Christian Obodo facts for kids
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Christian Udubuesi Obodo | ||
| Date of birth | 11 May 1984 | ||
| Place of birth | Warri, Nigeria | ||
| Height | 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Defensive midfielder | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Plateau United | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2001–2004 | Perugia | 62 | (1) |
| 2004–2005 | Fiorentina | 33 | (2) |
| 2005–2012 | Udinese | 78 | (6) |
| 2010–2011 | → Torino (loan) | 16 | (1) |
| 2011–2012 | → Lecce (loan) | 23 | (0) |
| 2013 | Dinamo Minsk | 1 | (0) |
| 2014 | Olhanense | 13 | (0) |
| 2014–2016 | Skoda Xanthi | 28 | (2) |
| 2016 | Concordia Chiajna | 17 | (4) |
| 2016 | Pandurii Târgu Jiu | 9 | (1) |
| 2017 | Apollon Smyrnis | 17 | (0) |
| Total | 297 | (17) | |
| International career | |||
| 2004–2008 | Nigeria | 21 | (4) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 15 June 2017 | |||
Christian Obodo, born on May 11, 1984, in Warri, Nigeria, is a former Nigerian footballer. He was known for playing as a defensive midfielder, a position that helps protect the team's defense.
Contents
Christian Obodo's Football Journey
Christian Obodo started his football journey in Nigeria, playing for a team called Plateau United. He then moved to Italy and joined Perugia. He quickly became a well-known player in the Italian Serie A league. In 2003, he scored his first goal in Serie A during a 2–2 draw against Inter.
Moving to New Teams
In 2004, Fiorentina signed Obodo. He was an important part of their team as they returned to Serie A. Later, in 2005, he moved to Udinese. With Udinese, he played in the UEFA Champions League during the 2005–06 season. He played alongside Sulley Muntari in the midfield.
In 2014, Obodo joined the Portuguese team S.C. Olhanense. He continued his career playing for several other clubs, including Skoda Xanthi and Apollon Smyrnis.
Playing for Nigeria: The Super Eagles
Christian Obodo also played for the Nigerian national football team, known as the Super Eagles.
Early International Career
In 2001, Obodo played for the Flying Eagles, Nigeria's youth team. This was at the African Youth Championship in Ethiopia. Even though the team didn't do well, Obodo showed great potential.
Many people consider Obodo one of the most skilled midfielders to play for the Super Eagles. He was known for his confidence and his ability to take on opponents. He was famous for his dribbling, energetic play, and strong runs towards the goal. He played best when he was in the center of the field.
Making His Debut
Obodo made his first appearance for the Super Eagles in 2003. He played in games against Ghana and Cameroon. He also played as a substitute in a friendly match against Brazil. He helped Nigeria win 4–1 against Malawi in a qualifier for the 2004 Africa Cup of Nations. Obodo scored his first goal for Nigeria in a 5–2 win against Algeria.
He played in six matches during the 2006 World Cup qualification games and scored one goal. At the 2006 Africa Cup of Nations, he played in four of Nigeria's six games. He scored a goal in a 2–0 win against Zimbabwe. Obodo last played for the Super Eagles in 2008.
A Difficult Time
On June 9, 2012, Christian Obodo faced a challenging situation near Warri, Delta State. Thankfully, he was safely rescued the very next day by the Nigerian police force.
Career Statistics
Here are some details about Christian Obodo's career in football.
Club Performance
| Club performance | League | Cup | Continental | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Club | League | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Italy | League | Coppa Italia | Europe | Total | ||||||
| 2001–02 | Perugia | Serie A | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | 1 | 0 | |
| 2002–03 | 30 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 35 | 1 | ||
| 2003–04 | 31 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 10 | 0 | 46 | 1 | ||
| 2004–05 | Fiorentina | Serie A | 33 | 2 | 6 | 0 | - | 39 | 2 | |
| 2005–06 | Udinese | Serie A | 28 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 12 | 0 | 41 | 2 |
| 2006–07 | 30 | 5 | 3 | 1 | - | 33 | 6 | |||
| 2007–08 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | - | 4 | 0 | |||
| 2008–09 | 18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 1 | 26 | 1 | ||
| 2009–10 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||
| 2010–11 | Torino | Serie B | 16 | 1 | 1 | 1 | - | 17 | 2 | |
| 2011–12 | Lecce | Serie A | 20 | 0 | 1 | 0 | - | 21 | 0 | |
| Country | Italy | 189 | 11 | 24 | 3 | 30 | 1 | 243 | 15 | |
| Total | 189 | 11 | 24 | 3 | 30 | 1 | 243 | 15 | ||
International Appearances and Goals
| Nigeria national team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Apps | Goals |
| 2003 | 3 | 0 |
| 2004 | 5 | 0 |
| 2005 | 3 | 1 |
| 2006 | 5 | 2 |
| 2007 | 2 | 0 |
| 2008 | 3 | 1 |
| Total | 21 | 4 |
International Goals Scored
| # | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 September 2005 | Oran, Algeria |  Algeria |
5–2 | Won | 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification | |
| 27 January 2006 | Port Said, Egypt |  Zimbabwe |
2–0 | Won | 2006 Africa Cup of Nations | |
| 2 September 2006 | Abuja, Nigeria |  Niger |
2–0 | Won | 2008 Africa Cup of Nations qualification | |
| 11 October 2008 | Abuja, Nigeria |  Sierra Leone |
4–1 | Won | 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification |
Achievements
Perugia
- UEFA Intertoto Cup: 2003
See also
In Spanish: Christian Obodo para niños
