Michael Olunga
Michael Olunga Ogada (born 26 March 1994) is a Kenyan professional footballer who plays as a striker for Qatari club Al-Duhail and the Kenya national team.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Michael Olunga Ogada[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 26 March 1994 | ||
| Place of birth | Nairobi, Kenya | ||
| Height | 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in)[2] | ||
| Position(s) | Striker | ||
| Club information | |||
Current team | Al-Duhail | ||
| Number | 14 | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2012–2016 | Liberty Sports Academy | ? | (32) |
| 2013 | → Tusker (loan) | 18 | (2) |
| 2014 | → Thika United (loan) | 26 | (9) |
| 2015 | → Gor Mahia (loan) | 27 | (19) |
| 2016 | Djurgårdens IF | 27 | (12) |
| 2017–2018 | Guizhou Zhicheng | 9 | (2) |
| 2017–2018 | → Girona (loan) | 14 | (3) |
| 2018–2021 | Kashiwa Reysol | 72 | (58) |
| 2021– | Al-Duhail | 42 | (40) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2015– | Kenya | 48 | (21) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 14 February 2023 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 15 November 2021 | |||
Club career
Early career and Gor Mahia
While still a student at the Upper Hill School, Olunga began his career with the Liberty Sports Academy in the Nairobi County League. He scored 32 goals for the side during the 2012 season, helping them finish the season unbeaten and earn promotion to the Nairobi Provincial League.[3][4] He made headlines when he scored seven goals in a single match helping his team to an 8–0 win.[5]
Initially reported to be attending trials in France, Olunga signed for Kenyan Premier League side Tusker on a one-year loan deal from Liberty on 19 December 2012.[6]
After finishing the 2013 season with two goals for Tusker, Olunga was loaned to fellow Premier League side Thika United for another year,[7] before joining Gor Mahia before the beginning of the 2015 season.[8] He finished the season as the club's top scorer in the league with 19 goals to help the side win a record 15th league title without losing a single match, including the second goal in a 2–0 win over Muhoroni Youth on their final league match of the season.[9]
Djurgården
On 17 February 2016, Olunga joined Swedish side Djurgårdens IF on a four-year contract, after joining the team's pre-season training camp on trial.[10][11] He scored his first two goals for Djurgården on 8 August 2016 against IFK Göteborg in a 3–1 win.[12] He was also named man of the match[13] and Djurgården coach Mark Dempsey praised him for his match winning heroics.[14] In the next match Olunga scored once again in the 2–2 draw versus IF Elfsborg at the Tele2 Arena.[15][16] On 27 August, he scored the match-winning goal against Gefle IF with a volley in the 86th minute. In the last 12 games of the Allsvenskan Olunga scored 12 goals which earned him a fifth place in the Allsvenskan top scorer table.[17] He was nominated for Newcomer of the year in Swedish football by a jury of Allsvenskan coaches and Swedish journalists as well as the coaches of the Swedish national teams. The award later went to Alexander Isak.
On 10 November 2016, Kenyan football site Soka reported that Djurgården had turned down offers on Olunga from La Liga side Betis, Lokeren, Belgian champions Club Brugge and Swedish champions Malmö FF.[18]
Guizhou Zhicheng
In 2017, Olunga joined Chinese club Guizhou Zhicheng.[19]
Girona (loan)
On 1 September 2017, Olunga was loaned to La Liga side Girona FC, for one year.[20] On 13 January 2018, he made his La Liga debut against Las Palmas scoring a hat-trick in the span of 22 minutes during a 6–0 win, becoming both the first Kenyan player and the first Girona player to score a hat-trick in La Liga.[21]
Kashiwa Reysol
On 10 August 2018, Olunga joined Japanese club Kashiwa Reysol.[22]
On 24 November 2019, he scored eight goals for Kashiwa in a 13–1 victory over Kyoto Sanga.[23] Olunga finished the season with 27 league goals as Kashiwa finished the J2 season as champions and won promotion to the first division.[24]
In J1 League play on 26 July 2020, Olunga scored a hat-trick against Vegalta Sendai; the match finished in a 5–1 victory.[25]
Olunga finished as the top scorer in the 2020 Japanese J1 League with 28 goals,[26] winning the Golden boot and the J-League 2020 MVP. He is the first African player to win the J-league MVP award.[27]
Al-Duhail
In January 2021, Olunga moved to Qatar Stars League champions Al-Duhail on a three-seasons contract,[28] for a reported transfer fee of €6 million.[29]
He made his debut for the club on 12 January, in a 3–1 away loss against Al Sadd.[30] On 25 January 2021, Olunga scored a hat-trick in Duhail's 6–0 win against Al Ahli in the Emir of Qatar Cup.[31] Three months later, he scored a hat-trick in 4–3 win against Iranian club Esteghlal in the AFC Champions League.[32] Olunga finished as the top scorer of the tournament,[33] but Al-Duhail crashed out of the competition after a 1–1 draw with team Al Ahli Saudi in late April.[34]
International career
Olunga made his debut for the Kenya national team in a friendly against Seychelles at the Stade Linité in Victoria on 28 March 2015.[35] He scored his first goal for the Harambee Stars in a friendly against South Sudan which resulted in a 2–0 win. On 27 July 2019, during the 2019 AFCON Olunga scored a double to complete a comeback against Tanzania.
