Kalu Uche

Kalu Uche Biography / Profile

Kalu Uche was born on November 15th, 1982 in Aba, Abia State. He is a Nigerian footballer who plays as a forward or an attacking midfielder for Indian club ATK.

Kalu Uche Age

Not available.

Kalu Uche Early Life

Born in an Aba, Abia, Uche's career began in Nigeria with Enyimba International F.C. and Iwuanyanwu Nationale (now Heartland FC). In the 2000/2001 season he joined RCD Espanyol B in Spain, failing to receive any first-team opportunities and competing with the reserves in the third division. Uche then transferred to Wisla Kraków, playing there until 2005 – winning the Ekstraklasa three times and Polish Cup twice – except for the 2004–05 campaign when he represented FC Girondins de Bordeaux, on loan.

Kalu Uche Career

Uche spent most of his professional career in Spain, mainly with Almería, with which he amassed La Liga totals of 117 games and 27 goals. He joined the club for the 2005/2006 season, and was instrumental in helping the Andalusia club to its first ever La Liga promotion in 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, coming from the bench in a 3–0 away win against Deportivo de La Coruña. On 4 August 2011, Uche joined Swiss Super League side Neuchâtel Xamax on a two-year deal. He left in the following transfer window, however, and returned to Espanyol, immerse in a deep injury crisis to its offensive line, signing until June 2013.

On 20 July 2012, Uche moved to Turkish club Kasimpasa 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. Uche signed a 18-month contract with Levante UD on 29 January 2015, after a short stint at Al Rayyan SC. On 7 January 2016 he returned to Almería, after spending six months at FC Pune City. In February 2017, he extended his stay with Almeria to June. In 2017, he left Spain for the Indian Super League, joininig Delhi Dynamos FC. He left Dynamos for ATK in 2018.

Uche made his debut for Nigeria on 21 June 2003, in an African Nations Cup qualifier against Angola, scoring in the process. 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 that year's FIFA World Cup, in South Africa. On 17 June, against Greece, he opened the score from a free kick, but the Africans soon were reduced to ten men and lost 1–2. 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 against South Korea. He scored six goals for Nigeria.

Kalu Uche 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). In 2011, he got married to the winner of the 2008 Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria, Stephanie Oforka. They have two children. In 2016, Stephanie launched her wellness brand called Stephanie Nicholas Wellness. In 2018, the forward and his wife celebrated their 5th year wedding anniversary with a mini-party which had current Super Eagles striker Odion Ighalo in attendance.