Ariel Thierry Ngueukam (born 15 November 1988) is a Cameroonian former professional footballer who played as a forward.
Career Born in Yaoundé, Ngueukam began playing football as a striker with local sides FC Achille de Sa'a and FC Lotus-Terek. After unsuccessful trials with clubs in Hungary and Bulgaria, he signed with Finnish second division club JIPPO in 2011, where he scored 13 goals in his first 11 matches.
In 2012, he moved to FC Lahti in the Finnish first division. Ngueukam scored two goals on his debut for FC Lahti on 31 August 2012. Ngueukam signed for Turkish club Denizlispor in January 2013, but returned FC Lahti, playing with them in the 2013 and 2014 seasons. He moved to SJK for the 2015 season, and Ilves for the 2017 season.
On 6 November 2017, Ngueukam signed a two-year contract with HJK Helsinki for the 2018 and 2019 seasons. In January 2018 Ngueukam joined Al-Khor in Qatar, without having played for HJK.
On 11 July 2018, Ngueukam signed to the Israeli Premier League club Hapoel Ra'anana.
In June 2019 he returned to Finland to sign for KuPS.
In November 2019, it was announced that Tuco would return to SJK for the 2020 season. In the 2021 season he scored 14 goals for SJK in Veikkausliiga, making him the joint top scorer of the season alongside Benjamin Källman.Maalikuningas löysi pelipaikan – Tuco palaa Ilvekseen, pallotv.fi, 18 March 2022
On 17 March 2022, Ngueukam returned to Ilves for the 2022 season, with an option to extend for 2023. Following a season with the club, he joined IFK Mariehamn for the 2023 season.
In March 2024 he signed for Filipino club United City.Manila Digger FC 2-4 United City FC: Nguekam delivers hattrick, pfl.org.ph
Personal life He is nicknamed "Tuco".
Career statistics Ariel Ngueukam stats, Football Association of FinlandAril Ngueukam, besoccer.com
+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueNational cupContinentalOtherTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsJIPPO2011Ykkönen17600––1762012Ykkönen171142––2113Total34174200003819Lahti2012Veikkausliiga9700–0097Denizlispor2012–13TFF 1. Lig10100––101Lahti2013Veikkausliiga8500–00852014Veikkausliiga29732–413610Total37123200414415SJK2015Veikkausliiga3251020423972016Veikkausliiga3245421624411Total64964411048418Ilves2017Veikkausliiga321553––3718Al-Khor2017–18Qatar Stars League10300––103Hapoel Ra'anana2018–19Israeli Premier League15110––161KuPS2019Veikkausliiga1240040–164SJK Seinäjoki2020Veikkausliiga18410––1942021Veikkausliiga261440––3018Total44185000004918Ilves2022Veikkausliiga25622–00278IFK Mariehamn2023Veikkausliiga26652–20338United City2024Philippines Football League1414–––1414Career total332113311581165387134
Honours Individual Veikkausliiga Team of the Year: 2017 Veikkausliiga Top scorer: 2021 (14 goals) Veikkausliiga Player of the Month: October 2021Tuco äänestettiin Veikkausliigan kuukauden pelaajaksi, JPY, 12 November 2021
References