Stephen Keshi
Encyclopedia
Stephen Okechukwu Keshi is a former football defender
from Nigeria
.
, Keshi was captain of the squad for the 1994 FIFA World Cup
and played in five different African Nations Cup tournaments, helping to win the 1994 African Nations Cup.
His last club was Perlis FA
in Malaysia. In 2000, a testimonial match
was arranged for him in Lagos
, Nigeria
.
clubs, Keshi went to the United States
to be educated in coaching.
In 1996 he was joined by Augustine Eguavoen, who once coached the Nigerian national team. They played together in California as the backbone of the defense for the short-lived Sacramento Scorpions
. Keshi has been a part of the coaching staff for the Nigerian national team, most notably as head coach for the Junior Eagles at the 2004 Olympic soccer tournament.
Between 2004 and 2006 Keshi coached the Togo national football team
, unexpectedly bringing them to their first World Cup tournament, Germany 2006
. Having secured Togo's unlikely qualification, he was promptly replaced by German coach Otto Pfister
prior to the World Cup finals, after Togo showed a dismal performance and failed to advance to the tournament stage in 2006 African Cup of Nations
in Egypt
.
However, Pfister did not last beyond a controversial World Cup campaign that nearly resulted in a player's strike over pay and Togo remained without a manager until February 2007 when they re-engaged Keshi in time for a friendly against Cameroon
.
He worked as manager of the Mali national football team
, after being appointed in April 2008 on a two-year deal.
Keshi was sacked in January 2010, after Mali's early exit in the group stages of the Africa Cup of Nations. On 2 November 2011 he was named the new coach of the Nigerian National Team.
)
West African Club Championship: 1983, 1984 (with New Nigeria Bank FC)
Coupe Houphoet Boigny: 1985, 1986 (with Stade d'Abidjan
)
Côte d'Ivoire Premier Division: 1986 (with Africa Sports)
Côte d'Ivoire Coupe: 1986 (with Africa Sports)
Jupiler League: 1991 (with Anderlecht
)
Belgian Cup
: 1988, 1989 (with Anderlecht
)
Defender (football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
from Nigeria
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...
.
Playing career
An important player for NigeriaNigeria 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...
, Keshi was captain of the squad for 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 played in five different African Nations Cup tournaments, helping to win the 1994 African Nations Cup.
His last club was Perlis FA
Perlis FA
The Perlis Football Association enters a team in Malaysian football competitions to represent the state of Perlis. The team is based in Kangar, Perlis. They play in the top division in Malaysian football, the Malaysian Super League. Their home stadium is Utama Negeri Stadium in Kangar, Perlis...
in Malaysia. In 2000, a testimonial match
Testimonial match
A testimonial match or testimonial game, often referred to simply as a testimonial, is a practice in some sports, notably football and especially in the United Kingdom, where a club puts on a match in honour of a player for service to the club....
was arranged for him in Lagos
Lagos
Lagos is a port and the most populous conurbation in Nigeria. With a population of 7,937,932, it is currently the third most populous city in Africa after Cairo and Kinshasa, and currently estimated to be the second fastest growing city in Africa...
, Nigeria
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...
.
Coaching career
After a playing career mostly with BelgianBelgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
clubs, Keshi went to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
to be educated in coaching.
In 1996 he was joined by Augustine Eguavoen, who once coached the Nigerian national team. They played together in California as the backbone of the defense for the short-lived Sacramento Scorpions
Sacramento Scorpions
The Sacramento Scorpions were an American soccer team that played in Sacramento, California.-Year-by-year:...
. Keshi has been a part of the coaching staff for the Nigerian national team, most notably as head coach for the Junior Eagles at the 2004 Olympic soccer tournament.
Between 2004 and 2006 Keshi coached the Togo national football team
Togo national football team
The Togo national football team, nicknamed Les Eperviers The Togo national football team, nicknamed Les Eperviers The Togo national football team, nicknamed Les Eperviers (The Sparrow Hawks, is controlled by the Fédération Togolaise de Football.They played at the 2006 FIFA World Cup. Their team bus...
