Curtis Osano (born 8 March 1987) is a Kenyan footballer who plays as a defender, most recently for Farnborough.

Curtis Osano
Osano during Bengaluru FC event
Personal information
Full name Curtis Osano[1]
Date of birth (1987-03-08) 8 March 1987 (age 37)[1]
Place of birth Nakuru, Kenya
Height 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)[1]
Position(s) Centre back
Youth career
000–2005 Reading
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2005–2008 Reading 0 (0)
2006–2007Aldershot Town (loan) 10 (0)
2007Woking (loan) 14 (0)
2007–2008Rushden & Diamonds (loan) 42 (0)
2008–2011 Rushden & Diamonds 121 (1)
2011–2012 Luton Town 28 (0)
2012–2013 AFC Wimbledon 17 (0)
2013–2016 Bengaluru FC 54 (2)
2016–2017 Farnborough 30 (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 7 July 2017

Career

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Early years

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Born in Nakuru, Kenya,[1] Osano moved to England at the age nine when his father joined the British Army.[2] However, he didn't start playing football until the age of 13, as a student at Oak Farm School in Farnborough. Around this time, he also became involved in athletics, representing Surrey in the English Schools Championships, winning silver in the triple jump.[2] He eventually rose through the ranks at Reading as a defender under the guidance of future Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers and was involved with the English youth set-up, though he failed to make a league appearance for "The Royals". However, he did make two appearances in the FA Cup against West Bromwich Albion[3] and Birmingham City.[4] Osano joined Aldershot Town in October 2006 on a month-long work experience deal, which was later extended.[5] He then joined Woking in January 2007 on work experience until the end of the 2006–07 season.[6]

Rushden & Diamonds

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The right-back joined Rushden & Diamonds for the 2007–08 season on work experience.[7] He joined Rushden on a two-year contract in July 2008 following his release by Reading.[8] He scored his first career goal in a game against Altrincham in November 2008.[9] He was released by Rushden in May 2011 due to the club's financial difficulties, having made over 160 league appearances for the club in total.[10]

Following his release by Rushden, he was taken on trial by Championship side Brighton & Hove Albion and participated in their first pre-season game of 2011 against Burgess Hill Town. He played the first 45 minutes of the match but his stay with the club proved to be short-lived, following the signing of Romain Vincelot from Dagenham & Redbridge.[11] During this period Osano sought work in a recycling centre to help make ends meet, staying with his former Frimley Green youth manager, John McDonnell as he searched for a new club.[2]

Luton Town

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Osano went on trial with Luton Town, earning a six-month contract on 29 July 2011 after his performances in two pre-season games.[12] Luton Town extended his contract until the end of the season following strong performances for the club, with manager Gary Brabin said of Osano "Curtis has been excellent for us. He's a great athlete, has bags of enthusiasm, is a hard-worker and loves to get forward."[13] He featured prominently for the club throughout the 2011–12 season and was a member of the starting eleven that competed in the 2012 Conference play-off final defeat to York City on 20 May 2012.

AFC Wimbledon

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On 28 May 2012, Osano left Luton to sign for League Two side AFC Wimbledon, where he once again linked up with former teammate Will Antwi. Osano had an unfortunate start to the 2012–13 campaign when he picked up an ankle injury that prevented him from taking part in the first eight games of the season. He finally made his debut for AFC Wimbledon as a late substitute in a 2–1 loss against Accrington Stanley on 29 September 2012. On 14 May 2013, Osano was released from his contract and left AFC Wimbledon having made twenty appearances in all competitions for the club.[14]

Bengaluru FC

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On 16 July 2013, Osano joined I-League side Bengaluru FC on a free transfer. Speaking of his move to India Osano said: "I love challenges and the idea of getting into a league with a completely different style of football intrigued me. The manager is trying to bring a different brand of football and I consider it a once in a lifetime chance, a blessing that's fallen in my lap."[15] He made his debut for the side in their first ever I-League match on 22 September 2013 against Mohun Bagan A.C. in which he started and played the full match as Bengaluru drew the match 1–1.[16]

Return to England

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After three seasons in India, Osano returned to England, reportedly to sign with the Isthmian League, Hayes & Yeading United.[17] However on 28 July 2016 it was announced that he had signed instead for Farnborough.[18]

Later years

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After his career with football, Osano turned to web development as a profession in 2016.[19]

