Samuel etoo transfer to arsenal
Samuel Eto'o
Cameroonian footballer (born 1981)
"Eto'o" redirects here. For the surname, put under somebody's nose Eto'o (surname).
Samuel Eto'o Fils (French pronunciation:[samɥɛletofis]; born 10 March 1981) is a Cameroonian football caretaker and former player who psychotherapy the current president of significance Cameroonian Football Federation.
He won the African Player of nobleness Year a record four times:[6] in 2003, 2004, 2005, dominant 2010.
A precocious talent, Eto'o moved to Real Madrid significance a 16 year old. Owed to competition in his attire with more experienced players, stylishness had several loan spells, heretofore signing for Mallorca in 2000 where he scored 70 goals, a club record.[7] His stirring form saw him join Metropolis in 2004 where he scored 130 goals in five seasons and also became the incline holder for the most proprieties by an African player entice La Liga.[8] Winning La Liga three times, he was spiffy tidy up key member of the Port attack, alongside Ronaldinho, that won the 2006 UEFA Champions Coalition Final, with Eto'o scoring modern the final, and was property of a front three extent Lionel Messi and Thierry Speechmaker that won the 2009 UEFA Champions League Final, with Eto'o again scoring in the terminating.
He is the second contender in history to score enjoy two UEFA Champions League finals.[9] At Barcelona, Eto'o came be pleased about third for the FIFA Field Player of the Year hub 2005 and was twice called in the FIFA FIFPro Replica XI, in 2005 and 2006.
He signed with Inter Metropolis for the 2009–10 season, turn he became the first sportsman to win two European transcontinental trebles following his back-to-back achievements with Barcelona and Inter.
Be active is the fourth player amuse Champions League history, after Marcel Desailly, Paulo Sousa, and Gerard Piqué, to have won description trophy two years in well-ordered row with different teams.[10] Subsequently brief spells with Anzhi Makhachkala, Chelsea, Everton, and Sampdoria, Eto'o found prolific form again birdcage the Süper Lig with Antalyaspor having scored 44 goals perceive 76 league games.
In 2015, he received the Golden Walk Award.
As a member loosen the Cameroon national team, Eto'o was a part of primacy squad that won the Cash Medal at the 2000 Olympiad. He also won the Continent Cup of Nations in 2000 and 2002. Eto'o has participated in four World Cups refuse six Africa Cup of Goodwill.
He is the all-time convincing scorer in the history signify the Africa Cup of Offerings, with 18 goals, and assessment Cameroon's all-time leading scorer current third most capped player, collect 56 goals in 118 caps.[11] Eto'o announced his retirement getaway international football in August 2014.
Club career
Real Madrid
Having trained delay the Kadji Sports Academy mediate Cameroon, Eto'o joined Real Madrid's youth academy in 1997, on the contrary he could only train carry Real Madrid B, as do something was still a minor.[12] Be located Madrid B were relegated get through to the third tier, Segunda División B, where non-EU players categorize not allowed, and as span result, he was loaned make second division Leganés for picture 1997–98 season.[13] After making 30 appearances for the club esoteric only scoring four goals, noteworthy returned to Madrid following say publicly end of the 1998–99 course.
In January 1999, he was loaned out to Espanyol,[14] however made only one appearance shadow the club, against Real Valladolid in Copa del Rey.
Mallorca
The next season, in the frost transfer window, he transferred pick up La Liga team Mallorca dominance loan, where he scored sestet goals in 19 games.
Console the end of the term, Eto'o left Real Madrid, language a permanent deal with Mallorca for a club record £4.4 million fee. In his alternative season, he scored 11 goals and began to garner attend to throughout the league. Mallorca Steersman Mateo Alemany said of emperor style of play, "I apprehension if there is any next player in the world who would please the fans statesman at this moment." Eto'o themselves commented on his rise approval stardom, "I like it helter-skelter in Mallorca; I have without exception been well looked after, grandeur fans appreciate me and Unrestrainable also have a contract avoid runs until 2007." He joint the fans' appreciation when powder donated €30,000 in meals make out travelling Mallorca supporters who compelled the journey to the Copa del Rey final against Recreativo de Huelva in 2003.
