Bartholomew Ogbeche

Bartholomew Ogbeche

Ogbeche with Kerala Blasters in 2020
Personal information
Full name	Bartholomew Owogbalor Ogbeche [1]
Date of birth	(1984-10-01) 1 October 1984 (age 39) [2]
Place of birth	Ogoja, Nigeria [2]
Height	1.77 m (5 ft 10 in) [2]
Position(s)	Striker
Youth career
	Lobi Stars
1999–2001	Paris Saint-Germain
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2001–2005	Paris Saint-Germain	57	(6)
2004	→ Bastia (loan)	15	(2)
2005	→ Metz (loan)	12	(1)
2005–2006	Al Jazira	16	(5)
2006–2007	Alavés	29	(5)
2007–2009	Valladolid	35	(3)
2009–2010	Cádiz	28	(9)
2010–2011	Kavala	19	(1)
2011–2012	Middlesbrough	17	(3)
2013	Xerez	8	(1)
2014–2016	Cambuur	57	(24)
2016–2018	Willem II	38	(12)
2018–2019	NorthEast United	18	(12)
2019–2020	Kerala Blasters	16	(15)
2020–2021	Mumbai City	23	(7)
2021–2023	Hyderabad	41	(28)
2023–2025	Wrexham	46	(18)
International career
2002–2004	Nigeria	11	(3)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 15:41, 18 March 2023 (UTC)

Bartholomew Owogbalor Ogbeche (born 1 October 1984) is a Nigerian professional footballer who plays as a striker. He is the all-time top scorer in Indian Super League history. ^[3]

Having started his career in France with Paris Saint-Germain, he played his club football in the United Arab Emirates, Spain, Greece, England, the Netherlands and India. He is the top scorer for Hyderabad in the Indian Super League and has also held the top scorer position for NorthEast United and Kerala Blasters in the past. ^{[4] [5]}

Ogbeche represented Nigeria at the 2002 World Cup.

Club career

Ogbeche was born in Ogoja. Still a youngster, he was signed by French Ligue 1 club Paris Saint-Germain, making his debut with the main squad during the 2001–02 season. However, he failed to settle, also suffering a thigh injury ^[6] and serving two six-month loans to fellow league sides Bastia and Metz; for the former, he scored in a 4–1 home win against Olympique de Marseille on 7 March 2004 ^[7] – the Corsicans secured their top-flight status, and he left PSG for good in June 2005.

After a brief time in the United Arab Emirates, Ogbeche moved to Spain, first with Alavés in Segunda División. Although he posted good individual numbers, the Basque team failed to return to La Liga but he joined another club in the former tier, Real Valladolid, ^[8] making his debut on 26 August 2007 in a 1–0 away victory over Espanyol (12 minutes played). ^[9]

In late August 2009, after two seasons of intermittent use, Ogbeche arranged a one-year deal with Andalusia's Cádiz of the second division. He finished the campaign as team top scorer, ^[10] but they finished in 19th position and were relegated. ^[11]

After one year in Greece with Kavala, Ogbeche joined Football League Championship side Middlesbrough on 18 October 2011, signing until the end of the season. ^[12] He scored his first goal for his new club on 17 December, against Cardiff City in a 3–2 away win. ^[13] On 5 March 2012, he came on as a substitute towards the end of the home game against Barnsley, lobbing the ball over Luke Steele for the final 2–0. ^[14]

Ogbeche moved clubs and countries again in January 2014, signing for Cambuur in the Netherlands after a very brief spell back in Spain with Xerez. ^[15] He scored once and provided an assist in his Eredivisie debut, helping to a 3–1 home defeat of Heerenveen. ^[16]

On 25 August 2018, Ogbeche joined NorthEast United. ^[17] He made his Indian Super League debut on 1 October, scoring once in the 2–2 draw against Goa. ^[18] Later that month, he became the first player to manage a hat-trick during the campaign after achieving the feat in ten minutes away to Chennaiyin. ^[19]

Ogbeche continued competing in the Indian top division the following years, with Kerala Blasters (becoming their all-time top scorer but being surpassed by Dimitrios Diamantakos in November 2023), ^{[20] [21]} Mumbai City ^[22] and Hyderabad. ^[23] On 31 January 2022, following a brace against NorthEast United, he became the competition's all-time top scorer at 49 goals; ^[24] Hyderabad eventually won the championship, and he was also crowned top scorer. ^[25]

International career

A Nigerian international from the age of 17, Ogbeche was selected for the 2002 FIFA World Cup and appeared in two matches as the Super Eagles went out in the group stage. ^{[26] [27]} He scored two of his three goals for the national side on 29 May 2004 in a 3–0 friendly win against the Republic of Ireland held in Charlton, London. ^[28]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 13 March 2023 ^{[29] [30] [31] [32]}

