Magnus Okuonghae

Magnus Okuonghae
Personal information
Full name Magnus Erharuyi Okuonghae[1]
Date of birth (1986-02-16) 16 February 1986[1]
Place of birth Lagos, Nigeria
Height 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in)[2]
Playing position Defender
Club information
Current team
 Dagenham & Redbridge
Number 26
Youth career
0000–2002 Fulham
2002–2003 Rushden & Diamonds
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2003–2006 Rushden & Diamonds 22 (1)
2004–2005 → Bishop's Stortford (loan) 7 (0)
2006 Aldershot Town 2 (0)
2006–2007 St Albans City 19 (0)
2007 Crawley Town 21 (2)
2007–2009 Dagenham & Redbridge 55 (2)
2008 → Weymouth (loan) 5 (0)
2009–2015 Colchester United 196 (8)
2015–2016 Luton Town 11 (0)
2015 → Hartlepool United (loan) 4 (0)
2016– Dagenham & Redbridge 2 (0)
National team‡
2006 England C 1 (0)

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 21:52, 29 November 2016 (UTC).

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 23:41, 6 January 2013 (UTC)

Magnus Erharuyi Okuonghae (born 16 February 1986) is a professional footballer who plays as a defender for National League club Dagenham & Redbridge.

Okuonghae made over 200 appearances in all competitions for Colchester United where he was club captain, and has also played for Rushden & Diamonds, Aldershot Town, St Albans City, Crawley Town and Luton Town. He has made loan appearances for Bishop's Stortford and Weymouth, and he has been capped at international level by England at semi-professional level.

Club career

Early career

Born in Lagos, Nigeria,[1] Okuonghae began his career with Fulham in the club's youth system, before appearing for Norwich City under-19s in March 2002, and later featured on the bench for Leicester City under-19s in April 2002.[3]

Rushden & Diamonds

Okuonghae was signed by Third Division club Rushden & Diamonds and became part of the under-16 squad.[4] He later signed his first professional contract with the club and was given squad number 40.[4] During the 2002–03 season, Okuonghae failed to make an appearance for the first-team,[4] but was an unused substitute during a 4–1 win at home to Cambridge United on 18 January 2003.[5] He made his professional debut for Rushden & Diamonds, now in the Second Division in 2003–04 as an 87th-minute substitute in a 4–0 win over Colchester United at Nene Park on 22 November, but did not feature again for the rest of the season.[4]

A spell on loan at Conference South club Bishop's Stortford followed in the 2004–05 season, where he made eight appearances.[6] Okuonghae found himself playing in the first-team more regularly during the 2005–06 season, making a late substitute appearance in a 1–0 victory away to Mansfield Town on 9 August 2005.[7] He would make a further 22 appearances in all competitions throughout the season,[4] and registered his first professional goal in a 2–1 defeat away to Rochdale on 1 October.[8] However, the season ended in relegation for Rushden, and Okuonghae rejected their offer of a new contract and left the club.[3]

Aldershot Town

Following an unsuccessful trial at Gillingham, Okuonghae joined Conference National club Aldershot Town in August 2006.[3] He made his club debut on 15 August in a 1–0 defeat away to Weymouth.[9] His second and final appearance for the club came just four days later as Aldershot beat St Albans City 5–3 on the road.[9]

St Albans City

In late August 2006, after just two games for Aldershot, Okuonghae joined St Albans City on a non-contract basis.[3] He made his debut for the club in a 2–1 defeat away to Oxford United on 1 September.[10] Okuonghae made 20 appearances in all competitions between September 2006 and January 2007.[10]

Crawley Town

Okuonghae moved on from St Albans in January 2007, representing his third Conference club of the season as he signed for Crawley Town.[3][11] He made his debut for the club on 13 January as they defeated his former club Aldershot 2–0 at the Recreation Ground.[9] Okuonghae scored his first of two goals for the club in a 2–2 draw against his previous club St Albans on 10 February, netting the opening goal after 12 minutes.[9] His second and final goal came in Crawley's 2–1 defeat to Northwich Victoria on 14 April.[9] Okuonghae ended his stint with the club with 21 appearances to his name.[9]

Dagenham & Redbridge

Okuonghae signed for League Two club Dagenham & Redbridge on 31 May 2007.[12] After making his debut on 1 September in a 1–0 win at home to Lincoln City,[13] Okuonghae found his chances limited, making just 10 appearances between September 2007 and January 2008.[13]

Okuonghae was sent out on loan to Conference Premier club Weymouth in February 2008, making his debut in a 1–0 defeat at home to Histon on 23 February.[13] He made six appearances for Weymouth in all competitions.[13]