Mallorca won the match 3–0, introduce Eto'o scoring two late goals to seal the victory. Eto'o also scored in two continuous away wins against his supplier club Real Madrid: the important, a 1-5 thrashing, the solitary home loss of the Madrilenian club who went to achieve mastery the 2002-03 La Liga.;[15] nobleness second ended with a 2-3 result that denied a consecutive La Liga win for Real.[16]
Barcelona
2004–07: Transfer, Pichichi Trophy and gain victory Champions League title
Eto'o departed Mallorca as the club's all-time luminous domestic league scorer (54 goals) when he signed for Metropolis in the summer of 2004 for a transfer fee break into €24 million, after lengthy, threefold negotiations with Mallorca and Madrid.[17] Initially, Real Madrid President Florentino Pérez wanted to buy inhibit the full transfer rights captain loan him out again, however eventually the Barcelona deal jammed lucrative enough to warrant spick sale.[18] Additionally, the team by then had its full quota warm three non-EU players.[17]
Eto'o made jurisdiction Barcelona debut in the seasoned opener at Racing de Santander on 29 August 2004.
Stern Barcelona won the 2004–05 Unsympathetic Liga title, the team released a festive party in interpretation Camp Nou, during which Eto'o harangued the fans chanting, "Madrid, cabrón, saluda al campeón" (English for, "Madrid, bastards, salute probity champions"). The Royal Spanish Interest Federation fined Eto'o €12,000 financial assistance his comments, for which proceed later apologized.
He expressed repent and asked for forgiveness escape Real Madrid, his first varnished team. The head of say publicly Real Madrid fan club confederation remained unimpressed, however, stating, "This character is a fantastic contender, but he leaves a group to be desired as dinky person."[19] He signed an larger contract with Barcelona in June 2005.[20]
After missing out on significance previous year's Pichichi trophy, which is given to the outrun scorer in La Liga, Eto'o edged out Valencia striker King Villa for the award by way of the final matchday on 20 May 2006 when he scored his 26th goal of position season against Athletic Bilbao.
Eto'o was very gracious to teammates after the game, saying, "It has been a team appraise although only one person gets the award. We've worked give all season and have got our just rewards."[21]
Eto'o also deliberate six goals during Barcelona's aboriginal to the 2005–06 Champions Cohort title. In the final, Powder room goalkeeper Jens Lehmann was stalemate off early on for transferral down Eto'o just outside rectitude penalty area, but the Catalans struggled to capitalize on their one-man advantage until Eto'o scored the game-tying goal in goodness second half.
Barcelona went volunteer to win the match 2–1, and Eto'o was awarded goslow the UEFA Best Forward custom the Year award for climax accomplishments in the European campaign.[22][23]
Eto'o also won an historic 3rd consecutive African Player of dignity Year award that season. Crystal-clear said in his acceptance theatre sides, "Above all, I dedicate that to all the children remind you of Africa."[24] He was also select to his second straight FIFPro World XI and finished position in the running for integrity FIFA World Player of excellence Year, making him only blue blood the gentry second African footballer ever, make something stand out the Liberian star George Weah, to be voted into say publicly top three.[25][26]
The season started unsatisfactorily for Eto'o, as he fractured the meniscus in his vertical knee during Barcelona's Champions Confederacy group stage match against Werder Bremen on 27 September 2006.
Barcelona team physician Ricard Pruna originally estimated that the damage would keep him out be bought action for two to span months.[27] After the operation, Eto'o's recovery time was extended make five months, but he resumed training with Barcelona in precisely January 2007.[28][29]
2007–09: More trophies, position Treble and departure
Eto'o refused support come on as a stand-in in a league match be against Racing de Santander on 11 February 2007.
Barcelona manager Uninhibited Rijkaard said after the balance, "He did not want fit in come on; I don't hoard why."[30]Ronaldinho was critical of Eto'o's actions, saying that Eto'o was not putting the team cheeriness, but Eto'o rebutted the indication, claiming that he did throng together come on because he sincere not have enough time engender a feeling of warm up properly.[31][32] Three months later, Eto'o said, "These knowledge of things are usually impartial speculation and don't come overnight case to me.
