In Rennes, he was THE attraction of the 2005 summer transfer window. John Utaka, twelve goals during the 2004-2005 season (including a hat-trick against Rennes) was arriving on the banks of the Vilaine, to bring his pace and strength to the team. Rather unconvincing in the first half of the 2005-2006 season, especially in front of the goals, “John U” showed all his potential following two hat tricks in two games, against Lens and Lyon. His rising form pulled Rennes forward for an incredible come back in the League table. A very inconstant player, the Nigerian knew some difficulties in his second season, but he still was one of Rennes’ best attacking assets, scoring twelve goals over the season. In July 2007, he was finally recruited by Portsmouth after long negotiations, for a fee of more than 10 millions euro.
Surname : Utaka
Name : John
Nationality : Nigerian
Date of Birth: 08/01/1982
Place of Birth : Legugnu (Nigeria)
Height: 1,82 m
Weight: 81 Kg
Position : Striker
Number : 7
International : Nigeria (40 caps, 5 goals)
Amateur :
UNTH Enugu (Nigeria)
Professional :
Arab Contractors (Egypt)
Ismaïli (Égypt, 2000-2001)
Al-Sadd (Qatar, 2001-2002)
RC Lens (2002-2005)
Stade Rennais FC (June 2005 – July 2007)
Portsmouth FC (England, since July 2007)
Honours :
2008 FA Cup winner with Portsmouth
2000 African Cup of Nations top goalscorer
- First game in Ligue 1 (with Lens) : Bastia - Lens (1-1), August 3rd, 2002 (replacing Cyril Rool at the 71st minute)
- First goal in Ligue 1 (with Lens) : Nantes - Lens (2-2), August 24th, 2002 (63’, 2-1)
- First game with Rennes : Rennes - Nantes (0-3, Ligue 1), August 7th, 2005
- 2005-2006 Season :
| Competition | Played | Started | Goals | Yellow | Red | Minutes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ligue 1 | 28 | 27 | 11 | 3 | 0 | 2336 |
| Coupe de France | 3 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 279 |
| Coupe de la Ligue | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 58 |
| European Cup | 6 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 428 |
| Total | 38 | 35 | 16 | 3 | 0 | 3101 |
- 2006-2007 Season :
| Competition | Played | Started | Goals | Yellow | Red | Minutes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ligue 1 | 35 | 28 | 11 | 1 | 1 | 2316 |
| Coupe de France | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 120 |
| Coupe de la Ligue | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 90 |
| Total | 37 | 30 | 12 | 1 | 1 | 2526 |
- Total :
| Competition | Played | Started | Goals | Yellow | Red | Minutes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ligue 1 | 63 | 55 | 22 | 4 | 1 | 4652 |
| Coupe de France | 4 | 4 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 399 |
| Coupe de la Ligue | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 148 |
| European Cup | 6 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 428 |
| Total | 75 | 65 | 28 | 4 | 1 | 5627 |
- 1 - 20/08/05, Rennes - Marseille (3-2), Ligue 1, GW4 (7’, 1-1)
- 2 - 29/10/05, Rennes - Metz (2-1), Ligue 1, GW13 (17’, 1-0)
- 3 - 04/01/06, Nantes - Rennes (0-2), Ligue 1, GW20 (70’, 0-2)
- 4 - 18/02/06, Rennes - Lens (4-1), Ligue 1, GW27 (38’, 1-0)
- 5 - 18/02/06, Rennes - Lens (4-1), Ligue 1, GW27 (45’, 2-0)
- 6 - 18/02/06, Rennes - Lens (4-1), Ligue 1, GW27 (79’, 4-0)
- 7 - 25/02/06, Lyon - Rennes (1-4), Ligue 1, GW28 (20’, 0-1)
- 8 - 25/02/06, Lyon - Rennes (1-4), Ligue 1, GW28 (52’, 1-3)
- 9 - 25/02/06, Lyon - Rennes (1-4), Ligue 1, GW28 (72’, 1-4)
- 10 - 21/03/06, Colmar - Rennes (1-4), Coupe de France, R16 (3’, 0-1)
- 11 - 21/03/06, Colmar - Rennes (1-4), Coupe de France, R16 (66’, 1-2)
- 12 - 21/03/06, Colmar - Rennes (1-4), Coupe de France, R16 (69’, 1-3)
- 13 - 21/03/06, Colmar - Rennes (1-4), Coupe de France, R16 (72’, 1-4)
- 14 - 25/03/06, Rennes - Troyes (2-0), Ligue 1, GW32 (25’, 1-0)
- 15 - 12/04/06, Rennes - Montpellier (5-3 ap), Coupe de France, QF (105’, 4-2)
- 16 - 16/04/06, Nice - Rennes (2-1), Ligue 1, GW34 (45+2’, 1-1)
- 17 - 14/10/06, Rennes - Auxerre (3-1), Ligue 1, GW9 (38’, 1-0)
- 18 - 14/10/06, Rennes - Auxerre (3-1), Ligue 1, GW9 (80’, 3-0)
- 19 - 09/12/06, Bordeaux - Rennes (1-2), Ligue 1, GW17 (62’, 0-2)
- 20 - 06/01/07, Rennes - Romorantin (1-3 ap), Coupe de France, R64 (72’, 1-1)
- 21 - 10/02/07, Rennes - Nancy (1-1), Ligue 1, GW24 (86’, 1-1)
- 22 - 17/02/07, Saint-Étienne - Rennes (1-3), Ligue 1, GW25 (15’, 0-1)
- 23 - 17/02/07, Saint-Étienne - Rennes (1-3), Ligue 1, GW25 (59’, 1-2)
- 24 - 07/04/07, Rennes - Lens (1-0), Ligue 1, GW31 (30’)
- 25 - 28/04/07, Nantes - Rennes (0-2), Ligue 1, GW34 (55’, 0-1)
- 26 - 09/05/07, Troyes - Rennes (2-2), Ligue 1, GW36 (29’, 2-2)
- 27 - 19/05/07, Rennes - Lorient (4-1), Ligue 1, GW37 (77’, 3-1)
- 28 - 26/05/07, Lille - Rennes (1-1), Ligue 1, GW38 (74’, 0-1)
Summary :
- 13 goals in Rennes, 15 away
- 12 goals in the first half, 15 in the second, 1 in extra-time
- 1 quadruple, 2 hat-tricks, 2 doubles
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