Alhaji Gero

Last updated

Alhaji Gero
AlHaji Gero with Esteghlal (cropped).jpg
Gero playing for Esteghlal in 2018
Personal information
Full name Salisu Abdullahi Gero [1]
Date of birth (1993-10-10) 10 October 1993 (age 30)
Place of birth Kano State, Nigeria
Height 1.89 m (6 ft 2 in)
Position(s) Forward
Team information
Current team
TPS
Number 9
Youth career
2009–2010 El-Kanemi Warriors
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2010–2011 Lobi Stars
2012 Kaduna United 14 (0)
2012–2013 Enugu Rangers
2013–2014 Östers IF 36 (9)
2015–2016 Viborg FF 23 (1)
2016–2018 Östersunds FK 55 (6)
2018 Esteghlal 8 (1)
2019 Östersunds FK 13 (1)
2019–2021 Helsingborgs IF 33 (4)
2022 FF Jaro 8 (6)
2023– TPS 25 (9)
International career
2012–2013 Nigeria U20 15 (6)
2013 Nigeria 1 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 12 October 2023
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 19 November 2013

Salisu Abdullahi "Alhaji" Gero (born 10 October 1993) is a Nigerian professional footballer who plays as a forward for Finnish club TPS.

Contents

Club career

Early years

Gero playing his first U21 game for Osters IF against Kalmar FF 130813 Gero Alhaji U21 174532 1135.jpg
Gero playing his first U21 game for Östers IF against Kalmar FF

Gero started out playing football in the streets of Kano before signing his first professional contract with El-Kanemi Warriors at age sixteen. The next year he moved on to Lobi Stars. [2] During the midseason transfer window in April 2012, Gero moved to Enugu Rangers from Kaduna United and scored instantly on his debut in against Akwa United [3] which helped his team to a valuable 1–1 draw that kept them in touching distance of winning the 2012 Nigeria Premier League. [4]

In August 2013, Gero signed a contract with Östers IF, a team relegated to the Superettan for the 2014 season (the 2nd highest league in Sweden). [5]

In December 2014, Danish club Viborg FF announced that they signed Alhaji on a free transfer. [6] He played 15 matches and scored 1 goal in his first season.

On 16 January 2016, Viborg FF and Gero agreed to terminate the contract after minimal playing time.

Östersunds

Gero signed with Östersunds FK on 18 January 2016. [7] On 14 September 2017, he scored his first goal in a European competition against Zorya Luhansk. [8]

Esteghlal

On 8 August 2018, Gero signed for Iranian team Esteghlal on a three-year contract. [9] He was given the number 9 shirt, the same jersey number he used to wear at Östersunds FK. [10]

Gero made his debut his debut on 10 August 2018 as a second-half substitute for Voria Ghafouri in a 3–0 League victory against Tractor Sazi. [11] He scored his first goal for the club in Hazfi Cup round of 16 against Saipa, a penalty in a match that finished 2–2 after 120 minutes but lost the match 1–3 in penalty shoot-out eventually. [12] On 16 December, his contract with Esteghlal was terminated by mutual agreement, having spent only four months with the club and failing to score any goals in the league. [13] [14]

Return to Sweden

On 25 February 2019, Östersunds re-signed Gero. [15] On 9 July 2019, however, he signed a two-year contract with recently promoted club Helsingborgs IF. [16]

Move to Finland

On 13 August 2022, Gero joined Finnish club Jaro, signing a contract until the end of the season. [17] On 8 March 2023, Gero signed a one-year contract with TPS in Finland. [18]

International career

Gero made his debut for the Nigeria national under-20 team at the 8 nation tournament in South Africa. He scored two goals on his competitive debut for the U20 team in their 2–1 away win against Tanzania at the 2013 African U-20 Championship qualification. [19] He scored again on the return leg of the same fixture which Nigeria has now won 4–1 on aggregate. [20] Gero also played for the U20 team in the 2013 FIFA U-20 World Cup. [21]

At the same year 2013, he was called up for the Nigeria national team that played against the Ivory Coast national team [22] for the 2014 African Nations Championship qualification. [23]

Personal life

Gero's younger brother Ahmad is also a professional football player. [24]

Career Statistics

Club

As of 12 October 2023 [25]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueNational CupContinental1Other2Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Öster 2013 Allsvenskan 10110111
2014 Superettan 2684020328
Total369500020439
Viborg 2014–15 Danish 1st Division 15100151
2015–16 Danish Superliga 8022102
Total231220000253
Östersund 2016 Allsvenskan22342265
2017 24251112405
2018 912110122
Total556114122007812
Esteghlal 2018–19 Persian Gulf Pro League 702110101
Östersund 2019 Allsvenskan13100131
Helsingborg 2019 Allsvenskan13310143
2020 17132203
2021 Superettan300030
Total334420000376
Jaro 2022 Ykkönen 10600106
TPS 2023 Ykkönen25900259
Career total201362491322024047

1Includes Europa League and AFC Champions League matches.
2Includes appearance(s) in Superettan Relegation play-offs.