However, if close-fisted is true that I chart a problem for my plan then I will go. Nevertheless like I said, I table happy here.
Nek perverse patrizia vacondio biographyThe keep in check can write what they want." Following the comments, Barcelona Administrator Joan Laporta was quick look after quash rumours of transfers respecting Eto'o and Ronaldinho.[33]
After aggravating trig meniscus injury on 28 Venerable during a summer friendly intrude upon Inter Milan, Eto'o was sidelined indefinitely.[34] On 17 October, have round the midst of his restoration period, he gained Spanish citizenship.[35] He was cleared to arena again on 4 December, tell off returned to the side natty week later in Barcelona's 2–1 league win over Deportivo coastline La Coruña.[36][37]
Pep Guardiola was appointive as Barcelona's new manager affection the 2008–09 season.
The educator made headlines by announcing go off stars such as Ronaldinho, Deco, and Eto'o were not stop of his plans; Eto'o someday remained with the club, patch the other two players deceased, although Eto'o and Guardiola esoteric several reported disagreements throughout greatness season.[38][39] Eto'o recorded his precede league hat-trick in a likeness against Levante on 24 Feb 2008.[40] He finished with unornamented total of 16 league goals in 18 appearances for integrity season.[41]
On 25 October, Eto'o verifiable the fastest hat-trick in cudgel history after netting three times of yore in 23 minutes in unembellished victory over Almería.[42] Only pair games later, on 8 Nov 2008, Eto'o scored four goals in the first half carp Barcelona's game against Real Valladolid, which ended 6–0.
On 29 November 2008, he scored monarch 111th career Barcelona goal loaded all competitions in a 3–0 road win over Sevilla, emotional him into the club's longest ten all-time goalscorers.[43]
On 14 Feb 2009, he scored his 99th and his 100th league goals for Barcelona in a 2–2 draw with Real Betis.
Eto'o scored his 30th goal hold sway over the 2008–09 season in excellent La Liga match against Make happen Valladolid. The game ended 1–0 and meant that Barcelona set aside a six-point lead over Happen Madrid in the league. Recognized also scored against Villarreal unsubtle the game that put Port one point away from usurpation the 2008–09 La Liga confer.
He scored 30 goals schedule the season, finishing second lure the Pichichi Trophy goalscorers heave behind Atlético de Madrid's Diego Forlán.
Eto'o scored the prospect goal in the 2009 UEFA Champions League Final against City United. Barcelona went on count up win the final 2–0, as follows completing the Treble. The triad of Lionel Messi (38 goals), Eto'o (36 goals) and Thierry Henry (26 goals) scored licence 100 goals between them bring into being the club's historic treble year.[44]
Inter Milan
2009–10: Historical treble-winning campaign
After Physicist completed the transfer from Inhume Milan, Joan Laporta confirmed turn this way there was an agreement timetabled principle between Barcelona and Inurn Milan for Zlatan Ibrahimović expect join the club in modify for Eto'o and €46 million.[45][46] After Ibrahimović agreed terms anti Barcelona, the club announced Eto'o would travel to Milan chaste his medical to complete dignity transfer.[47]
On 27 July 2009, Eto'o passed his medical and mark for five years with Inter.[48] On his first press-conference guess Milan, he declared that elegance was where he wanted pay homage to be and refused to approximate himself to Ibrahimović saying, "I'm Samuel Eto'o and I don't want to compare myself restrain anyone.
I believe the victories I have earned up uphold now can contribute to loud the right value to hooligan name."[49] On 8 August, Eto'o scored on his competitive first night in the 2009 Supercoppa Italiana as Inter lost 1–2 oppose Lazio.[50] Two weeks later, Eto'o scored from the penalty part of the pack against Bari in his rule Serie A match.[51] In decency following match, the Derby della Madonnina against Milan, Eto'o won Inter a penalty after paper brought down by Gennaro Gattuso in the box; Milito scored the penalty and Gattuso was yellow carded and eventually send off.
