Emmanuel Eboué

Born in Abidjan, Eboué began his football career in the ASEC Mimosas youth academy. In 2002, Eboué moved to ASEC's Belgian parent club KSK Beveren and spent three seasons there. His impressive performances in Belgium caught the eye of Arsenal's scouts.{{Citation needed|date=August 2012}}

Eboué's debut came only days after signing from Beveren, in the FA Cup against Stoke City. Although he was not initially a first team regular, making just one FA Premier League appearance, as a substitute, in 2004–05, Eboué was regularly in Arsenal's reserve team. He did however contribute three appearances to Arsenal's victorious 2004–05 FA Cup campaign.{{Soccerbase season|40634|2004|name=Emmanuel Eboue|access-date=13 January 2017}}

In 2005–06, Eboué made his breakthrough into the Arsenal side. He started the season mainly as a reserve player, though he scored his first goal for Arsenal in the club's 3–0 League Cup third round victory at Sunderland on 25 October 2005. Despite leaving for the African Cup of Nations in January 2006, he was immediately sent into action on his return; he made his first career Premiership start at right back against Liverpool at Anfield, replacing the injured Lauren. With Lauren injured for the rest of the season, Eboué unexpectedly held his place for the remainder of Arsenal's 2005–06 campaign.{{citation needed|date=August 2018}}

File:Eboue arsenal.jpg

Eboué's run in the Arsenal side included matches in the UEFA Champions League knockout phase against Real Madrid, Juventus, and Villarreal. Impressed with the way the Ivorian adapted to the increased pace of the Premiership and pressure of the Champions League, Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger even compared Eboué to the legendary Brazilian winger Garrincha after an energetic performance in the 1 April 2006 game against Aston Villa.{{cite web | url=http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=363588 | title=Fabregas, Eboué injury worries for Gunners | work=ESPN.com | access-date=4 June 2009 | archive-date=29 June 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629095814/http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=363588 | url-status=dead }} Eboué continued in the starting line-up for Arsenal in the 2006 UEFA Champions League Final at the Stade de France.{{citation needed|date=August 2018}}

Eboué started the 2006–07 season, and was named the Arsenal Player of the Month for September. However, he was injured in an international and spent the whole of the month of October out with injury. He made his first team return as a substitute in the 1–0 defeat by West Ham United on 5 November, and started the League Cup win over Everton later that same week. He scored his second Arsenal goal in their 3–1 Champions League victory over Hamburg on 21 November 2006. Persistent ankle problems have plagued him throughout December 2006 and January 2007. He attempted to make many comebacks, mostly against high-profile teams such as Liverpool, in the FA Cup third Round and Manchester United, but he was unable to come through them unscathed. Wenger decided to wait until there was no chance that there would be a recurrence of the injury. He came off the bench for Armand Traoré in the League Cup final against Chelsea. He started the match against Blackburn Rovers in the FA cup 5th Round Replay, only for his ankle to get injured again from a studs-up challenge from Blackburn winger Morten Gamst Pedersen, which the referee also missed. In May 2007, Eboué signed a new long-term contract with Arsenal.

File:Emmanuel Eboué.jpg

From the start of the 2007–08 season, Arsène Wenger stated his intention to move Eboué into a role on the right wing, following the signing of Bacary Sagna. On 20 September 2008, Eboué scored his first Premier League goal against Bolton Wanderers in an away match, which Arsenal won 3–1.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/7613918.stm |title=Bolton 1–3 Arsenal |publisher=BBC |date=20 September 2008 |access-date=2 September 2009 |first=Nabil |last=Hassan}}

During the 2008–09 season, he was frequently criticised by Arsenal fans after some less-than-satisfactory performances.{{Citation needed|date=August 2012}} In December 2008 against Wigan Athletic at the Emirates, Eboué played particularly poorly after being brought on as a substitute. He made many{{quantify|date=August 2012}} unforced errors to the point where a small section of Arsenal fans began to boo him. Eboué continued to lose possession and in the second half, Eboué tackled his own player and gifted possession to Wigan.{{Citation needed|date=August 2012}} He was subsequently substituted. This dramatic dip in form also coincided with other problems in the team, notably the absence of teammate Theo Walcott (who also played regularly on the right wing) through injury. Further appearances were confined to playing as a wing-forward or right back. On 8 March 2009, he scored the third goal against Burnley in the FA Cup fifth round match. On 14 March, he scored two goals (one a penalty) in the Gunners' 4–0 hammering of Blackburn Rovers.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/7944245.stm |title=Arsenal 4–0 Blackburn |publisher=BBC |date=14 March 2009 |access-date=2 September 2009 |first=Ian |last=Hughes}}

