Mike Okoro

Mike Okoro
Personal information
Date of birth (1981-12-30) 30 December 1981 (age 42)
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

Mike Emmanuel Okoro // ⓘ (born 30 December 1981) is a Nigerian former professional footballer who played as a forward.[2]

Club career

After 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

His 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

Amica Wronki II

East Bengal

References

  1. ^ a b Okoro aiming to play in Germany Times of India
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ Okoro ours, say East Bengal Times of India
  4. ^ Okoro scores thrice for East Bengal Rediff.com
  5. ^ Mike Okoro raring to go[dead link‍] Telegraph India
  6. ^ Okoro's NFL foray held up in Poland Times of India
  7. ^ Is everything OK with Okoro? Times of India
  8. ^ a b Okoro-EB standoff put to rest, for a while Telegraph India
  9. ^ New twist to Mike Okoro episode[dead link‍] Telegraph India
  10. ^ IFA lets off players lightly - Barreto, Okoro among 7 banned for a match The Telegraph - Calcutta
  11. ^ Journalist slapped by Mohammedan Sporting's Nigerian player Sify.com
  12. ^ IFA slaps heavy fines on Okoro and Tombo Zee News
  13. ^ 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.
  14. ^ Okoro loses baby Telegraph India
  15. ^ EB's Okoro scores winner Times of India
  16. ^ Puchar Polski okręgu poznańskiego dla rezerw Amiki Wronki Wyborcza Poznań
  17. ^ "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.