Kyrian Nwoko

Last updated

Kyrian Nwoko
Personal information
Date of birth (1997-07-04) 4 July 1997 (age 27)
Place of birth Valletta, Malta
Height 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) [1]
Position(s) Winger, forward
Team information
Current team
Floriana
Number 22
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2014–2017 St. Andrews 82 (14)
2017–2021 Valletta 75 (12)
2021St Patrick's Athletic (loan) 8 (0)
2022– Floriana 28 (1)
2023Saint Lucia (loan) 8 (2)
International career
Malta U17
2017– Malta 32 (4)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 13 May 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 23 July 2024

Kyrian Nwoko (born 4 July 1997) is a Maltese professional footballer who plays as a winger and forward for Floriana and the Malta national team. He has previously played for Maltese clubs St. Andrews and Valletta, as well as Irish club St Patrick's Athletic.

Contents

Personal life

He is the son of the Nigerian-born former Maltese international footballer Chucks Nwoko. [2]

Club career

In July 2014, Nwoko was linked with a possible transfer to English clubs Huddersfield Town and Crystal Palace. [3] He moved from St. Andrews to Valletta in June 2017. [2] In July 2021, he was linked with a move to NIFL Premiership side Linfield. [1] Following a transfer fee being agreed between the two clubs, the transfer was held up over obtaining a work permit under new Brexit regulations. [4] On 27 July 2021, Valletta announced that they had agreed a deal with League of Ireland Premier Division club St Patrick's Athletic for Nwoko to move on a 6-month loan deal with the option to make the transfer permanent. [5] The transfer was completed on 28 July 2021, [6] with Nwoko becoming the second striker to sign for the club on that day, after Reading's Nahum Melvin-Lambert. [7] Nwoko made his debut for the club on 30 July 2021, coming off the bench in the 87th minute of the Dublin derby away to Shamrock Rovers at Tallaght Stadium. [8] On 28 November 2021 Nwoko was an unused substitute in the 2021 FAI Cup Final, as his side defeated rivals Bohemians 4–3 on penalties following a 1–1 draw after extra time in front of a record FAI Cup final crowd of 37,126 at the Aviva Stadium. [9] On 31 August 2022, Nwoko returned to football after 9 months out of the game, returning to Malta and signing for Floriana. [10] On 27 January 2023, he signed for Saint Lucia on loan until the end of the season. [11]

International career

He made two appearances for Malta at the 2014 UEFA European Under-17 Championship. [12] He made his senior national team debut in November 2017 in the 0–3 defeat against Estonia. [13] On 23 March 2019, Nwoko scored his first goal in a 2–1 win over Faroe Islands, as Malta won their first competitive home match in 13 years. [14] In January 2022, Nwoko accused the Malta national team selectors of 'unfair' treatment over not being selected for the team allegedly due to his refusal to take a COVID-19 vaccine when the squad were asked to take a Johnson & Johnson vaccine in May 2021 ahead of their departure to a training camp in Austria. [15] In November 2022, Nwoko returned to the national team, accepting his call up for the friendly games against Greece and the Republic of Ireland. [16]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played on 18 July 2024 [17]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueNational Cup [lower-alpha 1] Europe OtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
St. Andrews 2013–14 Maltese Challenge League 001010
2014–15 24500245
2015–16 Maltese Premier League 275201 [lower-alpha 2] 1306
2016–17 31410324
Total821440118715
Valletta 2017–18 Maltese Premier League266424 [lower-alpha 3] 0348
2018–19 212304 [lower-alpha 4] 01 [lower-alpha 5] 0292
2019–20 132005 [lower-alpha 6] 01 [lower-alpha 5] 1193
2020–21 152101 [lower-alpha 3] 0172
Total751282140219915
St Patrick's Athletic (loan) 2021 LOI Premier Division 801090
Floriana 2022–23 Maltese Premier League90100 [lower-alpha 5] 0100
2023–24 19131222
2023–24 00002 [lower-alpha 7] 121
Total281412100343
Saint Lucia (loan) 2022–23 Maltese Premier League82101 [lower-alpha 8] 1103
Career total201291831614324136
  1. Includes Maltese FA Trophy & FAI Cup
  2. Appearances in the Maltese Premier League Relegation Play-offs
  3. 1 2 Appearances in the UEFA Europa League
  4. 2 appearances in the UEFA Champions League & 2 appearances in the UEFA Europa League
  5. 1 2 3 Appearances in the Maltese Super Cup
  6. 4 appearances in the UEFA Champions League & 1 appearance in the UEFA Europa League
  7. Appearances in the UEFA Conference League
  8. Appearance in the 2022–23 Maltese Premier League Relegation play-offs