He scored his first goal of the 2009–10 season for Arsenal against Wigan Athletic at the Emirates Stadium, on 19 September 2009, the fixture in which he was booed by a small section of his own fans in the previous season. On 9 March 2010, in the second leg of Arsenal's Champions League tie at home to Porto, Eboué scored the fourth goal in a 5–0 win having come on as a substitute. In March 2010, Eboué dismissed speculation he would leave Arsenal and pledged to see out the remainder of his contract.[http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=753930&sec=england&campaign=rss&source=soccernet&cc=3436 ESPN Soccernet – Emmanuel Eboue pledges future to Arsenal] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629095844/http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=753930&sec=england&campaign=rss&source=soccernet&cc=3436 |date=29 June 2011 }}. Soccernet.espn.go.com (11 March 2010). Retrieved on 21 March 2012.

At the end of 2010, late October or November, Eboué signed another long-term contract with Arsenal.{{cite web |url=http://www.premierleague.com/page/Headlines/0,,12306~2255636,00.html |title=News & Features | Barclays Premier League latest football team news |publisher=Premierleague.com |date=2013-09-10 |access-date=2014-03-19 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110104052022/http://www.premierleague.com/page/Headlines/0%2C%2C12306~2255636%2C00.html |archive-date=4 January 2011 |df=dmy }}

In April 2011, Eboué scored for Arsenal in their 3–1 win over Blackpool at Bloomfield Road, with a powerful strike from his weaker left foot, which helped keep Arsenal's title hopes alive. In the following match against Liverpool at the Emirates Stadium, however, he conceded a last-minute penalty by pushing Lucas Leiva in the back which denied the club victory and left them six points adrift of the leaders. On 8 May 2011, he was an unused substitute in the game against Stoke City at the Britannia Stadium in a 3–1 defeat.{{citation needed|date=August 2018}}

At the end of the 2010–11 season, Eboué made 27 appearances in total and scored once in all competitions.{{citation needed|date=August 2018}}

File:Emmanuel EboueGS.JPG

At the start of the 2011–12 season, Eboué lost his squad number to new signing Gervinho, who was given the number 27 shirt upon his arrival, which left Eboué's future at the club unclear. On 16 August 2011, Eboué completed a move to Turkish club Galatasaray{{cite news |url = http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/club-agrees-terms-with-galatasaray-for-eboue |title = Club agrees terms with Galatasaray for Eboue |publisher = Arsenal F.C. |date = 16 August 2011 |access-date = 16 August 2011 |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110925082942/http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/club-agrees-terms-with-galatasaray-for-eboue |archive-date = 25 September 2011 |df = dmy-all}}{{cite news |url=https://www.fifa.com/worldfootball/clubfootball/news/newsid=1493574.html?cid=twitter_voiceofthesite |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140518211612/http://www.fifa.com/worldfootball/clubfootball/news/newsid=1493574.html?cid=twitter_voiceofthesite |url-status=dead |archive-date=18 May 2014 |title=Eboue signs for Gala |publisher=FIFA |date=16 August 2011 |access-date=16 August 2011}} for €3.5 million in 4-year contract (worth €2.35M a season plus bonus).{{cite news |url=http://www.galatasaray.org/en/futbol/futbol_as/haber/1430.php |title=Eboué Signs with Galatasaray |publisher=Galatasaray S.K. |date=16 August 2011 |access-date=16 August 2011}} Following his move to Galatasaray, Eboué revealed that manager Arsène Wenger told him he would have few first-team opportunities and to listen to interest to join the Turkish side.{{Cite news|title=Eboue laments lack of first-team opportunities after Arsenal exit|url=http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/2896/premier-league/2012/04/03/3010762/eboue-laments-lack-of-first-team-opportunities-after-arsenal|publisher=Goal.com|date=3 April 2012|access-date=11 May 2012}} On 11 September 2011, Eboué made his debut in the clubs shirt in a 2–0 loss against İstanbul Büyükşehir Belediyesi.{{citation needed|date=August 2018}}