Personal life
Olunga studied geospatial engineering at the Technical University of Kenya and pursued a Bachelor of Engineering degree. For this reason, he is regularly known as "The Engineer" by Kenyan football fans.[36] He has stated that he looks up to Dutch striker Robin van Persie as a role model.[37]
Career statistics
Club
- As of 14 February 2023[38]
| Club | Season | League | National Cup | League Cup | Continental | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Upper Hill School | 2012 | National KSSSA | 5 | — | — | — | — | 5 | ||||||
| Liberty Sports Academy | 2012 | Nairobi County Champions | 32 | — | — | — | — | 32 | ||||||
| Tusker F.C. | 2013 | Kenyan Premier League | 18 | 2 | — | — | — | — | 18 | 2 | ||||
| Thika United F.C. | 2014 | 26 | 9 | — | — | — | — | 26 | 9 | |||||
| Gor Mahia F.C. | 2015 | 27 | 19 | 2 | — | 5[a] | 3[b] | 29 | ||||||
| Djurgårdens IF | 2016 | Allsvenskan | 27 | 12 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 28 | 12 | |||
| Guizhou | 2017 | Chinese Super League | 9 | 2 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | 9 | 2 | |||
| Girona (loan) | 2017–18 | La Liga | 14 | 3 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 1[c] | 0 | 17 | 3 | ||
| Kashiwa Reysol | 2018 | J1 League | 10 | 3 | — | 0 | 0 | — | — | 10 | 3 | |||
| 2019 | J2 League | 30 | 27 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | — | — | 33 | 29 | |||
| 2020 | J1 League | 32 | 28 | — | 3 | 1 | — | — | 35 | 29 | ||||
| Total | 72 | 58 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 78 | 61 | ||
| Al-Duhail | 2020–21 | Qatar Stars League | 9 | 6 | 3[d] | 5 | 2[e] | 0 | 6[f] | 9 | 2[g] | 0 | 22 | 20 |
| 2021–22 | Qatar Stars League | 20 | 24 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 4 | — | 27 | 30 | ||
| 2022–23 | Qatar Stars League | 13 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 5[h][i] | 11[j][k] | 0 | 0 | 6[l] | 4 | 24 | 25 | |
| Total | 42 | 40 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 11 | 11 | 13 | 8 | 4 | 75 | 75 | ||
| Career total | 225 | 182 | 10 | 9 | 13 | 14 | 11 | 18 | 9 | 7 | 266 | 230 | ||
- ^ Goals in 2015 Kagame Interclub Cup
- ^ Goals in 2015 KPL Top 8 Cup
- ^ Appearance in Copa Catalunya
- ^ Appearances in Emir of Qatar Cup
- ^ Appearances in Qatar Cup
- ^ Appearances in AFC Champions League
- ^ Appearances in FIFA Club World Cup
- ^ 1 Appearance in Qatar Cup
- ^ 4 Appearances in Qatari Stars Cup
- ^ 1 goal in Qatar Cup
- ^ 10 goals in Qatari Stars Cup
- ^ Appearances in FIFA Referees Cup
International
- Scores and results list Kenya's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Olunga goal.[39]
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 7 June 2015 | Amahoro Stadium, Kigali, Rwanda | South Sudan | 2–0 | 2–0 | Friendly |
| 2 | 30 May 2015 | National Heroes Stadium, Lusaka, Zambia | Zambia | 1–0 | 1–2 | 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualification |
| 3 | 7 October 2015 | Stade Anjalay, Belle Vue Maurel, Mauritius | Mauritius | 5–2 | 5–2 | 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 4 | 13 November 2015 | Nairobi City Stadium, Nairobi, Kenya | Cape Verde | 1–0 | 1–0 | 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 5 | 22 November 2015 | Addis Ababa Stadium, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | Uganda | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2015 CECAFA Cup |