Honours

Club

Viborg
Östersunds

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Markus Neumayr</span> German footballer (born 1986)

Markus Martin Neumayr is a German professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for FC Linth 04.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Östersunds FK</span> Association football club in Östersund, Sweden

Östersunds Fotbollsklubb, commonly known simply as Östersunds FK, Östersund or ÖFK, is a Swedish professional football club located in Östersund, Sweden, that plays in the Swedish second tier, Superettan. The club was formed in 1996 as a merger of several Östersund clubs. The club is affiliated with the Jämtland-Härjedalens Fotbollförbund and play their home games at Jämtkraft Arena. The club colours, reflected in their crest and kit, are red and black, predominantly in stripes and with red shorts and socks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arash Borhani</span> Iranian footballer and coach

Arash Borhani is a retired Iranian football player and coach. He is the all-time top goal scorer of Esteghlal and also the second all-time top goal scorer in Iran's Premier Football League. He was the top goal scorer of 2008–09 Iran's Premier Football League. He was also a member of the Iran national football team. Borhani won a bronze medal in 2006 Asian Games with Iran national under-23 football team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Winfried Schäfer</span> German footballer and manager

Winfried "Winnie" Schäfer is a German football manager and former player who last managed Qatari club Al-Khor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Server Djeparov</span> Uzbek professional football playmaker

Server Reshatovich Djeparov, is an Uzbek former professional football playmaker who is the head coach of Uzbekistan U-14 and the assistant coach of Uzbekistan. He has won the Asian Footballer of the Year award twice, first in 2008 and the other in 2011.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kasper Hämäläinen</span> Finnish footballer (born 1986)

Kasper Woldemar Hämäläinen is a Finnish professional football attacking midfielder who plays for Ykkönen side TPS and the Finland national team. Hämäläinen was born in Turku, Finland, where he started his senior career in TPS before moving to Djurgården. Hämäläinen made his international debut for Finland in November 2008 and has since had over 60 caps, including appearing in Finland´s UEFA Euro 2020 campaign in which Finland national team secured its first place in European Football Championship tournament´s group stage.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cheick Diabaté (footballer, born 1988)</span> Malian footballer (born 1988)

Cheick Tidiane Diabaté is a Malian professional footballer. From 2005 to 2016, he played for the Mali national team internationally.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rudy Gestede</span> Beninese association football player

Rudy Philippe Michel Camille Gestede is a former professional footballer who played as a striker.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Voria Ghafouri</span> Iranian-Kurdish footballer

Voria Ghafouri is an Iranian retired footballer. He has played much of his career as a right-back and also played as a right winger occasionally.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kaveh Rezaei</span> Iranian footballer

Kaveh Rezaei is an Iranian professional footballer who plays as a striker for Sepahan and the Iran national team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sajjad Shahbazzadeh</span> Iranian association footballer

Sajjad Shahbazzadeh is an Iranian professional footballer who plays as a striker for Persian Gulf Pro League club Mes Rafsanjan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mame Thiam</span> Senegalese footballer

Mame Baba Thiam is a Senegalese professional footballer who plays as a forward for Süper Lig club Kayserispor and the Senegal national team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Esmaël Gonçalves</span> Bissau-Guinean footballer

Esmaël Ruti Tavares Cruz da Silva Gonçalves, also known as Isma, is a Bissau-Guinean footballer who plays as a center forward and winger for Scottish club Livingston and the Guinea-Bissau national team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Andrea Stramaccioni</span> Italian footballer and manager

Andrea Stramaccioni is an Italian football manager and former player who last managed Qatari club Al Gharafa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Morteza Tabrizi</span> Iranian footballer

Morteza Tabrizi is an Iranian professional footballer who played as a forward for Persian Gulf Pro League side Aluminium Arak.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sotirios Papagiannopoulos</span> Swedish footballer

Sotirios Papagiannopoulos is a Swedish professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Allsvenskan club AIK. He has won five caps for the Sweden national team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dariush Shojaeian</span> Iranian footballer

Dariush Shojaeian is an Iranian professional footballer who currently plays as a midfielder for Persian Gulf Pro League club Havadar Since 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Godwin Mensha</span> Nigerian professional footballer

Godwin Mensha is Nigerian professional footballer who plays as a striker for Foolad.

