 |
| IKECHI ANYA IN SCOTLAND COLOURS |
Ikechi Anya is a Scottish professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for English club Watford and the Scotland national team. He has also been fielded in a number of positions, including
Anya's father is a Nigerian research scientist of the Igbo ethnic group and his mother a Romanian economist. The couple met while studying in Bucharest. After finishing their studies, his parents moved to Scotland in the late 1980s for his father to obtain his doctorate degree in metallurgy.
 |
| Two Brothers: Ikechi Anya( Right) and Chima Anya (Left) |
Right there in Glasgow, Scotland Ikechi Anya was born. He spent his early childhood in the Castle milk area.
His mother, Mariena Anya, said that as a boy Anya and his older brother, Chima, (who is a medical doctor) "was always kicking a ball in front of the house where he grew up in Glasgow from morning till night as a very young boy." The family later moved to Oxford when Ikechi was seven years old after his father got a job at the University of Oxford as a lecturer.
 |
| Ikechi Anya in Watford colours |
Anya maintained his fondness for Scotland, stating that whenever Scotland played England he would cheer "Come on Scotland".Thus he grew a strong love for the Scottish national team.
Football Career
Ikechi Anya was eligible to also represent Romania, Nigeria or England internationally, but he chose to play for the country of his birth, Scotland.
He received his first cap for the Scottish national team on 6 September 2013, coming off the bench in a 2–0 defeat to Belgium and scored his first international goal four days later in Scotland's following match away to Macedonia. He also scored the only goal in an international friendly against Czech Republic
 |
| Ikechi Anya Older brother Chima Anya (Musician and medical doctor) |
Wycombe Wanderers
Anya joined the Wycombe Wanderers youth team in the 2003–04 season, having been released by Oxford United.
His performances in the youth team ensured that he was well talked about within the club, enough that he was given the number 28 shirt by then manager Tony Adams (Arsenal Legend) for the match at Southend United on 11 September 2004, becoming the club's youngest ever player at the age of 16.
 |
| Ikechi Anya and his Mum Mariena Anya |
He committed his short-term future to the club, signing a two-year deal in June 2005 and whilst at Wycombe won Apprentice of the Year at the inaugural Football League Awards in 2006.
 |
| Ikechi Anya mum in 1990. A young Ikechi is seen at the background |
Non-League
He was released in the summer of 2007 and signed for Oxford City, before being snapped up in January 2008 by Halesowen Town. In the summer of 2008 he joined the Glenn Hoddle Academy and his contract expired in the summer of 2010.
 |
| Two Brothers: Anya of Scotland and his Nigerian Brother Ighalo |
Northampton Town
On 28 February 2009, Anya signed for League One side Northampton Town.
Spain
On 7 July 2009, Anya joined Sevilla Atlético, the reserve side of Sevilla, on a two-year contract. He also
signed for Celta Vigo in July 2010. On 13 July 2011, Anya signed a three-year contract with newly promoted La Liga side Granada. He was then loaned out to Cádiz for the season.
 |
| Anya (first from right) in Oxford United academy |
Watford
Anya was loaned to English side Watford for the 2012–13 season. On 22 July 2013, Anya completed a permanent move to Watford, signing a three-year deal. [He extended his contract following Watford's promotion to the Premier League in 2015, and is now contracted to the club until 2020.
 |
| Anya Father, Mr Chinas Anya celebrating his 60th birthday |
International Career
Anya chose to play international football for Scotland, the land of his birth, but would also have been eligible for England (through residence), Nigeria (through his father) or Romania (through his mother).
 |
| Anya celebrates his first ever goal for Scotland |
He received his first call up to the Scotland national team on 23 August 2013 for Scotland's World Cup qualifying against Belgium.
He scored his first international goal in the following game, a 2–1 win against Macedonia.
He said his dad Mr Chinasa Anya tried to stop home from playing football but wanted him to further his education.
"I have no regret playing for Scotland. My love for football developed when I was in Scotland so I was always going for that - for me it was always going to be Scotland," Anya said.
He said his dad Mr Chinasa Anya tried to stop home from playing football but wanted him to further his education.
On why he choose Scotland over Nigeria
"That was where I started playing football at school and where I learned everything. That was one of the main reasons I chose Scotland when I knew they were interested.
"When I was really young I was in Nigeria but I cant remember it. I appreciate the Nigerian side from my father and the Romanian side of my mother but that is them and I chose Scotland.