| 6 | 25 November 2015 | Awassa Kenema Stadium, Awassa, Ethiopia | Burundi | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2015 CECAFA Cup |
| 7 | 4 October 2016 | Stade des Martyrs, Kinshasa, DR Congo | DR Congo | 1–0 | 1–0 | Friendly |
| 8 | 23 March 2017 | Kenyatta Stadium, Machakos, Kenya | Uganda | 1–0 | 1–1 | Friendly |
| 9 | 26 March 2017 | Kenyatta Stadium, Machakos, Kenya | DR Congo | 1–0 | 2–1 | Friendly |
| 10 | 2–1 | |||||
| 11 | 10 June 2017 | National Stadium, Freetown, Sierra Leone | Sierra Leone | 1–2 | 1–2 | 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualification |
| 12 | 5 October 2017 | Basra Sports City, Basra, Iraq | Iraq | 1–2 | 1–2 | Friendly |
| 13 | 27 March 2018 | Stade de Marrakech, Marrakesh, Morocco | Central African Republic | 2–3 | 2–3 | Friendly |
| 14 | 14 October 2018 | Moi International Sports Centre, Nairobi, Kenya | Ethiopia | 1–0 | 3–0 | 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualification |
| 15 | 15 June 2019 | Centro Deportivo Santa Ana, Madrid, Spain | DR Congo | 1–0 | 1–1 | Friendly |
| 16 | 27 June 2019 | 30 June Stadium, Cairo, Egypt | Tanzania | 1–1 | 3–2 | 2019 Africa Cup of Nations |
| 17 | 3–2 | |||||
| 18 | 14 November 2019 | Borg El Arab Stadium, Alexandria, Egypt | Egypt | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualification |
| 19 | 5 September 2021 | Nyamirambo Regional Stadium, Kigali, Rwanda | Rwanda | 1–0 | 1–1 | 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 20 | 11 November 2021 | St. Mary's Stadium-Kitende, Entebbe, Uganda | Uganda | 1–0 | 1–1 | 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 21 | 15 November 2021 | Nyayo National Stadium, Nairobi, Kenya | Rwanda | 1–0 | 2–1 | 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification |
Honours
Tusker
Gor Mahia
Kashiwa Reysol
Al-Duhail
Individual
- KPL Player of the Year: 2015
- J.League Top Scorer: 2020
- J.League MVP Award: 2020
- J.League Best XI: 2020
- Kenyan Outstanding Sports Personality of Year: 2021[40]
- AFC Champions League Top Scorer: 2021
- Qatar Stars League Top Scorer: 2021–22
References
- ^ "Michael Olunga". worldfootball.net. Retrieved 14 January 2018.
- ^ "Michael Olunga". Duhail Sports Club. Retrieved 2 August 2022.
- ^ Patrick Korir (2 November 2012). . Futaa.com. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 1 November 2015.
- ^ Wilson Mathu (29 November 2012). . Futaa.com. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 1 November 2015.
- ^ Opiyo, Vincent. . Archived from the original on 14 January 2018. Retrieved 9 August 2016.
- ^ Patrick Korir (19 December 2012). . Futaa.com. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 1 November 2015.
- ^ Mercy Njueh (31 January 2014). . Futaa.com. Archived from the original on 19 April 2015. Retrieved 1 November 2015.
- ^ Mercy Njueh (7 January 2015). . Futaa.com. Archived from the original on 26 September 2015. Retrieved 1 November 2015.
- ^ Seth Willis (1 November 2015). "Gor Mahia 2-0 Muhoroni Youth: Unbeaten K'Ogalo". Goal.com. Retrieved 1 November 2015.
- ^ "Klart: "Ingenjören" till Djurgården - fyraårskontrakt påskrivet" (in Swedish). Fotbollskanalen Europa. 17 February 2016. Retrieved 17 February 2016.
