Mike Emmanuel Okoro // (born 30 December 1981) is a Nigerian former professional footballer who played as a forward.[2]
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 30 December 1981 | ||
| Place of birth | Enugu, Nigeria | ||
| Height | 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Forward | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Kogi United[1] | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1999 | Bendel Insurance | ||
| 2000 | GKS Katowice | 14 | (1) |
| 2000–2001 | Amica Wronki II | ||
| 2000–2001 | Amica Wronki | 2 | (0) |
| 2001–2002 | Indian Telephone Industries | 20 | (8) |
| 2002–2004 | East Bengal FC | 37 | (20) |
| 2004–2005 | Sparta Szamotuły | ||
| 2005–2006 | East Bengal FC | 12 | (1) |
| 2006–2009 | Mohammedan SC | ||
| 2009 | Sparta Szamotuły | ||
| 2010 | JCT F.C. | 13 | (5) |
| 2011 | Grom Plewiska | ||
| 2011–2013 | Świt Piotrowo | ||
| 2014–2015 | Pogoń Lwówek | 18 | (2) |
| 2015–2016 | Sokół Pniewy | 9 | (4) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Club career
editAfter a successful 2001–02 campaign with Indian Telephone Industries, Okoro reportedly received offers from Germany, Kolkata, Mumbai, and Goa,[1] before deciding to sign with East Bengal for the next season,[3] striking a hat-trick in a 4–1 win over Hindustan Aeronautics.[4]
After a short stint in Poland, Okoro rejoined East Bengal in 2005[5] despite interest from Dempo and Mahindra United months earlier.[6] Skipping the Red & Gold Brigade's encounter away to JCT to renew his Polish citizenship in February 2006,[7] the club reportedly owed Okoro 130000 Rupees when he visited Poland for citizenship reasons.[8] This amount was eventually given to him[8] despite them originally saying that he in fact owed them 334000 Rupees.[9]
Throughout his career, the Nigerian has been committed a series of transgressions, including pushing the referee in 2003[10] slapping a different referee while with Mohammedan in 2008 for "asking uncomfortable questions",[11] and breaching contract regulations by exchanging teams mid-season despite signing a one-year contract with Mohammedan in 2007.[12][13]
Personal life
editHis baby, Juliette, died in 2005, the same year she was born.[14] With his Irish girlfriend Barbara, the striker took the educational responsibility of an orphan girl, who was then four years old.[15]
Honours
editAmica Wronki II
- Polish Cup (Poznań regionals): 2000–01[16]
East Bengal
References
edit- ^ a b Okoro aiming to play in Germany Times of India
- ^ Shukla, Abhishek (7 July 2018). "I-League 2010/11 final standings". indianfooty.com. Indian Footy. Archived from the original on 18 September 2018. Retrieved 3 March 2021.
- ^ Okoro ours, say East Bengal Times of India
- ^ Okoro scores thrice for East Bengal Rediff.com
- ^ Mike Okoro raring to go[dead link] Telegraph India
- ^ Okoro's NFL foray held up in Poland Times of India
- ^ Is everything OK with Okoro? Times of India
- ^ a b Okoro-EB standoff put to rest, for a while Telegraph India
- ^ New twist to Mike Okoro episode[dead link] Telegraph India
- ^ IFA lets off players lightly - Barreto, Okoro among 7 banned for a match The Telegraph - Calcutta
- ^ Journalist slapped by Mohammedan Sporting's Nigerian player Sify.com
- ^ IFA slaps heavy fines on Okoro and Tombo Zee News
- ^ Pawar, Vaibhav (26 September 2008). "Mohd Sporting's name keeps sponsors away". mumbaimirror.indiatimes.com. Mumbai, Maharashtra: Mumbai Mirror. Archived from the original on 15 July 2022. Retrieved 15 July 2022.
- ^ Okoro loses baby Telegraph India
- ^ EB's Okoro scores winner Times of India
- ^ Puchar Polski okręgu poznańskiego dla rezerw Amiki Wronki Wyborcza Poznań
- ^ "Making a mark in Asia: East Bengal's 2003 Asean Cup win – a defining moment for Indian club football". Scroll.in. Archived from the original on 27 November 2021. Retrieved 25 September 2021.
External links
edit- Okoro wants to play for Mohun Bagan at the Wayback Machine (archived 17 June 2018)
- Okoro's goal takes East Bengal into final[dead link]
- Polish Wikipedia Page
- mWyniki.pl Profile
- Mike Okoro at Soccerway
- Liga Wielkopolska 2015 Profile