# Innocent Emeghara

Innocent Nkasiobi Emeghara (born 27 May 1989) is a retired Swiss professional footballer who played most commonly as a striker.

## Club career

Born in Lagos, Nigeria, his mother moved to Switzerland when Emeghara was 11, and joined with them two years later. He started playing football as a means to "cope with the language barrier and cold temperatures". He began his senior career with FC Zürich's reserves aged only 17, going on to represent FC Winterthur and Grasshopper Club Zürich; on 20 August 2011, whilst at the service of the latter, he scored a hat-trick in a 4–3 away win against Servette FC, which meant he led the Super League's scoring charts at five in only six games.
On 31 August 2011, Emeghara was sold to FC Lorient in France. He made his debut in Ligue 1 on 10 September, coming on as a substitute for Mathias Autret in a 1–1 draw at FC Sochaux-Montbéliard and netting the equalizer two minutes from time. He scored four more league goals until the end of his first season, adding two in the Coupe de la Ligue.
In January 2013, Emeghara moved teams and countries again, joining Italian side A.C. Siena. He scored four goals in as many matches to kickstart his Serie A career, including a brace in a 3–0 home success over S.S. Lazio on 18 February; his team, however, finally suffered relegation after ranking second from bottom.
For the 2013–2014 campaign, Emeghara continued in Italy's top flight, being loaned to A.S. Livorno Calcio. On 31 March 2014, he contributed with one goal to help the hosts come from behind to tie it 2–2 with Inter Milan.
In July 2014, Emeghara became a free agent after Siena went into liquidation. On 11 October he signed a three-year contract with Azerbaijan Premier League side FK Qarabağ, but left on 5 January of the following year and began training with Winterthur, before going on trial with HSV Hamburg the following week.
Late into January 2015, Emeghara joined the San Jose Earthquakes. He made his debut in the Major League Soccer on 8 March, playing one minute in a 0–1 away loss against FC Dallas.
On 24 July 2018, Emeghara returned to Qarabağ on a two-year deal from Ermis Aradippou FC, but was released early from his contract by mutual consent on 13 May 2019.
In October 2020, after he trained already three weeks with the club, Emeghara signed a two-year contract at his home-based club FC Winterthur, where he launched his career back in 2010. His contract with Winterthur was terminated by the club in July 2021. He consequently retired from professional football.

## International career

Emeghara opted to represent Switzerland internationally, and he made his debut on 4 June 2011 by playing one minute in a 2–2 draw in England for the UEFA Euro 2012 qualifiers.
In that same year, he helped the under-21 team finish second at the 2011 UEFA European Championship, scoring in the 2–0 group stage win against Iceland. He represented the country at the 2012 Summer Olympics, netting in the 1–2 group phase defeat by South Korea.

## Career statistics
### Club

    As of match played 11 September 2021
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition :
| Club | Season | League | League | League | National Cup | National Cup | League Cup | League Cup | Continental | Continental | Other | Other | Total | Total |
| Club | Season | Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Zürich II | 2006–07 | Swiss 1. Liga | 6 | 2 | | | – | – | – | – | – | – | 6 | 2 |
| Zürich II | 2007–08 | Swiss 1. Liga | 15 | 5 | | | – | – | – | – | – | – | 15 | 5 |
| Zürich II | 2008–09 | Swiss 1. Liga | 26 | 9 | | | – | – | – | – | – | – | 26 | 9 |
| Zürich II | Total | Total | 47 | 16 | | | - | - | - | - | - | - | 47 | 16 |
| Winterthur | 2009–10 | Swiss Challenge League | 28 | 17 | 3 | 5 | – | – | – | – | – | – | 31 | 22 |
| Grasshoppers | 2010–11 | Swiss Super League | 33 | 9 | 4 | 1 | – | – | 2 | 0 | – | – | 39 | 10 |
| Grasshoppers | 2011–12 | Swiss Super League | 7 | 5 | 0 | 0 | – | – | – | – | – | – | 7 | 5 |
| Grasshoppers | Total | Total | 40 | 14 | 4 | 1 | - | - | 2 | 0 | - | - | 46 | 15 |
| Lorient | 2011–12 | Ligue 1 | 27 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2 | – | – | – | – | 31 | 7 |
| Lorient | 2012–13 | Ligue 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | – | – | – | 1 | 0 |
| Lorient | Total | Total | 28 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2 | - | - | - | - | 32 | 7 |
| Siena | 2012–13 | Serie A | 17 | 7 | 0 | 0 | – | – | – | – | – | – | 17 | 7 |
| Siena | 2013–14 | Serie B | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | – | – | – | – | – | 0 | 0 |
| Siena | Total | Total | 17 | 7 | 0 | 0 | - | - | - | - | - | - | 17 | 7 |
| Livorno (loan) | 2013–14 | Serie A | 30 | 4 | 0 | 0 | – | – | – | – | – | – | 30 | 4 |
| Qarabağ | 2014–15 | Azerbaijan Premier League | 7 | 4 | 1 | 1 | – | – | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 5 |
| San Jose Earthquakes | 2015 | Major League Soccer | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | – | – | – | – | – | – | 7 | 1 |
| San Jose Earthquakes | 2016 | Major League Soccer | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | – | – | – | – | – | – | 7 | 0 |
| San Jose Earthquakes | Total | Total | 13 | 1 | 1 | 0 | - | - | - | - | - | - | 14 | 1 |
| Ermis | 2017–18 | Cypriot First Division | 28 | 9 | 2 | 0 | – | – | – | – | – | – | 30 | 9 |
| Qarabağ | 2018–19 | Azerbaijan Premier League | 11 | 5 | 0 | 0 | – | – | 7 | 0 | – | – | 18 | 5 |
| Fatih Karagümrük | 2019–20 | TFF First League | 31 | 7 | 1 | 0 | – | – | – | – | – | – | 32 | 7 |
| Winterthur | 2020–21 | Swiss Challenge League | 15 | 1 | 0 | 0 | – | – | – | – | – | – | 15 | 1 |
| Career total | Career total | Career total | 295 | 90 | 13 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 320 | 99 |
* ↑ Appearances in UEFA Champions League
* ↑ Three appearances in UEFA Champions League, four appearances in UEFA Europa League

### International

    As of 23 March 2013
Switzerland :
| Year | Apps | Goals |
| 2011 | 5 | 0 |
| 2012 | 3 | 0 |
| 2013 | 1 | 0 |
| Total | 9 | 0 |