, unexpectedly bringing them to their first World Cup tournament, Germany 2006
2006 FIFA World Cup
The 2006 FIFA World Cup was the 18th FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial international football world championship tournament. It was held from 9 June to 9 July 2006 in Germany, which won the right to host the event in July 2000. Teams representing 198 national football associations from all six...
. Having secured Togo's unlikely qualification, he was promptly replaced by German coach Otto Pfister
Otto Pfister
Otto Pfister is a German football manager, and one of Germany's most successful coaching exports, voted Africa's Manager of the Year in 1992. He has been to four African Cup of Nations competitions with Upper Volta , Zaire, Cameroon and Ghana) and reached the African Cup of Nations final twice,...
prior to the World Cup finals, after Togo showed a dismal performance and failed to advance to the tournament stage in 2006 African Cup of Nations
2006 African Cup of Nations
-Group B:---------------------Group C:---------------------Group D:---------------------Knockout stage:-Quarter-finals:-------------Semi-finals:-----Third-place play-off:-Final:-Scorers:...
in Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
.
However, Pfister did not last beyond a controversial World Cup campaign that nearly resulted in a player's strike over pay and Togo remained without a manager until February 2007 when they re-engaged Keshi in time for a friendly against Cameroon
Cameroon national football team
The Cameroon national football team, nicknamed Les Lions Indomptables , is controlled by the Fédération Camerounaise de Football and is Africa's most successful side in FIFA world cup; having qualified for the FIFA World Cup six times – in 1982, 1990, 1994, 1998, 2002 and 2010– more than any...
.
He worked as manager of the Mali national football team
Mali national football team
The Mali national football team, nicknamed Les Aigles , is the national team of Mali and is controlled by the Fédération Malienne de Football. They have never qualified for the World Cup finals.-History:...
, after being appointed in April 2008 on a two-year deal.
Keshi was sacked in January 2010, after Mali's early exit in the group stages of the Africa Cup of Nations. On 2 November 2011 he was named the new coach of the Nigerian National Team.
Honours
African Nations Cup: 1994 (with NigeriaNigeria 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...
)
West African Club Championship: 1983, 1984 (with New Nigeria Bank FC)
Coupe Houphoet Boigny: 1985, 1986 (with Stade d'Abidjan
Stade d'Abidjan
Stade d'Abidjan is an Ivorian football club based in Abidjan.-History:It was founded in 1936 as ASFI Abidjan after fusion with PIC and OC Abidjan and called U.S.F. Abidjan, before was renamed in Olympique Club Abidjan, since 1959 played as Stade d'Abidjan...
)
Côte d'Ivoire Premier Division: 1986 (with Africa Sports)
Côte d'Ivoire Coupe: 1986 (with Africa Sports)
Jupiler League: 1991 (with Anderlecht
R.S.C. Anderlecht
Royal Sporting Club Anderlecht, usually known as Anderlecht or RSCA , is a Belgian professional football club based in Anderlecht in the Brussels Capital Region. Anderlecht plays in the Belgian Pro League and is the most successful Belgian football team in European competitions as well as in the...
)
Belgian Cup
Belgian Cup
The Belgian Cup is the main knockout football competition in Belgium, run by the Belgian Football Association. The first cup was held in 1911-12. The most successful cup club is Club Brugge KV with 10 titles followed by RSC Anderlecht and R Standard de Liège...
: 1988, 1989 (with Anderlecht
R.S.C. Anderlecht
Royal Sporting Club Anderlecht, usually known as Anderlecht or RSCA , is a Belgian professional football club based in Anderlecht in the Brussels Capital Region. Anderlecht plays in the Belgian Pro League and is the most successful Belgian football team in European competitions as well as in the...
)