Ikechi Anya
Encyclopedia
Ikechi Anya plays as a striker for Spanish club Cádiz, on loan from Granada
.
, Scotland, his father is a Nigerian research scientist, and his mother a Romanian
economist. The couple met while studying at the Universities in Bucharest
. After finishing their studies, his parents moved to Scotland
in the late 1980s, for his dad to obtain his doctorate in Metallurgy
. Anya has an older brother, Chima, a medical doctor by profession and a hip-hop artist as a hobby who lives in London
UK, and taught him how to play football.
youth team in the 2003–04 season, having been released by Oxford United
.
His performances in the youth team ensured that he was well talked about within the club, enough that he was given the number 28 shirt by then manager Tony Adams
for the match at Southend United
on 11 September 2004, becoming the clubs youngester ever player at aged 16.
Like Russell Martin
, he committed his short term future to the club, signing a two year deal in June 2005 and whilst at Wycombe won Apprentice of the year at the inaugural Football League awards 2006.
, before being snapped up in January 2008 by Halesowen Town. In the summer of 2008 he joined the Glenn Hoddle Academy
and his contract expired in the summer of 2010.
side Northampton Town
. He made his debut as coming on as a substitute in the game away to Cheltenham Town
on the same day. His first goal for the club came as part of a 3–4 defeat against Swindon Town
on 24 March. His second goal came in the 92nd minute of the 3–1 victory at Leyton Orient
, his goal wrapping up a vital victory in the fight against relegation for Northampton which they eventually lost.
was keen to re-sign Anya on a long-term deal at the end of the season, but on 7 July 2009, he joined Sevilla Atlético
, the reserve side of Sevilla
, on a two-year contract.
side Granada
. He was then loaned out to Cádiz for the season.
, the land of his birth, but is also eligible for England
, Nigeria
and Romania
.
Granada CF
Granada Club de Fútbol is a Spanish football club based in Granada, in the autonomous community of Andalusia. Founded on 14 April 1931, it currently plays in La Liga, holding home matches at Estadio Nuevo Los Cármenes....
.
Early life
Anya was born in GlasgowGlasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
, Scotland, his father is a Nigerian research scientist, and his mother a Romanian
Romanians
The Romanians are an ethnic group native to Romania, who speak Romanian; they are the majority inhabitants of Romania....
economist. The couple met while studying at the Universities in Bucharest
Bucharest
Bucharest is the capital municipality, cultural, industrial, and financial centre of Romania. It is the largest city in Romania, located in the southeast of the country, at , and lies on the banks of the Dâmbovița River....
. After finishing their studies, his parents moved to Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
in the late 1980s, for his dad to obtain his doctorate in Metallurgy
Metallurgy
Metallurgy is a domain of materials science that studies the physical and chemical behavior of metallic elements, their intermetallic compounds, and their mixtures, which are called alloys. It is also the technology of metals: the way in which science is applied to their practical use...
. Anya has an older brother, Chima, a medical doctor by profession and a hip-hop artist as a hobby who lives in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
UK, and taught him how to play football.
Wycombe Wanderers
Anya joined the Wycombe WanderersWycombe Wanderers F.C.
Wycombe Wanderers Football Club is an English professional football team from High Wycombe in Buckinghamshire, which has been promoted to Football League One after finishing third in Football League Two in the season 2010–11. The club's nicknames are "The Chairboys" and "The Blues", and they play...
youth team in the 2003–04 season, having been released by Oxford United
Oxford United F.C.
Oxford United Football Club is an English association football club based in Oxford, Oxfordshire. The club play in League Two, following promotion from the Conference National in May 2010. The club had been a non-League side since their relegation from the Football League in the 2005–06 season. The...
.
His performances in the youth team ensured that he was well talked about within the club, enough that he was given the number 28 shirt by then manager Tony Adams
Tony Adams (footballer)
Tony Alexander Adams, MBE is an English football manager and former player.Adams spent his entire playing career of 22 years as a defender at Arsenal. He is considered one of the greatest Arsenal players of all time by the club's own fans and was included in the Football League 100 Legends...
for the match at Southend United
Southend United F.C.
Southend United Football Club is an English football club based at Roots Hall Stadium, Prittlewell, Southend-on-Sea, Essex, who play in Football League Two. Their home ground is Roots Hall, and the club plan to move into a new 22,000-seater stadium located at Fossetts Farm.-Stadium:The club has had...
on 11 September 2004, becoming the clubs youngester ever player at aged 16.
