John Otto John (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.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | John Otto John | ||
| Date of birth | 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 | |||
| –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 | 34 | (9) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 11 May 2024 | |||
Club career
Skënderbeu Korçë
In December 2015, John joined Albanian Superliga side Skënderbeu Korçë.[1]
Loan at Trepça'89
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, John was arrested for human trafficking.[19]
Career statistics
Club
- As of 8 February 2020[20]
| Club | Season | League | Cup | Continental | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Skënderbeu Korçë | 2018–19 | Albanian Superliga | 28 | 4 | 5 | 2 | — | 33 | 6 | |||
| 2019–20 | 15 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | 15 | 1 | |||||
| Total | 43 | 5 | 5 | 2 | — | 48 | 7 | |||||
| Trepça '89 (loan) | 2015–16 | Football Superleague of Kosovo | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 3 | 0 | |||
| 2016–17 | 33 | 26 | 0 | 0 | — | 33 | 26 | |||||
| 2017–18 | 31 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 2[a] | 0 | — | 33 | 17 | |||
| Total | 67 | 43 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 69 | 43 | |||
| Prishtina | 2019–20 | Football Superleague of Kosovo | 7 | 7 | 3 | 2 | — | — | 10 | 9 | ||
| Total | 7 | 7 | 3 | 2 | — | — | 10 | 9 | ||||
| Career total | 117 | 55 | 8 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 127 | 59 | ||
Honours
Club
- Skënderbeu Korçë[20]
- Trepça'89[20]
- Football Superleague of Kosovo: 2016–17
- Kosovar Supercup: 2017
Individual
- Football Superleague of Kosovo top goalscorer: 2016–17, 2017–18 (shared)
- Football Superleague of Kosovo's Team of the Year: 2016[4]
References
External links
- Otto John at Soccerway
- Otto John at the Albanian Football Association (in Albanian and English)