 16:25, 21 October 2023 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 23:57, 16 October 2023 (UTC)

Ogbene began his career in Ireland with Cork City and Limerick, before transferring to Brentford in 2018. After a loan spell with Exeter City he moved to Rotherham United in 2019, and then to Luton Town in 2023.

Early and personal life

Born in Lagos, Nigeria,[2] Ogbene moved with his family (including two brothers and two sisters) to Ireland in 2005,[3][4] after his father got a job in the country,[5] rejecting an offer of a job in Florida in the process.[6] He grew up in the Grange area of Cork.[7] He attended Bunscoil Chríost Rí as his Primary School and Colaiste Chriost Rí as his Secondary School[4] He is a supporter of Liverpool.[4]

Club career

Ogbene played Gaelic football for Nemo Rangers and association football for Munster Senior League clubs Tramore Athletic, College Corinthians, Kilreen Celtic and Everton.[3][4] He scored 1–2 and was awarded man of the match in an under-21 final for Nemo Rangers in 2015, his last appearance for the club.[8]

He signed for Cork City in August 2015.[4] He won the Enda McGuill Cup with their under-19 youth team, and the 2016 FAI Cup with their senior team.[4]

He signed for fellow League of Ireland club Limerick in January 2017.[9] He was nominated three times for the League of Ireland Player of the Month award.[10]

In November 2017 he was linked with a transfer to English club Aston Villa.[11]

On 30 January 2018, Ogbene signed for English club Brentford on a three-and-a-half year contract for an undisclosed fee.[12] He made his league debut on 10 April 2018, making one further appearance that season.[13] He moved on loan to Exeter City in August 2018.[14]

On 29 August 2019, Ogbene joined League One club Rotherham United for an undisclosed fee, signing a three-year contract.[15][16] In 2019–20, he played a central role in Rotherham's promotion-winning season, being described by manager Paul Warne as "unplayable" after he helped Rotherham beat Bristol Rovers by 3–0.[7] He was injured between October 2020 and April 2021.[17]

On 3 April 2022 he scored a goal as Rotherham won the EFL Trophy in a 4–2 victory over Sutton United.[18]

On 27 June 2023, it was announced that Ogbene would join newly promoted Premier League side Luton Town on 1 July 2023 when his contract with Rotherham United came to an end.[19][20]

International career

He was eligible to represent both Republic of Ireland and Nigeria at international level.[4] In July 2020, Ogbene approached Republic of Ireland manager Stephen Kenny to declare his wish to play for the national team.[7] On 24 May 2021, Ogbene received his first call up to the Republic of Ireland senior squad for the summer friendlies against Andorra and Hungary.[21][22][23] He said he hoped to be a role model for other Irish players from a similar background.[24] He made his debut on 8 June 2021 against Hungary, becoming the first African-born player to represent the Republic of Ireland.[25] The Irish players had been booed by Hungarian fans prior to kick-off for taking the knee in a symbolic gesture against racism in the sport, which Ogbene asked UEFA to investigate.[26]

Ogbene scored his first international goal on 9 October 2021 in a 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Azerbaijan with a 90th minute header in a 3–0 win at Baku Olympic Stadium.[27]

Career statistics

Club
As of 21 October 2023
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup League Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Cork City 2015[2] LOI Premier Division 1000000010
2016[2] LOI Premier Division 8310000093
Total 93100000103
Limerick 2017[2] LOI Premier Division 328200000348
Brentford 2017–18[13] Championship 2000000020
2018–19[28] Championship 4020100070
Total 6020100090
Exeter City (loan) 2018–19[28] League Two 13000004[lower-alpha 1]0170
Rotherham United 2019–20[29] League One 25130001[lower-alpha 1]0291
2020–21[30] Championship 110001000120
2021–22[31] League One 45330104[lower-alpha 1]1534
2022–23[32] Championship 3981021—429
Total 1201270415113614
Luton Town 2023–24[33] Premier League 910020—111
Career total 18924120719121726
  1. Appearance(s) in the EFL Trophy.

