None can deny wanting a good fullback in their team and even fewer are likely to deny a fullback as young and brilliant as Destiny Udogie. The Spursman has taken the Premier League by storm with his amazing run of form for the London Whites this season – becoming a key figure in Ange Postecoglu’s revolution. We have all seen highlights of his tenacious gameplay and it’s very likely that some of us may want to know more about the lad.
In this article, we’re here to do just that as we briefly go over the biography of Destiny Udogie, also known as Udo. Along with a full coverage of the moments that built and shaped his career from day one to day spurs, we will also shed light on aspects of his personal life including his family, religion, girlfriend, personality and so on.
Destiny Udogie Family
He is one of three children born to Franklin and Kate Udogie. His brother is called Uwe whereas his sister goes by the name Desire.
The Role of His Parents in Getting Him Where He Is
To an onlooker, Destiny’s journey may look like an overnight success but the reality couldn’t be further from the truth. Even during the most difficult days, his parents backed him. They were always supportive with respect to his passion for the game and when his mother noticed his footballing prowess, she further catered for its healthy development. Speaking of his father in particular, he says:
“My father was my pillar of support.”
Ethnicity
He is of Nigerian descent. Though he was born and raised in Italy, Udo takes great pride in embracing his Nigerian heritage. In an interview, he explains why he chose to play for Italy over Nigeria:
“I was born in Italy, so I feel more Italian. I grew up playing with the young players in Italy. I hope to reach the first team. It’s ambition, I just have to give more, to do my best every game, show my quality and it’s a big ambition.”
Religion
Despite not making any public displays of his affiliation with a religion, he is still believed to be a Christian given his background.
Marital Status
He is unmarried and data on his dating history remains elusive. As we speak, he is entirely focused on football and making a hallmark for himself in the Premier League for Spurs.
Childhood
Born in Verona to Nigerian immigrants, he comes from a middle-class household. Young Udo shared a very closely knit bond with his family and his siblings in particular, who acted as his pillars of support from day one. What’s interesting to note is that he speaks fluent English because his parents insisted on him learning and speaking that language from a very young age. At home, they all converse in English.
Football was his first love and it all began very early on as he would kick the soccer ball lying untouched in his home. His interest caught his mother’s attention who urged her young boy to go to the local parks and try playing football with other kids there.
Little is known about his education but what we do know is that he attended one of the local schools in Verona. His parents insisted that he continued his education alongside football. To strike a balance between both, he was enrolled into a local football school.
The Initiation of A Long Journey
After a few months in the football school, he joined Nogara, a local team in Verona. He immediately struck a positive impression on a scout from Atalanta. His performances belied his age such that the scouting member refused to believe he was that young. His father responded by showing him his young boy’s birth certificate. Nonetheless, he and his parents knew it was time for him to look for a more reputable club. This led him to attempting trials at Hellas Verona.
What might surprise a lot of readers is that Udo attempted trials thrice at Hellas Verona and failed twice. It’s these little things that take young and aspiring children towards despondency but little Udo was determined to make his mark. After making his way into Verona’s youth ranks, he proved himself as one of the academy’s best. Even as a fullback, he would score goals for fun. 2020 was his year as he was called up to the first team and trained with the big boys.
Making Headlines
Just three weeks before his 18th birthday, he made his senior debut against AC Milan. During the latter half of the 2020/21 season, he had even gone on to become a regular starter for Hellas, often being deployed as a Central Midfielder or Mezzala. Good run of performances and untapped potential led Udinese to sign him on loan with an obligation to buy in the summer of 2021. During his time there, he scored five goals and gave three assists in 35 appearances – not bad for a teenage fullback.
In the summer of 2022, Tottenham Hotspur approached the Italian for his services to which he agreed but stayed with Udinese on loan till the summer of 2023. After his return, he carved out a place for himself in Ange Postecogolu’s starting eleven thanks to his no-nonsense performances.
Lifestyle and Personality
Udo is someone who enjoys quiet places as he is more introverted than his peers at the club. He usually enjoys vacations with his inner circle of close friends. Despite his ascent to stardom, he still prefers simplicity and opts for his family’s comfort over personal extravagance.
On the other hand, he makes no compromises when it comes to training and staying in the best shape. Udo has a burning desire to be one of the best and follows a very strict diet and training routine to meet his goals.
Style of Play
Destiny Udogie’s game is exactly what Tottenham Hotspur have missed out on for so long. An attacking full back, he is aggressive on the ball and draws inspiration from Real Madrid’s finest, Marcelo. Speaking of his style of play, he says:
“I love to attack, I have a good physique so I attack with my physical qualities. Also with my feet, I like to dribble, speed, some pace. These are my best qualities. I watched a lot of Marcelo of Real Madrid growing up, he was one of the best left backs in the world so I loved to watch him. In my league it’s Theo Hernandez, so I look at him.”
Does Destiny Udogie have Tattoos?
At the time of writing this, he has no tattoos and has kept his skin free from ink.