Okuonghae returned to Dagenham for the 2008–09 season and started every game in the early stages of the season, winning a regular spot in the right-back position. He said he was "happy to be playing and happy to be an influence".[14] He scored his first goal for the club during the campaign in a 2–1 defeat away to Luton Town on 15 November 2008.[15] He also scored against Notts County in a 6–1 rout on 22 November, making the score 5–0 after 56 minutes.[16] He played all but one league game for Dagenham & Redbridge through the campaign as they fell just short of the League Two play-offs.[15]

Colchester United

2009–10 season

With Okuonghae out of contract, he decided to join League One club and fellow Essex club Colchester United in July 2009.[17] Although Dagenham & Redbridge had offered Okuonghae a new contract, he described his move to Colchester as a "no-brainer" and felt that he could make the step up to League One football.[18] He signed a two-year deal with the club, although compensation had to be paid to Dagenham & Redbridge for the transfer.[17] The fee for Okuonghae was set at a tribunal in August 2009, with the Professional Football Compensation Committee deciding that Colchester United should pay Dagenham & Redbridge an initial fee of £45,000, with an additional £5,000 paid after the player had made 15, 30, 45 and 60 appearances; a total further payment of £20,000. Other stipulations included a £15,000 payment if Colchester were promoted within the next two seasons if Okuonghae remained with the club, and a 20% sell-on fee would be paid on any profit if Colchester United were to sell Okuonghae.[19]

Okuonghae made his debut for Colchester on the opening day of the 2009–10 season in a 7–1 win away to newly relegated Norwich City.[20] Having played every game for the club since his transfer, he captained the team following Pat Baldwin's injury in September 2009, and was rewarded with a new contract in December 2009 to keep him at the Community Stadium until 2012.[21] Okuonghae ended the 2009–10 season having made 49 appearances in all competitions.[20]

2010–11 season

For his second season with the club, Okuonghae remained a regular starter, appearing in Colchester's longest unbeaten run from the beginning of a season with 10 matches played.[22] He scored his first goal for the club on 25 September 2010 and Colchester's third in a 3–1 win at home to Tranmere Rovers.[23] Soon after, he scored his second goal for the club in a 1–1 draw away to Milton Keynes Dons on 2 October.[23] Until November, Okuonghae had made 17 first-team appearances in the 2010–11 season,[23] however, an ankle injury kept him out of action for the rest of the year, with Okuonghae unsure of when he would be able to return to action.[24] He then had to undergo ankle surgery in February 2011, ruling him out for the remainder of the season.[25]

2011–12 season

Okuonghae returned to the first-team on the opening day of the 2011–12 season in a 4–2 win away at Preston North End.[26] He received his first red card for Colchester on 15 October when he was sent off in their 2–2 draw away to Rochdale.[27] Okuonghae had another solid season, making 45 appearances in all competitions.[27] In the latter part of the season, Okuonghae struck up a good relationship in the centre of defence with Tom Eastman, at one stage conceding just two goals in six games.[28] With his contract expiring in the summer, Okuonghae said that rumours linking him with a move away from the club "helps me to raise my game" and gives him the confidence to improve his performances.[28]

During a summer of uncertainty for Okuonghae, it was reported that a number of Championship clubs were keen on capturing his signature, including Blackburn Rovers, Bolton Wanderers, Burnley, Charlton Athletic, Derby County, Millwall, Sheffield Wednesday and Scottish Premier League club Celtic, having also been offered a new contract by Colchester.[29] He decided to leave Colchester after three years with the club on 3 July 2012 with the hope of securing a move to a Championship club.[30][31] However, Okuonghae returned to Colchester on 14 July and signed a new three-year deal.[32][33]

2012–13 season

In a season where Colchester battled against the threat of relegation to League Two, Okuonghae made 46 appearances and scored three goals in all competitions,[34] converting Anthony Wordsworth's corner kick in a 2–2 draw at home to Portsmouth on 21 August 2012,[35] followed by Colchester's only goal in a 2–1 defeat at home to Doncaster Rovers on 15 September,[36] and a consolation goal in a 5–1 defeat at home to Tranmere Rovers on 23 February 2013.[37]

2013–14 season

Following a solid start to the 2013–14 season, Okuonghae was nominated for the League One Player of the Month award for August, having been an ever-present member of the Colchester defence that conceded just four goals in five games.[38] In a 4–1 defeat by his former club Dagenham & Redbridge in the Football League Trophy on 3 September, Okuonghae received his second red card of his Colchester United career.[39] He scored two goals during the course of the season; the opening goal in a 3–1 defeat away to Brentford on 19 October,[40] and once again in another defeat, this time at the hands of Swindon Town on 16 November.[41] He went on to make 46 appearances for the club throughout the season.[39]

