View source for Wilson Oruma

{{Short description|Nigerian footballer (born 1976)}}
{{Redirect|Oruma|the Inland Ijaw language of Nigeria|Oruma language}}
{{more footnotes needed|date=May 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Wilson Oruma
| image = Wilson Oruma.jpg
| image_size = 200
| caption = Wilson Oruma
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1976|12|30}}
| birth_place = [[Warri, Nigeria|Warri]], Nigeria
| height = 1.74 m
| currentclub =
| position = [[Midfielder|Offensive midfielder, Right midfielder]]
| years1 = 1993–1994
| years2 = 1994–1998
| years3 = 1996–1997
| years4 = 1998–1999
| years5 = 1999–2000
| years6 = 2000–2002
| years7 = 2002–2005
| years8 = 2005–2008
| years9 = 2008–2009
| years10 = 2009–2010
| clubs1 = [[Bendel Insurance]]
| clubs2 = [[RC Lens|Lens]]
| clubs3 = → [[AS Nancy|Nancy]] (loan)
| clubs4 = [[Samsunspor]]
| clubs5 = [[Nîmes Olympique|Nîmes]]
| clubs6 = [[Servette FC|Servette]]
| clubs7 = [[FC Sochaux|Sochaux]]
| clubs8 = [[Olympique de Marseille|Marseille]]
| clubs9 = [[En Avant de Guingamp|Guingamp]]
| clubs10 = [[AO Kavala]]
| caps1 = 
| caps2 = 42
| caps3 = 22
| caps4 = 21
| caps5 = 25
| caps6 = 49
| caps7 = 77
| caps8 = 56
| caps9 = 24
| caps10 = 23
| goals1 = 
| goals2 = 2
| goals3 = 0
| goals4 = 4
| goals5 = 2
| goals6 = 12
| goals7 = 6
| goals8 = 3
| goals9 = 5
| goals10 = 0
| nationalyears1 = 1995–2006
| nationalteam1 = [[Nigeria national football team|Nigeria]]
| nationalcaps1 = 19
| nationalgoals1 = 3
| medaltemplates =
{{MedalSport | Men's [[Football at the Summer Olympics|football]]}}
{{MedalGold | [[1996 Summer Olympics|1996 Atlanta]]|[[Football at the 1996 Summer Olympics|Team]]}}
}}

'''Wilson Oruma''' (born 30 December 1976) is a Nigerian former professional [[Association football|footballer]] who played as a [[midfielder]]. He spent most of his career in France.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-08-03|title=1996 Olympics Heroes: Celebrating Nigeria's Gold-Winning U-23 Eagles|url=https://www.completesports.com/24-years-after-celebrating-nigerias-1996-olympics-gold-winning-team/|access-date=2021-06-01|website=Complete Sports|language=en-US}}</ref>

==Club career==
Oruma was born in [[Warri]], Nigeria. He arrived at [[RC Lens]] from [[Bendel Insurance]] in 1994.<ref name="OMprofile">{{cite web |url=http://www.om.net/en/Teams/201002/Effectif_pro/1532/ORUMA |title=Oruma - Effectif pro |publisher=Olympique Marseille |access-date=3 December 2013|language=fr}}</ref> A season after being loaned to [[AS Nancy|Nancy]],<ref name="OMprofile"/> he returned to Lens and played seven matches during their [[1997–98 French Division 1|1997–98 Ligue 1]] title campaign.<ref name="OMprofile"/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ligue1.com/ligue1/classement#sai=66&journee1=1&journee2=34&cat=Gen |title=1997/98 Ligue 1 table |publisher=ligue1.com |access-date=3 December 2013|language=fr}}</ref> After representing [[Nigeria national football team|Nigeria]] at the [[1998 FIFA World Cup]], he moved to Turkish side [[Samsunspor]],<ref name="OMprofile"/> returning to France one year later to play for [[Nîmes Olympique|Nîmes]].<ref name="OMprofile"/>

