View source for Emeka Ezeugo

{{Short description|Nigerian footballer (born 1965)}}
{{About|a footballer|the preacher|Chukwuemeka Ezeugo}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2021}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Emeka Ezeugo
| fullname = Emeka Ezeugo
| image = 
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1965|12|16}}
| birth_place = [[Aba, Nigeria|Aba]], Nigeria
| height = 1.84 m
| currentclub = [[Abia Warriors F.C.|Abia Warriors]] (head coach)
| position = [[Midfielder]]
| youthyears1 = 
| youthclubs1 = 
| years1 = 1986
| years2 = 1987
| years3 = 1987–1989
| years4 = 1989–1990
| years5 = 1990
| years6 = 1990–1992
| years7 = 1992
| years8 = 1993–1994
| years9 = 1994
| years10 = 1994–1995
| years11 = 1995–1997
| years12 = 1997
| years13 = 1997–1998
| years14 = 1998
| years15 = 1998–1999
| years16 = 1999
| years17 = 2000
| years18 = 2001
| clubs1 = [[East Bengal F.C.|East Bengal]]
| clubs2 = [[Mohammedan Sporting Club (Kolkata)|Kolkata Mohammedan]]
| clubs3 = [[Mohammedan Sporting Club (Dhaka)|Dhaka Mohammedan]]
| clubs4 = [[Enugu Rangers]] 
| clubs5 = [[Pahang FA]]
| clubs6 = [[Lyngby Boldklub]]
| clubs7 = [[Boldklubben Frem]]
| clubs8 = [[AaB Football|Aalborg BK]]
| clubs9 = [[Budapest Honvéd FC|Budapest Honvéd]]
| clubs10 = [[Fremad Amager]]
| clubs11 = [[Deportivo de La Coruña B|La Coruna B]]
| clubs12 = [[Mohun Bagan A.C.|Mohun Bagan]]
| clubs13 = [[Churchill Brothers SC|Churchill Brothers]]
| clubs14 = [[Hershey Wildcats]]
| clubs15 = [[Porthmadog F.C.|Porthmadog]]
| clubs16 = [[Connecticut Wolves]]
| clubs17 = [[Deportivo Wanka]]
| clubs18 = [[Estudiantes de Medicina]]
| caps1 = 
| caps2 = 
| caps3 = 
| caps5 = 34
| caps6 = 3
| caps7 = 20
| caps8 = 4
| caps9 = 4
| caps10 = ?
| caps11 = ?
| caps12 = 4
| caps13 = ?
| caps14 = 16
| caps15 = ?
| caps16 = 19
| goals1 = 
| goals2 = 
| goals3 = 
| goals4 = 
| goals5 = 2
| goals6 = 0
| goals7 = 4
| goals8 = 0
| goals9 = 0
| goals10 = ?
| goals11 = ?
| goals12 = 0
| goals13 = ?
| goals14 = 1
| goals15 = ?
| goals16 = 3
| nationalyears1 = 1988
| nationalyears2 = 1992–1994
| nationalteam1 = [[Nigeria national football team|Nigeria]]
| nationalteam2 = Nigeria
| nationalcaps1 = 3
| nationalcaps2 = 11
| nationalgoals1 = 0
| nationalgoals2 = 0
| manageryears1 = 2002
| manageryears2 = 2003–2005
| manageryears3 = 2005–2008
| manageryears4 = 2008
| manageryears5 = 2011–2012
| manageryears6 = 2013–
| managerclubs1 = [[Borough of Manhattan Community College|BMCC Athletics]]
| managerclubs2 = [[Club Centro Deportivo Municipal|Deportivo Municipal]]
| managerclubs3 = [[New York City College of Technology|City Tech]]
| managerclubs4 = [[Churchill Brothers SC|Churchill Brothers]]
| managerclubs5 = [[Mohammedan Sporting Club (Dhaka)|Dhaka Mohameddan]]
| managerclubs6 = [[Abia Warriors F.C.|Abia Warriors]]
}}

