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Roy Odiaka

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Roy Odiaka
Personal information
Full name Roy Odiaka
Date of birth (1992-03-22) 22 March 1992 (age 32)
Place of birth Colombes, France
Height 1.81 m (5 ft 11 in)
Position(s) Forward
Youth career
–2007 AF Garenne Colombes
2007–2010 Dulwich Hamlet
2010–2012 Crystal Palace
2012 Stoke City
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2009–2010 Dulwich Hamlet 4 (2)
2012–2013 Beckenham Town 6 (1)
2013 Walton Casuals 4 (0)
2013 Walton & Hersham 3 (2)
2013 Universitatea Cluj 4 (0)
Total 21 (5)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 27 March 2016

Roy Odiaka (born 22 March 1992) is a former French footballer of Nigerian descent who played as a forward. He last played for Universitatea Cluj.

Club career

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Odiaka's career began with AFC Garenne Colombes, who he featured for in the youth ranks. At the age of 16, Odiaka was handed the opportunity of a trial with Norwich City. He featured for the Under-18s in a fixture with Norfolk County in August 2008, in which he scored twice. However, he later joined Dulwich Hamlet before a move to the Canaries could progress.[1]

In July 2010, Odiaka was snapped up by Crystal Palace and he headed into the Under-21s. He went on to line-up for Stoke City Under-21s on three occasions, scoring once. With his first taste of action coming in a 5-1 defeat to Newcastle United on 3 September 2012, a debut goal would also be his only goal for the club. Following a 7-2 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur, his final appearance came in against Southampton in early October.

After failing to impress, he joined non-league outfit Beckenham Town in February 2012. Scoring one goal for the club, in a 3-0 win over Rochester United, he later joined Isthmian League Division One South club Walton Casuals for a short spell. Following four appearances, in which he failed to find the net, he joined local rivals Walton & Hersham.

Odiaka then moved to Romania to play in Liga I, joining Universitatea Cluj.[2] After a successful trial earlier in the month, in which manager Ionel Ganea took less than 24 hours to offer a deal,[3] he made his professional debut on 21 July 2013, replacing Cătălin Dedu at half-time in a 1-0 defeat to Petrolul Ploiești.[4] Despite signing a three-year contract, he managed just a further three appearances before having his contract terminated on 10 September 2013.

Due to family relations, Odiaka was eligible to represent Nigeria, France or Senegal national teams.

References

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  1. ^ "Flown From the Nest - Roy Odiaka". www.ex-canaries.co.uk. Retrieved 27 March 2016.
  2. ^ "Stoke City's Roy Odiaka Trialing With Universitatea Cluj:: All Nigeria Soccer - The Complete Nigerian Football Portal". www.allnigeriasoccer.com. Retrieved 27 March 2016.
  3. ^ "EXCLUSIVE: Former Stoke City Youngster Roy Odiaka Pens Three - Year Deal With Universitatea Cluj:: All Nigeria Soccer - The Complete Nigerian Football Portal". www.allnigeriasoccer.com. Retrieved 27 March 2016.
  4. ^ "England - R. Odiaka - Profile with news, career statistics and history - Soccerway". uk.soccerway.com. Retrieved 27 March 2016.
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