Otto John (footballer)

John Otto John listenⓘ (born 25 January 1998), commonly known as Otto John, is a Nigerian professional footballer who plays as a forward for Turan Tovuz in the Azerbaijan Premier League.

Not to be confused with Otto John.
Otto John
Personal information
Full name John Otto John
Date of birth (1998-01-25) 25 January 1998
Place of birth Akwa Ibom, Nigeria
Height 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Position(s) Forward
Team information
Current team
 Turan Tovuz
Number 80
Youth career
0000–2015 36 Lion FC
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2015–2020 Skënderbeu Korçë 43 (5)
2015–2018 → Trepça'89 (loan) 67 (43)
2020–2022 Prishtina 19 (13)
2022-2023 Dukagjini 30 (9)
2023– Turan Tovuz 10 (2)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 25 October 2023

Club career

Skënderbeu Korçë

In December 2015, John joined Albanian Superliga side Skënderbeu Korçë.[1]

2015–16 season

In the 2015–16 season, John joined Football Superleague of Kosovo side Trepça'89, on a season-long loan[1] and during that season, he played only 3 matches.[2]

2016–17 season

John enjoyed a great form during the 2016–17 season, netting 26 goals in 33 matches. His performances throughout the year earned him league's top goalscorer award[3] and a spot in 2016 Football Superleague of Kosovo's Team of the Year.[4]

2017–18 season

John's first match for the 2017–18 season was a match in the framework of first qualifying round of 2017–18 UEFA Champions League and in that match he played after being named in the starting line-up.[5]

After Trepça '89 were eliminated from the UEFA Champions League, John continued to be part of the team, and during the 2017–18 season he scored 17 goals in 31 matches and was named the league's top goalscorer for the second time, together with Mirlind Daku of Llapi.[6][7] On 27 June 2018, John left the club after his loan ended having scored 43 goals in 69 appearances in all competitions.[8]

Return to Skënderbeu Korçë

On 9 July 2018, John returned to his parent club Skënderbeu Korçë, ahead of the 2018–19 season.[9] On 12 August 2018, he won his first trophy as a Skënderbeu Korçë player, the 2018 Albanian Supercup as the team defeated Laçi 3–2 at the Elbasan Arena. John was an unused substitute in the match.[10]

On 17 August 2018, John made his debut in a 1–0 home win in the opening week of the 2018–19 Albanian Superliga against Partizani Tirana after coming on as a late substitute in place of Blerim Krasniqi.[11] In the second matchday versus newly-promoted side Kastrioti, he come on as a late substitute and assisted the third goal in a 3–0 victory.[12]

On 12 September 2018, John scored his first goal for Skënderbeu Korçë in a 3–0 win against Veleçiku Koplik in the first round of Albanian Cup.[13] His first Albanian Superliga goal came five days later in the 2–0 win at Flamurtari Vlorë, netting the second of the match eight minutes after coming on as a substitute.[14]

Prishtina

On 8 January 2020, John joined Football Superleague of Kosovo side Prishtina.[15] One month later, he made his debut with Prishtina in the quarter-final of 2019–20 Kosovar Cup against Vushtrria after being named in the starting line-up and scored two goals during a 4–1 home win.[16]

International career

"Yes, I would accept to play for Kosovo. If they think I can help I'm ready. It would be a new challenge for me. Since I've been in Kosovo for more than a year I'm here and I am adopted."

—Otto John in an interview for a sport show in March 2017.[17]

Because of his talent, there were numerous discussions about making John the first foreign player for the Kosovo national team. John said that would gladly accept an invitation from the coach Albert Bunjaki, although he would have to obtain a Kosovan passport in advance.[17]

Personal life

John was born in Akwa Ibom, a one of Nigeria's 36 states to Nigerian parents.[1] He stated that he grew up idolizing Didier Drogba due to his strength and Samuel Eto'o due to his goalscoring abilities.[18]

The May 5, 2022, the player was arrested for human trafficking.

Career statistics

Club
As of 8 February 2020[19]
Club Season League Cup Continental Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Skënderbeu Korçë 2018–19 Albanian Superliga 28452—336
2019–20 15100—151
Total 43552—487
Trepça'89 (loan) 2015–16 Football Superleague of Kosovo 3000—30
2016–17 332600—3326
2017–18 3117002[lower-alpha 1]0—3317
Total 67430020—6943
Prishtina 2019–20 Football Superleague of Kosovo 7732——109
Total 7732——109
Career total 1175584200012759
  1. All appearance(s) in UEFA Champions League

Honours

Club
Skënderbeu Korçë[19]
Trepça'89[19]