'''Emeka Ezeugo''' (born 16 December 1965) is a Nigerian former professional [[association football|footballer]] who played as a [[midfielder]]. He debuted as a professional footballer for Indian club [[East Bengal FC]],<ref>{{cite web|first1=Gautam|last1=Roy|first2=Swapan|last2=Ball|date=2007|url=http://www.eastbengalfootballclub.com/club/famousPlayers6.asp|title=East Bengal Football Club – Famous Players|access-date=25 February 2009|website=www.eastbengalfootballclub.com|url-status=usurped|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090221072225/http://www.eastbengalfootballclub.com/club/famousPlayers6.asp|archive-date=21 February 2009}}</ref> has also represented the [[Nigeria national football team|Nigeria national team]] in the [[FIFA World Cup]].<ref>{{cite web|author=Saurabh Duggal|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/football/from-chandigarh-to-fifa-world-cup-nigerian-emeka-ezeugo-traces-his-journey/story-B7n47wT9CydsJkYPwZSxtN.html|title=From Chandigarh to FIFA World Cup, Nigerian Emeka Ezeugo traces his journey|website=Hindustan Times|date=16 July 2018|access-date=12 January 2021|archive-date=9 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211009150608/https://www.hindustantimes.com/football/from-chandigarh-to-fifa-world-cup-nigerian-emeka-ezeugo-traces-his-journey/story-B7n47wT9CydsJkYPwZSxtN.html|url-status=live}}</ref> He last managed [[Abia Warriors FC]] as a football coach.

==Club career==
Ezeugo was born in [[Aba, Nigeria|Aba]]. He played professionally for clubs in five different continents during a 15-year playing career after starting his career at [[East Bengal Club|East Bengal]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/football/former-kolkata-maidan-star-and-1994-world-cupper-emeka-ezeugo-to-run-for-rohingyas/story-4RL83CmuBAdHh5nAMq617N.html|title=Former Kolkata Maidan star and 1994 World Cupper Emeka Ezeugo to run for Rohingyas|website=The Hindustan Times|date=3 April 2018 |access-date=3 July 2021|archive-date=9 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709184115/https://www.hindustantimes.com/football/former-kolkata-maidan-star-and-1994-world-cupper-emeka-ezeugo-to-run-for-rohingyas/story-4RL83CmuBAdHh5nAMq617N.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

He started for Bangladeshi club, [[Mohammedan Sporting Club (Dhaka)|Mohammedan]], towards the end of the 1980s.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.prothomalo.com/sports/football/%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%82%E0%A6%B2%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%A6%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%B6%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%B0-%E0%A6%AB%E0%A7%81%E0%A6%9F%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%B2%E0%A7%87-%E2%80%98%E0%A6%95%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B2%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%BE-%E0%A6%AE%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%A8%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%95%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%B0%E0%A6%BE%E2%80%99|script-title=bn:বাংলাদেশের ফুটবলে 'কালো মানিকেরা'|first=Niar|last=Iqbal|work=[[Prothom Alo]]|language=bn|trans-title=African players in Bangladeshi football|location=Dhaka, Bangladesh|agency=|date=3 November 2015|access-date=14 February 2025|archive-date=14 February 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250214082118/https://www.prothomalo.com/sports/football/%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%82%E0%A6%B2%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%A6%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%B6%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%B0-%E0%A6%AB%E0%A7%81%E0%A6%9F%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%B2%E0%A7%87-%E2%80%98%E0%A6%95%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B2%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%BE-%E0%A6%AE%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%A8%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%95%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%B0%E0%A6%BE%E2%80%99|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://archive.dhakatribune.com/sport/football/2016/08/17/foreign-footballers-bangladesh-shaker-hejazi-norde-awudu|title=Foreign Footballers in Bangladesh: From Shaker, Hejazi to Norde, Awudu|date=August 17, 2016|website=Dhaka Tribune|access-date=February 20, 2022|archive-date=September 30, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220930002952/https://archive.dhakatribune.com/sport/football/2016/08/17/foreign-footballers-bangladesh-shaker-hejazi-norde-awudu|url-status=live}}</ref> He later moved to the Danish League with middle of the table club [[Lyngby Boldklub|Lyngby BK]] and prospered so much that he made it to the Nigerian national team for the [[1994 FIFA World Cup]]. He came to India for a short spell in 1997 to play a few matches for [[Mohun Bagan AC]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.newagebd.com/2005/jun/13/spt.html|title=Emeka blasts Mohammedans officials|work=New Age|access-date=19 February 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080803122629/http://www.newagebd.com/2005/jun/13/spt.html|archive-date=3 August 2008}}</ref>

