Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Blessing Chibuike Eleke | ||
Date of birth | 5 March 1996 | ||
Place of birth | Nigeria | ||
Height | 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in) [1] | ||
Position(s) | Striker | ||
Team information | |||
Current team | Istiklol | ||
Number | 9 | ||
Youth career | |||
–2014 | Flying Sports Academy | ||
2014 | Gorica | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | ( Gls) |
2014–2015 | Gorica | 37 | (15) |
2016–2017 | Olimpija Ljubljana | 43 | (10) |
2017–2018 | Ashdod | 27 | (4) |
2018–2020 | Luzern | 58 | (17) |
2020–2022 | Beerschot | 22 | (1) |
2021–2022 | → Gençlerbirligi SK (loan) | 24 | (7) |
2022–2023 | Kashima Antlers | 6 | (1) |
2024– | Istiklol | 10 | (6) |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 10:51, 15 July 2024 (UTC) |
Blessing Eleke (born 5 March 1996) is a Nigerian professional footballer who plays as a striker for Istiklol. He previously played for Gorica, Olimpija Ljubljana, Ashdod, Luzern, Beerschot, Gençlerbirligi and Kashima Antlers.
Eleke grew up in Lagos with his three brothers and four sisters. [2] He started playing football at Flying Sports Academy in his home country, before having an unsuccessful trial at Serie A club Sassuolo. [2] Later on, he admitted that the transition from Nigeria to Europe was a difficult task to handle at the beginning. [2]
Eleke signed for Olimpija Ljubljana in January 2016 for a reported fee of €750,000. [3] On 10 April 2016, in a league fixture versus Zavrč, Olimpija's manager Nikolić reportedly called Eleke a "black idiot", for elaborately celebrating an injury-time equalizer in an eventual 1–1 draw. [4] Nikolić's contract was eventually terminated by mutual consent on 18 April 2016., [5] [6] although Eleke asked club president Milan Mandarić not to sack the manager. [7] Eleke revealed that, although he considered leaving the club, he did not want to see his coach sacked, as he did not believe in eye for an eye. [3]
In August 2017, Eleke transferred to Israeli Premier League club Ashdod for a reported fee of €800,000. [8] On 27 July 2018, Eleke signed a four-year contract with Swiss Super League club FC Luzern for a reported fee of approximately 1 million Swiss francs. [2] [9] After being cleared to play for Luzern, [10] he managed to score on his debut, helping his club get past Lugano 4–2. [11]
On 1 September 2021, Eleke was loaned out to Turkish club Gençlerbirligi SK for the rest of the season.
On 1 August 2022, Kashima Antlers confirmed an agreement with K Beerschot VA for him to join on a complete transfer, becoming one of the few Nigerian footballers to play in Japan. [12] Eleke only made 6 appearances for the club over two seasons and was released from the club when his contract expired at the end of the 2023 season. [13]
On 21 March 2024, Tajikistan Higher League club Istiklol announced the signing of Eleke to a one-year contract. [14] On 20 April, Eleke scored a Hattrick for Istiklol in their 6-0 victory over Kuktosh Rudaki in the Tajikistan Higher League. [15]
Club | Season | League | National Cup | League Cup | Continental | Other | Total | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
Gorica | 2014–15 | Slovenian PrvaLiga | 17 | 3 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 2 [a] | 0 | 19 | 3 | ||
2015–16 | 19 | 12 | 1 | 0 | - | - | - | 20 | 12 | |||||
Total | 36 | 15 | 1 | 0 | - | - | - | - | 2 | 0 | 39 | 15 | ||
Olimpija Ljubljana | 2015–16 | Slovenian PrvaLiga | 12 | 3 | 0 | 0 | - | - | - | 12 | 3 | |||
2016–17 | 30 | 5 | 5 | 1 | - | 2 [b] | 2 | - | 37 | 7 | ||||
2017–18 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | - | 2 [c] | 0 | - | 5 | 2 | ||||
Total | 45 | 10 | 5 | 1 | - | - | 4 | 2 | - | - | 54 | 12 | ||
Ashdod | 2017–18 | Israeli Premier League | 27 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 31 | 6 | ||
Luzern | 2018–19 | Swiss Super League | 32 | 13 | 4 | 2 | - | 2 [c] | 0 | - | 38 | 15 | ||
2019–20 | 26 | 4 | 2 | 1 | - | 4 [c] | 0 | - | 32 | 5 | ||||
Total | 58 | 17 | 6 | 3 | - | - | 6 | 0 | - | - | 70 | 20 | ||
Beerschot | 2020–21 | Belgian Pro League | 20 | 1 | 1 | 0 | - | - | - | 21 | 1 | |||
2021–22 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | - | - | 2 | 0 | |||||
Total | 22 | 1 | 1 | 0 | - | - | - | - | - | - | 23 | 1 | ||
Gençlerbirliği (loan) | 2021–22 | TFF First League | 24 | 7 | 0 | 0 | - | - | - | 24 | 7 | |||
Kashima Antlers | 2022 | J1 League | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | - | - | - | 4 | 1 | |||
2023 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | - | - | 2 | 0 | |||||
Total | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | - | - | - | - | - | - | 6 | 1 | ||
Istiklol | 2024 [17] | Tajikistan Higher League | 10 | 6 | 0 | 0 | - | 0 [d] | 0 | 1 [e] | 1 | 11 | 7 | |
Career total | 228 | 61 | 17 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 258 | 70 |
Olimpija Ljubljana [2]
Istiklol
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Blessing Chibuike Eleke | ||
Date of birth | 5 March 1996 | ||
Place of birth | Nigeria | ||
Height | 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in) [1] | ||
Position(s) | Striker | ||
Team information | |||
Current team | Istiklol | ||
Number | 9 | ||
Youth career | |||
–2014 | Flying Sports Academy | ||
2014 | Gorica | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | ( Gls) |
2014–2015 | Gorica | 37 | (15) |
2016–2017 | Olimpija Ljubljana | 43 | (10) |
2017–2018 | Ashdod | 27 | (4) |
2018–2020 | Luzern | 58 | (17) |
2020–2022 | Beerschot | 22 | (1) |
2021–2022 | → Gençlerbirligi SK (loan) | 24 | (7) |
2022–2023 | Kashima Antlers | 6 | (1) |
2024– | Istiklol | 10 | (6) |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 10:51, 15 July 2024 (UTC) |
Blessing Eleke (born 5 March 1996) is a Nigerian professional footballer who plays as a striker for Istiklol. He previously played for Gorica, Olimpija Ljubljana, Ashdod, Luzern, Beerschot, Gençlerbirligi and Kashima Antlers.
