Chiedozie Ogbene (born 1 May 1997) is an Irish professional footballer who plays as a winger for Rotherham United and the Republic of Ireland national team.
Personal information | |||
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Full name | Chiedozie Ogbene[1] | ||
Date of birth | (1997-05-01) 1 May 1997 (age 25)[2] | ||
Place of birth | Lagos, Nigeria | ||
Height | 1.81 m (5 ft 11 in)[2] | ||
Position(s) | Winger | ||
Club information | |||
Current team | Rotherham United | ||
Number | 11 | ||
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– | Rotherham United | 97 | (9) |
National team‡ | |||
2021– | Republic of Ireland | 11 | (3) |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 11:25, 13 November 2022 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 24 September 2022 (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.
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.[4] He is a supporter of Liverpool.[4]
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]
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.[19][20][21] He said he hoped to be a role model for other Irish players from a similar background.[22] He made his debut on 8 June 2021 against Hungary, becoming the first African-born player to represent the Republic of Ireland.[23] 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.[24]
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.[25]
Club | Season | League | National Cup | League Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
Cork City | 2015[2] | LOI Premier Division | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
2016[2] | LOI Premier Division | 8 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 3 | |
Total | 9 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 3 | ||
Limerick | 2017[2] | LOI Premier Division | 32 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 34 | 8 |
Brentford | 2017–18[13] | Championship | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
2018–19[26] | Championship | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | |
Total | 6 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 | ||
Exeter City (loan) | 2018–19[26] | League Two | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4[lower-alpha 1] | 0 | 17 | 0 |
Rotherham United | 2019–20[27] | League One | 25 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1[lower-alpha 1] | 0 | 29 | 1 |
2020–21[28] | Championship | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 0 | |
2021–22[29] | League One | 45 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4[lower-alpha 1] | 1 | 53 | 4 | |
2022–23[30] | Championship | 16 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | — | 18 | 6 | ||
Total | 97 | 9 | 6 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 112 | 11 | ||
Career total | 157 | 20 | 11 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 9 | 1 | 182 | 22 |
National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
---|---|---|---|
Republic of Ireland | 2021 | 5 | 2 |
2022 | 6 | 1 | |
Total | 11 | 3 |
No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 9 October 2021 | Bakı Olimpiya Stadionu, Baku, Azerbaijan | ![]() | 3–0 | 3–0 | 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification[25] |
2 | 14 November 2021 | Stade de Luxembourg, Luxembourg City, Luxembourg | ![]() | 2–0 | 3–0 | 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification |
3 | 26 March 2022 | Aviva Stadium, Dublin, Ireland | ![]() | 1–1 | 2–2 | Friendly[31] |
Cork City
Rotherham United
Rotherham United F.C. – current squad | |
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