Mike Okoro
Nigerian footballer
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Mike Emmanuel Okoro // ⓘ (born 30 December 1981) is a Nigerian former professional footballer who played as a forward.[2]
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 30 December 1981 | ||
| Place of birth | Enugu, Nigeria | ||
| Height | 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) | ||
| Position | Forward | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Kogi United[1] | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1999 | Bendel Insurance | ||
| 2000 | GKS Katowice | 14 | (1) |
| 2000–2001 | Amica Wronki II | ||
| 2000–2001 | Amica Wronki | 2 | (0) |
| 2001–2002 | Indian Telephone Industries | 20 | (8) |
| 2002–2004 | East Bengal FC | 37 | (20) |
| 2004–2005 | Sparta Szamotuły | ||
| 2005–2006 | East Bengal FC | 12 | (1) |
| 2006–2009 | Mohammedan SC | ||
| 2009 | Sparta Szamotuły | ||
| 2010 | JCT F.C. | 13 | (5) |
| 2011 | Grom Plewiska | ||
| 2011–2013 | Świt Piotrowo | ||
| 2014–2015 | Pogoń Lwówek | 18 | (2) |
| 2015–2016 | Sokół Pniewy | 9 | (4) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Club career
After a successful 2001–02 campaign with Indian Telephone Industries, Okoro reportedly received offers from Germany, Kolkata, Mumbai, and Goa,[1] before deciding to sign with East Bengal for the next season,[3] striking a hat-trick in a 4–1 win over Hindustan Aeronautics.[4]
After a short stint in Poland, Okoro rejoined East Bengal in 2005[5] despite interest from Dempo and Mahindra United months earlier.[6] Skipping the Red & Gold Brigade's encounter away to JCT to renew his Polish citizenship in February 2006,[7] the club reportedly owed Okoro 130000 Rupees when he visited Poland for citizenship reasons.[8] This amount was eventually given to him[8] despite them originally saying that he in fact owed them 334000 Rupees.[9]
Throughout his career, the Nigerian has been committed a series of transgressions, including pushing the referee in 2003[10] slapping a different referee while with Mohammedan in 2008 for "asking uncomfortable questions",[11] and breaching contract regulations by exchanging teams mid-season despite signing a one-year contract with Mohammedan in 2007.[12][13]