Emmanuel Adebayor facts for kids
Adebayor warming-up with Manchester City in 2010
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Sheyi Emmanuel Adebayor | ||
| Date of birth | 26 February 1984 | ||
| Place of birth | Lomé, Togo | ||
| Height | 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Striker | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1998–1999 | OC Agaza | ||
| 1999–2001 | Metz | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2001–2003 | Metz | 44 | (15) |
| 2003–2006 | Monaco | 78 | (18) |
| 2006–2009 | Arsenal | 104 | (46) |
| 2009–2012 | Manchester City | 34 | (15) |
| 2011 | → Real Madrid (loan) | 14 | (5) |
| 2011–2012 | → Tottenham Hotspur (loan) | 33 | (17) |
| 2012–2015 | Tottenham Hotspur | 59 | (18) |
| 2016 | Crystal Palace | 12 | (1) |
| 2017–2019 | İstanbul Başakşehir | 60 | (24) |
| 2019 | Kayserispor | 8 | (2) |
| 2020 | Olimpia | 2 | (0) |
| 2021–2023 | Semassi | ||
| Total | 448 | (162) | |
| International career | |||
| 2000–2019 | Togo | 87 | (32) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Sheyi Emmanuel Adebayor (born 26 February 1984) is a former professional footballer from Togo. He played as a striker, which means he was mainly responsible for scoring goals. During his career, he played for several famous clubs in England, France, Spain, and Turkey.
Adebayor was named the African Footballer of the Year in 2008 while playing for Arsenal. Later in his career, when he joined Olimpia Asunción in Paraguay in 2020, he became the highest-paid player in that country's league. He also proudly represented the Togo national team and is their all-time top goalscorer with 32 goals. He played for Togo in the 2006 FIFA World Cup, which was the first time Togo had ever reached the World Cup.
Contents
Club Football Journey
Starting Out in France
Emmanuel Adebayor was born in Lomé, Togo. He spent most of his childhood there, learning to play football at a sports development center. Scouts from the French club Metz noticed his talent and brought him to France in 1999.
He made his first professional appearance in France's top league, Ligue 1, in November 2001. After Metz was moved down to a lower league, Adebayor scored 13 goals in 34 games. This impressive performance led to him joining Monaco in 2003. He even played in nine European matches when Monaco reached the 2004 UEFA Champions League final in 2004.
Time at Arsenal
In January 2006, Adebayor joined the English Premier League club Arsenal. Fans sometimes called him "Baby Kanu" because he reminded them of former Arsenal star Nwankwo Kanu, who was Adebayor's hero when he was young. He scored on his debut for Arsenal in February 2006, helping them win 2–0 against Birmingham City.
Adebayor scored the winning goal against Manchester United in the 2006–07 season, giving Arsenal a 1–0 victory. He was sent off in the 2007 League Cup final against Chelsea after a disagreement between players.
In September 2007, Adebayor scored two goals against Tottenham Hotspur in a local derby match, helping Arsenal win 3–1. He then scored his first hat-trick (three goals in one game) for Arsenal in a 5–0 win against Derby County. He also scored a goal in the UEFA Champions League against Milan, which was his first goal in that competition.
Adebayor scored another hat-trick against Derby County in April 2008, making him the only player in Premier League history to score three goals against the same team both at home and away in the same season. His second goal against Tottenham that season was even voted the Match of the Day Goal of the Season. He was also named the BBC African Footballer of the Year for his great performances in 2008.
In 2008, Adebayor signed a new long-term contract with Arsenal. He continued to score important goals, including a hat-trick against Blackburn Rovers. He finished the 2008–09 season as Arsenal's second-highest goalscorer.
Moving to Manchester City
In July 2009, Adebayor joined Manchester City. He scored a goal in his very first game for City against Blackburn. He continued to score in his next three Premier League matches, including one against his former club, Arsenal, in a 4–2 victory. This made him one of only six players to score in their first four games for a new club.
During the match against Arsenal, Adebayor celebrated his goal in front of the Arsenal fans, which caused some controversy. He was given a three-match ban for an incident during the game. In October 2010, he scored his first hat-trick for Manchester City in a UEFA Europa League match, becoming the first City player to score three goals in a European competition. However, he later found himself playing less often as Manchester City bought more new players.
