This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding reliable references. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (June 2009)

Christian Obodo (born 11 May 1984 in Lagos, Nigeria) is a football defensive midfielder from Nigeria, currently plays for Italian Serie A side Udinese Calcio.

[edit] Football career

He was plucked from relative obscurity in the Nigerian league, playing for Plateau United before he became one of the hottest properties in the Italian Serie A where he had a brilliant season at Perugia.^{[citation needed]} He scored his first ever Serie A goal in a 2-2 draw against Inter at the end of the season 2003.

Fiorentina signed him as a key part of their renovation^{[citation needed]} as the team came back to Serie A in 2004. They only bought half the registration rights and in 2005 La Viola and Perugia were forced to make a blind auction to decide his future. Perugia won the auction but immediately sold him to Udinese.^[1]

Obodo played his first UEFA Champions League with Le zebrette in 2005-06 season. Partnered with Sulley Muntari, they formed a strong^{[citation needed]} midfielder role up until Muntari's exit for Portsmouth F.C. in 2007.

[edit] International career

He made his long-awaited debut for the Super Eagles in the LG Cup tournament featuring in the games versus Ghana and Cameroon. He also made a substitute appearance in the prestigious Brazil friendly, playing as a striker. He has also appeared in Nigeria's 4-1 win over Malawi in an ANC 2004 qualifier. Obodo scored his first goal in an 4-1 win over Sierra Leone.

[edit] Goals for Senior National Team

#	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
	11 October 2008	Abuja, Nigeria	Sierra Leone	4-1	Won	2010 FIFA World Cup qualification

[edit] References

v • d • e Nigeria squad – 2006 Africa Cup of Nations 1 Enyeama • 2 Yobo • 3 Taiwo • 4 Kanu • 5 Odiah • 6 Enakarhire • 7 Utaka • 8 Mikel • 9 Martins • 10 Okocha • 11 Lawal • 12 Ejide • 13 Yussuf • 14 Obinna • 15 Obiefule • 16 Oruma • 17 Aghahowa • 18 Obodo • 19 Makinwa • 20 Odemwingie • 21 Nwaneri • 22 Kaita • 23 Aiyenugba • Coach: Eguavoen

This biographical article related to Nigerian football is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. v • d • e