ISL 2021-22 | Hyderabad FC secure services of Bartholomew Ogbeche for upcoming season
Bartholomew Ogbeche made his ISL debut for Northeast United during the 2018-19 ISL season
|HFC Media
Nigerian footballer Bartholomew Ogbache has signed a one-year contract with Hyderabad FC, that will keep him at the club till the end of the 2021-22 season. He joined Mumbai City FC last season and helped them win a maiden ISL title, having scored eight goals and assisting three times in 23 matches.
Adding experience to their attack ahead of the 2021-22 Indian Super League season, Hyderabad FC have completed the signing of ISL’s third-highest goalscorer Bartholomew Ogbeche, the club announced on Thursday.
The 36-year-old striker, who won the ISL Double of the League Winner’s Shield and the ISL Trophy with Mumbai City last season, has signed a one-year deal till the end of the 2021-22 campaign.
"I am thrilled to have signed for Hyderabad FC. One could easily see from the outside that he (Manolo Marquez) has a clear idea about his style of play and what he wants from his players which is an admirable attribute that I find in him. I’m very excited to be playing under him," said Ogbeche after completing formalities.
Born in Nigeria, the sturdy striker has three goals in 11 caps for the Super Eagles. Playing as a No. 9, Ogbeche also claimed two caps for Nigeria at the 2002 FIFA World Cup against Argentina and Sweden.
Starting his career with a seven-year stint in France with PSG in 2001-02, Ogbeche scored 21 goals in 57 appearances for the first team, after graduating from the academy in 2001. He also played for Bastia and Metz in Ligue 1, before turning out for Al Jazira in the UAE (2005-06).
Moving back to Europe, Ogbeche featured for Deportivo Alaves (2006-07) in the Segunda Division, before joining La Liga side Real Valladolid (2007-09) where he spent the next two campaigns. He then spent the following two seasons with Cadiz in the Segunda Division and Kavala in the Greek Super League, before joining English Championship side Middlesbrough (2011-12).
Following a season with Xerez back in Spain, Ogbeche moved to the Netherlands as he turned out for Cambuur (2013-15) and Willem II (2016-18) over the next five years, before moving to India in 2018 with NorthEast United.
In his first season in the ISL, Ogbeche scored 12 goals in 18 games and followed it up with a sensational 15-goal campaign with Kerala Blasters in 2019-20. In fact, he continues to be the all-time top scorer for the two teams.
He spent the last season with Mumbai City, playing a key role in their successful campaign, scoring eight crucial goals in 23 games to help his side to a double.
