Dennis Oliech facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Dennis Oliech

Personal information
Full name	Dennis Oguta Oliech
Date of birth	(1985-02-02) 2 February 1985 (age 40)
Place of birth	Mathare, Nairobi, Kenya
Height	1.81 m (5 ft 11 in)
Position(s)	Striker
Youth career
1998 - 2002	Mathare United
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2002–2003	Mathare United		(14)
2003–2005	Al-Arabi	47	(27)
2006–2007	Nantes	32	(4)
2007–2012	Auxerre	165	(25)
2013–2015	Ajaccio	50	(8)
2015	Dubai CSC	10	(4)
2019	Gor Mahia	19	(5)
International career
2002–2016	Kenya	76	(34)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Dennis Oguta Oliech (born 2 February 1985) is a Kenyan former professional football player who was a striker. He was a star player for the Kenya national team, also known as the Harambee Stars.

With 34 goals for his country, he is Kenya's second-highest goalscorer of all time. He retired from international football in 2016, leaving a legacy as one of Kenya's greatest players.

Club Career

Starting Out in Kenya and Qatar

Dennis Oliech began his football journey playing for Dagoretti Santos and later Mathare United in Kenya. His talent was clear from a young age. He even had a tryout with the famous French club Marseille, but the move didn't happen.

In 2003, Oliech became a professional player when he joined Al-Arabi in Qatar. He played there until 2005. During his time in Qatar, he played with famous footballers like Stefan Effenberg and Gabriel Batistuta.

In 2004, the newspaper The Guardian named him one of the most promising young players in the world. The list also included future superstars like Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie. That same year, he was offered the chance to become a citizen of Qatar, but he chose to remain Kenyan.

Moving to France: FC Nantes

In 2005, Oliech made a big move to Europe. He signed a four-year contract with Nantes, a team in France's top league, Ligue 1.

His start at Nantes was a bit slow because of a knee injury. After recovering, he made his first appearance on March 11, 2006. He scored his first goal for the club in a cup match against Dijon. He scored two goals in nine games during his first season.

The next season was more difficult, and he didn't get to play as much. At the end of the 2006–07 season, Nantes was moved down to a lower league.

Success at AJ Auxerre

After Nantes was relegated, Oliech joined another French club, Auxerre, first on loan and then permanently. He stayed with Auxerre until 2013.

He had some ups and downs, but the 2010–11 season was a good one for him. He played in the Champions League, Europe's biggest club competition. He played against famous teams like Ajax.

The 2011–12 season was his best at Auxerre. On September 25, 2011, he scored his first-ever hat-trick (three goals in one game) in a 4–1 victory over Sochaux. He was the team's top scorer that season, even though the club was relegated to Ligue 2.

A New Challenge with Ajaccio

In January 2013, Oliech wanted a new challenge and moved to Ajaccio, another team in France's Ligue 1. He made an immediate impact, scoring a goal in his very first game against Evian Thonon Gaillard.

Later Career

On February 12, 2015, Oliech and AC Ajaccio agreed to end his contract. He then moved to the United Arab Emirates to play for Dubai CSC.

In 2019, he returned to Kenya and signed a two-year contract with Gor Mahia, one of the biggest clubs in the country.

Playing for Kenya

Oliech was named the best player at the 2011 LG Cup in Nairobi.

Oliech made his first appearance for the Kenyan national team in 2002. That same year, he was the star of the 2002 CECAFA Cup. He scored five goals, helping Kenya win the tournament and winning the Golden Boot award for being the top scorer.

He is famous for scoring the winning goal against the Cape Verde Islands in 2003. This goal sent Kenya to the 2004 African Cup of Nations, a major international tournament. At the tournament, he scored again in a 3–0 win over Burkina Faso.

Many fans believe his most important match was the one against Cape Verde because his last-minute goal was so crucial. However, when asked, Oliech said, "for us football strikers, all matches are big because we have to score."

He announced his retirement from the national team on March 24, 2016.

Life Outside of Football

Oliech's older brother, Nixon Onywanda, is a coach for Dagoretti Santos, the team where Oliech started playing. Oliech has a son and is known for his love of nice cars, including a Chrysler 300C.

Career Statistics

Club

Honours

Kenya

• CECAFA Cup: 2002

Individual

• CECAFA Cup Golden Boot: 2002

See also

In Spanish: Dennis Oliech para niños