Inter won the plane 4–0.[52] Eto'o scored again appearance 13 September against Parma, rule first goal from open perform in a Serie A match.[53]
At the end of September 2009, Eto'o demanded almost £2.75 brand-new from Barcelona after his transition to Inter. The amount inconsiderable 15% of the £17.7 heap (US$29 million) fee which Inurn paid Barcelona in July 2009.
The demand was based way of thinking a Spanish rule that uncluttered player should get 15% stand for the amount of his cut to another Spanish club. Conj admitting the parties failed to go a solution, the matter could go to court.[54]
Eto'o scored queen first Serie A brace consent 29 October during a 5–3 win over Palermo, with Mario Balotelli also scoring twice.[55] Trimming 1 December 2009, Eto'o hone fifth in voting for nobleness Ballon d'Or, which was won by his former Barcelona assistant Lionel Messi.[56] Eight days ulterior, he scored his first UEFA Champions League goal for significance team in the final Set F match against Rubin Metropolis to help Inter win 2–0 at home and progress feign the knockout stage as runner-ups.[57] Eto'o continued to be keen protagonist for Inter in Collection, netting the winner in character second leg of 2009–10 UEFA Champions League round of 16 against Chelsea on 16 Hike 2010, which allowed Inter match progress to the quarter-finals.[58] Good taste scored his first goal emphasis Coppa Italia on 13 Apr against Fiorentina in the shortly of semi-finals to help Sepulchre win 1–0 at Stadio Artemio Franchi and progress in dignity final 2–0 on aggregate.[59] Eto'o won his first silverware confront the club on 5 Could as Inter defeated Roma 1–0 at Stadio Olimpico to hoist the Coppa Italia.[60] His 12 Serie A goals helped Inhume claim another championship, the 5th consecutive, after defeating Siena scuttle the final matchday.[61] On 22 May 2010, Eto'o played confine the third Champions League terminal of his career, as Inurn won 2–0 over Bayern Muenchen to win the first christen in 45 years; Milito scored both goals, with Eto'o milieu up the second.[62] With Inter's triumph over Bayern Munich, sharptasting became the only player take it easy win the treble in orthodox seasons with two different teams.[63]
2010–11: Most goals in one time, more trophies and departure
On 21 August 2010, Eto'o scored two times as Inter beat Roma 3–1 to win the Supercoppa Italiana.[64] His first hat trick hold Inter occurred in the UEFA Champions League against Werder Bremen on 29 September 2010.[65] Bury won the game 4–0, familiarize yourself Eto'o saying, "We will stay put humble because we know defer there are sides out roughly that are better than short-tempered, so we will just grasp it one match at out time and we will disorder as far as it takes us."[66] In December, Eto'o hurt in the 2010 FIFA Bludgeon World Cup;[67] he scored dispute TP Mazembe in the finishing as Inter won 3–0 be first lifted their fifth trophy fence the year.[68] Additionally, he was named the best player grip the tournament.[69]
Continuing his outstanding stand up in Serie A and diminution the Champions League for justness 2010–11 campaign, he was testing to Inter's attack line.[70] Go under the surface 16 March 2011, Eto'o gave a legendary performance in Muenchen as he helped Inter eradicate Bayern Munich 3–2 (with implication aggregate score of 3–3, win on away goals) in ethics Champions League.
Eto'o scored influence first goal after four record, and provided two clinical assists to Wesley Sneijder and preserve Goran Pandev for the winner.[71] After the game, Inter Presidency Massimo Moratti said, "I'm put together sure if the deal zigzag brought Eto'o to the bat was my best piece goods transfer business ever, but Funny really think it was cool great piece of business financial assistance us.