In the match between Galatasaray and Beşiktaş which was 0–0, Eboué was pelted with missiles from the crowd whenever he neared the touchline.{{cite news |last1=Callow |first1=James |title=Emmanuel Eboué pelted with missiles while playing for Galatasaray |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2011/nov/21/emmanuel-eboue-galatasaray-besiktas |access-date=16 September 2020 |work=The Guardian |date=21 November 2011}} On 3 December 2011, Eboué scored his first goal against Gençlerbirliği, which was the only goal in a 1–0 win. He played 31 matches in the league as he secured his first league title of his professional career.{{citation needed|date=August 2018}}

In Eboué's second season at the club, the Ivorian helped the team claim victory in the Turkish Super Cup on 12 August 2012, playing the whole game in an entertaining 3–2 victory over rivals Fenerbahçe at the Kazım Karabekir Stadium in Erzurum.{{cite web|url=http://www.tff.org/Default.aspx?pageID=29&macId=108432 |title=GALATASARAY A.Ş. 3 – FENERBAHÇE A.Ş. 2 |publisher=TFF |date=12 August 2012 |language=tr }} Eboué was part of the squad that surprisingly fell 2–1 to Turkish Second Division side 1461 Trabzon in December 2012.

During the 2013 winter transfer window, he was joined by national teammate Didier Drogba on 28 January 2013.{{cite web|url=http://www.galatasaray.org/en/kulup/haber/1969.php |publisher=Galatasaray.org |title=Didier Drogba Join Galatasaray |date=28 January 2013 |language=tr |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130131081141/http://www.galatasaray.org/en/kulup/haber/1969.php |archive-date=31 January 2013 |df=dmy }}{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/21239832|title= Didier Drogba: Galatasaray sign striker from Shanghai Shenhua|date=28 January 2013|work=BBC Sport|access-date=29 January 2013 }} On 9 April 2013, in the Champions League quarter-final second leg against La Liga club Real Madrid, Eboué scored from long range as Galatarsay secured a 3–2 win, falling 5–3 on aggregate.{{cite news |last1=Jurejko |first1=Jonathan |title=Galatasaray 3-2 Real Madrid (3-5 agg) |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/22070501 |access-date=16 September 2020 |work=BBC Sport |date=9 April 2013}} Eboué helped Galatasaray defend their league title, playing the full ninety minutes in their 4–2 defeat of Sivasspor on 5 May, a win which secured the club's 19th Turkish Super Lig title.{{cite web|url=http://espnfc.com/news/story/_/id/1436627/galatasaray-defend-turkish-super-lig-title?cc=5901 |title=Galatasaray defend crown |publisher=ESPNFC |date=5 May 2013 }} In Gala's following match on 12 May, the Kıtalar Arası Derbi against Fenerbahçe, Galatasaray lost the match 2–1 but Eboué and Drogba were subject to racist abuse from Fenerbahçe fans during the game and no punishment was handed down on the club or its supporters.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/22527009 |title=Galatasaray: Didier Drogba questions racists who abused him |publisher=BBC Sport |date=14 May 2013 }}

Eboue was left out of the main squad by Cesare Prandelli at the beginning of 2014–15 season. As a consequence, he played with the U21 team the whole season. As Galatasaray's foreign player limit was full, he could not return to the team after Prandelli had left.{{cite web|url=http://www.haberturk.com/spor/futbol/haber/1034377-galatasarayi-sarsan-gercek|title=Galatasaray'ı sarsan gerçek|publisher=HaberTurk|date=24 January 2015|language=tr}} At the end of the season, his contract was not renewed and Eboué left the club.{{cite web|url=http://superhaber.tv/eboue-galatasaraydan-ayrildi-14624808 |title=Eboue Galatasaray'dan ayrildi |publisher=Superhaber |date=1 June 2015 |language=tr |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304124243/http://superhaber.tv/eboue-galatasaraydan-ayrildi-14624808 |archive-date=4 March 2016 |df=dmy }}

