Angelo Ogbonna

Obinze Angelo Ogbonna (born 23 May 1988), known as Angelo Ogbonna (Italian pronunciation: [ˈandʒelo oɡˈbɔnna]), is an Italian professional footballer who plays as a centre back for Premier League West Ham United and the Italian national team.

Angelo Ogbonna
Ogbonna with West Ham United in 2019
Personal information
Full name Obinze Angelo Ogbonna[1]
Date of birth (1988-05-23) 23 May 1988[2]
Place of birth Cassino, Italy
Height 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in)[2]
Position(s) Centre back
Club information
Current team
 West Ham United
Number 21
Youth career
2002–2006 Torino
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2006–2013 Torino 150 (1)
2007–2008 → Crotone (loan) 22 (0)
2013–2015 Juventus 41 (0)
2015– West Ham United 157 (6)
National team‡
2009–2010 Italy U21 10 (0)
2011–2016 Italy 13 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 07:29, 6 February 2021 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 5 September 2016

He signed for Torino in 2002, having previously been a member of Nuova Cassino's youth set-up. Ogbonna made his debut in Serie A at the age of 18 under Alberto Zaccheroni. After a loan spell at Crotone in Serie C1, he returned to Torino, with whom he played for a further five seasons. In July 2013, he transferred to city rivals, Juventus, winning the Scudetto in 2013–14 and 2014–15, as well as the 2013 Supercoppa Italiana and the 2014–15 Coppa Italia.

He was a member of the Italian side which finished runners-up at UEFA Euro 2012, and also represented his nation at UEFA Euro 2016.

Club career

Torino

Ogbonna began his early career in the youth set-up of Cassino, where he played as a central defender. In 2002, he was noticed by Torino, which, on the recommendation of Antonio Comi,[3] bought him for €3,000 and assigned him to their youth team.[4] In the 2006–07 season he was regularly called up to the first team and on 11 February 2007 he made his debut in Serie A at age 18, against Reggina (1–2), as a starter under coach Alberto Zaccheroni.[5] At the end of season he totalled 4 league appearances.

The following August he moved on loan to Crotone in Serie C1,[6] making 22 league appearances in the league and narrowly earning promotion to Serie B, lost in the semi-final play-offs.

In the 2008–09 Serie A season he returned to Torino, collecting 19 league appearances and four in Coppa Italia. Torino, however, were relegated to Serie B at the end of the season. Starting from 2009, after the relegation of the club to Serie B, he earned his place as a starter for the Granata. On 17 April 2010, Ogbonna scored his first goal for Torino in the match against Cesena, finishing 1–1.[7] On 15 August 2010, in the second round of Coppa Italia against Cosenza (won 3–1 in extra time), he wore the captain's armband for the first time. In three Serie B seasons with Torino, Ogbonna made 105 appearances, helping the club return to Serie A after finishing second to Pescara during the 2011–12 season.

On 2 February 2012, he renewed his contract with Torino until 30 June 2016.[8]

Juventus
Ogbonna playing for Juventus in 2014

On 11 July 2013, Ogbonna underwent a medical at Turin's Fornaca, Isokinetic and the Istituto di Medicina dello Sport ahead of his proposed cross-town move to Juventus.[9] After passing the medical, he officially signed for Juventus for a transfer fee of €13 million, with an additional €2 million to be paid in future bonuses.[10] He became the first player to become captain of the Granata and transfer to rivals Juventus,[11] sparking much dislike with his old supporters of Torino.[12]

He made his Champions League debut in on 17 September 2013, against F.C. Copenhagen.[13] In his first season, despite being behind Andrea Barzagli, Leonardo Bonucci and Giorgio Chiellini in the pecking order at centre back, Ogbonna managed 25 appearances in all competitions, mostly starting in matches in the latter half of the season as the team was heavily rotated for league, Coppa Italia and Champions League matches. Ogbonna played 16 league games for Juventus in the 2013–14 season, as they won Serie A title.[13] He was also a member of the side which won the 2013 Supercoppa Italiana[13] In the 2014–15 season, Juventus defended the Serie A title once again, with Ogbonna making 25 league appearances, and the 2014–15 Coppa Italia.[13] On 6 June 2015, he was an unused substitute as Juventus lost the Champions League Final 3–1 to Barcelona in Berlin.[13]

