A brace against Auxerre on 20 May 2012 secured the Ligue 1 title for Montpellier for the first time in the club's history. This decisive performance highlighted the career of John Chukwudi Utaka, a Nigerian forward whose professional journey spanned three continents and included successful stints in the Egyptian, French, and English top divisions.
Early Career and Egyptian Success
Born in Enugu on 8 January 1982, Utaka began his professional path in 1998 with Arab Contractors before moving to Ismaily. During his time in Egypt, he earned significant popularity among local supporters and finished the 1999-2000 season as the league's top scorer. He secured an Egypt Cup title with the club before transferring to Qatari side Al-Sadd in 2001 for a record fee of $1 million.
Transition to French Football
Utaka moved to France in 2002 to play for RC Lens. He later joined Rennes in 2005, where he eventually secured a starting position following an injury to striker Alexander Frei. In February 2006, he scored consecutive hat-tricks against Lens and Lyon, earning the player of the month award from the publication L'Équipe.
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In July 2007, Utaka signed a four-year contract with Portsmouth for approximately £7 million. Despite financial instability at the club, he remained until 2011, scoring notable goals such as a brace against Sunderland during the 2010 FA Cup campaign.
League Success at Montpellier
Returning to France in January 2011, Utaka joined Montpellier on a two-and-a-half-year deal. He became a key figure in the squad, scoring critical goals during the 2011-2012 campaign against rivals including PSG and Ajaccio. Following his time in Montpellier, he played for the Turkish side Sivasspor starting in 2013 and later joined the fourth-tier French club CS Sedan in 2017.
International Participation
Utaka participated in the 2002 World Cup and the 2010 World Cup. Within the African Cup of Nations, he was a member of the squad that secured a third-place finish in 2004 and competed during the 2006 tournament, where he started four of six matches.
Fast facts
- Born: 8 January 1982, Enugu, Nigeria
- Professional debut: 1998
- Major trophies: FA Cup 2007-08, Ligue 1 2011-12
- Key former clubs: Ismaily, RC Lens, Rennes, Portsmouth, Montpellier, Sivasspor
- World Cup appearances: 2002, 2010
- Founder: John Utaka Football Academy, Minna, Niger state
- Current role: Youth coach at Montpellier
Questions readers ask
Which major honors did John Utaka win?
He won the 1999-2000 Egypt Cup, the 2001 Arab Club Champions Cup, the 2007-08 FA Cup with Portsmouth, and the 2011-12 Ligue 1 title with Montpellier.
What was his role at Portsmouth?
He was a forward who provided the assist for the winning goal in the 2008 FA Cup final and later scored both goals in a 2-1 victory over Sunderland in the 2010 FA Cup.
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