International

As of match played 11 June 2024 [13]
National teamYearAppsGoals
Malta 201710
201830
201991
202042
202130
202210
202391
202420
Total324

International goals

Scores and results list Malta's goal tally first. [13]
No.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1.23 March 2019 National Stadium, Ta' Qali, Malta Flag of the Faroe Islands.svg  Faroe Islands 1–02–1 UEFA Euro 2020 qualification
2.6 September 2020Flag of Latvia.svg  Latvia 1–01–1 2020–21 UEFA Nations League D
3.7 October 2020Flag of Gibraltar.svg  Gibraltar 1–02–0 Friendly
4.9 June 2023 Stade de Luxembourg, Luxembourg City, Luxembourg Flag of Luxembourg.svg  Luxembourg 1–01–0

Honours

Valletta [17]

St Patrick's Athletic

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marsaxlokk F.C.</span> Association football club in Malta

Marsaxlokk Football Club is a Maltese professional football club from the town of Marsaxlokk, which currently plays in the BOV Premier League. The club was founded in 1949. Marsaxlokk won the Maltese Premier League title for the first time in their history, after finishing as league champions for the 2006–07 season. Marsaxlokk has its headquarters at Triq il-Kavalleriza, Mxlokk redoubt.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maltese Premier League</span> Association football top division of Malta

The Maltese Premier League, known as 360Sports Malta Premier for sponsorship reasons with 360Sports, is the highest level of professional football in Malta. Managed by the Malta Football Association, the Premier League is contested by 12 teams and operates on a promotion and relegation system with the Challenge League. As of June 2022, the Premier League ranks 46th out of 55 members in the UEFA coefficient.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Valletta F.C.</span> Association football club in Malta

Valletta F.C. is a professional football club based in Valletta, the capital city of Malta. They compete in the Maltese Challenge League, the second tier of Maltese football, following relegation from the Maltese Premier League in 2024. The club was founded in 1943 after a merge of Valletta Prestons, Valletta St. Paul's and Valletta United, the latter being a two-time league winner before the Second World War.

John Buttigieg is a Maltese football manager and former player. His last managerial role was being head coach of Floriana.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael Mifsud</span> Maltese footballer

Michael Mifsud is a Maltese former professional footballer. He scored 42 goals in 143 games for the Malta national team between 2000 and 2020, and also captained the side. He was voted Maltese Sportsperson of the Year in 2001 and 2003. He played for Kaiserslautern, Lillestrom and Coventry City, as well as several teams in the Maltese Premier League.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chucks Nwoko</span> Maltese football player and manager (born 1978)

Afraik Kaejtan "Chucks" Nwoko is a former professional footballer who played at both professional and international levels as a midfielder. Born in Nigeria, he represented the Malta national team. He is currently the under-19 coach for Maltese First Division side Balzan Youths.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Luke Dimech</span> Maltese footballer

Luke Anthony Dimech is a former Maltese professional football defender.

Declan 'Fabio' O'Brien is an Irish former professional footballer who played as a striker. He is Drogheda United's top goalscorer of all time.

Udochukwu Nwoko is a retired professional footballer who last played for Cypriot Third Division side MEAP Nisou as a midfielder. Born in Nigeria, he represented the Malta national team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gary Rogers</span> Irish footballer (born 1981)

Gary Rogers is an Irish coach and former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper, making 735 appearances in all competitions during his career. Rogers was also called up to the Republic of Ireland national football team. He also played Gaelic football for and coached the Meath county team, and has also coached the Cavan, Monaghan and Westmeath county teams.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kurtis Byrne</span> Irish professional footballer

Kurtis Byrne is an Irish professional footballer who plays for Bluebell United. He is the son of former Celtic and Southend United player Paul Byrne.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jake Carroll</span> Irish professional footballer

