Cherno Samba

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Cherno Samba

| image =

| caption =

| fullname = Cherno Samba{{Hugman|25217|accessdate=11 November 2017}}

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1985|1|10|df=y}}

| birth_place = Banjul, Gambia

| height = {{height|m=1.78}}

| position = Forward

| currentclub =

| clubnumber =

| youthyears1 = 2000–2002

| youthclubs1 = Millwall

| years1 = 2002–2004 | clubs1 = Millwall

| caps1 = 0 | goals1 = 0

| years2 = 2004–2006 | clubs2 = Cádiz

| caps2 = 0 | goals2 = 0

| years3 = 2005–2006 | clubs3 = → Málaga B (loan)

| caps3 = 4 | goals3 = 0

| years4 = 2006–2008 | clubs4 = Plymouth Argyle

| caps4 = 13 | goals4 = 1

| years5 = 2007 | clubs5 = → Wrexham (loan)

| caps5 = 3 | goals5 = 0

| years6 = 2008–2009 | clubs6 = Haka

| caps6 = 7 | goals6 = 0

| years7 = 2010 | clubs7 = Panetolikos

| caps7 = 0 | goals7 = 0

| years8 = 2012 | clubs8 = FK Tønsberg

| caps8 = 11 | goals8 = 3

| totalcaps = 52 | totalgoals = 4

| nationalyears1 = 2000–2001 | nationalteam1 = England U16

| nationalcaps1 = 13 | nationalgoals1 = 0

| nationalyears2 = 2002 | nationalteam2 = England U17

| nationalcaps2 = 1 | nationalgoals2 = 0

| nationalyears3 = 2002–2003 | nationalteam3 = England U18

| nationalcaps3 = 4 | nationalgoals3 = 0

| nationalyears4 = 2003 | nationalteam4 = England U19

| nationalcaps4 = 3 | nationalgoals4 = 0

| nationalyears5 = 2005 | nationalteam5 = England U20

| nationalcaps5 = 1 | nationalgoals5 = 0

| nationalyears6 = 2008–2010 | nationalteam6 = Gambia

| nationalcaps6 = 4 | nationalgoals6 = 1

}}

Cherno Samba (born 10 January 1985) is a former professional footballer who played as a forward.

He represented England at every youth level up to the under-20 team,[http://www.thefa.com/England/All-Teams/Players?p=327211 "Cherno Samba"]. The Football Association. Retrieved 14 March 2011. having moved to England at an early age.{{cite news |last=Panja |first=Tariq |date=13 February 2005 |title=Samba sets up for the last dance |work=The Guardian |url=http://football.guardian.co.uk/News_Story/0,1563,1411968,00.html |access-date=4 September 2007}} He earned full caps for Gambia between 2008 and 2010.

Samba began his career with Millwall before moving to Spain to join Cádiz. He spent time on loan with Malaga B before returning to England to play for Plymouth Argyle. He played on loan for Wrexham and then played Haka in Finland and Panetolikos in Greece before moving to FK Tønsberg in Norway.

Early life

Samba was born in Banjul, Gambia. His father was a goalkeeper for the Gambian national team and his family moved to Watford, England when he was six, and then to Peckham, South London and was educated at the St Joseph's Academy, Blackheath.

Club career

Samba came to prominence when as a 13-year-old, he scored 132 goals in 32 games for the St Joseph's Academy, Blackheath football team.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/skills/6927568.stm|title=Man Utd video star faces tough task|access-date=4 September 2007|date=4 September 2007|publisher=BBC Sport|first=Caroline|last=Cheese}}

He started his career at Millwall. His prolific form continued, and he was allowed to talk to other clubs by Millwall – both Manchester United and Liverpool showed interest, however Millwall turned down a Liverpool offer of £2 million. In return, Millwall agreed a contract, whereby he was guaranteed three-years of football at senior team level, on him signing full school boy forms.