- ^ "Kenyan Olunga's Arsenal dream on hold after Sweden move". 17 February 2016 – via www.bbc.co.uk.
- ^ "Finally…Olunga ends goal drought in Sweden". Goal Kenya. 8 August 2016. Retrieved 8 August 2016.
- ^ Opiyo, Vincent. . Archived from the original on 16 August 2017. Retrieved 9 August 2016.
- ^ Gacharira, Samuel. . Archived from the original on 16 August 2017. Retrieved 9 August 2016.
- ^ . Archived from the original on 16 August 2017. Retrieved 15 August 2016.
- ^ "Olunga on target again as Swedish side held". Goal.com Kenya edition. 14 August 2016. Retrieved 14 August 2016.
- ^ "Klart: Skytteligan 2016" (in Swedish). fotbollssvenskan.se. 11 November 2016. Retrieved 11 November 2016.
- ^ . soka.co.ke. 10 November 2016. Archived from the original on 16 August 2017. Retrieved 11 November 2016.
- ^ "OFFICIAL: Michael Olunga Has Signed For Chinese Side Guizhou Zhicheng". Radio Jambo.
- ^ "Olunga completa l'atac del Girona" [Olunga completes the attack of Girona] (in Catalan). Girona FC. 1 September 2017. Retrieved 2 September 2017.
- ^ "Michael Olunga open La Liga goal account with a hat-trick | Goal.com". Retrieved 13 January 2018.
- ^ "Michael Olunga joins Iniesta, Podolski, Torres at Kashiwa Reysol". DAILY SPORT. 10 August 2018.
- ^ "Kenya's Michael Olunga scores eight goals in Japanese match". 25 November 2019 – via www.bbc.co.uk.
- ^ "Olunga's Kashiwa Reysol conquer J2 to earn J1 promotion". Goal. 17 November 2019. Retrieved 4 August 2020.
- ^ "Kashiwa 5:1 Sendai". J League. 26 July 2020. Retrieved 4 August 2020.
- ^ "Stats and Data 2020". J League. 19 December 2020. Retrieved 19 December 2020.
- ^ "Reysol's Michael Olunga named J. League MVP; Frontale packs Best XI with nine selections". J League. 19 December 2020. Retrieved 19 December 2020.
- ^ "Olunga With Al Duhail For Three Seasons". Al Duhail Sports Club. 16 January 2021.
- ^ Anene, Geoffrey (18 January 2021). "Kenya: Olunga Is a Good Addition to the Team, Says Al Duhail Coach". allAfrica.com.
- ^ Abong'o, Robert. "Michael Olunga makes debut for Al Duhail in 3-1 defeat to Xavi's Al Sadd". The Standard.
- ^ Abong'o, Robert. "Michael Olunga scores hat-trick as Al-Duhail thrash Al Ahli Doha 6-0 in Emir Cup". The Standard.
- ^ Church, Michael (22 April 2021). "Olunga's hat-trick moves Al Duhail into pole position". Reuters.
- ^ الشرق, جريدة (24 November 2021). "مايكل أولونغا لاعب الدحيل يفوز بجائزة هداف دوري أبطال آسيا". جريدة الشرق (in Arabic). Retrieved 8 February 2022.
- ^ Olobulu, Timothy (1 May 2021). "Olunga scores, misses penalty as Al Duhail crash out of Champions League". Capital Sports.
- ^ Vincent Opiyo (1 April 2015). . Futaa.com. Archived from the original on 9 September 2015. Retrieved 1 November 2015.
- ^ "TU-K Student Causing Ripples in 2015 CECAFA Challenge". Technical University of Kenya. Retrieved 1 November 2015.
- ^ "Olunga, the Footballing Engineer". Technical University of Kenya. Retrieved 1 November 2015.
- ^ "M. Olunga". Soccerway. Retrieved 1 March 2021.
- ^ "Olunga, Michael". National Football Teams. Retrieved 9 February 2017.
- ^ "Olunga caps fine year with another big Kenya award". Panafricanfootball. Retrieved 21 February 2021.
External links
- Michael Olunga at Soccerway
- Michael Olunga at National-Football-Teams.com
- Michael Olunga at J.League () (in Japanese)
- at Djurgårdens IF's official website (in Swedish)
- at the Swedish Football Association (in Swedish) (archived)
- at soka.co.ke