In 2000, Oruma was transferred to Swiss side [[Servette FC|Servette]],<ref name="OMprofile"/> playing two season before coming back to France again, where he played until 2009 for [[FC Sochaux|Sochaux]],<ref name="OMprofile"/> [[Olympique de Marseille|Marseille]]<ref name="OMprofile"/> and [[En Avant de Guingamp|Guingamp]],<ref name="OMprofile"/> winning the [[2004 Coupe de la Ligue Final|2003–04 Coupe de la Ligue]] with Sochaux<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.lequipe.fr/Football/match/59364 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120205044856/http://www.lequipe.fr/Football/match/59364 |url-status=dead |archive-date=5 February 2012 |title=Nantes 1-1 Sochaux, Coupe de la Ligue - Finale, Football |publisher=L'Equipe |date=17 April 2004|access-date=3 December 2013|language=fr}}</ref> and the [[2008–09 Coupe de France]] with Guingamp, despite them being a [[Ligue 2]] club at the time.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.lefigaro.fr/sport/2009/05/09/02001-20090509ARTFIG00460-guingamp-vainqueur-de-la-coupe-de-france-de-football-.php |title=Guingamp vainqueur de la Coupe de France de football | first=Par | last= Gildas Devos |newspaper=Le Figaro |date=9 May 2009|access-date=3 December 2013|language=fr}}</ref> He was handed a trial by [[Cardiff City F.C.|Cardiff City]] - a club based in [[Wales]] but who play in the [[English football league system]] – in the summer of 2008<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11704/3940345/ |title=Bluebirds look at Oruma|publisher=Sky Sports |date=6 August 2008|access-date=3 December 2013}}</ref> and scored in a 2–2 pre-season friendly at [[Chasetown F.C.|Chasetown]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cardiffcityfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10335~1359171,00.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120722110932/http://www.cardiffcityfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10335~1359171,00.html |archive-date=22 July 2012 |title=Report: Chasetown 2-2 Cardiff |publisher= Cardiff City F.C. |date=5 August 2008|access-date=3 December 2013}}</ref><ref name="Jones">{{cite news |url=http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/boss-jones-explains-orumas-cardiff-2157133 |title=Boss Jones explains Oruma's Cardiff departure | first=Terry | last=Philips |work=Wales Online |date=8 August 2008|access-date=3 December 2013}}</ref> but was not awarded a contract due to a lack of fitness.<ref name="Jones"/>

He retired from professional football in 2010<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.fifa.com/world-match-centre/news/newsid/134/162/8/index.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131207021544/http://www.fifa.com/world-match-centre/news/newsid/134/162/8/index.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=7 December 2013 |title=Nigeria's Oruma retires from football |publisher=FIFA |date=26 November 2010|access-date=3 December 2013}}</ref> after a season with Greek club [[AO Kavala]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.goal.com/en/news/89/africa/2009/07/27/1407138/wilson-oruma-makes-u-turn-to-sign-for-greek-club-kavala |title=Wilson Oruma Makes U-Turn To Sign For Greek Club Kavala |publisher=goal.com |date=27 July 2009|access-date=3 December 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.allnigeriasoccer.com/read_news.php?nid=735 |title=WILSON ORUMA to leave Kavala |publisher=All Nigerian Soccer |date=15 May 2010|access-date=3 December 2013}}</ref>

==International career==
Oruma was part of the [[Nigeria national under-17 football team|Nigeria under-17]] team which won the [[1993 FIFA U-17 World Championship]]s,<ref name="goal">{{cite web |url=http://www.goal.com/en-gh/slideshow/1763/2/title/top-five-african-lost-boys |title=Top five African 'lost boys' - WILSON ORUMA – Japan 1993 |publisher=goal.com |date=17 January 2013|access-date=3 December 2013}}</ref> captaining his side<ref name="goal"/> and becoming the tournament's top goalscorer with 6 goals.<ref name="goal"/> He played 19 times international matches over 11 years for [[Nigeria national football team|Nigeria]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Wilson Oruma biography, net worth, age, family, contact & picture |url=https://www.manpower.com.ng/people/15710/wilson-oruma |access-date=2022-07-27 |website=www.manpower.com.ng}}</ref> and was part of the team that participated in the [[1998 FIFA World Cup]], where he scored in the only appearance he made in the tournament against [[Paraguay national football team|Paraguay]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.fifa.com/worldcup/archive/edition=1013/results/matches/match=8763/report.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070717084409/http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/archive/edition=1013/results/matches/match=8763/report.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=17 July 2007 |title=1998 FIFA World Cup France ™|publisher=FIFA |date=24 June 1998|access-date=3 December 2013}}</ref> He also was part of the squad that won the Olympic gold medal in [[Football at the 1996 Summer Olympics|1996]],<ref name="Jones"/><ref name="goal"/> a year after he debuted for Nigeria, and also a member of the [[Nigerians|Nigerian]] squad at the [[2002 Africa Cup of Nations|2002]] and [[2006 Africa Cup of Nations]], finishing both competitions at third place. After a club career in Europe, where he played for the likes of french Ligue 1 sides Lens, Marseille, Sochaux, Guingamp, as well as a stint at Swiss side Servette, winning the UEFA Intertoto Cup, Ligue 1 and French Cup, and earning pay to sustain himself and family after life away from football.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Edward |first=Johnny |date=2023-04-29 |title=Oruma: The travails of an Olympic medalist |url=https://punchng.com/oruma-the-travails-of-an-olympic-medalist/ |access-date=2024-05-07 |website=Punch Newspapers |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Personal life==
In 2018, Oruma suffered emotional disorder as a result of how he was reportedly duped by an unknown pastor. He was broke and in a status of mental disorder six years after he was reportedly defrauded by a clergyman and some fake oil businessmen. It was learnt that Oruma eventually lost a whopping sum, close to N2 billion to an investment.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Silas |first1=Don |title=Ex-Super Eagle star, Wilson Oruma suffers mental disorder after been[sic] duped by pastor |url=http://dailypost.ng/2018/01/11/ex-super-eagle-star-wilson-oruma-suffers-mental-disorder-duped-pastor-photo/ |website=Daily Post |date=11 January 2018 |access-date=11 October 2018}}</ref>

