Ogenyi Onazi Warning: You are not logged in. Your IP address will be publicly visible if you make any edits. If you log in or create an account, your edits will be attributed to your username, along with other benefits.Anti-spam check. Do not fill this in! ==Club career== ===Early years in Nigeria=== Onazi began playing football in the streets of Jos in 1998. His football skills and abilities drew a lot of attention to him and afforded him the opportunity to play in some academies in the city. His footballing abilities came to prominence when he moved to the city of [[Lagos]] to play for [[My People FC|My People]].<ref name=af2012>{{cite web|last1=Audu|first1=Samm|title=Eaglet Onazi soars to fly with the Super Eagles|url=http://africanfootball.com/news/201278/Eaglet-Onazi-soars-to-fly-with-the-Super-Eagles|website=African Football|access-date=26 January 2016|date=11 October 2012}}</ref> ===Lazio=== Onazi joined [[S.S. Lazio|Lazio]] in 2011,<ref name=bbc2014/> alongside his teammate, [[Sani Emmanuel]].<ref name=guardian2014/> The pair trialled in England, Greece and Italy<ref name=af2012/> following appearances at the [[2009 FIFA U-17 World Cup]], in which [[Nigeria national under-17 football team|Nigeria]] reached the final on home soil, losing to [[Switzerland national under-17 football team|Switzerland]]. Onazi was first promoted to the Lazio first team during the [[Serie A 2011–12|2011–12]] season after appearing at youth level.<ref name=gazetta2016>{{cite news|title=Lazio midfielder attracts Swansea City interest|url=http://gazzettaworld.gazzetta.it/news/transfer-market/lazio-swansea-city-onazi/|access-date=26 January 2016|work=[[La Gazzetta dello Sport|Gazetta World]]|date=20 January 2016}}</ref> He made his [[Serie A]] debut as a substitute in the penultimate match of the season, replacing [[Senad Lulić]] in the 90th minute. Lazio recorded a 2–0 victory over [[Atalanta B.C.|Atalanta]] at the [[Stadio Atleti Azzurri d'Italia]] in [[Bergamo]].<ref name=guardian2014>{{cite news|last1=Enyadike|first1=Emeka|title=World Cup 2014: Nigeria profile – Ogenyi Onazi|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2014/jun/04/world-cup-2014-nigeria-ogenyi-onazi|access-date=26 January 2016|work=The Guardian|date=4 June 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Audu|first1=Samm|title=Onazi Ogenyi finally debuts for Lazio|url=http://africanfootball.com/news/233134/Onazi-Ogenyi-finally-debuts-for-Lazio|website=African Football|access-date=26 January 2016|date=6 May 2012}}</ref> In the following 2012–2013 season, Onazi was granted more playing time Under coach [[Vladimir Petković]] featuring in a defensive midfielder role alongside [[Cristian Daniel Ledesma|Cristian Ledesma]]. Notably, he started in a [[UEFA Europa League]] match against [[Tottenham Hotspur]] at [[White Hart Lane]],<ref name=guardian2014/> which ended in a 0–0 draw.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Osborne|first1=Chris|title=Tottenham 0–0 Lazio|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/19582546|access-date=26 January 2016|work=BBC Sport|date=20 September 2012}}</ref> On 7 March 2013, he scored his first goal for Lazio against [[VfB Stuttgart|Stuttgart]] in the last sixteen of the Europa League.<ref>{{cite news|title=Europa League: Lazio stroll to Stuttgart win in Germany|url=http://www.skysports.com/football/stuttgart-vs-lazio/283936|access-date=26 January 2016|work=Sky Sports|date=7 March 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=first Lazio goal Onazi delighted|url=http://thenationonlineng.net/first-lazio-goal-onazi-delighted/|access-date=26 January 2016|work=[[The Nation (Nigeria)|The Nation]]|date=9 March 2013}}</ref> He scored his first Serie A goal in a 3–1 win over [[Inter Milan]] on 8 May 2013.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Alaka|first1=Babajide|title=Nigerians Abroad: Ogenyi Onazi scores a rocket against Inter as Moses comes on as a sub in Chelsea draw|url=http://www.goal.com/en-ng/news/4093/nigeria/2013/05/09/3964993/nigerians-abroad-ogenyi-onazi-scores-a-rocket-against-inter|website=Goal|access-date=26 January 2016|date=9 May 2013}}</ref> On 13 April 2014, he scored his second Serie A goal for Lazio in a 4–2 defeat to [[Napoli]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Higuain hero for Napoli|url=http://www.skysports.com/football/napoli-vs-lazio/299463|access-date=26 January 2016|work=SkySports|date=13 April 2014}}</ref> On 22 September 2014, Onazi signed a two-year contract extension with Lazio until 2018. Lazio had previously received transfer enquiries in the summer transfer window by three Premier League clubs [[Everton F.C.|Everton]], [[Southampton F.C.|Southampton]] and [[Sunderland A.F.C.|Sunderland]] with interest from German, French, Spanish and Russian clubs also being reported.<ref name=bbc2014>{{cite news|last1=Okeleji|first1=Oluwashina|title=Nigeria's Ogenyi Onazi signs new improved Lazio deal|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/29311289|access-date=26 January 2016|work=BBC Sport|date=22 September 2014}}</ref> On 31 May 2015, his 88th-minute goal for the final score of 3–2 in Lazio's win over Napoli helped secure the last Champions League place for the club.