Kalu Uche (born 15 November 1982) is a 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.
A Nigeria international in the 2000s, Uche represented his country at the 2010 World Cup and the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations.
Club career
Early years
Born in Aba, Abia, Uche’s career began in Nigeria with Osusu pillars F.C, Aba, and later Enyimba International F.C. and Iwuanyanwu Nationale. In the 2000–01 season he joined RCD Espanyol B in Spain, failing to receive any first-team opportunities and competing with the reserves in the third division.
Uche then transferred to Wisła Kraków, playing there until 2005 – winning the Ekstraklasa three times and Polish Cup twice – except for the 2004–05 campaign when he represented FC Girondins de Bordeaux, on loan.[1]
Almería
For 2005–06, Uche moved to UD Almería, and was instrumental in helping the Andalusia club to its first ever La Liga promotion in his second year, scoring eight league goals (with three in the last five matches). He made his debut in the competition on 26 August 2007, coming from the bench in a 3–0 away win against Deportivo de La Coruña.
On 11 January 2009, profiting from the absence of first-choice Álvaro Negredo, Uche netted both goals in a 2–2 draw at Espanyol.[3] 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.[4]
In the following summer, Negredo was sold to Sevilla FC – via Real Madrid – and Uche became Almería’s most important attacking reference.[5] He finished the 2009–10 season with a career-best in Spain nine goals,[6] 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.
Uche was only available to manager Juan Manuel Lillo one month into 2010–11, due to fitness problems. 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,[9] going on to net seven in 32 games as the club was finally relegated after a four-year stay.
Neuchâtel and Espanyol
On 4 August 2011, Uche joined Swiss Super League side Neuchâtel Xamax on a two-year deal. 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.
Uche opened his scoring account for his new club on 25 February 2012 in a 1–2 home loss against Levante UD. On 11 March, he put three past Rayo Vallecano in another home fixture (5–1).
Late career
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.
Uche signed an 18-month contract with Levante UD on 29 January 2015, after a short stint at Al Rayyan SC. On 7 January 2016, he returned to Almería, after spending six months at FC Pune City. He began his third spell at the former club in February 2017, joining until 30 June as a free agent.
International career
Uche made his debut for Nigeria on 21 June 2003, in an African Nations Cup qualifier against Angola, scoring in the process. He represented the nation at the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations, going scoreless for the eventual third-placed team.
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. 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.