International
As of match played 16 October 2023
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Republic of Ireland 202152
202281
202361
Total194
Scores and results list the Republic of Ireland's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Ogbene goal.
List of international goals scored by Chiedozie Ogbene
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
19 October 2021Bakı Olimpiya Stadionu, Baku, Azerbaijan Azerbaijan3–03–02022 FIFA World Cup qualification[27]
214 November 2021Stade de Luxembourg, Luxembourg City, Luxembourg Luxembourg2–03–02022 FIFA World Cup qualification
326 March 2022Aviva Stadium, Dublin, Ireland Belgium1–12–2Friendly[34]
422 March 2023Aviva Stadium, Dublin, Ireland Latvia3–23–2Friendly

Honours

Cork City

Rotherham United

References
  1. "2023/24 Premier League squad lists". Premier League. 13 September 2023. Retrieved 13 September 2023.
  2. Chiedozie Ogbene at Soccerway. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
  3. "'I had to pick between soccer and Gaelic football but this is the dream' - Chiedozie Ogbene". The 42. 27 December 2016. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
  4. "TEN THINGS YOU DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT CHIEDOZIE OGBENE". Brentford F.C. 30 January 2018. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
  5. "Africa-born Ogbene on his 'different journey' to Republic of Ireland squad". BBC Sport.
  6. "Rising Ireland star Chiedozie Ogbene grateful father chose Cork over Florida". Largs and Millport Weekly News.
  7. "FAI begin eligibility process after Ogbene expresses desire to represent Ireland". The 42. 8 July 2020. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
  8. "'Incredibly proud day for the club'". Hogan Stand. 9 June 2021.
  9. Ryan Kelly (19 January 2017). "Chiedozie Ogbene leaves Cork City for Limerick". Goal.com. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
  10. Colm Kinsella (2 November 2017). "Limerick FC winger Chiedozie Ogbene nominated for Player of Month award". Limerick Leader. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
  11. John Fallon and Liam Mackey (30 November 2017). "Aston Villa targeting talented Chiedozie Ogbene". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
  12. "Chiedozie Ogbene: Brentford sign forward from Irish side Limerick". BBC Sport. 30 January 2018. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
  13. "Games played by Chiedozie Ogbene in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
  14. "Chiedozie Ogbene: Exeter City sign Brentford winger on loan until January". BBC Sport. 21 August 2018. Retrieved 31 August 2018.
  15. "SIGNING Millers land winger from Brentford". Rotherham United F.C. 29 August 2019. Retrieved 29 August 2019.
  16. "Chiedozie Ogbene: Rotherham United sign Brentford winger". BBC Sport. 29 August 2019. Retrieved 30 August 2019.
  17. Slattery, Joel (28 April 2021). "Chiedozie Ogbene determined to make his mark on Championship after injury nightmare". Irish Examiner.
  18. Peddy, Chris (3 April 2022). "Rotherham United 4–2 Sutton United". BBC Sport. Retrieved 3 April 2022.
  19. "Chiedozie Ogbene joins Luton Town!". www.lutontown.co.uk.
  20. "Luton sign Ireland winger Ogbene from Rotherham" – via www.bbc.co.uk.
  21. "Chiedozie Ogbene - Rotherham United winger eager to be unleashed for Republic of Ireland". www.yorkshirepost.co.uk.
  22. "Meet Chiedozie Ogbene, the explosive winger who's been called into the Ireland squad". Extra.ie. 24 May 2021.
  23. Fallon, John (30 May 2021). "Chiedozie Ogbene: 'I am Nigerian by birth but grew up in Cork, so see myself as an Irishman'". Irish Examiner.
  24. "Chiedozie Ogbene is blazing a trail with Republic". independent.
  25. "Goalkeepers save Republic in Hungary". BBC Sport.
  26. "Ogbene calls for Uefa action over booing". BBC Sport.
  27. "Chiedozie Ogbene reflects on 'special night' after Republic end wait for a win". The Independent. 10 October 2021.
  28. "Games played by Chiedozie Ogbene in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 16 August 2018.
  29. "Games played by Chiedozie Ogbene in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 25 February 2020.
  30. "Games played by Chiedozie Ogbene in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 29 April 2021.
  31. "Games played by Chiedozie Ogbene in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 16 April 2022.
  32. "Games played by Chiedozie Ogbene in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 22 April 2023.
  33. "Games played by Chiedozie Ogbene in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 2 August 2023.
  34. "Republic of Ireland 2 Belgium 2". BBC Sport. 26 March 2022. Retrieved 29 March 2022.
  35. "Rotherham win to go up and relegate Gillingham". BBC Sport. 30 April 2022. Retrieved 6 February 2023.
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