Frank Arhin is a Ghanaian footballer who plays for Swedish club Dalkurd.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2018–19 Esteghlal F.C. season</span> Esteghlal F.C. 2018–19 football season

The 2018–19 season was the Esteghlal Football Club's 18th season in the Iran Pro League, and their 25nd consecutive season in the top division of Iranian football. They also competed in the Hazfi Cup, and 73rd year in existence as a football club.

References

  1. "FIFA U-20 World Cup Turkey 2013 List of Players: Nigeria" (PDF). FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. 23 June 2013. p. 17. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 June 2013.
  2. "I will move from Enugu Rangers to Europe - Alhaji Gero". Weekly Trust. Archived from the original on 14 August 2013. Retrieved 19 November 2013.
  3. "Alhaji Gero excited with his first goal for Enugu Rangers". Goal.com. Retrieved 24 September 2012.
  4. "NPL Star of the Week: Alhaji Gero". MTNFootball. Archived from the original on 6 February 2016. Retrieved 24 September 2012.
  5. "Rangers' Alhaji Gero joins Swedish side Osters IF". Goal.com. 10 August 2013. Retrieved 6 February 2016.
  6. Audu, Sammy (19 December 2014). "Alhaji Gero vows to 'shake' Europe after Viborg switch". African Football. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
  7. Kasseret VFF’er fortsætter i Allsvenskan, bold.dk, 18 January 2016
  8. "Europa League Group Stage - Group J". Uefa.com. 14 September 2017. Retrieved 14 January 2019.
  9. "گرو هم استقلالی شد" [Gero is also and Esteghlal player]. Esteghlal. 8 August 2018. Archived from the original on 5 May 2019. Retrieved 8 August 2018.
  10. "شماره فصل گذشته علی قربانی به مهاجم جدید رسید؛ الحاجی گرو شماره 9 استقلال را بر تن می‌کند" [Gero will wear the number 9 shirt at Esteghlal]. Esteghlal. 9 August 2018. Retrieved 12 August 2018.
  11. "استقلال 3-0 تراکتورسازی؛ پیروزی قاطع ارتش شفر در جنگ ستارگان!" (in Persian). Tarafdari. 10 August 2018. Retrieved 12 August 2018.
  12. "استقلال 2(3)- سایپا2(5)؛ معجزه دایی با تیم ده نفره". Varzesh 3. 1 November 2018. Retrieved 6 November 2018.
  13. "دو بازیکن خارجی استقلال قرارداد خود را فسخ کردند" [Both foreign players of Esteghlal terminated their contracts]. Esteghlal. 16 December 2018. Archived from the original on 24 April 2019. Retrieved 16 December 2018.
  14. "واکنش باشگاه استقلال به یک ادعا" [The club's response to a claim]. Esteghlal. Archived from the original on 16 April 2019. Retrieved 14 January 2019.
  15. "ALHAJI GERO KLAR FÖR ÖFK – ANSLUTER OMGÅENDE TILL KLUBBEN". Östersunds FK. 25 February 2019. Retrieved 27 February 2019.
  16. "ALHAJI GERO KLAR FÖR HIF". Östersunds FK. 9 July 2019. Archived from the original on 10 July 2019. Retrieved 10 July 2019.
  17. "Nigerialainen hyökkääjä liittyy Jaron vahvuuteen". www.ffjaro.fi (in Finnish). 13 August 2022. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
  18. "HYÖKKÄÄJÄ ALHAJI GERO TUO MAALINTEKOVOIMAA TPS:ÄÄN – "SAATIIN HUIPPUVAHVISTUS"" [STRIKER ALHAJI GERO BRINGS SCORING POWER TO TPS - "TOP REINFORCEMENT RECEIVED"] (in Finnish). TPS. 8 March 2023. Retrieved 30 March 2023.
  19. "Obuh confident after Tanzania win - News". Kick Off. 30 July 2012. Archived from the original on 21 February 2014. Retrieved 13 August 2012.
  20. "Flying Eagles 2-0 Tanzania: Ajagun and Gero strike to give the U-20 side victory". Goal.com. Retrieved 13 August 2012.
  21. "Nigeria name squad for 2013 FIFA U20 World Cup". 8 June 2013. Archived from the original on 2 June 2016. Retrieved 19 April 2016.
  22. "Alhaji Gero happy with invitation to Super Eagles". Goal.com. Retrieved 19 November 2013.
  23. "Ivory Coast - Nigeria 2:0 (Friendlies 2013, July)".
  24. "Alhaji Gero's Younger Brother Joins Swedish Club Jonkopings Sodra:: All Nigeria Soccer".
  25. "Nigeria - A. GERO - Profile with news, career statistics and history - Soccerway".