Chidi Odiah

Chukwudi Odiah (born 17 December 1983), commonly known as Chidi Odiah, is a Nigerian professional footballer who played as a right back.

Chidi Odiah
Odiah with CSKA Moscow in July 2009
Personal information
Full name Chukwudi Odiah
Date of birth (1983-12-17) 17 December 1983
Place of birth Port Harcourt, Nigeria
Height 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position(s) Right back
Youth career
Eagle Cement
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1998–1999 Eagle Cement 28 (3)
2000 Julius Berger 10 (1)
2000–2004 Sheriff Tiraspol 58 (5)
2004–2012 CSKA Moscow 84 (3)
2015 Julius Berger
National team
2004–2010 Nigeria 28 (1)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 16 February 2012

Chidi Odiah has represented his country at international level. He has shown himself to be a skillful, attack minded fullback with a high work-rate.[1]

Club career

Eagle Cement and Julius Berger

Odiah began his career with Eagle Cement in the Nigeria Premier League, before moving to Julius Berger F.C. in 2000 for which he has played 10 games. In this year Julius Berger F.C. won the Nigeria Premier League.

Sheriff Tiraspol

In late 2000 he moved to Sheriff Tiraspol. For the time spent in Tiraspol, Odiah appeared in 58 games adding five goals, becoming one of the major players in the team. Sheriff dominated Moldovan football and Chidi won many honors: Moldovan National Division – 2000–01, 2001–02, 2002–03, 2003–04; Moldovan Cup – 2000/01, 2001/02; Moldovan Super Cup – 2003 and CIS Cup – 2003. He also gained experience in the UEFA Champions League qualifying phase.

CSKA Moscow

In CIS Cup, he drew the attention of scouts CSKA and in 2004, Odiah joined CSKA Moscow on a four-year contract.[2] Chidi was given the number 15 shirt. He made his debut for CSKA in the Russian Premier League against Rostov. He quickly took up position right back. Season 2005 was the best in his career, to date, Chukwudi won: Russian Premier League – 2005, Russian Cup – 2005, 2004–05 UEFA Cup (by beating Sporting Lisbon 3–1 in the Final on Estádio José Alvalade[3]) and participated in the 2005 UEFA Super Cup. At quarter-finals 2004–05 UEFA Cup he scored the first goal in the 4–0 win over Auxerre.[4] Last success in CSKA: quarter-finals 2009–10 UEFA Champions League and 2010–11 Russian Cup.

Odiah left CSKA Moscow by mutual consent on 16 February 2012.[5] After Odiah's release from CSKA Moscow, there was an internet rumour that Odiah had retired from football and was now driving taxis in the USA, a claim that Odiah denied.[6]

Back to Julius Berger

In January 2015, Odiah came out of his three-year retirement in order to play for his old football club Julius Berger

International

Chidi has represented his nation at various youth levels. He played for Nigeria U-17 national team to African U-17 Championship – winner of the tournament. On the next event, Meridian Cup, he was team captain. His premier match in the senior team took place in September 2004, in a match against Zimbabwe. Chidi also twice won the bronze medal with Nigeria senior team at the African Cup of Nations – 2006, 2010.

Odiah was chosen for the team of Nigeria to 2010 FIFA World Cup[7] and in the first match against Argentina came into the starting lineup, as well in the match with South Korea, he made goal assist.

Career statistics

Club
As of match played 28 August 2011[8][9]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup Continental Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
CSKA Moscow 2004 Russian Premier League 21060-270
2005 2726015110493
2006 3020101171
2007 4000200060
2008 2301040-280
2009 1302030-180
2010 1111020-141
2011–12 300000-00
Total 1053120331211525
Career total 1053120331211525

International
Source:[8]
Nigeria
YearAppsGoals
200420
200550
200660
200700
200841
200920
201090
Total281

International goals
Source:[8]
#DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
11 October 2008Abuja, Nigeria Sierra Leone4–1Won2010 FIFA World Cup qualification

Honours

Clubs

Julius Berger

Sheriff Tiraspol

CSKA Moscow

International

Nigeria

Nigeria under-17 team

Individual
  • In the list of 33 best football players of the championship of Russia: position right half-backs № 1 (2005)[10]
  • In the list of 33 best football players of the championship of Russia: position right full-backs № 2 (2004)

References
  1. "Player Profile". FIFA. Retrieved 8 August 2012.
  2. uefa.com. "Member associations - News – UEFA.com". UEFA.com. Retrieved 14 May 2018.
  3. "Sporting 1-3 CSKA Moscow". 18 May 2005. Retrieved 14 May 2018.
  4. http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/season=2004/matches/round=1979/match=80608/postmatch/statistics/index.html
  5. "Чиди Одиа покинул ПФК ЦСКА". pfc-cska.com (in Russian). PFC CSKA Moscow. 16 February 2012. Retrieved 7 June 2018.
  6. "Chidi Odiah denies being a taxi driver in the US". 360nobs.com. Retrieved 14 June 2013.
  7. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 15 March 2012. Retrieved 12 October 2011.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  8. "Chidi Odiah". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmerman. Retrieved 4 December 2015.
  9. "C.Odiah". uk.soccerway.com/. Soccerway. Retrieved 4 December 2015.
  10. "33 best football players of Russian championship". news.rin.ru. Retrieved 14 May 2018.
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