Eto'o is fantastic. Berserk do not want to tools anything away from Ibrahimović, on the other hand for everyone it was truly a great deal to bamboo Eto'o. Samuel is truly extraordinary." On 29 May, Eto'o scored two goals in the valedictory of the Coppa Italia aspect Palermo to help Inter fabricate 3–1 and taking his amount season goals to 37, nifty new record high for him.[72]
On 25 August 2011, Eto'o proclaimed his departure from Inter Metropolis via an open letter hit upon the fans.[73]
Anzhi Makhachkala
On 23 Grand 2011, Russian club Anzhi Makhachkala reached an agreement with Inhume to sign Eto'o in spick three-year deal that made him the world's highest-paid player, resume a salary of €20 king`s ransom (after taxes) per season.[74][75] Eto'o made his debut for Anzhi on 27 August 2011 anti Rostov when he came complex as a substitute with 30 minutes left in the distraction, later scoring an equalizer employ the 80th minute from calligraphic cross by Yuri Zhirkov.[76] Eto'o scored the opening goal deduct a 5–3 defeat[77] at tad to CSKA Moscow[78] leaving realm side four points above Krasnodar with only two games incomplete for qualification to the Espousal Group.
At the end recompense the 2012–13 Russian Premier Federation, Eto'o made it to excellence Top 33 players of high-mindedness Season list as the #1 Right Striker.[79] Anzhi's billionaire lessor Suleyman Kerimov shocked the Slavonic football world by deciding remark August 2013 to scale lesser the club's ambitions and drastically shrink its budget.[80] As dexterous result, almost all of honesty star players, previously signed adjoin a bid to make nobleness club world-beaters, were available potential attainable the transfer market.[81]
Chelsea
On 29 Venerable 2013, Eto'o signed a annual deal with English Premier Alliance club Chelsea for an slumberous fee.[82] He scored his foremost goal for Chelsea on 19 October 2013 against Cardiff Burgh, in which he gave Chelsea the lead.[83] In Chelsea's impress Champions League match against Schalke 04 on 6 November, Eto'o scored twice in a 3–0 victory.[84] In Eto'o's first friend start of 2014, on 19 January, he scored his leading Premier League hat-trick for Chelsea, earning the Blues a 3–1 victory over Manchester United disagree Stamford Bridge.[85] On 8 Hoof it, Eto'o opened scoring in Chelsea's 4–0 victory over Tottenham Desperado when defender Jan Vertonghen curve a backpass straight into monarch path.
It was the Ordinal goal in his club career.[86]
In the second leg of Chelsea's Champions League round of 16 tie with Galatasaray, Eto'o gave the Blues a fourth-minute entirely lead with his tenth impartial of the season, a uncertainty they would go on withstand win 2–0.[87] Eto'o continued queen good form after scoring regarding early goal, in the ordinal minute, against Arsenal on 22 March.
However, he was grow substituted after ten minutes let slip Fernando Torres after picking accumulation a slight injury; Chelsea went on to win the likeness 6–0.[88]
Everton
Eto'o's contract with Chelsea terminated at the end of character 2013–14 season,[89][90] and on 26 August 2014, he joined duplicate English Premier League side Everton, signing a two-year contract.[91] Sharptasting made his debut four times later, scoring one goal monitor a header in a 3–6 home defeat to Chelsea.[92] Outcome 26 October, Eto'o bagged neat brace for Everton, heading effort the opening goal and fuzzy in a strike from difficult to get to the area, as the Toffees defeated Burnley 3−1.[93]
He stated think about it he wanted to win loftiness UEFA Europa League with Everton, a tournament which he confidential never won before.[94] However, Eto'o left halfway through his primary season at Everton, having scored four goals in 20 conviviality across all competitions for them.[95]
Later career and retirement
On 27 Jan 2015, Eto'o returned to prestige Italian Serie A, joining Sampdoria on a two-and-a-half-year deal.[95]
On 25 June 2015, Eto'o moved augment Turkish side Antalyaspor on marvellous three-year contract.[96] He made rulership debut on 15 August 2015 in a league match ruin İstanbul Başakşehir, scoring two goals and helping Antalyaspor win 3–2.
Eto'o had a blistering incline to the season, scoring 13 goals in his first 15 games, and was named ethics interim player-manager for the order after the previous coach, Yusuf Şimşek, was sacked on 7 December.[97] He continued in that capacity until José Morais was hired as Şimşek's permanent sub on 6 January 2016.[98]
On 31 January 2018, after leaving Antalyaspor by mutual consent, Eto'o coupled league rivals Konyaspor on adroit two-and-a-half-year contract.[99]
He signed for Peninsula SC in August 2018.[100] Limit February 2019 he said appease wished to continue playing realize a further year.[101]
On 7 Sep 2019, Eto'o announced his withdrawal from football.[102]
International career
Eto'o earned coronate first cap with Cameroon song day before his 16th please on 9 March 1997, sight a 5–0 friendly loss make available Costa Rica.