Jake Carroll is an Irish professional footballer who plays as a left-back for League of Ireland Premier Division club Bohemians. He previously played for League of Ireland club St Patrick's Athletic, English sides Huddersfield Town, Bury, Hartlepool United and Cambridge United and in Scotland with Partick Thistle and Motherwell.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bastien Héry</span> Footballer (born 1992)

Bastien Charles Patrick Héry is a professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for League of Ireland First Division club Longford Town. Born in France, he plays for the Madagascar national team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ryan McLaughlin</span> Northern Irish footballer

Ryan McLaughlin is a Northern Irish footballer who last played as a right-back for League of Ireland Premier Division club St Patrick's Athletic. He has been capped five times by the Northern Ireland national team during his career.

Matthew Smith is a Scottish footballer who plays as a forward for League of Ireland Premier Division side Shelbourne. He started his career with Dundee United and made his first team debut in May 2016, and subsequently had loan periods with Montrose and Cove Rangers before moving to Ireland with Waterford, St Patrick's Athletic and Derry City.

Jamie Terence McGrath is an Irish professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder or winger for Scottish Premiership club Aberdeen and the Republic of Ireland national team. He started his career with St Patrick's Athletic and has since played for Dundalk, St Mirren, Wigan Athletic, Dundee United and Aberdeen.

Mario Fontanella is an Italian footballer who plays as a forward for Al-Muharraq in the Bahraini Premier League.

Ronan Hale is an Irish professional footballer who plays for Scottish Premiership club Ross County, having previously played for Cliftonville, Larne, St Patrick's Athletic, Crusaders, Derry City and Birmingham City. His brother Rory Hale is also a professional footballer, currently with Cliftonville and the pair's grandfather is Derry City and Crusaders legend Danny Hale.

Michael O'Connor is an Irish professional footballer who plays as a striker for Glenavon. He previously played for Scottish Premiership club Ross County, League of Ireland clubs Dundalk, Shamrock Rovers, Finn Harps, Waterford and Shelbourne, NIFL Premiership sides Linfield, Glentoran and Dungannon Swifts, and in Sweden for Ytterhogdals IK and Gottne IF.

George Martin Kelly is an Irish professional association footballer who plays as a forward for EFL League Two club Carlisle United.

References

  1. 1 2 "Who is Kyrian Nwoko? All you need to know about the Malta striker set to sign for Linfield". Belfasttelegraph via www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk.
  2. 1 2 "New Valletta FC signing". Valletta F.C. 14 June 2017. Retrieved 15 July 2017.
  3. Doug Thomson (11 July 2014). "Huddersfield Town and Crystal Palace linked with Maltese youngster Kyrian Nwoko". Huddersfield Daily Examiner. Retrieved 15 July 2017.
  4. "Linfield battling Brexit issues in quest to sign Malta striker Kyrian Nwoko". Belfasttelegraph via www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk.
  5. FC, Valletta. "Kyrian Nwoko joins St Patricks Athletic FC". Valletta FC.
  6. "Nwoko Signs On Loan". www.stpatsfc.com.
  7. "St Pat's sign Malta international Kyrian Nwoko after Linfield move falls through". independent.
  8. "Rovers hit stride at perfect time to sink Saints in battle of table-toppers". independent.
  9. Leahy, Ed (28 November 2021). "Benson spot on as Saints beat Bohs to lift the FAI Cup" via www.rte.ie.
  10. "Floriana set to sign former Malta striker Kyrian Nwoko". Times of Malta.
  11. "Santa Lucia sign striker Kyrian Nwoko on loan from Floriana". Times of Malta. 27 January 2023.
  12. Kyrian Nwoko UEFA competition record ( archive )
  13. 1 2 3 "Kyrian Nwoko". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmermann. Retrieved 16 November 2017.
  14. Camilleri, Valhmor (23 March 2019). "Watch: Gutsy Malta see off Faroe Islands". Times of Malta. Retrieved 23 March 2019.
  15. "Kyrian Nwoko hits out at national team's treatment for his anti-vaccine stance". Times of Malta.
  16. "28-man squad announced for November friendlies". mfa.com.mt.
  17. 1 2 Kyrian Nwoko at Soccerway. Retrieved 26 July 2021.