Bartholomew Ogbeche

Nigerian footballer

Having started his career in France with Paris Saint Germain, he played his club football in the United Arab Emirates, Spain, Greece, England, the Netherlands and India. He is the top scorer for Hyderabad in the Indian Super League and has also held the top scorer position for NorthEast United and Kerala Blasters in the past. Ogbeche represented Nigeria at the 2002 World Cup.

Ogbeche was born in Ogoja. Still a youngster, he was signed by French Ligue 1 club Paris Saint Germain, making his debut with the main squad during the 2001–02 season. However, he failed to settle, also suffering a thigh injury and serving two six month loans to fellow league sides Bastia and Metz; for the former, he scored in a 4–1 home win against Olympique de Marseille on 7 March 2004– the Corsicans secured their top flight status, and he left PSG for good in June 2005. After a brief time in the United Arab Emirates, Ogbeche moved to Spain, first with Alavés in Segunda División. Although he posted good individual numbers, the Basque team failed to return to La Liga but he joined another club in the former tier, Real Valladolid, making his debut on 26 August 2007 in a 1–0 away victory over Espanyol (12 minutes played). In late August 2009, after two seasons of intermittent use, Ogbeche arranged a one year deal with Andalusia's Cádiz of the second division. He finished the campaign as team top scorer, but they finished in 19th position and were relegated. After one year in Greece with Kavala, Ogbeche joined Football League Championship side Middlesbrough on 18 October 2011, signing until the end of the season. He scored his first goal for his new club on 17 December, against Cardiff City in a 3–2 away win. On 5 March 2012, he came on as a substitute towards the end of the home game against Barnsley, lobbing the ball over Luke Steele for the final 2–0. Ogbeche moved clubs and countries again in January 2014, signing for Cambuur in the Netherlands after a very brief spell back in Spain with Xerez. He scored once and provided an assist in his Eredivisie debut, helping to a 3–1 home defeat of Heerenveen. On 25 August 2018, Ogbeche joined NorthEast United. He made his Indian Super League debut on 1 October, scoring once in the 2–2 draw against Goa. Later that month, he became the first player to manage a hat trick during the campaign after achieving the feat in ten minutes away to Chennaiyin. Ogbeche continued competing in the Indian top division the following years, with Kerala Blasters (becoming their all time top scorer but being surpassed by Dimitrios Diamantakos in November 2023), Mumbai City and Hyderabad. On 31 January 2022, following a brace against NorthEast United, he became the competition's all time top scorer at 49 goals; Hyderabad eventually won the championship, and he was also crowned top scorer.

A Nigerian international from the age of 17, Ogbeche was selected for the 2002 FIFA World Cup, and appeared in two matches in a group stage exit. He scored two of his three goals for the national side on 29 May 2004, in a 3–0 friendly win against the Republic of Ireland held in Charlton, London.

+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueCupContinentalOtherTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsParis Saint Germain[[2001–02 Paris Saint Germain F. C. seasonDivision 1214513 0—2952002–03Ligue 11814020—2412003–04Ligue 113011——1412004–05Ligue 1513010 —91Total57613260—768Bastia (loan)2003–04Ligue 1152———152Metz (loan)2004–05Ligue 1121———121Al Jazira2005–06UAE Football League165———165Alavés2006–07Segunda División29520——315Real Valladolid2007–08La Liga19241——2332008–09La Liga16142——203Total35383——436Cádiz2009–10Segunda División289———289Kavala2010–11Super League Greece20121——222Middlesbrough2011–12Championship17310——183Xerez2012–13Segunda División81———81Cambuur2013–14Eredivisie102———1022014–15Eredivisie311321——33142015–16Eredivisie16912——1711Total572433——6027Willem II2015–16Eredivisie41———412016–17Eredivisie141———1412017–18Eredivisie201031——2311Total381231——4113NorthEast United2018–19Indian Super League1812———1812Kerala Blasters2019–20Indian Super League1615———1615Mumbai City2020–21Indian Super League238———238Hyderabad2021–22Indian Super League2018———20182022–23Indian Super League2110——652715Total4128——654733Career total43013632106065474151