Loan to Real Madrid
In January 2011, Adebayor moved to Spanish giants Real Madrid on a loan deal for the rest of the season. He scored his first goal for Real Madrid in a cup semi-final match against Sevilla. He also scored his first goal in La Liga (Spain's top league) against Real Sociedad.
Adebayor helped Real Madrid win the Copa del Rey in April 2011, which was his first winner's medal with the club. He scored his first hat-trick for Real Madrid in May 2011, in an 8–1 win against Almería. After the Spanish season ended, he returned to Manchester City.
Playing for Tottenham Hotspur
In August 2011, Adebayor joined Tottenham Hotspur on a season-long loan. He scored on his debut against Wolverhampton Wanderers. In his first home game, he scored twice against Liverpool, with his second goal being his 100th league goal in his career.
Adebayor continued to score important goals for Tottenham, including two against Aston Villa and two against West Bromwich Albion. He also scored a penalty against his former club Arsenal in a North London derby. He finished the 2011–12 season as Tottenham's top goalscorer with 18 goals.
In August 2012, Adebayor signed a permanent deal with Tottenham. He scored an early goal in a North London derby against Arsenal in November 2012, but was later sent off. He scored a crucial away goal in the Europa League against Internazionale, helping Spurs reach the quarter-finals.
After a change in manager, Adebayor returned to the Tottenham team and scored eight goals in ten Premier League matches during the 2013–14 season. He ended that season as Tottenham's top goalscorer with 14 goals. He left Tottenham in September 2015.
Later Career Clubs
In January 2016, Adebayor joined Crystal Palace for six months. He scored one goal for the club before leaving in June.
In January 2017, he signed with Turkish club İstanbul Başakşehir. He scored a hat-trick against Galatasaray in April 2017 and another one against the same team in November 2017. He left İstanbul Başakşehir in June 2019.
Adebayor then joined Kayserispor in Turkey in August 2019, but left the club in December of that year.
In February 2020, Adebayor moved to Olimpia Asunción in Paraguay. He was greeted by a large crowd at the airport. He reunited with his former Manchester City teammate Roque Santa Cruz at Olimpia. Adebayor made his debut in a big derby match against Cerro Porteño. He also played in the 2020 Copa Libertadores, a major South American club competition. His time at Olimpia was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and he returned to Togo.
After his time at Olimpia, Adebayor signed for Semassi, a club in Togo, in July 2021. He officially announced his retirement from professional football on March 21, 2023, at the age of 39.
Playing for Togo
Emmanuel Adebayor chose to play for his home country, Togo, even though he could have played for Nigeria. He was a key player in helping Togo qualify for the 2006 Africa Cup of Nations, scoring 11 goals in the qualification games, which was more than any other player. In 2009, he was named the African Footballer of the Year for 2008 by the Confederation of African Football (CAF). This was the first time a Togolese player had won this important award.
Adebayor also helped Togo qualify for the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany. He played in all three group matches for Togo, but the team finished last in their group. After the World Cup, he became the team captain.
In January 2010, the Togo national team's bus was attacked while on its way to the Africa Cup of Nations in Angola. All the players survived, but three other people were killed. This terrible event led Adebayor to announce his retirement from international football in April 2010. He said he was still haunted by what he saw and never wanted to experience it again.
However, Adebayor returned to play for Togo in November 2011 after being assured of better safety. He made his comeback in a World Cup qualifier match. He was recalled to the team again in November 2018 and played in a crucial qualification match for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in March 2019.
How He Played
When Emmanuel Adebayor joined Arsenal, his manager, Arsene Wenger, compared him to Nwankwo Kanu. Wenger described Adebayor as "tall, good in the air," and able to make smart runs behind defenders. Adebayor was known for his speed, strength, and skill with the ball. He was also good at scoring goals and working with his teammates.
Life Outside Football
Emmanuel Adebayor is married and has a daughter named Kendra, who was born in June 2010. His nephew, Alex Harlley, is also a footballer.
Adebayor has spoken about his strong faith. He believes that everything he does in life is guided by God. He also shared a story about his childhood: he could not walk for the first four years of his life. His mother took him to different places in Africa looking for a cure. One Sunday morning, while in church, he heard children playing outside and a ball rolled into the church. He says he was the first person to stand up and run to get the ball, calling it a "miracle."
