Kalu Uche

Early years

Born in Aba, Abia, Uche's career began in Nigeria with Osusu pillars F.C, Aba, and later Enyimba International F.C. and Iwuanyanwu Nationale. In the 2000–01 season he joined RCD Espanyol B in Spain, failing to receive any first-team opportunities and competing with the reserves in the third division.

Wisła Kraków

In 2001, Uche transferred to Wisła Kraków, playing there until 2005 – winning the Ekstraklasa three times and Polish Cup twice – except for the 2004–05 campaign when he represented Bordeaux on loan. In mid-2003, Uche was in talks to join Dutch side Ajax Amsterdam, but the deal fell through as Wisła were unwilling to sell the player at that time. Uche subsequently went on a strike and requested for his contract to be terminated unilaterally, resulting in a six-month ban by the club. FIFA rejected Uche's appeal in December 2003, and he returned to training with Wisła shortly after.

Almería

For the 2005–06 season, Uche moved to UD Almería, and was instrumental in helping the Andalusia club to its first ever La Liga promotion in his second year, scoring eight league goals (with three in the last five matches). He made his debut in the competition on 26 August 2007, coming from the bench in a 3–0 away win against Deportivo de La Coruña. On 11 January 2009, profiting from the absence of first-choice Álvaro Negredo, Uche netted both goals in a 2–2 draw at Espanyol. On 5 December, he scored his team's second goal at Real Madrid for…

Uche made his debut for Nigeria on 21 June 2003, in an African Nations Cup qualifier against Angola, scoring in the process. He represented the nation at the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations, going scoreless for the eventual third-placed team. After a solid club season, Uche was picked for that year's FIFA World Cup in South Africa. On 17 June, against Greece, he opened the score from a free kick, but the Super Eagles soon were reduced to ten men and lost 1–2. In the third and last game he also scored the opener, eventually earning Nigeria's only point in the competition in a 2–2 draw with South Korea.

International goals

Uche's younger brother, Ikechukwu Uche, was also a footballer. Also a forward, he too spent most of his senior career in Spain (they are not related to two other players, Uche Okechukwu and Ikechukwu Kalu). He is married to Stephanie Oforka, former MBGN Universe, they have two children.