In the summer of 2004, he joined Spanish club Cádiz,{{cite news|url=https://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,12411_2312909,00.html|title=Samba earns Cadiz deal|access-date=6 September 2007|date=6 September 2007|publisher=Sky Sports}} and was then loaned out for season 2005–06 to Málaga B and Úbeda.{{cite news|url=https://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,12411_2340283,00.html|title=Samba set for loan|access-date=6 September 2007|date=6 September 2007|publisher=Sky Sports}}

He returned to English football after Ian Holloway signed him for free on 31 August 2006 for Championship club Plymouth Argyle, on a two-year contract.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/p/plymouth_argyle/5360054.stm|title=Samba dancing again|access-date=4 September 2007|date=4 September 2007|publisher=BBC Sport}} Samba made his Football League debut on 30 September as a 74th-minute substitute for Reuben Reid at the Ricoh Arena against Coventry City, and within eight minutes he scored his first League goal in a 1–0 win for Argyle, heading in a cross from fellow replacement Hasney Aljofree.{{cite news

|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/5373238.stm

|title=Coventry 0-1 Plymouth

|publisher=BBC Sport

|date=30 September 2006 |access-date=8 April 2014}}

On 29 January 2007, he joined League Two club Wrexham on loan for a month, with the option to extend to the end of the season.

{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/w/wrexham/6309857.stm|title=Wrexham strengthen with loan pair|access-date=4 September 2007|date=4 September 2007|publisher=BBC Sport}} Samba returned to Plymouth on 26 February.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/w/wrexham/6395401.stm|title=Wrexham line up striker Paterson|access-date=4 September 2007|date=4 September 2007|publisher=BBC Sport}}

On 8 August 2008, Samba signed an 18-month contract with Finnish side Haka.

In 2009, he returned to England and went on trial with various English clubs including Norwich City and Portsmouth.[http://www.portsmouth.co.uk/frattonlatest/Fantastic-Freddie-fires-timely-reminder.5689373.jp Fantastic Freddie fires timely reminder to Hart] The News (Portsmouth), 30 September 2009 He signed a two-year contract with Greek Second Division club Panetolikos in February 2010.[http://www.gambiasports.gm/portal/football/1236.html "Cherno Samba signs in Greece"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721031818/http://www.gambiasports.gm/portal/football/1236.html |date=21 July 2011 }} Gambia Sports, 2 March 2010; Retrieved 15 March 2011

On 26 July 2011, he joined English Conference National side Forest Green Rovers on trial for a game against Bristol City.{{Cite web| url=http://www.forestgreenroversfc.com/news/showItem.asp?id=1436 |title=Samba set to star for Rovers |publisher=Forest Green Rovers FC |date=26 July 2011 |access-date=26 July 2011}} He however failed to earn himself a contract. He then joined another Conference club on trial, Alfreton Town.

In October 2011, he was on trial at Mansfield Town.{{Cite web |url=http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town-fc/stags_defender_thompson_on_the_comeback_trail_1_3892998 |title=Chad |access-date=24 October 2011 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120721205338/http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town-fc/stags_defender_thompson_on_the_comeback_trail_1_3892998 |archive-date=21 July 2012 |url-status=dead }}

On 23 March 2012, Samba joined FK Tønsberg in the Norwegian Second Division.{{Cite web| url=http://westcoast.gm/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=752:cherno-samba-joins-fk-tonsberg&catid=39:sports&Itemid=60 |title=Cherno Samba joins FK Tønsberg |publisher=West Coast Radio |date=26 March 2012 |access-date=1 July 2012}}

On 20 July 2015, Samba announced his retirement from football, due to injury.{{cite news|title=Cherno Samba: Championship Manager legend on hero status|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/33657802|access-date=26 July 2015|publisher=BBC Sport|date=24 July 2015}}

International career

Samba represented England at every youth level up to under-20{{cite web|url=http://articles.squarefootball.net/squarefootball/2006/07/3419-whatever-h.html|title=Whatever Happened To: Cherno Samba|access-date=4 September 2007|date=4 September 2007|publisher=squarefootball.net|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724082812/http://articles.squarefootball.net/squarefootball/2006/07/3419-whatever-h.html|archive-date=24 July 2011|url-status=dead}} and later decided that he wanted to play for Gambia.