Individual

References
  1. "Nigerian teenager shoots European club to league zenith". FreshAngle. 24 October 2016. Retrieved 21 September 2018. The Akwa Ibom State born utility player who was signed by Albanian club, Skënderbeu FC in December 2015 and loaned to the Premier League club in Kosovo, Trepça'89
  2. "Statistikat e Raiffeisen Superliges (Java 33)" [Statistics of Raiffeisen Superleague (Week 33)] (in Albanian). Football Superleague of Kosovo. Retrieved 21 September 2018. In statistics is known as John Oto John
  3. "Statistikat (Vala Superliga)" [Statistics (Vala Superleague)] (in Albanian). Football Superleague of Kosovo. Retrieved 21 September 2018. In statistics is known as John John and as John Oto John
  4. "Gol historik ndaj Finlandës, Valon Berisha shpallet "Lojtari më i mirë" [Historic goal against Finland, Valon Berisha announced "Best footballer"] (in Albanian). Panorama Sport. 15 January 2017. Retrieved 25 September 2018. 1. Faton Maloku (Gjilani), 2. Armend Thaçi (Gjilani), 3. Liridon Leci (Prishtina), 4. Behar Maliqi (Feronikeli), 5. Armend Dallku (Prishtina), 6. Fidan Gerbeshi (Feronikeli), 7. Xhevdet Shabani (Besa Pejë), 8. Mentor Zhdrella (Feronikeli), 9. Oto John John (Trepça'89), 10. Hamdi Namani (Llapi), 11. Granit Arifaj (Drenica)
  5. "Vikingur-Trepça'89". UEFA. 27 June 2017. Retrieved 21 September 2018.
  6. "Statistikat (Java 33)" [Statistics (Week 33)] (PDF) (in Albanian). Football Superleague of Kosovo. Retrieved 21 September 2018. In statistics is known as John Oto John
  7. "Valon Berisha shpallet futbollisti më i mirë i vitit për herë të dytë radhazi" [Valon Berisha announced best footballer of year for the second time in a row] (in Albanian). Football Federation of Kosovo. 12 January 2018. Retrieved 25 September 2018. Derisa edhe çmimi i golashënuesit më të mirë shkoi te Trepça'89, të cilin e mori John Oto John
  8. "Otto John largohet nga Trepça'89" [Otto John flees from Trepça'89]. Gazeta Blic (in Albanian). 27 June 2018. Retrieved 21 September 2018.
  9. "Skënderbeu rikthen sulmuesin Oto John në Korçë" [Skënderbeu returns in Korça the striker Otto John] (in Albanian). Gazeta Express. 9 July 2018. Retrieved 21 September 2018.
  10. "Skënderbeu "tregon dhëmbët" çon Superkupën në Korçë" [Skënderbeu "shows the teeths" sends the Supercup at Korça] (in Albanian). SuperSport Albania. 12 August 2018. Retrieved 21 September 2018.
  11. "Skënderbeu e nis si kampion, Shehi debuton me fitore" [Skënderbeu starts like champion, Shehi debutes with a win] (in Albanian). SuperSport Albania. 17 August 2018. Retrieved 21 September 2018.
  12. "VIDEO/Shkëlqen Bregu, Skënderbeu shumë i fortë për Kastriotin" [VIDEO/Bregu shines, Skënderbeu very strong for Kastrioti]. BalkanWeb (in Albanian). 26 August 2018. Retrieved 21 September 2018.
  13. "Kupa e Shqipërisë, Grupi A/Skuadrat e Superiores nuk falin, njihuni me të gjitha rezultatet" [Albanian Cup, Group A/Superleague teams doesn't tolerate, get to know all the results] (in Albanian). Panorama Sport. 12 September 2018. Retrieved 21 September 2018.
  14. "VIDEO/Skënderbeu shfryn Flamurtarin, kampionët marrin të vetëm kryesimin" [VIDEO/Skënderbeu vents Flamurtari, the champions takes the lead alone] (in Albanian). Sport Ekspres. 17 September 2018. Retrieved 21 September 2018.
  15. "Mirë se vjen Oto John" [Welcome Oto John] (in Albanian). FC Prishtina. 8 January 2020.
  16. "1/4 e Digitalb Kupës: Prishtina – Vushtrria 4–1" [1/4 of Digitalb Cup: Prishtina – Vushtrria 4–1] (in Albanian). FC Prishtina. 8 February 2020. Golat: Endrit Krasniqi 2', Oto John 26', 79', Ergyn Ahmeti 73' – Driton Fazliu 45'+1
  17. "Otto John: Dua të luajë për Kosovën" [Otto John: I want to play for Kosovo]. Gazeta Olle (in Albanian). 13 March 2017. Archived from the original on 30 May 2019.
  18. "E PLOTË/ Rrëfehet sulmuesi që po mahnit korçarët, Oto Xhon: Do jem si Drogba te Skënderbeu" [Full/ The striker who is allures Korça confesses, Otto John: I want to be like Drogba at Skënderbeu] (in Albanian). Panorama Sport. 12 September 2018. Retrieved 25 September 2018.
  19. Otto John at Soccerway. Retrieved 21 September 2018.
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