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Spanish golf equipment have more and more appeared to the African continent for contemporary expertise lately. We’ve teamed up with Linebet to check out the historical past of Kenyan gamers in LaLiga and whether or not any others have featured additional down the Spanish soccer pyramid.
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Kenyan gamers in LaLiga
| Participant | Membership | Appearances |
| McDonald Mariga | Actual Sociedad | 14 |
| Michael Olunga | Girona | 14 |
1. McDonald Mariga
- Membership: Actual Sociedad
- Appearances: 14
- Energetic: 2011-2012
The primary ever Kenyan to play in LaLiga was McDonald Mariga. The Nairobi-born midfielder’s profession in Europe started in Sweden, but it surely was at Italian membership Parma the place he actually started to forge a popularity for himself.
Having almost moved to Manchester Metropolis, Mariga finally joined Serie A giants Inter on the ultimate day of the January 2010 switch window.
McDonald Mariga turned the primary Kenyan ever to win the Champions League in 2010 and was a part of Inter Milan’s historic treble.
🏆 Serie A
🏆 Champions League
🏆 Coppa ItaliaA powerful debut season. 👏 pic.twitter.com/qt9zJXXIll
— Squawka (@Squawka) April 6, 2019
Whereas he was a part of a profitable staff, he struggled to get common game-time in Milan, and made somewhat piece of historical past firstly of the 2011/12 season by transferring on mortgage to Actual Sociedad, to grow to be the primary Kenyan within the Spanish prime flight.
Nonetheless solely 24 on the time, Mariga made 14 appearances for La Actual, together with 10 begins, earlier than transferring again to Parma on mortgage within the January window.
On the time, Actual Sociedad had been solely a backside half LaLiga outfit underneath the steerage of Frenchman Philippe Montanier. That’s regardless of having skills like Antoine Griezmann and Carlos Vela at their disposal.
2. Michael Olunga
- Membership: Girona
- Appearances: 14
- Energetic: 2017-2018
Six seasons later, the second Kenyan worldwide to function in LaLiga was Michael Olunga. He joined newly promoted Girona on a season lengthy mortgage from Chinese language aspect Guizhou in the summertime of 2017.
Already a prolific scorer for his nationwide staff, Olunga was desperate to show himself in one of many massive European leagues, however he initially struggled to persuade boss Pablo Machin and endured a irritating interval as he waited for his alternative.
That every one modified on thirteenth January 2018, a date that may dwell lengthy within the reminiscence for Kenyan followers of LaLiga. With Girona already a aim up at residence to Las Palmas, Olunga changed Cristhian Stuani on the break, and took simply 12 minutes to grow to be the primary Kenyan goalscorer in LaLiga.
Olunga wasn’t carried out, finishing a shocking hat-trick within the sport as Machin’s staff cruised to a 6-0 win. He additionally made a slice of historical past that day, by turning into the primary Girona participant to attain a hat-trick within the Spanish prime flight.
That sport was very a lot pretty much as good because it bought although for Olunga in LaLiga. He moved to Korea on the finish of the season, having solely began 4 matches within the league for the Catalan membership and having failed so as to add to his three aim tally.
Different Kenyan gamers in Spain
No Kenyan has performed within the prime tier of Spanish soccer since Olunga’s spell at Girona. Nevertheless, central defender Ismael Athuman did briefly seem for Las Palmas within the Segunda Division, whereas he has additionally performed additional down the pyramid with the likes of Cacereño, Fuenlabrada, Actual Murcia, Sabadell and most just lately Aguilas.
Whereas Athuman was born within the Canary Islands to a Kenyan father and Spanish mom, he opted to symbolize Kenya at worldwide stage, showing 11 instances for the Harambee Stars.
Actual Sociedad additionally at the moment have a Kenyan teen on their books by the title of Job Nguono Ochieng. Born in Nairobi, the 21-year-old has made 29 appearances for La Actual’s B staff within the Spanish third tier the place he stays lively as of the 2024/25 season. He’s identified for his tempo and skill to play as a ahead or a winger.
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