In August 2008, he was called up to the Gambia squad for the 2010 World Cup qualifying match against Liberia and on 6 September 2008, he made his first appearance for Gambia as he played the final minutes of the match.{{cite web|url=https://www.fifa.com/worldfootball/statisticsandrecords/players/player=197743/index.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081015025236/http://www.fifa.com/worldfootball/statisticsandrecords/players/player=197743/index.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=15 October 2008|title=FIFA Player Statistics: Cherno Samba|access-date=21 September 2008|date=6 September 2008|publisher=FIFA}} He scored his first goal for the Scorpions in a friendly against Tunisia on 9 January 2010 when he headed in a Sanna Nyassi cross to open the scoring.{{cite web|url=http://www.gambiasports.gm/portal/football/1083.html|title=10 Man Gambia beat Tunisia|access-date=10 January 2010|date=10 January 2010|publisher=gambiasports.gm|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100905205703/http://www.gambiasports.gm/portal/football/1083.html|archive-date=5 September 2010}} The goal was made all the more special for Samba as it came on the eve of his 25th birthday. His last international appearance was against Mexico in June 2010. Samba was named in Gambia's squad for the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, but chose not to participate.{{cite news |first=Baboucarr |last=Camara |title=Cherno Samba – the Gambian who kept Rooney on the bench |url=http://allafrica.com/stories/201411131381.html |website=AllAfrica.com |date=13 November 2014 |access-date=25 September 2016}}

=International goal=

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" \|+ International goals by date, venue, opponent, score, result and competition{{cite web \|url=https://www.national-football-teams.com/player/27428/Cherno_Samba.html \|title=Samba, Cherno \|website=National Football Teams \|access-date=25 September 2016}}
scope=col\|No. !scope=col data-sort-type=date\|Date !scope=col\|Venue !scope=col\|Cap !scope=col\|Opponent !scope=col\|Score !scope=col\|Result !scope=col\|Competition
scope=row\|1 \|9 January 2010\|\|Stade El Menzah, Tunis, Tunisia\|\|3\|\|{{fb\|TUN}}\|\|1–0\|\|2–1\|\|Friendly

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"

|+ International goals by date, venue, opponent, score, result and competition{{cite web |url=https://www.national-football-teams.com/player/27428/Cherno_Samba.html |title=Samba, Cherno |website=National Football Teams |access-date=25 September 2016}}

scope=col|No.

!scope=col data-sort-type=date|Date

!scope=col|Venue

!scope=col|Cap

!scope=col|Opponent

!scope=col|Score

!scope=col|Result

!scope=col|Competition

scope=row|1

|9 January 2010||Stade El Menzah, Tunis, Tunisia||3||{{fb|TUN}}||1–0||2–1||Friendly

Personal life

Samba released an autobiography, Cherno Samba – Still in the Game, in 2018.{{Cite news |last=Hytner |first=David |date=2018-10-25 |title=Cherno Samba: 'I love Championship Manager … but there was a time I wanted to sleep and never wake' |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/oct/25/cherno-samba-championship-manager-legend-interview |access-date=2023-04-23 }}

In 2018 he spoke out about his mental health, disclosing that he had suffered as a young player from depression, and had attempted to take his own life whilst playing in Spain.{{Cite web|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2018/11/26/football/cherno-samba-football-manager-england-spt-intl/index.html|title = Former soccer teenage prodigy haunted by series of what ifs| date=27 November 2018 }}{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/world-africa-46282758/cherno-samba-the-football-prodigy-who-made-it-in-a-video-game|title = Football journeyman to video game star|publisher = BBC News}}

The Gambia football school, "Cherno Samba Academy of Football", from the academy was coupled out the professional team Samger FC, is named after him.[http://ibdabo.20m.com/contact.html Football Academy To Boost Gambian Soccer] African Football News, 29 October 2003

In popular culture

Samba was well known among players of the video game Championship Manager, due to the fact that he became an incredibly good player further down the line in the game, despite his relatively cheap price tag; this turned him into something of a cult hero amongst fans of the game. In a 2025 interview with The Telegraph, he revealed that with his character at striker, he managed Cheltenham Town from League Two to the Champions League in the game.{{Cite news |last=Gibbs |first=Thom |date=2025-04-30 |title=Cherno Samba: We tracked down one of the original Championship Manager wonderkids |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2025/04/30/cherno-samba-championship-manager-millwall/ |access-date=2025-04-30 |work=The Telegraph |language=en-GB |issn=0307-1235}} He has also explained that his mobile phone provider once cut the delivery time from 2–3 months to next-day delivery on learning that he was serving Samba.