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			Cup		Continental		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Paris Saint-Germain	2001–02	Division 1	21	4	5 [lower-alpha 1]	1	3 [lower-alpha 2]	0	—		29	5
	2002–03	Ligue 1	18	1	4	0	2 [lower-alpha 2]	0	—		24	1
	2003–04	Ligue 1	13	0	1	1	—		—		14	1
	2004–05	Ligue 1	5	1	3 [lower-alpha 3]	0	1 [lower-alpha 4]	0	—		9	1
	Total		57	6	13	2	6	0	—		76	8
Bastia (loan)	2003–04	Ligue 1	15	2	—		—		—		15	2
Metz (loan)	2004–05	Ligue 1	12	1	—		—		—		12	1
Al Jazira	2005–06	UAE Football League	16	5	—		—		—		16	5
Alavés	2006–07	Segunda División	29	5	2	0	—		—		31	5
Real Valladolid	2007–08	La Liga	19	2	4	1	—		—		23	3
	2008–09	La Liga	16	1	4	2	—		—		20	3
	Total		35	3	8	3	—		—		43	6
Cádiz	2009–10	Segunda División	28	9	—		—		—		28	9
Kavala	2010–11	Super League Greece	20	1	2	1	—		—		22	2
Middlesbrough	2011–12	Championship	17	3	1	0	—		—		18	3
Xerez	2012–13	Segunda División	8	1	—		—		—		8	1
Cambuur	2013–14	Eredivisie	10	2	—		—		—		10	2
	2014–15	Eredivisie	31	13	2	1	—		—		33	14
	2015–16	Eredivisie	16	9	1	2	—		—		17	11
	Total		57	24	3	3	—		—		60	27
Willem II	2015–16	Eredivisie	4	1	—		—		—		4	1
	2016–17	Eredivisie	14	1	—		—		—		14	1
	2017–18	Eredivisie	20	10	3	1	—		—		23	11
	Total		38	12	3	1	—		—		41	13
NorthEast United	2018–19	Indian Super League	18	12	—		—		—		18	12
Kerala Blasters	2019–20	Indian Super League	16	15	—		—		—		16	15
Mumbai City	2020–21	Indian Super League	23	8	—		—		—		23	8
Hyderabad	2021–22	Indian Super League	20	18	—		—		—		20	18
	2022–23	Indian Super League	21	10	—		—		6 [lower-alpha 5]	5	27	15
	Total		41	28	—		—		6	5	47	33
Career total			430	136	32	10	6	0	6	5	474	151

1. Two appearances in Coupe de France, Three appearances and one goal in Coupe de la Ligue
2. Appearance(s) in UEFA Cup
3. One appearance in Coupe de France, Two appearances in Coupe de la Ligue
4. Appearance(s) in UEFA Champions League
5. Appearance(s) in Durand Cup

International

Appearances and goals by national team, year and competition ^[33]

Team	Year	Competitive		Friendly		Total
		Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Nigeria	2002	2 [lower-alpha 1]	0	4	0	6	0
	2004	3 [lower-alpha 2]	0	2	3	5	3
Career total		5	0	6	3	11	3

1. Appearances in FIFA World Cup
2. Appeences in FIFA World Cup qualification

Scores and results list Nigeria's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Ogbeche goal.

List of international goals scored by Bartholomew Ogbeche

No.	Cap	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition	Ref.
1	7	29 May 2004	The Valley, London, England	Republic of Ireland	1–0	3–0	Friendly	[34]
2					3–0
3	8	31 May 2004	The Valley, London, England	Jamaica	2–0	2–0	Friendly	[35]

Honours

Mumbai City

• Indian Super League: 2020–21 ^[36]
• Indian Super League Winners Shield: 2020–21 ^[37]

Hyderabad

• Indian Super League: 2021–22 ^[38]

Individual

• Indian Super League Golden Boot: 2021–22 ^[39]
• Indian Super League Hero of the Month: January 2022 ^[40]
• Indian Super League top scorer (63 goals) ^[3]