Career statistics

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As of 6 April 2016
Club statistics
Club Season League FA Cup[20] League Cup[21] Other[22] Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Reading 2005–06[23] Championship 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
2006–07[24] Premier League 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
Total 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
Aldershot Town (loan) 2006–07[24] Conference 10 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 10 0
Total 10 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 10 0
Woking (loan) 2006–07 Conference 14 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 14 0
Total 14 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 14 0
Rushden & Diamonds (loan) 2007–08[25] Conference 42 0 2 0 0 0 6 0 50 0
Rushden & Diamonds 2008–09[26] Conference 39 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 39 1
2009–10[27] Conference 42 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 44 0
2010–11[28] Conference 40 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 41 0
Total 163 1 5 0 0 0 6 0 174 1
Luton Town 2011–12[29] Conference 28 0 1 0 0 0 3 0 32 0
Total 28 0 1 0 0 0 3 0 32 0
AFC Wimbledon 2012–13[30] League Two 17 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 20 0
Total 17 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 20 0
Bengaluru FC 2013–14[31] I-League 22 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 25 0
2014–15 I-League 19 1 5 0 0 0 6 0 30 1
2015–16 I-League 13 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 13 1
Total 54 2 8 0 0 0 6 0 68 2
Career total 286 3 19 0 0 0 15 0 319 3

Honours

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Club

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Bengaluru FC

References

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  1. ^ a b c d Hugman, Barry J. (2007). The PFA footballers' who's who 2007–08. Mainstream publishing. p. 309. ISBN 978-1-84596-246-3.
  2. ^ a b c "Curtis on his comeback". AFC Wimbledon. 29 October 2012. Retrieved 29 October 2012.
  3. ^ "Reading 3–2 West Brom (aet)". BBC. 17 January 2006. Retrieved 16 August 2012.
  4. ^ "Birmingham 2–3 Reading". BBC. 27 January 2007. Retrieved 16 August 2012.
  5. ^ "Royals youngster staying at Shots". BBC Sport. 9 November 2006. Retrieved 13 November 2006.
  6. ^ "Woking sign defender from Reading". BBC Sport. 31 January 2007. Retrieved 1 February 2007.
  7. ^ "Osano makes loan move to Rushden". Reading F.C. 7 May 2007. Archived from the original on 5 August 2012. Retrieved 7 May 2007.
  8. ^ "Diamonds recruit defender Osano". BBC Sport. 3 July 2008. Retrieved 14 August 2009.
  9. ^ "Altrincham 0–4 Rushden & Diamonds". BBC. 29 November 2008. Retrieved 16 August 2012.
  10. ^ "Curtis Osano". Rushden & Diamonds F.C. 17 June 2011. Archived from the original on 3 July 2011. Retrieved 26 June 2011.
  11. ^ "Osano on trial at Brighton". The Argus. 10 July 2011. Retrieved 10 July 2011.
  12. ^ "Curtis Osano and Will Antwi earn Luton Town deals". BBC Sport. 29 July 2011. Retrieved 29 July 2011.
  13. ^ "Curtis Osano earns extended Luton Town stay". BBC Sport. 31 October 2011. Retrieved 19 January 2012.
  14. ^ "Neal confirms released list". AFC Wimbledon. Retrieved 14 May 2013.
  15. ^ "JSW sign two players with EPL experience". NewstrackIndia. Retrieved 17 July 2013.
  16. ^ "BENGALURU VS. MOHUN BAGAN 1 – 1". Soccerway. Retrieved 5 October 2013.
  17. ^ Lewis, Matt (4 July 2016). "Hayes & Yeading squad starts to take shape as former AFC Wimbledon defender joins and familiar faces return". Get West London. Retrieved 4 July 2016.
  18. ^ "Squad Update – July 2016". Farnborough FC. 28 July 2016. Archived from the original on 6 August 2016. Retrieved 28 July 2016.
  19. ^ "Curtis Osano". Retrieved 8 March 2017.
  20. ^ Includes FA Cup and Federation Cup
  21. ^ Includes English League Cup and IFA Shield
  22. ^ Includes FA Trophy, Conference League Cup,Conference Play-offs and AFC Cup
  23. ^ "Games played by Curtis Osano in 2005/2006". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 14 July 2013.
  24. ^ a b "Games played by Curtis Osano in 2006/2007". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 14 July 2013.
  25. ^ "Games played by Curtis Osano in 2007/2008". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 14 July 2013.
  26. ^ "Games played by Curtis Osano in 2008/2009". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 14 July 2013.
  27. ^ "Games played by Curtis Osano in 2009/2010". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 14 July 2013.
  28. ^ "Games played by Curtis Osano in 2010/2011". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 14 July 2013.
  29. ^ "Games played by Curtis Osano in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 14 July 2013.
  30. ^ "Games played by Curtis Osano in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 14 July 2013.
  31. ^ "Games played by Curtis Osano in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 17 July 2013.
  32. ^ "Individual awards of Hero I-League 2015–16". AIFF.
  33. ^ "Dempo SC 1–2 Bengaluru FC: The Blues win their first Federation Cup". Goal. 11 January 2015. Archived from the original on 30 August 2017. Retrieved 28 August 2017.
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