==International career==
Ezeugo first played for the [[Nigeria national football team|Nigeria national team]] at the [[1988 Summer Olympics]] in [[Seoul]], South Korea.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/ez/emeka-ezeugo-1.html |title=Emeka Ezeugo Bio, Stats, and Results &#124; Olympics at |publisher=Sports-reference.com |access-date=2013-11-15 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130923180143/http://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/ez/emeka-ezeugo-1.html |archive-date=23 September 2013}}</ref> Nicknamed "Emmy", he obtained 11 caps for the national team between 1992 and 1994, and was a member of the team that competed at the [[1994 FIFA World Cup]].<ref>[http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/sports/article18//indexn3_html?date=020209&ptitle=CAF%202008%20Best%20Player%20Award:%20Nigeria%20missing%20again&cpdate=020209] {{dead link|date=November 2013}}</ref>

==Coaching career==
Ezeugo holds a US Soccer Federation coaching license and a KNVB Netherlands international license.  Ezeugo has an envious coaching record over the past seven years, as he successfully completed his transition from player to coach that included a stint as the head coach at CUNY [[Borough of Manhattan Community College]] in 2002. In 2003 coached the [[Club Centro Deportivo Municipal|Deportivo Municipal]], Lima for two seasons before coming back to the United States, on 15 August 2005 was named as the new men's soccer coach at CUNY [[New York City College of Technology]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cunyathletics.com/news/msoccer/2005/8/15/Emeka.asp?nl=6 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120728161623/http://www.cunyathletics.com/news/msoccer/2005/8/15/Emeka.asp?nl=6 |url-status=dead |archive-date=2012-07-28 |title=CUNY Athletic Conference - Emeka Ezeugo Named Men's Soccer Coach at City Tech |publisher=Cunyathletics.com |access-date=2013-11-15 }}</ref> here was between 2008.

Ezeugo spent summers 2004 to 2006 coaching at Camp Chateaugay, a summer camp located in New York's [[Adirondack Mountains]] for kids ages 7 to 15.

On 19 April 2008, he returned to India and signed a contract as head coach by his former club [[Churchill Brothers SC]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hindu.com/2008/04/19/stories/2008041956211800.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080422181310/http://www.hindu.com/2008/04/19/stories/2008041956211800.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=2008-04-22 |title=Sport / Football : Emeka is new coach |date=2008-04-19 |work=[[The Hindu]] |access-date=2013-11-15}}</ref> on 5 September 2008 was released from his contract.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.zeenews.com/Sports/Football/2008-09-24/471638news.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130210044501/http://www.zeenews.com/Sports/Football/2008-09-24/471638news.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=2013-02-10 |title=Churchill Brothers sack coach Emeka |publisher=Zeenews.com |access-date=2013-11-15 }}</ref>

He was then the chief coach of [[Heartland F.C.|Heartland]], a position he assumed less than a month ago.{{when|date=January 2019}}

On 31 October 2013, he was named the head coach of the newly promoted [[Nigeria Premier League]] team [[Abia Warriors F.C.|Abia Warriors]].<ref>[http://en.starafrica.com/football/nigeria-newly-promoted-abia-warriors-get-new-coach.html Nigeria: Newly promoted Abia Warriors get new coach] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160119092943/http://en.starafrica.com/football/nigeria-newly-promoted-abia-warriors-get-new-coach.html |date=19 January 2016 }} Starafrica.com 31 October 2013</ref>

==Personal life==
Emeka's brother [[Valentine Ezuego]], a former footballer in India, recommended the former Nigerian World Cupper to Churchill Bros patron [[Churchill Alemao]].