2014–15 season

Ahead of the 2014–15 season, Okuonghae was announced as the club's new captain following Brian Wilson's decision to leave the club over the summer.[42] His vice captain was named as new-boy Sean Clohessy on 7 August 2014.[42] Okuonghae scored the opening goal in Colchester's first game of the season, a 2–2 draw at home to Oldham Athletic.[43] He received a red card in only his second game of the season, a 4–0 League Cup defeat to Charlton Athletic on 12 August.[44] He then received his second red card of the campaign a little over one month later when he was shown a straight red for fouling former team-mate Dave Mooney in a match against Leyton Orient.[45] He committed the foul just before half-time in what ended a 2–0 victory for Colchester on 13 September, their first win of the season.[45]

After missing a number of matches through suspension and the ensuing form of his replacement Frankie Kent, Okuonghae returned to action when he replaced Kent after only five minutes following a head injury he received after being struck by the ball on 21 October in a 2–1 victory at home to Chesterfield.[46] In Colchester's 1–0 defeat at home to Coventry City on 22 November, Okuonghae suffered an achilles tendon rupture and had to be stretchered off the field late in the game.[47] This ruled him out of action for the rest of the season.[48]

With his contract expiring in the summer of 2015, Colchester United took the decision not to renew Okhuonghae's contract, ending his six-year association with the club.[49] Manager Tony Humes described Okuonghae as "an excellent servant to the club".[49] Okuonghae departed Colchester having made 215 appearances in all competitions during his time at the club.[49]

Luton Town

Okuonghae signed a two-year contract with League Two club Luton Town on 1 July 2015, once again teaming-up with John Still, who was manager of Dagenham & Redbridge during Okuonghae's time at the club.[50] He made his debut for the club as a 59th-minute substitute for Scott Cuthbert in a 2–1 win at home to Leyton Orient in the Football League Trophy on 1 September.[51] After making his first start for Luton in a 2–1 defeat away to Gillingham in the Football League Trophy, Okuonghae joined League Two rivals Hartlepool United on a one-month loan on 17 October.[52] He sustained an ankle injury during a 2–0 defeat away to AFC Wimbledon on 31 October and returned to Luton for treatment.[53] Okuonghae did not play for Hartlepool again during his loan spell, having made four appearances.[54] He returned to first-team football for Luton to make his second starting appearance in a 2–0 defeat away to Peterborough United in the FA Cup on 6 December.[55] Okuonghae required knee surgery in April 2016 and did not feature again in 2015–16, having made 14 appearances in all competitions.[54][56] He was placed on the transfer list at the end of the season,[57] before his contract was cancelled by mutual consent on 31 August.[58]

Return to Dagenham & Redbridge

Okuonghae re-signed for National League club Dagenham & Redbridge on a short-term contract until 2 January 2017 on 25 November 2016.[59] He made his second debut a day later in a 4–1 defeat at home to Barrow.[60]

International career

While playing for St Albans City, Okuonghae was selected for the semi-professional England National Game XI. He played in a friendly against Forest Green Rovers on 5 September 2006 to mark the official opening of their New Lawn stadium. England National Game XI lost the fixture 1–0, with Okuonghae scoring an own goal.[3][61]

Career statistics

As of match played 29 November 2016
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Rushden & Diamonds 2002–03[4] Third Division 0000000000
2003–04[4] Second Division 1000000010
2004–05[4] League Two 0000001[lower-alpha 1]010
2005–06[4] League Two 21100103[lower-alpha 2]0251
Total 221001040271
Bishop's Stortford (loan) 2004–05[6] Conference South 70——1[lower-alpha 3]080
Aldershot Town 2006–07[9] Conference National 20———20
St Albans City 2006–07[10] Conference National 19000—1[lower-alpha 3]0200
Crawley Town 2006–07[9] Conference National 212———212
Dagenham & Redbridge 2007–08[13] League Two 10000001[lower-alpha 4]0110
2008–09[15] League Two 45230103[lower-alpha 4]0522
Total 552301040632
Weymouth (loan) 2007–08[13] Conference Premier 50——1[lower-alpha 5]060
Colchester United 2009–10[20] League One 44030101[lower-alpha 4]0490
2010–11[23] League One 14200201[lower-alpha 4]0172
2011–12[27] League One 420201000450
2012–13[34] League One 43310101[lower-alpha 4]0463
2013–14[39] League One 44210101[lower-alpha 4]0472
2014–15[62] League One 91101000111
Total 19688070402158
Luton Town 2015–16[54] League Two 11010002[lower-alpha 4]0140
Hartlepool United (loan) 2015–16[54] League Two 40———40
Dagenham & Redbridge 2016–17[63] National League 20——0020
Career total 344131209017038213
  1. ↑ Appearance in NFA Maunsell Cup
  2. ↑ One appearance in Football League Trophy, two in NFA Maunsell Cup
  3. 1 2 Appearance in FA Trophy
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Appearance(s) in Football League Trophy
  5. ↑ Appearance in Conference League Cup