West Ham United
Ogbonna playing for West Ham United in 2019

On 10 July 2015, Ogbonna joined Premier League club West Ham United, on a four-year contract, for €11 million to be spread over the next three financial years.[14][15] He made his debut 20 days later in the Europa League third qualifying round, starting against Astra Giurgiu; in the 82nd minute he netted an own goal equaliser as West Ham drew 2–2 at the Boleyn Ground.[16] On 9 February 2016, Ogbonna scored his first goal for the club, netting an injury-time match-winning header in the 121st minute of a 2–1 home win over Liverpool, in the fourth round FA Cup replay.[17]

Having played 18 of a possible 22 Premier League games for West Ham in the 2016–17 season, he was ruled out for the remainder of the season as he required an operation. West Ham manager, Slaven Bilić, said that Ogbonna had played every game of the season despite carrying the injury.[18] He returned for the final game of the 2016–17 season, a 2–1 away win against Burnley.[19] In June 2017, Ogbonna signed a new contract with West Ham committing him to the club until 2022.[20]

On 11 December 2020, Ogbonna scored the winning goal in a 2–1 away win over Leeds United which secured West Ham's first win at Elland Road since 2000.[21]

International career

On 12 August 2009, he made his debut with the Italian under-21 team in a friendly game against Russia.[22]

Ogbonna made his senior debut on 11 November 2011 in a 2–0 friendly victory against Poland, where he came on as a substitute for Domenico Criscito in the 77th minute.[22]

Ogbonna was included by manager Cesare Prandelli in the Italian 23-man final squad for Euro 2012, but did not play during the competition.[22]

In May 2016, Ogbonna was included in the provisional 30-man Italy squad for Euro 2016;[23] On 31 May 2016, he was named in Antonio Conte's final 23-man squad for the tournament.[24] Ogbonna made his only appearance of the tournament on 22 June, in Italy's final group match, which ended in a 1–0 defeat to Ireland.[25] In October 2020, after a two year absence, Ogbonna was called into the Italian squad by manager, Roberto Mancini, for two games in the Nations League.[26]

Style of play

A strong and powerful central defender, Ogbonna is primarily known for his outstanding physical attributes;[27][28] he is also a competent tackler, and possesses a good positional sense, as well as an ability to read the game.[29][30] He is also capable of playing as a left-back on occasion, due to his pace, technique, ball skills, vision, and distribution with his left foot.[27][28]

Personal life

Ogbonna was born to Nigerian parents who emigrated to Italy from Nigeria in 1983, settling in the city of Cassino in the central part of the country, but managed to obtain Italian citizenship only after his 18th birthday.[31]

On 22 December 2008, Ogbonna survived a car accident near Turin after he lost control of his Smart car and drove off a bridge into a torrent at around 5:00 AM.[32]

Career statistics

Club
As of match played 3 February 2021[13]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup[lower-alpha 1] League Cup[lower-alpha 2] Europe Other Total
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Torino2006–074000 – – –40
2008–0919040 – – –230
2009–1031110 – –3[lower-alpha 3]0351
2010–1135020 – – –370
2011–1239020 – – –410
2012–1322010 – – –230
Total1501100 – –301631
Crotone (loan)2007–0822010 – –2[lower-alpha 4]0250
Juventus2013–1416020 –6[lower-alpha 5]01[lower-alpha 6]0250
2014–1525040 –1[lower-alpha 7]000300
Total41060 –7010550
West Ham United2015–1628051001[lower-alpha 8]0 –341
2016–1720010302[lower-alpha 8]0 –260
2017–183213042 – –393
2018–192412032 – –293
2019–203122000 – –332
2020–212221000 – –232
Total157614110430 –11
Career total 3707311104808042712
  1. Includes Coppa Italia, FA Cup
  2. Includes EFL Cup
  3. Appearances in Serie B promotion play-offs
  4. Appearances in Serie C1 promotion play-offs
  5. Three appearances in UEFA Champions League, three in UEFA Europa League
  6. Appearance in Supercoppa Italiana
  7. Appearance in UEFA Champions League
  8. Appearance(s) in UEFA Europa League

International
Ogbonna with Italy in 2012
As of match played 5 September 2016[33]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Italy 201110
201240
201340
201410
201630
Total130

Honours

Juventus[13]

Italy[13]

