Nigeria’s own Kelechi Iheanacho will not be forgotten in a hurry because of his remarkable performances in international football and club football. He is known for his performances in English clubs, Manchester City and Leicester City, as well as for his impeccable performances in the Nigerian youth national team.
Like some of his colleagues, Kelechi, affectionately called “Kel”, has a childhood story that will inspire young footballers. He was not born with a silver spoon, nor was he born into a privileged family, but Kel remained true to his dreams and today he enjoys the fruits of his fortitude. Here are lesser-known facts about the famous Nigerian footballer.
Kelechi Iheanacho’s Bio, Age
He was born on 3 October 1996 in Imo, Nigeria, the son of his parents. As an adult, he always showed a great interest in football. He either sneaked into the spectator centers where people watched the Premier League matches. Although they had a television, the family could not afford pay-TV subscriptions for international matches, which is the case in his home country Nigeria. After Kelechi had seen famous football stars, she wanted to be like them. His father, who was so committed to education and making his football dreams known, was a very difficult decision for Iheanacho. As expected, his father, who strongly opposed the idea, used disciplinary measures to ensure that his son upheld the educational values at home. These measures included flogging, which forced him to read his books, among other things.
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But as the saying goes, the heart wants what the heart wants. Kelechi Iheanacho sneaked out to play football, and his life gradually turned into the world of football when he was chosen to represent his school in a football competition. His father wanted to let him because the school was involved. With his father’s approval, he played and led the team to victory, which brought him wide recognition in his country and the support of his father, who was so proud of him.
Kelechi soon joined the Taye Academy football club in Owerri, the capital of Imo. He started the national football competition in Abuja. He led the team to many victories, became captain of the team and continued to excel. His first international football experience was at the 2013 African U-17 Championship in Morocco, where he scored a hat-trick. The FIFA U-17 World Cup 2013 was another highlight for the player. He had scored up to six goals and also received the Golden Ball. Iheanacho attracted international attention with this achievement when he started receiving calls from English clubs. He signed in Manchester City on 10 January 2014. This happened after signing a letter of intent with the English club in 2012 when he turned 18. He had a very good target conversion rate while in Man City, with one of the best minute-to-target ratios.
In August 2017, he joined Leicester City with a five-year contract for a fee of 25 million pounds.
Net Worth, Salary, House, Car
Kelechi Iheanacho certainly deserves all the financial treats he has received during his career. The very talented player should earn 85,000 pounds a week as his salary and contribute much to his gigantic net worth of over 2 million dollars. His salary in Nigerian Naira was estimated at over N35 million. This makes Iheanacho one of Nigeria’s highest-paid footballers. Before moving to Manchester City, his father received £300,000 on the basis of an agreement with the club.
As for the way Kelechi Iheanacho spends his money, the footballer owns a beautiful villa and cars. The player is said to have bought a villa in Lagos worth over £1.5 million. He bought a BMW-I8, which costs about 200,000 pounds. He has not left out his family and friends. The renowned player is said to have built houses for some of his friends who are not as lucky as he is.
Family, Personal Life, Other Facts
It was a lawn that enriched the success story of Kelechi Iheanacho and his family. Put simply, Kel’s football career brought a new departure and changed the poverty situation of his family. A family that couldn’t afford high pay-TV subscriptions to the Premier League and other international games eventually became an influential family in the neighborhood, state, and country. His father, who gave his support after a long quarrel with his son about his career, now enjoys a very pleasant life.
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The manager of Kelechi Ihenacho is his father Elder James Iheanacho, a building materials dealer. He was the one who initially opposed his son’s career because the cliché of local football enthusiasts was so stereotypical. But today he makes professional decisions for the player and discusses his deals. Eldest James, who was initially at the average level of his company, did not leave the company but expanded it through his influence.
At the age of 14, Kelechi lost his beloved mother to an unknown illness. This happened during the time of the African U-17 Championship.
It is said that he is in a relationship, but he has not gone public with it. The player is said to be very personal about his private life, although this has not stopped the curious media from looking for information.