Oruma holds Nigerian and French nationalities.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.ligue1.fr/joueur?id=herve-arsene | title=Hervé ARSENE Carreer | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231201163100/https://www.ligue1.fr/joueur?id=herve-arsene | archive-date=1 December 2023 }}</ref>

==Honours==
===Club===
'''Lens'''
*[[Ligue 1]]: [[1997–98 French Division 1|1997–98]]

'''Sochaux'''
*[[Coupe de la Ligue]]: [[2004 Coupe de la Ligue Final|2004]]

'''Marseille'''
*[[UEFA Intertoto Cup]]: [[2005 UEFA Intertoto Cup|2005]]<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.uefa.com/competitions/IntertotoCup/FixturesResults/Round=2188/Match=81581/Report=LU.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060531214209/http://www.uefa.com/competitions/IntertotoCup/FixturesResults/Round=2188/Match=81581/Report=LU.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=31 May 2006 |title=Marseille 5-1 Deportivo (Aggregate: 5 - 3)|publisher=[[UEFA]] |access-date=14 June 2020}}</ref>

'''Guingamp'''
*[[Coupe de France de football|Coupe de France]]: [[Coupe de France Final 2009|2009]]

===International===
'''Nigeria'''<ref name = "honours">{{cite web |url=https://int.soccerway.com/players/nwankwo-kanu/2926/|title=Nwankwo Kanu - Career Honours |publisher=Soccerway}}</ref>
* [[FIFA U-17 World Cup]]: [[1993 FIFA U-17 World Championship|1993]]: [[Football at the Summer Olympics|Olympic Gold Medal]]: [[Football at the 1996 Summer Olympics – Men's tournament|1996]]<ref name = "honours"/>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* {{Soccerway}}
* {{NFT|7659}}

{{FIFA U-17 World Cup awards}}
{{Navboxes
|title=Nigeria squads
|bg=#008751
|fg=White
|bordercolor=
|list1=
{{Nigeria squad 1996 Olympics}}
{{Nigeria Squad 1998 World Cup}}
{{Nigeria Squad 2002 Africa Cup of Nations}}
{{Nigeria Squad 2006 Africa Cup of Nations}}
}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Oruma, Wilson}}
[[Category:1976 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Men's association football midfielders]]
[[Category:Nigerian men's footballers]]
[[Category:Naturalized citizens of France]]
[[Category:French men's footballers]]
[[Category:Nigerian expatriate men's footballers]]
[[Category:Nigeria men's international footballers]]
[[Category:RC Lens players]]
[[Category:AS Nancy Lorraine players]]
[[Category:Nîmes Olympique players]]
[[Category:Servette FC players]]
[[Category:FC Sochaux-Montbéliard players]]
[[Category:Olympique de Marseille players]]
[[Category:Samsunspor footballers]]
[[Category:En Avant Guingamp players]]
[[Category:Kavala F.C. players]]
[[Category:Olympic footballers for Nigeria]]
[[Category:Bendel Insurance F.C. players]]
[[Category:Footballers at the 1996 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:1998 FIFA World Cup players]]
[[Category:2002 African Cup of Nations players]]
[[Category:2006 Africa Cup of Nations players]]
[[Category:Footballers from Warri]]
[[Category:Olympic gold medalists for Nigeria]]
[[Category:Ligue 1 players]]
[[Category:Ligue 2 players]]
[[Category:Swiss Super League players]]
[[Category:Süper Lig players]]
[[Category:Super League Greece players]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in France]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Turkey]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Greece]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Switzerland]]
[[Category:Olympic medalists in football]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 1996 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:20th-century French sportsmen]]