Julius Aghaho′wa (born 12 February 1982 in Benin City, Nigeria) is a football striker from Nigeria who plays for Shakhtar Donetsk in the Ukrainian Premier League as a striker.

[edit] Club career

[edit] Early career

Aghahowa began his career with the Police Machines, a local police team, and went on to Bendel Insurance FC. He signed for Danish lower division team Herning Fremad before the 1999 African Youth Championship, but Aghahowa performed so well there that he wanted to play for a bigger club. He ended up with the Tunisian champions, Espérance, when he procured a contract with the Tunisians which predated the Herning Fremad contract^[1].

[edit] Shakhtar Donetsk

In the middle of the 2000-01 season, Aghahowa transferred to Shakhtar Donetsk, who soon won the Ukrainian league championship. Aghahowa won the game for Shakhtar in the 2006 Ukrainian Championship against Dynamo Kyiv, heading the winner in extra-time and being named man of the match. His performance in the final has been widely seen as the "saving grace" of his career at Shakhtar, with his future at the club looking bleak earlier in the season. After playing over six years for Shakhtar Donetsk, Aghahowa left for Wigan.

[edit] Wigan

His work permit was passed and on 30 January 2007 he signed for Wigan for an undisclosed fee,^[1] playing his first Premiership match for them against Portsmouth F.C. on February 3.^[2] Aghahowa didn't score for Wigan in one and half years and on the 20th June 2008 he signed for Turkish club Kayserispor^[3]

[edit] Comeback to Shakhtar

On 4 July 2009 Shakhtar Donetsk have signed the Nigerian forward on a free transfer after he was released by Turkish club Kayserispor. Aghahowa has already played for Shakhtar from 2000 to 2007^[4] and now has declared a great desire to play for his old club^[5].

[edit] Honours

Tunisian League: 2000

Ukrainian Premier League: 2002, 2005, 2006

Ukrainian Cup: 2002, 2004

[edit] International career

Aghahowa has played 32 matches and scored 14 goals for the Nigerian national team, including their only goal at the 2002 FIFA World Cup against Sweden. He became Nigeria's top goalscorer at the 2002 African Nations Cup. He also played at the 2000 Summer Olympics.

[edit] References

• ^ Lars Bøgeskov, "Jyder snydt for supertalent", Politiken, August 27, 1999

[edit] External links

• Julius Aghahowa career stats at Soccerbase
• Nigerian Players
• Football Database
• Time for Aghahowa to stop blowing hot and cold
• Profile on National-Football-Teams.com

Nigeria Squads v • d • e Nigeria squad – 2002 FIFA World Cup 1 Shorunmu • 2 Yobo • 3 Babayaro • 4 Kanu • 5 Okoronkwo • 6 West • 7 Ikedia • 8 Adepoju • 9 Ogbeche • 10 Okocha • 11 Lawal • 12 Ejide • 13 Afolabi • 14 Udeze • 15 Justice • 16 Sodje • 17 Aghahowa • 18 Akwuegbu • 19 Ejiofor • 20 Obiorah • 21 Utaka • 22 Enyeama • 23 Opabunmi • Coach: Onigbinde 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