Michael Udebuluzor

Michael Udebuluzor
米高

Personal information
Full name	Michael Chibuikem Udebuluzor
Date of birth	(2004-04-01) 1 April 2004 (age 20)
Place of birth	Hong Kong
Height	1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)[1]
Position(s)	Striker
Team information
Current team	VfR Mannheim
Number	9
Youth career
2016–2018	Kitchee
2018–2020	DFI Bad Aibling
2020–2022	Ingolstadt 04
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2022–2024	Ingolstadt 04 II	23	(14)
2022–2024	Ingolstadt 04	3	(0)
2024–	VfR Mannheim	11	(2)
International career^‡
2023–	Hong Kong	13	(2)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 10 December 2024 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 10 October 2024

Michael Chibuikem Udebuluzor (Chinese: 米高; born 1 April 2004) is a Hong Kong professional footballer who currently plays as a striker for Oberliga Baden-Württemberg club VfR Mannheim and the Hong Kong national team.

Club career

FC Ingolstadt 04

In July 2022, Udebuluzor debuted for Ingolstadt 04 II.^{[2][3][4][5][6][7]} On 6 August 2023, Udebuluzor made his first team debut for Ingolstadt 04 in 3. Liga against FC Erzgebirge Aue.

Mannheim

On 17 August 2024, Udebuluzor signed for Oberliga Baden-Württemberg club VfR Mannheim.^[8]

International career

On 8 September 2023, it was announced that Udebuluzor had received his HKSAR passport after renouncing his Nigerian citizenship, making him eligible to represent Hong Kong internationally.

On 11 September 2023, Udebuluzor made his international debut for Hong Kong in a friendly match against Brunei. On 12 October 2023, he scored his first international goal in a game against Bhutan, scoring a brace in the match.

On 26 December 2023, Udebuluzor was named in Hong Kong's squad for the 2023 AFC Asian Cup.^[9]

Personal life

Udebuluzor is the son of former Nigerian professional footballer Cornelius Udebuluzor. He was born while his father was playing for Rangers in the Hong Kong First Division League.^[10]

Career statistics

International

As of 10 October 2024

National team	Year	Apps	Goals
Hong Kong	2023	5	2
	2024	8	0
Total		13	2

#	Date	Venue	Opponent	Result	Competition
1	11 September 2023	Hong Kong Stadium, So Kon Po, Hong Kong	Brunei	10–0	Friendly
2	12 October 2023	Hong Kong Stadium, So Kon Po, Hong Kong	Bhutan	4–0	2026 FIFA World Cup qualification – AFC first round
3	17 October 2023	Changlimithang Stadium, Thimphu, Bhutan	Bhutan	0–2	2026 FIFA World Cup qualification – AFC first round
4	16 November 2023	Azadi Stadium, Tehran, Iran	Iran	0–4	2026 FIFA World Cup qualification – AFC second round
5	21 November 2023	Hong Kong Stadium, So Kon Po, Hong Kong	Turkmenistan	2–2	2026 FIFA World Cup qualification – AFC second round
6	14 January 2024	Khalifa International Stadium, Al Rayyan, Qatar	United Arab Emirates	1–3	2023 AFC Asian Cup
7	19 January 2024	Khalifa International Stadium, Al Rayyan, Qatar	Iran	0–1	2023 AFC Asian Cup
8	23 January 2024	Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium, Doha, Qatar	Palestine	0–3	2023 AFC Asian Cup
9	21 March 2024	Mong Kok Stadium, Mong Kok, Hong Kong	Uzbekistan	0–2	2026 FIFA World Cup qualification – AFC second round
10	26 March 2024	Milliy Stadium, Tashkent, Uzbekistan	Uzbekistan	0–3	2026 FIFA World Cup qualification – AFC second round
11	6 June 2024	Hong Kong Stadium, So Kon Po, Hong Kong	Iran	2–4	2026 FIFA World Cup qualification – AFC second round
12	11 June 2024	Ashgabat Stadium, Ashgabat, Turkmenistan	Turkmenistan	0–0	2026 FIFA World Cup qualification – AFC second round

International goals

No.	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1.	12 October 2023	Hong Kong Stadium, So Kon Po, Hong Kong	Bhutan	1–0	4–0	2026 FIFA World Cup qualification
2				2–0

References

1. "AFC Asian Cup 2023 team – Hong Kong China". the-afc.com. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
2. Meier, Julian (24 August 2023). "Michael Udebuluzor hat einen steinigen Weg hinter sich – nun startet er beim FCI durch". Donaukurier.de (in German). Archived from the original on 26 August 2023. Retrieved 10 September 2023.
3. "Bundesliga beckons for Hong Kong teen Michael Udebuluzor after move to Germany". South China Morning Post. 12 May 2022. Archived from the original on 9 September 2023. Retrieved 11 September 2023.
4. "香港隊 準入籍兵米高：想寫下自己嘅香港故事". on.cc (in Chinese (Hong Kong)). 5 June 2023. Archived from the original on 10 September 2023. Retrieved 10 September 2023.
5. "Ingolstadt-Talent Udebuluzor: Für den Profi-Traum allein von Hongkong nach Deutschland". Transfer Markt (in German). 22 May 2022. Archived from the original on 9 September 2023. Retrieved 11 September 2023.
6. Kin-wa, Chan (10 June 2023). "Footballer waiting 6 months for Hong Kong passport scores hat-trick – then leaves town, with international dream denied". South China Morning Post. Archived from the original on 9 September 2023. Retrieved 11 September 2023.
7. "安達臣天才歸港計畫 旅歐球員米高6月加入？". Bastille Post (in Chinese). 21 March 2023. Archived from the original on 10 September 2023. Retrieved 10 September 2023.
8. "VfR Mannheim verpflichtet Michael Udebuluzor – VfR Mannheim 1896 e.V." (in German). Retrieved 17 August 2024.
9. "中國香港代表隊 – 決選名單" [Hong Kong, China Team – Finalists]. Hong Kong Football Association (in Chinese). 26 December 2023. Retrieved 15 January 2024.
10. "Bundesliga beckons Hong Kong teen Michael Udebulozor after move". South China Morning Post. 12 May 2022. Retrieved 12 May 2022.