==Conversion==
In February 2012, while he was coach of Mohammedan Sporting Club of Bangladesh, he converted to [[Islam]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://newagebd.com/newspaper1/archive_details.php?date=2012-02-13&nid=50241 |title=Emeka converts to Islam |work=New Age |date=2012-02-13 |access-date=2013-11-15 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140110004642/http://newagebd.com/newspaper1/archive_details.php?date=2012-02-13&nid=50241 |archive-date=10 January 2014 }}</ref>

==Honours==
'''Individual'''
*[[Nehru Cup#Nehru Club Cup (1990)|Nehru Centenary Club Cup]] – Taj Bengal Trophy for player of the tournament: 1990<ref>{{cite web|author1=Cruickshank, Mark |author2=Morrison, Neil|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesn/nehru90cent.html|title=Jawaharlal Nehru Centenary Cup (Calcutta) 1990|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709183021/http://www.rsssf.com/tablesn/nehru90cent.html|archive-date=9 July 2021|website=[[RSSSF]]|access-date=3 July 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|first=Pulakesh|last=Mukhopadhyay|url=https://www.thestatesman.com/sports/day-after-memories-and-hopes-39783.html|title=Day after: memories and hopes|website=thestatesman.com|publisher=[[The Statesman (India)|The Statesman]]|date=16 February 2014|access-date=23 February 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709183514/https://www.thestatesman.com/sports/day-after-memories-and-hopes-39783.html|archive-date=9 July 2021}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{Sports links}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20120308091115/http://www.aabsport.dk/A503B44A-0899-4521-9D65-C21C92F12A9F.W5Doc?id=7218936a-7871-4f35-a07e-b9c809f5ef10 Aalborg BK Oldtimers profile] (in Danish)

{{Nigeria Squad 1988 Summer Olympics}}
{{Nigeria Squad 1992 Africa Cup of Nations}}
{{Nigeria Squad 1994 World Cup}}
{{Deportivo Municipal managers}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ezeugo, Emeka}}
[[Category:1965 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Footballers from Aba, Nigeria]]
[[Category:Nigerian Muslims]]
[[Category:Nigerian men's footballers]]
[[Category:Men's association football midfielders]]
[[Category:Nigeria men's international footballers]]
[[Category:1992 African Cup of Nations players]]
[[Category:1994 FIFA World Cup players]]
[[Category:Olympic footballers for Nigeria]]
[[Category:Footballers at the 1988 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Danish Superliga players]]
[[Category:Nemzeti Bajnokság I players]]
[[Category:East Bengal Club players]]
[[Category:Rangers International F.C. players]]
[[Category:Sri Pahang FC players]]
[[Category:Lyngby Boldklub players]]
[[Category:Boldklubben Frem players]]
[[Category:AaB Fodbold players]]
[[Category:Budapest Honvéd FC players]]
[[Category:Fremad Amager players]]
[[Category:Deportivo Fabril players]]
[[Category:Mohammedan SC (Dhaka) players]]
[[Category:Mohammedan SC (Kolkata) players]]
[[Category:Mohun Bagan Super Giant players]]
[[Category:Churchill Brothers FC Goa players]]
[[Category:Hershey Wildcats players]]
[[Category:Porthmadog F.C. players]]
[[Category:Nigerian football managers]]
[[Category:Abia Warriors F.C. managers]]
[[Category:Nigerian expatriate men's footballers]]
[[Category:Nigerian expatriate sportspeople in India]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in India]]
[[Category:Nigerian expatriate sportspeople in Bangladesh]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Bangladesh]]
[[Category:Nigerian expatriate sportspeople in Malaysia]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Malaysia]]
[[Category:Nigerian expatriate sportspeople in Denmark]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Denmark]]
[[Category:Nigerian expatriate sportspeople in Hungary]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Hungary]]
[[Category:Nigerian expatriate sportspeople in Spain]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Spain]]
[[Category:Nigerian expatriate sportspeople in the United States]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's soccer players in the United States]]
[[Category:Nigerian expatriate sportspeople in Wales]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Wales]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Peru]]
[[Category:Converts to Islam]]
[[Category:Deportivo Municipal managers]]
[[Category:20th-century Nigerian sportsmen]]
[[Category:Footballers from Abia State]]