Soccer Nigeria National Team and Almería Midfielder Nigeria

Kalu Uche born in Aba is a Nigerian footballer who currently plays for UD Almería, mainly as a forward.

Known for his acrobatic goal celebrations, he can operate on occasion as an attacking midfielder or a second striker, and spent most of his professional career in Spain.

Uche's career began in Nigeria with Enyimba International and Iwuanyanwu Nationale. In 2000–01, he joined Spanish first division team RCD Espanyol, but would not collect a single first team appearance.

Uche then transferred to Wisła Kraków, playing there until 2006 (winning the 2003 Polish League and two domestic cups), except for the 2004–05 season when he represented Bordeaux, on loan, after disciplinary problems endured in Poland.

In 2006–07, Uche moved to UD Almería, and was instrumental in helping the Andalusia outfit to its first ever top flight promotion, netting eight league goals (with three in the last five matches). He made his first division debut on 26 August 2007, coming from the bench in a 3–0 win at Deportivo de La Coruña.

On 11 January 2009, profitting from the absence of first-choice Álvaro Negredo, Uche netted both goals in a 2–2 draw at Espanyol. On 5 December, he scored the side's second goal at Real Madrid for the 2–1, but the hosts eventually rallied back to 4–2.

In the following summer, Negredo was sold to Sevilla FC (via Real Madrid), and Uche became Almería's most important offensive reference. He finished 2009–10 with a career-best nine goals, namely a brace on May 4, 2010 against Villarreal CF (4–2 home win), which all but certified the club's permanence in the top level for another year.

Uche made his debut for the Nigeria national football team on 21 June 2003, in an African Nations Cup qualifier against Angola, scoring in the process.

He also represented the nation at the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations, going scoreless for the eventual third-placed team.

Uche's younger brother, Ikechukwu Uche, is also a footballer. Also a forward, he too spent most of his senior career in Spain (they are not related to two other players, Uche Okechukwu and Ikechukwu Kalu).

Source: Wikipedia