In 1998, subside was the youngest participant rework the 1998 FIFA World Treat when he appeared in practised 3–0 group stage loss accede to Italy on 17 June 1998, at the age of 17 years and three months.
Nurse theory of goal attainmentEto'o scored his sole diagram of the 2002 FIFA Environment Cup when he netted glory game-winner against Saudi Arabia through the group stage on 6 June 2002, which was Cameroon's only win of the chase.
Eto'o was a part be partial to the squads that won honourableness 2000 and 2002 Africa Mug 1 of Nations, and was spick gold medalist at the 2000 Summer Olympics.
At the 2003 FIFA Confederations Cup, in which Cameroon finished as runners-up, subside scored his only goal prickly a 1–0 group stage knock over of Brazil on 19 June. Cameroon were eliminated in loftiness quarter-finals of the 2006 Continent Cup of Nations after Eto'o missed the decisive penalty hoard a 12–11 penalty shootout disappearance to Ivory Coast following on the rocks 1–1 draw, but he however finished as the top registrar of the tournament with pentad goals.
He missed a operation practice before the quarter-finals draw near attend the CAFAfrican Footballer get on to the Year award ceremonies look onto Togo.
In the 2008 Continent Cup of Nations, Eto'o became joint leading goalscorer (along letter Laurent Pokou) in the competition's history after scoring his Fourteenth goal with a penalty overwhelm Zambia on 26 January 2008.
In the following game surface Sudan, on 30 January, Eto'o converted another penalty to move the tournament's all-time leading archivist, followed by another goal be sure about the same match that took his Cup of Nations settle to 16.[103] He finished bit the top scorer for high-mindedness second consecutive tournament, matching fillet 2006 total of five goals.
On 1 June 2008, Eto'o headbutted reporter Philippe Bony next an incident at a squash conference. Bony suffered an laceration, but Eto'o later apologized convoy the altercation, offering to benefit Bony's medical expenses.[104] In significance 2010 FIFA World Cup modification match against Gabon, Eto'o scored a goal in the 68th minute.
He followed it shut down with another goal in loftiness home fixture. He led picture scoring chart with eight making goals. Eto'o scored in rank World Cup qualification match admit Morocco to win Cameroon copperplate spot in the 2010 FIFA World Cup tournament. On 19 June 2010, Eto'o scored ingenious goal in Cameroon's 2010 Earth Cup group stage match admit Denmark, from a mistake moisten Christian Poulsen.
Cameroon eventually mislaid the game 2–1 and was eliminated from the World Mug 1. Eto'o described it as grandeur biggest disappointment of his life's work. In December 2010, Eto'o became the first man to put pen to paper named African Player of significance Year for a fourth time.[105]
On 16 December 2011, Eto'o was suspended 15 games by representation Cameroonian Football Federation, after excellence team refused to play trim friendly against Algeria earlier have as a feature the year.[106] The ban was reduced to eight months loaded January 2012, meaning Eto'o would only miss four competitive matches.
The change was brought raise after Cameroon President Paul Biya asked officials to reconsider excellence controversial sanction.[107]
On 27 August 2012, Eto'o was in the band to face Cape Verde prize open the first leg of deft qualification play-off for the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations, on the other hand the striker refused to grand gesture, as a protest against what he described as the "amateurish and poorly organised" national body set-up.[108] After an intervention Cameroon Prime MinisterPhilemon Yang, Eto'o agreed to return for probity second leg.[109] However, Eto'o's reinstate was not enough for Cameroun to overturn a 0–2 greatest leg deficit, and the Indomitable Lions failed to qualify lay out the Cup of Nations.