Career Statistics
Club
| Club | Season | League | National cup | League cup | Continental | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Metz | 2001–02 | Division 1 | 10 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 11 | 2 | |
| 2002–03 | Ligue 2 | 34 | 13 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 2 | — | 40 | 15 | ||
| Total | 44 | 15 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 2 | — | 51 | 17 | |||
| Monaco | 2003–04 | Ligue 1 | 31 | 8 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 44 | 8 |
| 2004–05 | Ligue 1 | 34 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 10 | 2 | 50 | 14 | |
| 2005–06 | Ligue 1 | 13 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 3 | 21 | 4 | |
| Total | 78 | 18 | 6 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 26 | 5 | 115 | 26 | ||
| Arsenal | 2005–06 | Premier League | 13 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 13 | 4 | |
| 2006–07 | Premier League | 29 | 8 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 8 | 0 | 44 | 12 | |
| 2007–08 | Premier League | 36 | 24 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 3 | 48 | 30 | |
| 2008–09 | Premier League | 26 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 6 | 37 | 16 | |
| Total | 104 | 46 | 7 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 26 | 9 | 142 | 62 | ||
| Manchester City | 2009–10 | Premier League | 26 | 14 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | 31 | 14 | |
| 2010–11 | Premier League | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 4 | 14 | 5 | |
| Total | 34 | 15 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 4 | 45 | 19 | ||
| Real Madrid (loan) | 2010–11 | La Liga | 14 | 5 | 2 | 1 | — | 6 | 2 | 22 | 8 | |
| Tottenham Hotspur (loan) | 2011–12 | Premier League | 33 | 17 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 37 | 18 |
| Tottenham Hotspur | 2012–13 | Premier League | 25 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 3 | 34 | 8 |
| 2013–14 | Premier League | 21 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 25 | 14 | |
| 2014–15 | Premier League | 13 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 17 | 2 | |
| Total | 92 | 35 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 12 | 5 | 113 | 42 | ||
| Crystal Palace | 2015–16 | Premier League | 12 | 1 | 3 | 0 | — | — | 15 | 1 | ||
| İstanbul Başakşehir | 2016–17 | Süper Lig | 11 | 6 | 5 | 1 | — | — | 16 | 7 | ||
| 2017–18 | Süper Lig | 30 | 15 | 1 | 1 | — | 5 | 1 | 36 | 17 | ||
| 2018–19 | Süper Lig | 19 | 3 | 4 | 1 | — | 1 | 0 | 24 | 4 | ||
| Total | 60 | 24 | 10 | 3 | — | 6 | 1 | 76 | 28 | |||
| Kayserispor | 2019–20 | Süper Lig | 8 | 2 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 8 | 2 | ||
| Olimpia | 2020 | Paraguayan Primera División | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | |
| Career total | 451 | 161 | 40 | 9 | 19 | 9 | 84 | 26 | 591 | 205 | ||
International
| Team | Year | Competitive | Friendly | Total | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Caps | Goals | Caps | Goals | Caps | Goals | ||
| Togo | 2000 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| 2001 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
| 2002 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | |
| 2003 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 2 | |
| 2004 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 4 | |
| 2005 | 5 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 6 | |
| 2006 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 0 | |
| 2007 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 4 | |
| 2008 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 5 | |
| 2009 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 1 | |
| 2010 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2011 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2012 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | |
| 2013 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | |
| 2014 | 6 | 2 | — | 6 | 2 | ||
| 2015 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
| 2016 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 8 | 0 | |
| 2017 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 8 | 1 | |
| 2018 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | |
| 2019 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
| Career total | 65 | 27 | 22 | 5 | 87 | 32 | |
Awards and Achievements
Monaco
- UEFA Champions League runner-up: 2003–04 (finished second place)
Arsenal
- Football League Cup runner-up: 2006–07 (finished second place)
Real Madrid
- Copa del Rey: 2010–11 (won the cup)
Crystal Palace
- FA Cup runner-up: 2015–16 (finished second place)
Togo
- Four Nations Tournament (Ghana) third place: 2007
Individual Awards
- BBC African Footballer of the Year: 2007
- African Player of the Year: 2008
- BBC Goal of the Season: 2007–08 (for his goal against Tottenham)
- Premier League PFA Team of the Year: 2007–08 (chosen as one of the best players in the league)
See also
In Spanish: Emmanuel Adebayor para niños