<ref>{{cite web|title=Lazio Ogenyi Onazi winner vs Napoli ensures Champions League|url=http://www.espnfc.com/italian-serie-a/match/403464/napoli-lazio/report|website=ESPNFC|access-date=26 January 2016|date=31 May 2015}}</ref> ===Trabzonspor=== On 2 August 2016, Onazi moved to [[Trabzonspor]] for €3.5 million.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sslazio.it/images/documents/investors/Relazione_S.S._Lazio_Sem._Cons._31.12.216.pdf|title=RELAZIONE FINANZIARIA SEMESTRALE CONSOLIDATA AL 31 DICEMBRE 2016|date=30 March 2017|access-date=2 April 2017|publisher=S.S. Lazio|language=it}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.tuttomercatoweb.com/serie-a/ufficiale-lazio-il-centrocampista-onazi-passa-al-trabzonspor-860789|title=UFFICIALE: Lazio, il centrocampista Onazi passa al Trabzonspor - TUTTOmercatoWEB.com|access-date=28 March 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Onazi joins Turkish club|url=https://punchng.com/onazi-joins-turkish-club/|access-date=25 July 2020|website=Punch Newspapers|date=2 August 2016|language=en-US}}</ref> ===Denizlispor=== On 15 January 2020, Denizlispor confirmed the arrival of Onazi from Trabzonspor, another club of Turkey's top-tier football league, on a free transfer. it was said that Onazi and Denizlispor reached an agreement for a six-month contract with an option for a further one year.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Amosu|first=Adeboye|date=15 January 2020|title=Onazi Joins Turkish Club Denizlispor|url=https://www.completesports.com/onazi-joins-turkish-club-denizlispor/|access-date=25 July 2020|website=Complete Sports|language=en-US}}</ref> He had a contract with Trabzonspor until May 2020. ===SønderjyskE=== On 4 October 2020, Onazi joined [[Danish Superliga]] team [[SønderjyskE Fodbold|SønderjyskE]] on a deal for the 2020–21 season with an option to extend the deal with two further years.<ref>[https://www.soenderjyske.dk/fodbold/navnkundig-nigerianer-til-soenderjyske/ Navnkundig nigerianer til SønderjyskE], soenderjyske.dk, 4 October 2020</ref> He was released by the club on 5 January 2021, three months after arriving.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Ravn |first1=Jacob |title=Onazi stopper i SønderjyskE |url=https://www.soenderjyske.dk/fodbold/onazi-stopper-i-soenderjyske/ |website=soenderjyske.dk |publisher=[[SønderjyskE Fodbold]] |access-date=5 January 2021 |language=da |date=5 January 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Margren |first1=Sara |title=Onazi stopper i SønderjyskE efter tre måneder |url=https://www.bold.dk/fodbold/nyheder/onazi-stopper-i-soenderjyske-efter-tre-maaneder/ |access-date=5 January 2021 |work=bold.dk |date=5 January 2021 |language=da}}</ref> ===Žalgiris=== On 18 February 2021, Onazi signed for Lithuanian champions [[FK Žalgiris|Žalgiris]]. On 13 July 2021, he scored his first goal for the club against [[Linfield F.C.|Linfield]] in the [[UEFA Champions League|Champions League]] qualifying stage.<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.goal.com/en/news/ogenyi-onazi-lithuanian-champions-zalgiris-sign-super-eagles/13rps5snjx4uq17bjfj4zua5m0| title = Ogenyi Onazi: Lithuanian champions Zalgiris sign Super Eagles midfielder {{!}} Goal.com}}</ref> On 18 August 2021, he left FK Žalgiris.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://alyga.lt/naujiena/o-onazi-persikele-i-kita-kluba/7253|title = O. Onazi persikėlė į kitą klubą | A Lyga | Aukščiausia Lietuvos futbolo lyga}}</ref> In [[2021 A Lyga]] he played 19 matches and scored two goals. ===Denizlispor=== On 20 August 2021, Onazi joined Turkish side [[Denizlispor]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sportas.lt/naujiena/438927/o-onazi-jau-pasirase-sutarti-su-turkijos-klubu|title = O.Onazi jau pasirašė sutartį su Turkijos klubu}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.denizlispor.org.tr/haberler/885/hos-geldin-ogenyi-onazi/|title = Hoş Geldin Ogenyi Onazi » Haberler | Denizlispor Kulübü Resmi İnternet Platformu}}</ref> ===Al-Adalah=== On 19 January 2022, Onazi joined Saudi side [[Al-Adalah FC|Al-Adalah]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://al-jafr.org.sa/372253.html|title =الاداره العدلاويه تعزز خط وسط فريقها الكروي بالنيجيري اوجينا اونازي}}</ref> === Casertana === On 29 August 2022, Onazi returned to Italy after six years, as he officially joined [[Serie D]] side [[Casertana F.C.|Casertana]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=29 August 2022 |title=Onazi: "Avevo dato la mia parola al presidente. Qui per vincere!" |url=https://www.casertanafc.it/press/post/onazi-avevo-dato-la-mia-parola-al-presidente-qui-vincere |access-date=7 September 2022 |website=www.casertanafc.it |language=it}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Torrisi |first=Antonio |date=29 August 2022 |title=La Lazio, la Turchia e la Serie D, Onazi torna in Italia: giocherà nella Casertana |url=https://www.goal.com/it/notizie/la-lazio-la-turchia-e-la-serie-d-onazi-torna-in-italia/blt2aa7d3feaa5de803 |access-date=7 September 2022 |website=Goal.com}}</ref> ===Kitchee=== On 12 July 2023, Onazi joined [[Hong Kong Premier League]] club [[Kitchee SC|Kitchee]]. ===Avezzano=== In December 2023 he joined Italian Serie D team [[Avezzano Calcio]]. Summary: Please note that all contributions to Christianpedia may be edited, altered, or removed by other contributors. If you do not want your writing to be edited mercilessly, then do not submit it here. 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