Emmanuel Michael
Nigerian footballer (born 2006) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Emmanuel Michael (born 16 June 2006) is a Nigerian footballer who currently plays as a full-back for Regionalliga Central club Juniors OÖ.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 16 June 2006 | ||
| Position(s) | Full-back | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Juniors OÖ | ||
| Number | 22 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Simoiben Football Academy | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2023–2024 | → Gombe United (loan) | 6 | (1) |
| 2024– | Juniors OÖ | 1 | (0) |
| International career | |||
| 2022–2023 | Nigeria U17 | 8 | (3) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 9 October 2024 | |||
Club career
Michael was scouted by the Simoiben Football Academy when he was playing barefoot on the streets of Kaduna.[1] Following impressive performances with the academy and Nigeria's under-17 side, he was scouted by Danish and Spanish sides Midtjylland and Huesca, respectively.[1] He was also approached by Dutch and French sides Ajax and AS Monaco, respectively, with the latter reportedly making a bid to sign him before he turned eighteen.[2]
Despite this interest, he joined Nigeria Premier Football League side Gombe United on a year-long loan deal in October 2023.[3] In the same month, he was named by English newspaper The Guardian as one of the best players born in 2006 worldwide.[4][5]
In August 2024, he joined Austrian side LASK, being assigned to the club's 'B' team, Juniors OÖ.[6][7]
International career
Called up to the Nigerian under-17 squad for 2023 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations qualification (named the 2022 WAFU-B U17), Michael scored in the opening game, a 4–2 win against Ghana. He followed this up with a brace in a 3–1 win against the Ivory Coast, earning three consecutive Man of the Match awards.[8]
Having helped his side win the 2022 WAFU-B U17, he was honoured by his teammates at the Simoiben Football Academy on his return to Nigeria.[9] It was later revealed that he almost missed the tournament; having arrived late to a training camp, the Nigerian coaches initially wanted him excluded from the team, but after a meeting between president of the Nigeria Football Federation, Ibrahim Musa Gusau, and the owner of Simoiben Football Academy, Nigeria international Moses Simon, he was reinstated.[10]
He was called up to the provisional under-20 squad for the 2023 African Games,[11] but missed out on the final squad due to an ankle injury.[12]
Style of play
A free-kick specialist,[13][14] Michael credited Nigerian international Moses Simon for providing him with boots after he scored from a free-kick in Nigeria under-17's win against Ghana in qualification for the 2023 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations.[15] He scored a further two free-kicks in a 3–1 win against Ivory Coast in the same qualification tournament.[16]
Career statistics
Club
- As of 9 October 2024[17]
| Club | Season | League | Cup | Other | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Gombe United (loan) | 2023–24 | NPFL | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1 |
| Juniors OÖ | 2024–25 | Regionalliga Central | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Career total | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 1 | ||
References
External links
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