{{short description|Nigerian footballer and coach}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Robert Eziakor | fullname = Robert Eziakor Chinedu | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1986|10|19|df=yes}} | birth_place = [[Onitsha]], [[Anambra State]], [[Nigeria]]<ref name="hgfc"/> | position = [[Forward (association football)|Forward]] | years1 = 2006 | clubs1 = [[Sporting Afrique]]<ref name="hgfc"/> | years2 = 2007–2008 | clubs2 = [[Katong]]<ref name="hgfc"/> | years3 = 2009 | clubs3 = [[Singapore Recreation Club]]<ref name="hgfc"/> | years4 = 2010–2012 | clubs4 = Tiong Bahru<ref name="hgfc"/> | years5 = 2013 | clubs5 = [[Hougang United]] | caps5 = 8 | goals5 = 1 | currentclub = Vacant | manageryears1 = 2015–2024 | managerclubs1 = Tiong Bahru<ref name=ST2025>{{cite news |last=Lee |first=David |date=1 Jan 2025 |title=Robert Eziakor steps up as Hougang United interim coach in 13th year with Cheetahs |url=https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/football/robert-eziakor-steps-up-as-hougang-interim-coach-in-13th-year-with-cheetahs |publisher=[[The Straits Times]] }}</ref> <!-- <ref>http://www.fas.org.sg/sites/default/files/National%20Football%20League%202016%20Match%20Report%20-%20Stage%203%20%26%205%20%28M.15%20%26%20M.24%29.pdf {{Dead link|date=February 2022}}</ref> --> <!--| manageryears2 = 2019–2025 | managerclubs2 = [[Hougang United]] (team manager) --> | manageryears3 = 2021–2022 | managerclubs3 = [[Hougang United|Hougang United U17]] | manageryears4 = 2023–2024 | managerclubs4 = [[Hougang United|Hougang United U21]] | manageryears5 = 2023–2024 | managerclubs5 = [[Hougang United]] (assistant) | manageryears6 = 2024–2025 | managerclubs6 = [[Hougang United]] | manageryears7 = 2026 | managerclubs7 = [[Tampines Rovers]] (assistant) | manageryears8 = 2026 | managerclubs8 = [[Tampines Rovers]] (interim) }}
'''Robert Eziakor Chinedu''' {{Audio|LL-Q33578 (ibo)-Vivian Amalachukwu-Robert Eziakor Chinedu.wav|Listen|help=no}} (born 19 October 1986) is a Nigerian [[Football Manager|football manager]] and former player who is recently the interim head coach of [[Singapore Premier League]] club [[Tampines Rovers F.C.|Tampines Rovers]]. Eziakor spent most of his career playing for a host of Singaporean league sides.<ref name="hgfc" />
==Playing career==
=== Sporting Afrique === In 2006, Eziakor moved to Singapore to joined [[Sporting Afrique FC|Sporting Afrique]] for the [[2006 S.League]]. The team was made of players from an [[African people|African]] descent squad consisted of young players from [[Nigeria]], [[Cameroon]], [[Kenya]] and [[Ghana]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-12-01 |title=ESPZEN - Revolutionizing Amateur Football in Singapore |url=http://espzen.com/teamPlayers_ex.asp?leagueNo=74&teamno=529 |access-date=2023-09-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201031644/http://espzen.com/teamPlayers_ex.asp?leagueNo=74&teamno=529 |archive-date=2017-12-01 }}</ref>
=== Katong === In 2007, Eziakor joined [[Singapore Football League|National Football League]] (NFL) side, Katong.
=== Singapore Recreation Club === In 2009, Eziakor joined another NFL team, [[Singapore Recreation Club]].
=== Tiong Bahru === In 2010, Eziakor joined another NFL team, Tiong Bahru.
=== Hougang United === After playing semi-professional football for 6 years, In 2013, Eziakor signed for [[S.League]] club, [[Hougang United FC|Hougang United]]<ref name="hougang">{{Cite web|url=http://www.hgfc.com.sg/cheetahs-sealed-final-foreign-spot-with-robert-eziakor/|title=Cheetahs sealed final foreign spot with Robert Eziakor. – Hougang United Football Club}}</ref> and was handed the jersey number 20.<ref name="hgfc" /> Registering the most goals for his team in pre-season, he formed a good strike partnership with Guinean [[Mamadou M. Diallo|Mamadou Diallo]], aiming to be on the top scorers charts by the end of the season.<ref name="hgfc">{{Cite web|url=http://www.hgfc.com.sg/interview-with-robert-eziakor/|title=Interview with Robert Eziakor – Hougang United Football Club}}</ref> During an interview, Eziakor maintained that it was difficult for him to get back into shape for professional football since he was less fit from plying his trade with semi-pro clubs.<ref name="hgfc" /> The forward has stated that he has enjoyed the vehemence and support of the club supporters also known as the Hougang HOOLS, his team's fan club during his time there.<ref name="hgfc" /> On 25 June 2013, Eziakor announced his retirement from football and joined the backroom staff of the club.
==Managerial career==
=== Tiong Bahru === In 2016, Eziakor joined his former club, Tiong Bahru as their head coach for the year.
