Magnus Okuonghae

Magnus Erharuyi Okuonghae (born 16 February 1986) is a former professional footballer who played as a defender.

Okuonghae made over 200 appearances in all competitions for Colchester United where he was club captain, and has also played for Rushden & Diamonds, Aldershot Town, St Albans City, Crawley Town, Dagenham & Redbridge, Luton Town and Maidstone United.

He has made loan appearances for Bishop's Stortford, Weymouth, Hartlepool United and Welling United.

Born in Lagos, Nigeria, Okuonghae began his career with Fulham in the club's youth system, before appearing for Norwich City under-19s in March 2002, and later featured on the bench for Leicester City under-19s in April 2002.

Okuonghae was signed by Third Division club Rushden & Diamonds and became part of the under-16 squad.

He later signed his first professional contract with the club and was given squad number 40.

During the 2002–03 season, Okuonghae failed to make an appearance for the first team, but was an unused substitute during a 4–1 win at home to Cambridge United on 18 January 2003.

He made his professional debut for Rushden & Diamonds, now in the Second Division in 2003–04 as an 87th-minute substitute in a 4–0 win over Colchester United at Nene Park on 22 November, but did not feature again for the rest of the season.

A spell on loan at Conference South club Bishop's Stortford followed in 2004–05, where he made eight appearances.

Okuonghae found himself playing in the first team more regularly during the 2005–06 season, making a late substitute appearance in a 1–0 victory away to Mansfield Town on 9 August 2005.

He would make a further 22 appearances in all competitions throughout the season, and registered his first professional goal in a 2–1 defeat away to Rochdale on 1 October.

However, the season ended in relegation for Rushden, and Okuonghae rejected their offer of a new contract and left the club.

Born in Nigeria, he was capped once by the England national C team in 2006.

Following an unsuccessful trial at Gillingham, Okuonghae joined Conference National club Aldershot Town in August 2006.

He made his club debut on 15 August in a 1–0 defeat away to Weymouth.

His second and final appearance for the club came just four days later as Aldershot beat St Albans City 5–3 on the road.

In late August 2006, after just two appearances for Aldershot, Okuonghae joined St Albans City on a non-contract basis.

He made his debut for the club in a 2–1 defeat away to Oxford United on 1 September.

Okuonghae made 20 appearances in all competitions between September 2006 and January 2007.

Okuonghae moved on from St Albans in January 2007, representing his third Conference club of the season as he signed for Crawley Town.

He made his debut for the club on 13 January as they defeated his former club Aldershot 2–0 at the Recreation Ground.

Okuonghae scored his first of two goals for the club in a 2–2 draw against his previous club St Albans on 10 February, netting the opening goal after 12 minutes.

His second and final goal came in Crawley's 2–1 defeat to Northwich Victoria on 14 April.

Okuonghae ended his stint with the club with 21 appearances to his name.

Okuonghae signed for League Two club Dagenham & Redbridge on 31 May 2007.

After making his debut on 1 September in a 1–0 win at home to Lincoln City, Okuonghae found his chances limited, making just 10 appearances between September 2007 and January 2008.

Okuonghae was sent out on loan to Conference Premier club Weymouth in February 2008, making his debut in a 1–0 defeat at home to Histon on 23 February.

He made six appearances for Weymouth in all competitions.

Okuonghae returned to Dagenham for the 2008–09 season and started every match in the early stages of the season, winning a regular spot in the right-back position.

He said he was "happy to be playing and happy to be an influence".

He scored his first goal for the club during the campaign in a 2–1 defeat away to Luton Town on 15 November 2008.

He also scored against Notts County in a 6–1 rout on 22 November, making the score 5–0 after 56 minutes.

He played all but one league match for Dagenham & Redbridge through the campaign as they fell just short of the League Two play-offs.

He was named as the club's 2008–09 Player of the Year.

With Okuonghae out of contract, he decided to join League One club Colchester United in July 2009.

Although Dagenham & Redbridge had offered Okuonghae a new contract, he described his move to Colchester as a "no-brainer" and felt that he could make the step up to League One football.

He signed a two-year deal with the club, although compensation had to be paid to Dagenham & Redbridge for the transfer.

The fee for Okuonghae was set at a tribunal in August 2009, with the Professional Football Compensation Committee deciding that Colchester United should pay Dagenham & Redbridge an initial fee of £45,000, with an additional £5,000 paid after the player had made 15, 30, 45 and 60 appearances; a total further payment of £20,000.

Other stipulations included a £15,000 payment if Colchester were promoted within the next two seasons if Okuonghae remained with the club, and a 20% sell-on fee would be paid on any profit if Colchester United were to sell Okuonghae.

Okuonghae made his debut for Colchester on the opening day of 2009–10 in a 7–1 win away to newly relegated Norwich City.