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Magnus Okuonghae". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 27 November 2016.
  2. ↑ "Magnus Okuonghae". ESPN FC. Retrieved 27 November 2016.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Magnus Okuonghae". Flown From the Nest. Retrieved 27 November 2016.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Magnus Okuonghae". rdfc1992. Retrieved 27 November 2016.
  5. ↑ Dove, Steven (18 January 2003). "Rushden & Diamonds 4 Cambridge United 1". rdfc1992. Retrieved 27 November 2016.
  6. 1 2 "Magnus Okuonghae Player Details: Season 2004–2005". SoccerFacts UK. Retrieved 29 November 2016.
    "Magnus Okuonghae season details 2004/2005". Colchester United Mad. Retrieved 29 November 2016.
  7. ↑ "Mansfield 0–1 Rushden". BBC Sport. 9 August 2005. Retrieved 2 May 2014.
  8. ↑ "Rochdale 2–1 Rushden". BBC Sport. 1 October 2005. Retrieved 2 May 2014.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Games played by Magnus Okuonghae in 2006/2007". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 27 November 2016.
  10. 1 2 3 "Magnus Okuonghae appearances". St Albans City F.C. Retrieved 27 November 2016.
  11. ↑ "Defender Okuonghae joins Crawley". BBC Sport. 8 January 2007. Retrieved 4 May 2014.
  12. ↑ "Daggers sign Crawley's Okuonghae". BBC Sport. 31 May 2007. Retrieved 4 May 2014.
  13. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Games played by Magnus Okuonghae in 2007/2008". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 27 November 2016.
  14. ↑ "Okuonghae thrilled to get chance". BBC Sport. 17 September 2008. Retrieved 4 May 2014.
  15. 1 2 3 "Games played by Magnus Okuonghae in 2008/2009". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 27 November 2016.
  16. ↑ "Dag & Red 6–1 Notts County". BBC Sport. 22 November 2008. Retrieved 4 May 2014.
  17. 1 2 "Colchester snare Daggers defender". BBC Sport. 1 July 2009. Retrieved 4 May 2014.
  18. ↑ "Okuonghae thrilled with U's move". BBC Sport. 1 July 2009. Retrieved 4 May 2014.
  19. ↑ "Okuonghae compensation fee set". The Football League. 10 August 2009. Archived from the original on 4 May 2014.
  20. 1 2 3 "Games played by Magnus Okuonghae in 2009/2010". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 27 November 2016.
  21. ↑ "Okuonghae delight for Us". Sky Sports. 1 December 2009. Retrieved 27 November 2016.
  22. ↑ "Magnus Okuonghae targets more Colchester United wins". BBC Sport. 4 October 2010. Retrieved 4 May 2014.
  23. 1 2 3 4 "Games played by Magnus Okuonghae in 2010/2011". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 27 November 2016.
  24. ↑ "Okuonghae hopes to be back soon". Sky Sports. 22 December 2010. Retrieved 27 November 2016.
  25. ↑ "Colchester United suffer Magnus Okuonghae injury blow". BBC Sport. 25 February 2011. Retrieved 4 May 2014.
  26. ↑ "Preston 2–4 Colchester". BBC Sport. 6 August 2011. Retrieved 27 November 2016.
  27. 1 2 3 "Games played by Magnus Okuonghae in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 27 November 2016.
  28. 1 2 "Colchester exit talk improves me – Magnus Okuonghae". BBC Sport. 14 March 2012. Retrieved 27 November 2016.
  29. ↑ Bailey, Graeme (11 June 2012). "Bhoys join Magnus hunt". Sky Sports. Retrieved 27 November 2016.
  30. ↑ "Defender Okuonghae leaves Colchester United". Daily Gazette. Colchester. 3 July 2012. Retrieved 27 November 2016.
  31. ↑ Bailey, Graeme (3 July 2012). "Okuonghae leaves Us". Sky Sports. Retrieved 27 November 2016.
  32. ↑ "Magnus Okuonghae returns to sign new Colchester United deal". BBC Sport. 14 July 2012. Retrieved 27 November 2016.
  33. ↑ "Okuonghae makes U's U-turn". Sky Sports. 14 July 2012. Retrieved 27 November 2016.
