*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 3 March 2019
Kalu Uche (born 15 November 1982) is a former Nigerian professional footballer who plays as a forward.
He spent most of his career in Spain, mainly with 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.
In mid-2003, Uche was in talks to join Dutch side Ajax Amsterdam, but the deal fell through as Wisła were unwilling to sell the player at that time. Uche subsequently went on a strike and requested for his contract to be terminated unilaterally, resulting in a six-month ban by the club. FIFA rejected Uche's appeal in December 2003, and he returned to training with Wisła shortly after.[2]
On 11 January 2009, profiting from the absence of first-choice Álvaro Negredo, Uche netted both goals in a 2–2 draw at Espanyol.[4] On 5 December, he scored his team's second goal at Real Madrid for the 2–1, but the hosts eventually rallied back to 4–2.[5]
In the following summer, Negredo was sold to Sevilla FC – via Real Madrid – and Uche became Almería's most important attacking reference.[6] He finished the 2009–10 season with a career-best in Spain nine goals,[7] 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.[8]
Uche was only available to manager Juan Manuel Lillo one month into 2010–11, due to fitness problems.[9] 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,[10] going on to net seven in 32 games as the club was finally relegated after a four-year stay.
On 4 August 2011, Uche joined Swiss Super League side Neuchâtel Xamax on a two-year deal.[11] 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.[12]
Uche opened his scoring account for his new club on 25 February 2012 in a 1–2 home loss against Levante UD.[13] On 11 March, he put three past Rayo Vallecano in another home fixture (5–1).[14]
On 20 July 2012, Uche moved to Turkish club 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.[15]
Uche signed an 18-month contract with Levante UD on 29 January 2015, after a short stint at Al Rayyan SC.[16] On 7 January 2016, he returned to Almería, after spending six months at FC Pune City.[17] He began his third spell at the former club in February 2017, joining until 30 June as a free agent.[18]
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 Super Eagles soon were reduced to ten men and lost 1–2.[20] 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.[21]
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
^Galván, J. C.; Folqué, J. (29 September 2005). "La liga de los hermanos Uche" [The league of Uche brothers]. Marca (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 7 June 2014. Retrieved 18 November 2012.
Angola
Austria
Greece
South Korea
Zambia
Egypt