References
  1. "Updated squads for 2017/18 Premier League confirmed". Premier League. 2 February 2018. Retrieved 18 February 2018.
  2. "Angelo Ogbonna Profile". Premier League. Retrieved 4 October 2020.
  3. Marina Beccuti (30 August 2011). "Comi "consiglia" la Roma ad Ogbonna". torinogranata.it. Retrieved 13 October 2011.
  4. Pietro Ivaldi (5 February 2011). "Ogbonna, questione di testa". La Stampa. p. 43. Archived from the original on 10 November 2013. Retrieved 5 February 2011.
  5. Roberto Condio (12 February 2006). "Il Toro ai raggi X". La Stampa. p. 53. Archived from the original on 10 November 2013. Retrieved 30 December 2010.
  6. "Cioffi all'Ascoli, Ogbonna al Crotone". torinofc.it. 31 August 2007. Archived from the original on 6 September 2007. Retrieved 24 September 2010.
  7. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 13 September 2012. Retrieved 8 July 2015.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  8. "OGBONNA RINNOVA FINO AL 2016". Torino FC (in Italian). 2 February 2012. Archived from the original on 9 December 2012. Retrieved 9 February 2012.
  9. "Ogbonna completes Juventus medical". Juventus.com. Retrieved 7 July 2015.
  10. "Ogbonna signs for Juventus". Juventus.com. Retrieved 7 July 2015.
  11. "Ogbonna, capitano granata che volle farsi juventino". Archivio — la Repubblica.it. Retrieved 7 July 2015.
  12. ""Gobbonna"? No, grazie". Panorama. Archived from the original on 21 December 2013. Retrieved 7 July 2015.
  13. "A. Ogbonna". Soccerway. Retrieved 8 July 2015.
  14. "Thanks, Angelo — Juventus.com". Juventus.com. Retrieved 24 May 2016.
  15. "Angelo Ogbonna: West Ham sign Juventus defender". BBC Sport. Retrieved 10 July 2015.
  16. "West Ham 2–2 Astra Giurgiu". BBC Sport. 30 July 2015. Retrieved 30 July 2015.
  17. James Riach (9 February 2016). "Angelo Ogbonna heads West Ham past Liverpool in FA Cup replay". The Guardian. Retrieved 10 February 2016.
  18. "Angelo Ogbonna: West Ham defender to miss rest of season". BBC Sport. 21 January 2017. Retrieved 25 January 2017.
  19. "Burnley 1–2 West Ham United – Premier League – Football". www.sportsmole.co.uk. Retrieved 30 June 2017.
  20. "Angelo Ogbonna signs new contract – West Ham United". www.whufc.com. Retrieved 30 June 2017.
  21. Stone, Simon (11 December 2020). "Leeds 1-2 West Ham: David Moyes angry at VAR despite Angelo Ogbonna winner". BBC Sport. Retrieved 11 December 2020.
  22. "Nazionale in cifre: Ogbonna Obinze, Angelo" (in Italian). FIGC. Archived from the original on 9 July 2012. Retrieved 24 May 2015.
  23. "West Ham Defender Ogbonna Included In Italy Provisional Roster For Euro 2016:: All Nigeria Soccer — The Complete Nigerian Football Portal". AllNigeriaSoccer.com. Retrieved 24 May 2016.
  24. "OFFICIAL: Italy squad for Euro 2016". Football Italia. 31 May 2016. Retrieved 31 May 2016.
  25. Adams, Sam (22 June 2016). "Brady sends euphoric Ireland into the last 16". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. Retrieved 22 June 2016.
  27. "Torino: Fenomeno Ogbonna, gioiello per l'estate" [Torino: Ogbonna Phenomenon, jewel for the summer] (in Italian). tuttomercatoweb.com. Retrieved 13 September 2014.
  28. Adam Digby (29 May 2015). "Juve's Prem-linked stopper who needs a new home this summer". FourFourTwo.com. Retrieved 26 January 2017.
  29. MINA RZOUKI (4 June 2015). "Giorgio Chiellini's leadership will be missed in UCL final absence". ESPN FC. Retrieved 14 February 2017.
  30. Dave Taylor (14 July 2013). "Ogbonna – From Bull to Bianconero". Football Italia. Retrieved 14 February 2017.
  31. "All Black Italians". Italia-Razzismo. 20 October 2009. Archived from the original on 26 April 2012. Retrieved 26 November 2011.
  32. "Che paura per Ogbonna! Giù da un ponte con l'auto" (in Italian). La Gazzetta dello Sport. 22 December 2008. Archived from the original on 23 December 2008. Retrieved 22 December 2008.
  33. "Ogbonna, Angelo". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmerman. Retrieved 11 February 2019.
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