  34. 1 2 "Games played by Magnus Okuonghae in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 27 November 2016.
  35. ↑ "Colchester 2–2 Portsmouth". BBC Sport. 21 August 2012. Retrieved 27 November 2016.
  36. ↑ "Colchester 1–2 Doncaster". BBC Sport. 15 September 2012. Retrieved 27 November 2016.
  37. ↑ "Colchester 1–5 Tranmere". BBC Sport. 23 February 2013. Retrieved 27 November 2016.
  38. ↑ "Player of the Month nominations". The Football League. 4 September 2013. Archived from the original on 9 January 2014.
  39. 1 2 3 "Games played by Magnus Okuonghae in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 27 November 2016.
  40. ↑ "Brentford 3–1 Colchester United". BBC Sport. 19 October 2013. Retrieved 27 November 2016.
  41. ↑ "Colchester United 1–2 Swindon Town". BBC Sport. 16 November 2013. Retrieved 27 November 2016.
  42. 1 2 "Okuonghae is the U's new captain". Daily Gazette. Colchester. 7 August 2014. Retrieved 27 November 2016.
  43. ↑ "Colchester United 2–2 Oldham Athletic". BBC Sport. 9 August 2014. Retrieved 27 November 2016.
  44. ↑ "Charlton Athletic 4–0 Colchester United". BBC Sport. 12 August 2014. Retrieved 27 November 2016.
  45. 1 2 "Leyton Orient 0–2 Colchester United". BBC Sport. 13 September 2014. Retrieved 27 November 2016.
  46. ↑ Waldron, Jonathan (21 October 2014). "Sears scores superb late winner as U's beat Chesterfield". Daily Gazette. Colchester. Retrieved 27 November 2016.
  47. ↑ Waldron, Jonathan (22 November 2014). "U's beaten by Coventry to fall to third straight league defeat". Daily Gazette. Colchester. Retrieved 27 November 2016.
  48. ↑ Waldron, Jonathan (24 November 2014). "Okuonghae likely to miss the rest of the season after rupturing Achilees tendon". Daily Gazette. Colchester. Retrieved 27 November 2016.
  49. 1 2 3 Marston, Carl (15 May 2015). "Farewell to Colchester United stalwart, Magnus Okuonghae". Green'Un. Colchester. Retrieved 27 November 2016.
  50. ↑ "Paddy McCourt and Magnus Okuonghae join Luton Town". BBC Sport. 1 July 2015. Retrieved 27 November 2016.
  51. ↑ "Luck turns as 10-man Luton Town dumps Leyton Orient out of Johnston's Paint Trophy". Luton On Sunday. 1 September 2015. Retrieved 27 November 2016.
  52. ↑ Simmonds, Mike (17 October 2015). "Okuonghae joins Hartlepool on loan for a month". Luton Today. Retrieved 27 November 2016.
  53. ↑ Simmonds, Mike (5 November 2015). "Town confirm Okuonghae injury is nothing serious". Luton Today. Retrieved 27 November 2016.
  54. 1 2 3 4 "Games played by Magnus Okuonghae in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 27 November 2016.
  55. ↑ Cunliffe, James (6 December 2015). "Luton Town: A harsh lesson as Peterborough dump the Hatters out of the FA Cup". Luton On Sunday. Retrieved 27 November 2016.
  56. ↑ Simmonds, Mike (7 April 2016). "Cuthbert will be given every chance to make Accrington clash". Luton Today. Retrieved 27 November 2016.
  57. ↑ "Luton Town: Jake Howells and Alex Lawless among nine released". BBC Sport. 10 May 2016. Retrieved 27 November 2016.
  58. ↑ "Luton and Okuonghae part company". Luton Today. 31 August 2016. Retrieved 27 November 2016.
  59. ↑ "Magnus Okuonghae: Dagenham & Redbridge re-sign defender". BBC Sport. 25 November 2016. Retrieved 27 November 2016.
  60. ↑ Keating, Ned (26 November 2016). "Dagenham & Redbridge 1 Barrow 4: Daggers sunk by incisive Bluebirds". Barking and Dagenham Post. Retrieved 27 November 2016.
  61. ↑ "England XI suffer Rovers defeat". BBC Sport. 6 September 2006. Retrieved 2 May 2014.
  62. ↑ "Games played by Magnus Okuonghae in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 27 November 2016.
  63. ↑ "M. Okuonghae". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved 29 November 2016.
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