Eleke grew up in Lagos with his three brothers and four sisters. [2] He started playing football at Flying Sports Academy in his home country, before having an unsuccessful trial at Serie A club Sassuolo. [2] Later on, he admitted that the transition from Nigeria to Europe was a difficult task to handle at the beginning. [2]
Eleke signed for Olimpija Ljubljana in January 2016 for a reported fee of €750,000. [3] On 10 April 2016, in a league fixture versus Zavrč, Olimpija's manager Nikolić reportedly called Eleke a "black idiot", for elaborately celebrating an injury-time equalizer in an eventual 1–1 draw. [4] Nikolić's contract was eventually terminated by mutual consent on 18 April 2016., [5] [6] although Eleke asked club president Milan Mandarić not to sack the manager. [7] Eleke revealed that, although he considered leaving the club, he did not want to see his coach sacked, as he did not believe in eye for an eye. [3]
In August 2017, Eleke transferred to Israeli Premier League club Ashdod for a reported fee of €800,000. [8] On 27 July 2018, Eleke signed a four-year contract with Swiss Super League club FC Luzern for a reported fee of approximately 1 million Swiss francs. [2] [9] After being cleared to play for Luzern, [10] he managed to score on his debut, helping his club get past Lugano 4–2. [11]
On 1 September 2021, Eleke was loaned out to Turkish club Gençlerbirligi SK for the rest of the season.
On 1 August 2022, Kashima Antlers confirmed an agreement with K Beerschot VA for him to join on a complete transfer, becoming one of the few Nigerian footballers to play in Japan. [12] Eleke only made 6 appearances for the club over two seasons and was released from the club when his contract expired at the end of the 2023 season. [13]
On 21 March 2024, Tajikistan Higher League club Istiklol announced the signing of Eleke to a one-year contract. [14] On 20 April, Eleke scored a Hattrick for Istiklol in their 6-0 victory over Kuktosh Rudaki in the Tajikistan Higher League. [15]
Club | Season | League | National Cup | League Cup | Continental | Other | Total | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
Gorica | 2014–15 | Slovenian PrvaLiga | 17 | 3 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 2 [a] | 0 | 19 | 3 | ||
2015–16 | 19 | 12 | 1 | 0 | - | - | - | 20 | 12 | |||||
Total | 36 | 15 | 1 | 0 | - | - | - | - | 2 | 0 | 39 | 15 | ||
Olimpija Ljubljana | 2015–16 | Slovenian PrvaLiga | 12 | 3 | 0 | 0 | - | - | - | 12 | 3 | |||
2016–17 | 30 | 5 | 5 | 1 | - | 2 [b] | 2 | - | 37 | 7 | ||||
2017–18 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | - | 2 [c] | 0 | - | 5 | 2 | ||||
Total | 45 | 10 | 5 | 1 | - | - | 4 | 2 | - | - | 54 | 12 | ||
Ashdod | 2017–18 | Israeli Premier League | 27 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 31 | 6 | ||
Luzern | 2018–19 | Swiss Super League | 32 | 13 | 4 | 2 | - | 2 [c] | 0 | - | 38 | 15 | ||
2019–20 | 26 | 4 | 2 | 1 | - | 4 [c] | 0 | - | 32 | 5 | ||||
Total | 58 | 17 | 6 | 3 | - | - | 6 | 0 | - | - | 70 | 20 | ||
Beerschot | 2020–21 | Belgian Pro League | 20 | 1 | 1 | 0 | - | - | - | 21 | 1 | |||
2021–22 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | - | - | 2 | 0 | |||||
Total | 22 | 1 | 1 | 0 | - | - | - | - | - | - | 23 | 1 | ||
Gençlerbirliği (loan) | 2021–22 | TFF First League | 24 | 7 | 0 | 0 | - | - | - | 24 | 7 | |||
Kashima Antlers | 2022 | J1 League | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | - | - | - | 4 | 1 | |||
2023 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | - | - | 2 | 0 | |||||
Total | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | - | - | - | - | - | - | 6 | 1 | ||
Istiklol | 2024 [17] | Tajikistan Higher League | 10 | 6 | 0 | 0 | - | 0 [d] | 0 | 1 [e] | 1 | 11 | 7 | |
Career total | 228 | 61 | 17 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 258 | 70 |
Olimpija Ljubljana [2]
Istiklol