On 13 October 2018, Eziakor was named the Coach of the Year during the FAST NITE 2018.<ref>{{cite web |title=FAS NITE 2018 recognises season's best |url=https://fas.org.sg/fas-nite-2018-recognises-seasons-best/ |website=[[Football Association of Singapore|FAS]] |date=13 Oct 2018 }}</ref> Tiong Bahru proceed to finish the season unbeaten, claiming the [[2018 Singapore National Football League|2018 Division One]] title.<ref>{{cite web |title=Tiong Bahru FC Claims NFL Division One Trophy with 16 Wins and Two Draws |url=https://fas.org.sg/tiong-bahru-fc-claims-nfl-division-one-trophy-with-16-wins-and-two-draws/ |website=[[Football Association of Singapore|FAS]] |date=28 Oct 2018 }}</ref> In 2019, Eziakor retained both the [[2019 Singapore National Football League|Division One]] title with the club<ref>{{cite web |title=Tiong Bahru win NFL Div 1 crown, Commonwealth Cosmos clinch IWL title |url=https://fas.org.sg/tiong-bahru-win-nfl-div-1-crown-commonwealth-cosmos-clinch-iwl-title/ |website=[[Football Association of Singapore|FAS]] |date=17 Aug 2019 }}</ref> and Coach of the Year award for the second year running.<ref>{{cite web |title=Faris Ramli named SPL Player of the Year as FAS Nite 2019 recognises season's best |url=https://fas.org.sg/faris-ramli-spl-player-of-the-year-fas-nite-2019-recognises-seasons-best/ |website=[[Football Association of Singapore|FAS]] |date=31 Oct 2019 }}</ref>
=== Hougang United === In 2017, Eziakor returned to Hougang United to become the club General Coordinator and Safety Officer.<ref>http://www.fas.org.sg/sites/default/files/National%20Football%20League%202016%20Match%20Report%20-%20Stage%203%20%26%205%20%28M.15%20%26%20M.24%29.pdf {{Dead link|date=February 2022}}</ref> In 2021, he become the club Team Manager before becoming the club assistant coach & Hougang United U21 coach. In 2023, Eziakor was promoted as the assistant coach of the senior team where he work under head coach [[Marko Kraljević (footballer)|Marko Kraljević]]. On 24 December 2024, Eziakor was rewarded as the interim head coach of Hougang United for the remainder of the [[2024–25 Singapore Premier League|2024–25 season]] after Kraljević was promoted to technical staff of the club.<ref name=ST2025 /> He become the first ever African to become a head coach in the Singapore Premier League history.
=== Tampines Rovers === In January 2026, Eziakor joined [[Tampines Rovers FC|Tampines Rovers]] as an assistant coach where he work under head coach [[Noh Rahman]] at the club. He is also the head coach for the U-19 team.<ref>{{cite web |author=Deepanraj Ganesan |title=Temp coaches look to outwit each other in S'pore Premier League's top-of-the-table 'interim derby' |url=https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/football/temp-coaches-look-to-outwit-each-other-in-spore-premier-leagues-top-of-the-table-interim-derby |website=[[The Straits Times]] |date=19 Feb 2026 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=We extend our best wishes to Head Coach Noh Rahman... |url=https://www.instagram.com/p/DUF5cAgiYD4/ |website=tampinesrovers/IG |date=29 Jan 2026 }}</ref> However, Tampines Rovers parted ways with Noh Rahman where Eziakor was then named as interim coach on 14 February 2026 until the end of the [[2025–26 BG Tampines Rovers FC season|2025–26 season]].
== Personal life == Eziakor is a [[permanent resident of Singapore]] and has a son who plays for the Singapore Under-15s.<ref name=ST2025 /><ref>{{cite news |last=Teoh |first=Melvyn |date=31 Aug 2023 |title=Revenge on Singapore youth footballer Uchenna Eziakor's mind at Lion City Cup |url=https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/football/revenge-on-singapore-youth-footballer-uchenna-eziakor-s-mind-for-lion-city-cup |publisher=[[The Straits Times]] }}</ref>
==Managerial statistics== {{updated|3 April 2026}}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;" |+ Managerial record by team and tenure |- !rowspan="2"|Team !rowspan="2"|Nat. !rowspan="2"|From !rowspan="2"|To !colspan="5"|Record !rowspan="2"|{{abbr|Ref.|Reference}} |- !{{Tooltip|G|Games managed}} !{{Tooltip|W|Games won}} !{{Tooltip|D|Games drawn}} !{{Tooltip|L|Games lost}} !{{Tooltip|Win %|Win percentage}} |- |align="left"|[[Hougang United FC|Hougang United]] |{{flagicon|Singapore}} |align="left"|24 December 2024 |align="left"|26 October 2025 {{WDL|20|6|3|11}} | |- |align="left"|[[Tampines Rovers F.C.|Tampines Rovers]] (interim) |{{flagicon|Singapore}} |align="left"|14 February 2026 |align="left"|3 April 2026 {{WDL|8|5|2|1}} | |- !colspan="4"|Career Total {{WDLtot|28|11|5|12}} ! |}
==References== {{reflist|}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Eziakor, Robert}} [[Category:Nigerian men's footballers]] [[Category:Nigerian expatriate men's footballers]] [[Category:Nigerian football managers]] [[Category:Men's association football forwards]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:1986 births]] [[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Singapore]] [[Category:Nigerian expatriate sportspeople in Singapore]] [[Category:Singapore Premier League players]] [[Category:Hougang United FC players]] [[Category:Sportspeople from Onitsha]] [[Category:Footballers from Anambra State]] [[Category:21st-century Nigerian sportsmen]]