Julius Aghahowa

Julius Aghahowa (born 12 February 1982 in Benin City) is a retired Nigerian footballer. He was known for his pace and his back-flips when he scored goals. Aghahowa became the first foreign national outside of the former Soviet Union who was among the best scorers in the Ukrainian Premier League (2000-01).
Aghahowa played for Nigeria at four Africa Cup of Nations, the 2002 World Cup and the 2000 Olympics, as well as playing top-flight football in Tunisia, Ukraine, England and Turkey.

Early career

Aghahowa began his career with the Police Machines, a local police team, and went on to Bendel Insurance. He signed for Danish lower division team Herning Fremad before the 1999 African Youth Championship, but Aghahowa performed so well there that he wanted to play for a bigger club. He ended up with the Tunisian champions, Espérance, when he procured a contract with the Tunisians which predated the Herning Fremad contract.

Shakhtar Donetsk

In the middle of the 2000–01 season, Aghahowa transferred to Shakhtar Donetsk, who soon won the Ukrainian league championship. Aghahowa won the game for Shakhtar in the 2006 Ukrainian Championship against Dynamo Kyiv, heading the winner in extra-time and being named man of the match. His performance in the final has been widely seen as the "saving grace" of his career at Shakhtar, with his future at the club looking bleak earlier in the season. After playing over six years for Shakhtar Donetsk, Aghahowa left for Wigan Athletic.

Wigan Athletic

His work permit was passed and on 30 January 2007, he signed for Wigan Athletic for an undisclosed fee, playing his first Premiership match for them against Portsmouth on 3 February. Aghahowa did not score for Wigan in one and half years and on 20 June 2008, he signed for Kayserispor.

Return to Shakhtar Donetsk

On 4 July 2009, Shakhtar Donetsk signed Aghahowa on a free transfer after he was released by Kayserispor. He had already played for Shakhtar from 2000 to 2007 and declared a great desire to play for his old club. However, he could not find himself as a regular starter and was loaned out to PFC Sevastopol at the beginning of the 2010–11 season. He was released at the end of the 2011-12 season. Announcing his retirement from the game in April 2013.

Aghahowa played 32 matches and scored 14 goals for the Nigerian national team, including their only goal at the 2002 World Cup against Sweden. He became Nigeria's top goalscorer at the 2002 African Nations Cup. He also played at the 2000 Summer Olympics.

Club

Espérance

• Tunisian Ligue Professionnelle 1: 1

2000

Shakhtar Donetsk

• Ukrainian Premier League: 4

2002, 2005, 2006, 2010

• Ukrainian Cup: 2

2002, 2004