References

1. "Bartholomew Owogbalor Ogbeche". All India Football Federation . Retrieved 12 January 2024.
2. "Bartholomew Ogbeche". Eurosport . Retrieved 23 January 2021.
3. "Hyderabad FC's Bartholomew Ogbeche among three last-standing players from FIFA World Cup 2002". The Bridge. 6 June 2023. Retrieved 6 October 2023.
4. Issac, Alby (11 May 2020). "ISL: 5 highest Kerala Blasters goal-scorers of all-time". Sportskeeda. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
5. "Bartholomew Ogbeche: 5 Amazing facts about Hyderabad FC's all-time top scorer in ISL". The Bridge. 24 January 2022. Retrieved 24 January 2022.
6. "PSG lose forward pair". UEFA. 12 November 2002. Retrieved 13 June 2010.
7. "PSG suffer Sochaux setback". UEFA. 8 March 2004. Retrieved 16 December 2011.
8. "Ogbeche se desvincula del Alavés y ficha por el Valladolid" [Ogbeche cuts ties with Alavés and signs for Valladolid]. Marca (in Spanish). 3 August 2007. Retrieved 26 April 2019.
9. "Espanyol 0–1 Valladolid". ESPN Soccernet. 26 August 2007. Retrieved 16 December 2011.^{[ permanent dead link ]}
10. "Barto fue el máximo artillero" [Barto was the top scorer] (in Spanish). Cádiz CF. 21 June 2010. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
11. Ramírez, Álvaro (19 June 2010). "Centenario en Segunda B" [Century in Segunda B] (in Spanish). El Desmarque. Retrieved 26 April 2019.
12. "Middlesbrough sign Nigeria striker Bartholomew Ogbeche". BBC Sport. 18 October 2011. Retrieved 16 December 2011.
13. "Cardiff 2–3 Middlesbrough". BBC Sport. 17 December 2011. Retrieved 17 January 2018.
14. "Middlesbrough 2–0 Barnsley". BBC Sport. 5 March 2012. Retrieved 17 January 2018.
15. "El Xerez ficha al nigeriano Ogbeche" [Xerez sign Nigerian Ogbeche]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). 18 January 2013. Retrieved 17 January 2018.
16. "Ogbeche scores on Cambuur debut". Kick Off. 27 January 2014. Archived from the original on 25 August 2018. Retrieved 11 November 2014.
17. "Zwarthoed naar NAC, Ogbeche vertrekt naar India" [Zwarthoed to NAC, Ogbeche leaves for India]. Brabants Dagblad (in Dutch). 25 August 2018. Retrieved 25 August 2018.
18. "ISL: NorthEast United hit back to salvage a point after FC Goa's Coro stretches scoring run". Scroll.in. 1 October 2018. Retrieved 1 October 2018.
19. Prasad, Aashin (18 October 2018). "Hat-trick hero Ogbeche powers NEUFC to 4–3 win over Chennaiyin". The Hindu . Retrieved 26 April 2019.
20. Easwar, Nisanth V. (28 August 2020). "Kerala Blasters: Bartholomew Ogbeche was great in yellow but it's time to move on". Goal . Retrieved 21 October 2020.
21. Rajiv, Pranay (11 January 2024). "Dimitrios Diamantakos: The Greek striker leading the Kerala Blasters' charge towards its first ISL trophy". Sportstar . Retrieved 12 January 2024.
22. Raghunathan, Abhijit (21 October 2020). "ISL 2020/21: Bartholomew Ogbeche signs for Mumbai City FC". Sportskeeda. Retrieved 29 October 2020.
23. "Official – Hyderabad FC signs ISL champion Bartholomew Ogbeche". Indian Football Team for World Cup. 8 July 2021. Retrieved 8 July 2021.
24. "Bartholomew Ogbeche becomes the all-time leading goalscorer in the Hero ISL history". Indian Super League. 31 January 2022. Retrieved 26 December 2022.
25. "Hyderabad FC's Bartholomew Ogbeche becomes the first-ever Hero ISL player to feature in FIFA Team of the Season". Indian Super League. 7 June 2022. Retrieved 26 December 2022.
26. "Batistuta sinks Nigeria". BBC Sport. 2 June 2002. Retrieved 10 March 2021.
27. "Swedes knock out Nigeria". BBC Sport. 7 June 2002. Retrieved 10 March 2021.
28. Silver, Neil (31 May 2004). "Martins tears apart injury-depleted Ireland". The Independent . Retrieved 23 March 2022.
29. Bartholomew Ogbeche at BeSoccer
30. Bartholomew Ogbeche at Soccerway
31. Bartholomew Ogbeche at WorldFootball.net
32. "Bartholomew Ogbeche". Indian Super League. Retrieved 8 January 2023.
33. Bartholomew Ogbeche at National-Football-Teams.com
34. Mitchell, Kevin (29 May 2004). "Nigeria turn on style to leave Ireland red-faced". The Guardian . Retrieved 13 January 2023.
35. "Utaka's class provides the edge for Nigeria". The Times . 1 June 2004. Retrieved 13 January 2023.
36. "Bipin steals late winner as Mumbai City FC win maiden Hero ISL trophy after beating ATK Mohun Bagan". Indian Super League. 13 March 2021. Retrieved 17 March 2022.
37. "Mumbai City FC clinch League Winners Shield after beating ATK Mohun Bagan". Indian Super League. 28 February 2021. Retrieved 17 March 2022.
38. "Laxmikanth Kattimani the hero as Hyderabad FC beat Kerala Blasters FC on penalties to win first Hero ISL title". Indian Super League. 20 March 2022. Archived from the original on 22 March 2022. Retrieved 22 March 2022.
39. "End of season awards 2021–22: Greg Stewart named Hero of the League, Roshan Naorem the best emerging player". Indian Super League. 21 March 2022. Archived from the original on 22 March 2022. Retrieved 22 March 2022.
40. "Bartholomew Ogbeche wins Hero of the Month award for January 2022". Indian Super League. 11 February 2022. Retrieved 22 March 2022.

External links

• Bartholomew Ogbeche at L'Équipe Football (in French)
• Bartholomew Ogbeche – French league stats at Ligue 1 – also available in French
• Bartholomew Ogbeche at BDFutbol
• Stats and bio at Cadistas1910 Archived 6 November 2010 at the Wayback Machine (in Spanish)
• Bartholomew Ogbeche at National-Football-Teams.com
• Bartholomew Ogbeche – FIFA competition record (archived)