Like Russell Martin
Russell Martin (footballer)
Russell Kenneth Alexander Martin is an English-born Scottish footballer, currently playing for Norwich City. He is a right-back. However he is capable of playing as a central defender.-Early career:...
, he committed his short term future to the club, signing a two year deal in June 2005 and whilst at Wycombe won Apprentice of the year at the inaugural Football League awards 2006.
Non-league
He was released in the summer of 2007 and signed for Oxford CityOxford City F.C.
Oxford City Football Club is an English football club, currently playing in the Southern Football League Premier Division after gaining promotion via the Division One South & West playoffs...
, before being snapped up in January 2008 by Halesowen Town. In the summer of 2008 he joined the Glenn Hoddle Academy
Glenn Hoddle Academy
The Glenn Hoddle Academy was established in 2008, by former England international footballer Glenn Hoddle. Hoddle set the academy up in the memory of his brother, Carl, a former Tottenham Hotspur player who died aged 40....
and his contract expired in the summer of 2010.
Northampton Town
On 28 February 2009, Anya signed for League OneFootball League One
Football League One is the second-highest division of The Football League and third-highest division overall in the English football league system....
side Northampton Town
Northampton Town F.C.
Northampton Town Football Club are an English professional football club based in Northampton, Northamptonshire. They currently play in Football League Two, the lowest league division, after being relegated from League One on the last day of the 2008–09 season...
. He made his debut as coming on as a substitute in the game away to Cheltenham Town
Cheltenham Town F.C.
Cheltenham Town Football Club is an English football club playing in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. Founded in 1887, the team has played at four different grounds, namely Agg-Gardner's Recreation Ground, Carter's Field and now the Abbey Business Stadium, although it is more...
on the same day. His first goal for the club came as part of a 3–4 defeat against Swindon Town
Swindon Town F.C.
Swindon Town Football Club are a team based in Swindon, Wiltshire. Currently in League Two, Swindon have been managed by Paolo Di Canio since 23 May 2011...
on 24 March. His second goal came in the 92nd minute of the 3–1 victory at Leyton Orient
Leyton Orient F.C.
Leyton Orient F.C. are an English professional football club in East London. They currently play in Football League One and are known to their fans as the O's.Leyton Orient have spent one season in the top flight of English football, in 1962–63...
, his goal wrapping up a vital victory in the fight against relegation for Northampton which they eventually lost.
Sevilla
Northampton manager Stuart GrayStuart Gray (footballer born 1960)
Stuart Gray is an English former footballer and manager, who is the former manager of Football League Two side Northampton Town. On 30th December 2010 he was appointed the caretaker manager of Burnley following the sacking of Brian Laws, reverting to his role as first team coach when Eddie Howe...
was keen to re-sign Anya on a long-term deal at the end of the season, but on 7 July 2009, he joined Sevilla Atlético
Sevilla Atlético
Sevilla Atlético Club is a Spanish football team based in Seville, in the autonomous community of Andalusia. Founded in 1958, it plays in Segunda División B, and is the reserve team of Sevilla FC, holding home games at Ciudad Deportiva José Ramón Cisneros Palacios, with a 7,000-seat capacity.Unlike...
, the reserve side of Sevilla
Sevilla FC
Sevilla Fútbol Club S.A.D. is a Spanish professional football club based in Seville, Spain that plays in the Spanish La Liga championship.They are one of the most successful clubs in Spanish football having won a 1 La Liga title, 5 Spanish "Copa del Rey" Cups, 1 Spanish Super Cup and 2 UEFA...
, on a two-year contract.
Celta Vigo
Anya signed by Celta Vigo in July 2010 after his contract with the Glenn Hoddle Academy expired.Granada
On 13 July 2011, Anya signed a three-year contract with newly promoted La LigaLa Liga
The Primera División of the Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional , commonly known as La Liga or, for sponsorship reasons, Liga BBVA since 2008, is the top professional association football division of the Spanish football league system...
side Granada
Granada CF
Granada Club de Fútbol is a Spanish football club based in Granada, in the autonomous community of Andalusia. Founded on 14 April 1931, it currently plays in La Liga, holding home matches at Estadio Nuevo Los Cármenes....
. He was then loaned out to Cádiz for the season.
Background
Anya has expressed a desire to play international football for ScotlandScotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
, the land of his birth, but is also eligible for England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
, Nigeria
Nigeria 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...
and Romania
Romania national football team
The Romania national football team is the national football team of Romania and is controlled by the Romanian Football Federation.Romania is one of only four national teams, the other three being Brazil, France, and Belgium, that took part in the first three World Cups.However, after that...
.