Benedict Iroha
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Date of birth | November 29, 1969 | ||
Place of birth | Aba, Nigeria | ||
Height | 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in) | ||
Playing position | Left back, Left midfielder | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
1989 | Bendel Insurance | ? | (?) |
1990 | Iwuanyanwu Nationale | ? | (?) |
1991–1992 | ASEC Mimosas | ? | (?) |
1992–1996 | Vitesse Arnhem | 21 | (1) |
1996–1997 | San Jose Clash | 33 | (2) |
1997 | D.C. United | 17 | (4) |
1997–1998 | Elche CF | 1 | (0) |
1998–2000 | Watford | 10 | (0) |
Total | 82 | (7) | |
National team | |||
1990–1998 | Nigeria | 50 | (1) |
Teams managed | |||
2000–2006 | FC Dallas (Youth Coach) | ||
2007 | Nigeria U-17 (Assistant Coach) | ||
2007–2008 | Dolphins FC | ||
2009– | Heartland F.C. (Chief Trainer) | ||
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. |
Benedict Iroha (born November 29, 1969) is a former Nigerian association football defender.
Career
He was originally a midfielder before national coach Clemens Westerhof converted him to play left back. His club career in Europe was largely unsuccessful, and Iroha was allocated to San Jose Clash in 1996. The next season he was traded to D.C. United, where he won the league title. After a move to Spanish side Elche CF in 1997, he moved to Watford in December 1998, playing 10 games for the Hertfordshire side. Unfortunately a problem with bunions forced him to the sidelines, and he retired in March 2000.
International career
Playing for the Nigerian national team, he was featured in the 1994 FIFA World Cup and the 1998 FIFA World Cup as well as when they won the 1994 African Nations Cup.
Coaching career
After retiring he returned to the USA to coach in the youth department of FC Dallas. Most recently, he was an assistant with the Nigerian U-17 team that won the 2007 FIFA U-17 World Cup and head coach of Nigeria's Dolphins FC. He currently is on the staff of Heartland of Owerri.