1. Ifeoma Nnenna Dieke was born on 25 February 1981 and is an American-born Scottish international footballer who played as a defender for several professional clubs in Sweden, the United States, and Cyprus.
22 Facts About Ifeoma Dieke
1. 2.
Ifeoma Dieke was the first black woman to captain for Scotland, and Ifeoma Dieke and fellow Scot Kim Little were the only non-English players selected in the Great Britain squad for the 2012 London Olympics.
3.
Ifeoma Dieke started her football career when she was eight years old, playing for her primary school St Mary's.
4.
Ifeoma Dieke later joined Cumbernauld Cosmos, from where she moved to Cumbernauld Ladies.
5.
Ifeoma Dieke graduated in 2003 and joined Women's United Soccer Association side Atlanta Beat.
6.
Ifeoma Dieke started eight of 13 regular season games and scored one goal.
7.
The league folded at the end of her first season, and Ifeoma Dieke later played in Sweden and Cyprus.
8.
Ifeoma Dieke started 12 of her 13 appearances for the Breakers in 2010, scoring one goal against her former employers Chicago, for whom she had made five early season appearances.
9.
The WPS folded ahead of the 2012 season and Ifeoma Dieke returned to Sweden, signing for Damallsvenskan newcomers Vittsjo GIK.
10.
Ifeoma Dieke was eligible to represent either Scotland, the United States or Nigeria at international level.
11.
Ifeoma Dieke made her Scotland debut in January 2004 against Greece and earned her 50th cap against Northern Ireland in May 2009.
12.
In 2012 Ifeoma Dieke was selected for a place in the Great Britain team at the 2012 London Olympics.
13.
Ifeoma Dieke played alongside Casey Stoney in central defence, but suffered knee ligament damage in the second group match and had to withdraw from the squad.
14.
Ifeoma Dieke remained in Scotland's team for UEFA Women's Euro 2017 qualifying.
15.
When Scotland secured qualification for their first ever major tournament at UEFA Women's Euro 2017, after several near misses, 36-year-old veteran Ifeoma Dieke announced that she would be retiring from international football afterwards.
16.
Ifeoma Dieke played in all three games as Scotland made a limp group stage exit, then confirmed her decision to retire the following month.
17.
Ifeoma Dieke began coaching youth club soccer in the United States from 2000 to 2007.
18.
Ifeoma Dieke was named varsity coach for Palmer Trinity School in 2019.
19.
Ifeoma Dieke was a coach at Elite Clubs National League youth club FC Prime of Sunrise, Florida, from 2020 to 2022.
20.
Ifeoma Dieke derisively compared her tenure to Nigerian politics, which she experienced through her mother's campaigning for office in Nigeria.
21.
Ifeoma Dieke probably prefers a centre-half role but can play anywhere along the back.
22.
Ifeoma Dieke is often referred to by the hypocorism "Ife".