Benedict Iroha
Encyclopedia
Benedict Iroha is a former Nigeria
n association football defender
.
before national coach Clemens Westerhof
converted him to play left back. His club career in Europe was largely unsuccessful, and Iroha was allocated
to San Jose Clash
in 1996. The next season he was traded to DC United, where he won the league title. After a move to Spanish side Elche CF
in 1997, he moved to Watford
in December 1998, playing 10 games for the Hertfordshire
side. Unfortunately a problem with bunion
s forced him to the sidelines, and he retired in March 2000.
, he was featured in the 1994 FIFA World Cup
and the 1998 FIFA World Cup
as well as when they won the 1994 African Nations Cup.
. Most recently, he was an assistant with the Nigerian U-17 team that won the 2007 FIFA U-17 World Cup
and head coach of Nigeria's Dolphins FC. He currently is on the staff of Heartland of Owerri
.
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
n association football defender
Defender (football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
.
Career
He was originally a midfielderMidfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
before national coach Clemens Westerhof
Clemens Westerhof
Clemens Westerhof is a Dutch football manager, who has worked in various football positions on the African continent since 1989.He is most noted for his success with the Nigerian national team...
converted him to play left back. His club career in Europe was largely unsuccessful, and Iroha was allocated
1996 MLS Inaugural Allocations
The Major League Soccer Inaugural Allocations were signed by the league in 1996 and distributed to the ten initial teams prior to the beginning of the first MLS season...
to San Jose Clash
San Jose Earthquakes
The San Jose Earthquakes professional soccer team is located in the San Jose, California, United States suburb of Santa Clara, and participates in Major League Soccer , the top level soccer league in the United States and Canada....
in 1996. The next season he was traded to DC United, where he won the league title. After a move to Spanish side Elche CF
Elche CF
Elche Club de Fútbol, S.A.D. is a Spanish football team based in Elche, Alicante, in the Valencian Community. Founded in 1923, it currently plays in the Spanish second division, holding home matches at Estadio Manuel Martínez Valero, with a capacity of 38,750 seats.-Recent seasons:-Season to...
in 1997, he moved to Watford
Watford F.C.
Watford Football Club is an English professional football club based in Watford, Hertfordshire. It is often referred to as Watford F.C., Watford, or by the team's nickname The Hornets . Watford Rovers, Founded in 1881, entered the FA Cup for the first time in 1886, and the Southern League a decade...
in December 1998, playing 10 games for the Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England. The county town is Hertford.The county is one of the Home Counties and lies inland, bordered by Greater London , Buckinghamshire , Bedfordshire , Cambridgeshire and...
side. Unfortunately a problem with bunion
Bunion
A bunion is a deformity characterized by lateral deviation of the great toe, often erroneously described as an enlargement of bone or tissue around the joint at the head of the big toe...
s forced him to the sidelines, and he retired in March 2000.
International career
Playing for the Nigerian national teamNigeria national football team
The Nigeria national football team, nicknamed the Super Eagles or Green Eagles, is the national team of Nigeria and is controlled by the Nigeria Football Federation . The team has ranked as high as 5th in the FIFA World Rankings, in April 1994...
, he was featured in the 1994 FIFA World Cup
1994 FIFA World Cup
The 1994 FIFA World Cup, the 15th staging of the FIFA World Cup, was held in nine cities across the United States from June 17 to July 17, 1994. The United States was chosen as the host by FIFA on July 4, 1988...
and the 1998 FIFA World Cup
1998 FIFA World Cup
The 1998 FIFA World Cup, the 16th FIFA World Cup, was held in France from 10 June to 12 July 1998. France was chosen as host nation by FIFA on 2 July 1992. The tournament was won by France, who beat Brazil 3-0 in the final...
as well as when they won the 1994 African Nations Cup.
Coaching career
After retiring he returned to the USA to coach in the youth department of FC DallasFC Dallas
FC Dallas is an American professional soccer club based in the Dallas suburb of Frisco, Texas which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States of America and Canada...
. Most recently, he was an assistant with the Nigerian U-17 team that won the 2007 FIFA U-17 World Cup
FIFA U-17 World Cup
The FIFA U-17 World Cup, founded as the FIFA U-16 World Championship, later changed to the FIFA U-17 World Championship and known by its current name since 2007, is the world championship of association football for male players under the age of 17 organized by Fédération Internationale de Football...
and head coach of Nigeria's Dolphins FC. He currently is on the staff of Heartland of Owerri
Heartland F.C.
Heartland F.C is a Nigerian soccer club based in Owerri. They play their home games at Dan Anyiam Stadium. With local rivals Enugu Rangers, they are one of two Nigerian teams that have never been relegated....
.