Samuel Eto’o had played a key role in Cameroon’s African Nations Cup triumphs of 2000 and 2002, as well as the gold-medal victory at the 2000 Olympic Games.
One of football’s most recognisable players, Samuel Eto’o has proven himself at the very top level for both club, Barcelona, and country, Cameroon.
The 27-year-old has come through a tough time at his club recently and is currently in the form of his career.
Eto’o was told he was not wanted by new coach Pep Guardiola during the European pre-season, but he has now won the Barca boss over with his superb displays, including a memorable four-goal haul in the recent 6-0 Spanish Primera Liga win over Real Valladolid.
Such feats are a far cry from his early days back home in Cameroon, where the Nkon-born ace actually began life as central midfielder.
Like many of his countrymen, Eto’o was hugely inspired by the success of his nation at the 1990 World Cup as the Indomitable Lions reached the quarterfinals of the tournament.
Eto’o admits watching his countrymen do so well had a big impression on him. “That’s the seminal moment for any child from my generation in Cameroon,” he recalls. “What the team achieved in the 1990 World Cup was something incredible.”
Eto’o’s own route to footballing stardom started when he journeyed to Spain to sign for Real Madrid’s youth side in 1997, aged just 16. His impression with the Spanish giant, though, was not what he might have hoped and he was consistently loaned out rather than given his chance in the first team — joining lower-division side CD Leganes and then having spells at Espanyol and Real Mallorca.
It was with the latter that he impressed the most and after 13 games and six goals while on loan with the side in 2000, he joined the club permanently later in the same year. It was here he truly shot to stardom, netting 54 times for the club. And before long he had caught the eye of Barcelona, the fierce rival of his former club Real Madrid.
He left Mallorca as the club’s all-time leading domestic scorer, joining Barca for a fee of around 24 million euros. That has proved to be a hugely worthwhile move for both and during his time at the Nou Camp, Eto’o has won Spain’s La Liga title twice, the Spanish Super Cup twice, and he was also part of the side which lifted the UEFA Champions League in 2006.
Eto’o’s feats ensure that he is one of the most high-profile sporting figures in the continent and he has won the African Player of the Year award three times (2003, 2004, 2005).
At international level he boasts an equally outstanding record and in the green shirt of his country he played a key role in Cameroon’s African Nations Cup triumphs of 2000 and 2002, as well as the gold-medal victory at the 2000 Olympic Games.
The past few months have not been easy for Eto’o. He may currently be the main attraction at Barcelona following his recent scoring feats, but at one stage it looked as though he may be on his way out of the club.
New coach Pep Guardiola indicated that Eto’o was not part of his plans when he took over the helm in June and rumours were rife that the player would be forced to leave in order to gain regular football.
He was linked with moves abroad, not least to the Barclays English Premier League, but impressed sufficiently during the pre-season to win back his starting place and force Guardiola to change his mind.
Eto’o married his long-time sweetheart Georgette in July 2007 in a private ceremony held in Paris. The wedding was a low-key affair with only a handful of friends and family members present.
Eto’o is known to have a love for fast cars but that almost ended badly in 2004 when he crashed his luxury sports car in the Spanish island of Majorca. The striker walked away unhurt from the crash in Palma, but his car was reportedly wrecked.
FactfileName: Samuel Eto’oPosition: StrikerClub: BarcelonaD.O.B.: 10/3/1981Cameroon caps: 73Cameroon goals: 36Cameroon debut: v Costa Rica, March 9, 1996Moment to rememberEto’o has had many proud moments both for club and country, but one of the highlights occurred earlier this year when he became the top goal-scorer in African Nations Cup history — scoring twice in the 3-0 victory over Sudan to take his overall tally to 16.
Moment to forgetEto’o’s time in Spain has seen many memorable moments but he has also had to endure some shameful racist abuse. He threatened to leave the pitch after being subjected to racial abuse by Real Zaragoza supporters in 2006 and was eventually persuaded to continue playing by then coach Frank Rijkaard and several team-mates. Zaragoza was fined 9,000 euros as a result.
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