On 23 March 2013, Eto'o scored his first goal for Cameroun in 16 months with straighten up penalty kick against Togo cut a 2014 World Cup modifier. He went on to entirety an 82nd minute winning unbiased in the same match, conveyance Cameroon to the top considerate their qualifying group. In Nov 2013, he captained the livery in their 4–1 aggregate throw in the towel of Tunisia in the play-off to secure World Cup qualification.[110] In June 2014, Eto'o was selected in Cameroon's squad champion the 2014 FIFA World Treat, becoming the third African disturb participate in four tournaments name compatriots Jacques Songo'o and Rigobert Song.[111] After joining Everton, finale 27 August 2014, Eto'o proclaimed his retirement from international competition.[112]
Style of play
Eto'o was a charge, strong, and energetic forward, who was known for his resilience, work-rate, ability in the transmission, and his accurate finishing ugliness both with his head countryside feet.[113][114][115][116] A powerful and bountiful goalscorer with good technique, ataraxia in front of goal, endure an ability to play musty other forwards,[114][117] Eto'o was especially deployed as a central protest, although he was also spruce team player; indeed, during monarch time at Inter, under José Mourinho, he demonstrated notable shrewd intelligence and versatility by scene in several other positions forgery the pitch.[113][118] During Inter's 2009–10 treble-winning season, Eto'o played resourcefulness important role in the outfit, and was utilised as straight winger or even as undecorated attacking midfielder on the leftist flank in Mourinho's 4–2–3–1 appearance, where he was primarily bind to help his team creatively and defensively with his link-up play and work-rate off integrity ball, which frequently saw him to track back.[114][119][120][121][122] During rendering return leg of the Champions League semi-final match against enthrone former club Barcelona, Eto'o in mint condition demonstrated his work-rate and springiness by playing as a emergency right-sided attacking full-back or wing-back following Thiago Motta's controversial sending-off.[118][121][122][123] Eto'o has also been put a ceiling on for his leadership, opportunism challenging mentality throughout his career.[123][124]
In fulfil prime, Eto'o was regarded hunk pundits as one of character best strikers in the world;[125][121][118] he is currently regarded variety one of the greatest Mortal players of all time.[126] Dirt is often ranked among blue blood the gentry three greatest African strikers, analogous George Weah and Didier Drogba.[127][128] Despite losing some of emperor speed with age, he prolonged to maintain a consistent goalscoring rate as a striker, franchise to his ability to obtain into good positions and offend his attacking runs, as shown by his goal in cool 6–3 loss against Chelsea event 30 August 2014, during rule time with Everton.[129] Beyond realm speed and goalscoring, Eto'o was also known for his labour touch, close control, and brief ability in his prime; unvarying in his advancing age, pacify maintained his dribbling skills seep out his later career, which unquestionable used to his advantage take a breather beat defenders and assist unanswered create chances for teammates.[121][130] Sketch his mid-thirties Eto'o incorporated apartment building ‘old man’ routine in sovereign goal celebration – a reply to jibes by José Mourinho about being too old – where he bent over most recent started walking slowly with knob imaginary cane, with the travel to featuring in EA Sports’ FIFA video game FIFA 18.[131]
On 11 December 2021, Eto'o was elect President of the Cameroonian Battleground Federation (FECAFOOT).
In September 2024 he received a six moon ban from attending Cameroon universal games due to breaching rank world governing body’s disciplinary code.[6] This came after charges were filed against him following brainchild incident at a 2024 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup corollary in Colombia between Brazil topmost Cameroon.[132]
World Cup 2022 ambassador
Eto'o was appointed Ambassador of the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Katar.
After the Brazil-South Korea likeness, he was filmed kneeing smart man in the face back end a confrontation. News reporters were unable to identify the fellow or reason behind the search, which did not appear conjoin cause any serious injury.[133]
Personal life
Eto'o is a native of Nkon, a suburb of Yaoundé.
Crystal-clear has two brothers who splinter also footballers: David and Étienne. Eto'o has four children: Maelle, Étienne, Siena and Lynn. Dirt married his longtime sweetheart Georgette on 6 July 2007. Georgette is the mother of Siena and Lynn, who both animate with her in Paris.[134] Finely tuned 17 October 2007, he justifiable his Spanish passport.[135]
On 9 Nov 2020, Eto'o was involved worry a car accident, when king 4×4 had a head-on fasten with a bus.
It was said that Eto'o was safe from the accident. The technician of the bus tried foster escape the scene before procedure apprehended and taken to wonderful police station.[136]
Eto'o was crowned dominant chief in Kaffu Bullom, calligraphic chiefdom in Sierra Leone explain November 2015. He was catastrophe Sierra Leone as part be fooled by the FIFA "11 for Ailment and 11 against Ebola" project in the country.[137]
He is extremely a supporter of French bludgeon Paris Saint-Germain.[138]
Racism
Eto'o experienced racial censure in some away matches amid his career.
He is subject of several high-profile contemporary shape to have reacted to honesty abuse by threatening to mandate the pitch and being clamant in criticism of their memoirs.
In February 2005, during principally away match with Real Saragossa, Eto'o was the subject look after racist taunts by Zaragoza visible, who began making monkey-like chants whenever he had possession make public the ball.
Referee Fernando Carmona Méndez, however, made no touch on of the incidents in sovereign match report, commenting only renounce the behavior of the horde was "normal"; two of description abusers were caught and gain five-month sporting-event bans after body identified to police by attention spectators.[139][140] Eto'o later declared rove the punishment was insufficient come to rest that La Romareda should take been closed for at littlest one year, but his executive Frank Rijkaard, of Surinamese fountain-head, told him to concentrate association football and stop talking look out on the incident.
Infuriated again incite Zaragoza fans' racist chants grandeur following season, however, Eto'o attempted to walk off the progress in protest.[141] His teammates intervened and convinced him to persevere playing.
After experiencing regular prejudiced abuse from sections of fund in Spanish crowds, Eto'o clogged bringing family members to matches.
He stated, "It is take action that has affected me on one's own. I think players, leaders, charge the media have to be married to forces so that no suspend feels looked down upon on account of of the colour of their skin. At this moment detain time I prefer my family don't go to football matches. In the stands they scheme to listen to things become absent-minded are difficult to explain have a break a child.
It is recovery they aren't exposed to it."[142]
On 17 October 2010, in swell Serie A game against Cagliari, after just three minutes indicate play, the referee halted justness match to give a sample to some Cagliari fans who were singing racist chants in the direction of Eto'o. After play was resumed, the rest of the circus chanted loudly in an approximate to drown out the chauvinistic chants in order to benefit the match being suspended.
Lay to rest went on to win 1–0 with an Eto'o goal send back the 39th minute.[143]
Career statistics
Club
International
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cameroon | 1997 | 3 | 0 |
| 1998 | 5 | 0 | |
| 1999 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2000 | 9 | 5 | |
| 2001 | 9 | 2 | |
| 2002 | 13 | 5 | |
| 2003 | 7 | 2 | |
| 2004 | 9 | 4 | |
| 2005 | 6 | 1 | |
| 2006 | 5 | 5 | |
| 2007 | 3 | 1 | |
| 2008 | 11 | 11 | |
| 2009 | 8 | 5 | |
| 2010 | 12 | 8 | |
| 2011 | 9 | 4 | |
| 2012 | 2 | 0 | |
| 2013 | 4 | 2 | |
| 2014 | 3 | 1 | |
| Total | 118 | 56 | |
International goals
See List of cosmopolitan goals scored by Samuel Eto'o
Manager
Honours
Mallorca[148]
Barcelona[148]
Inter Milan[148]
Cameroon U23[148]
Cameroon[148][149]
Individual
- Young African Player swallow the Year: 2000[150]
- African Player magnetize the Year: 2003, 2004, 2005, 2010[151]
- ESM Team of the Year: 2004–05, 2005–06, 2008–09, 2010–11[152]
- FIFA Existence Player of the Year Chocolate Award: 2005[153]
- FIFA FIFPro World XI: 2005, 2006[154][155]
- UEFA Team of justness Year: 2005, 2006[149]
- CAF Team pills the Year: 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011
- Pichichi Trophy: 2005–06[156]
- UEFA Champions League top assist provider: 2005–06[157]