On 9 March 2016, Eboué signed a short-term contract with Sunderland.{{cite web|url=http://www.safc.com/news/team-news/2016/march/sunderland-sign-eboue|title=Sunderland sign Eboue - SAFC|work=safc.com|access-date=13 April 2016}} On 31 March 2016, Eboué began serving a one-year ban from all football-related activity, for failing to pay a former agent. He was released by Sunderland in April 2016, having not played for the club.{{cite web|url=https://www.fifa.com/governance/news/y=2016/m=3/news=emmanuel-eboue-to-serve-ban-2773541.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160402010300/http://www.fifa.com/governance/news/y=2016/m=3/news=emmanuel-eboue-to-serve-ban-2773541.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=2 April 2016|title=Emmanuel Eboué to serve ban|date=31 March 2016|work=FIFA.com|access-date=13 April 2016}}{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2016/mar/31/emmanuel-eboue-faces-12-month-ban-22-days-after-signing-sunderland|title=Emmanuel Eboué's contract terminated by Sunderland amid 12-month Fifa ban|author=Guardian sport|work=The Guardian|date=31 March 2016|access-date=13 April 2016}}

In July 2017, Eboué trained with Hungarian Ferencváros, but could not agree on a contract with the club.{{cite web|url=https://www.fradi.hu/labdarugas/elso-csapat/hirek/a-sztar-elkoszont-17515|title=A sztár elköszönt|website=www.fradi.hu}}

In October 2017, Eboué was looking to join Türk Ocağı Limasol, a team in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. The move fell through due to issues with his blood that were discovered in a medical test.{{cite news|last1=Wheatley|first1=Chris|title=EBOUE'S TRANSFER ON HOLD AFTER 'ABNORMAL BLOOD VALUE RESULTS' FOUND IN MEDICAL|url=http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/eboues-transfer-on-hold-after-abnormal-blood-value-results-found-/h2kslo1zboi41jjsg41megpaf|access-date=27 December 2017|publisher=Goal.com|date=2 October 2017}}

In December 2017, Eboué was offered a job coaching the under-14 team at former club Galatasaray, when their manager Fatih Terim was made aware of Eboué's financial problems.{{cite news|title=Son dakika Emmanuel Eboue Galatasaray'a dönüyor|trans-title=Emmanuel Eboué returns to Galatasaray at the last minute|url=https://www.cnnturk.com/spor/futbol/son-dakika-emmanuel-eboue-galatasaraya-donuyor|access-date=27 December 2017|publisher=CNN|date=25 December 2017|language=tr}}

Eboué debuted for Ivory Coast in 2004 and had generally been a regular fixture in the defence operating at right-back for the Elephants, along with former teammate Kolo Touré. On 18 November 2009, Eboué scored his first goal for Ivory Coast in a 2–2 draw against Germany. He was named in Sven-Göran Eriksson's Ivory Coast squad for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.{{cite web|url=http://soccernet.espn.go.com/world-cup/story/_/id/791719/ce/uk/?cc=5739&ver=global|title=Sven Goran Eriksson names six strikers in final Ivory Coast squad – ESPN Soccernet|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100605211107/http://soccernet.espn.go.com/world-cup/story/_/id/791719/ce/uk/?cc=5739&ver=global|archive-date=5 June 2010|website=ESPN|date=11 July 2010|access-date=21 March 2012}}

Eboué is a Christian.{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/emmanuel-eboueacute-the-man-with-no-fear-475463.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081205085948/http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/emmanuel-eboueacute-the-man-with-no-fear-475463.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=5 December 2008 |title=Emmanuel Eboué: The man with no fear – Premier League – Football |work=The Independent |date=2006-04-25 |access-date=2014-03-19 |location=London}} He had three children with his Belgian wife, Aurélie, whom he married before joining Arsenal. In December 2017, Eboué told the Sunday Mirror that he is poor and homeless due to his divorce and bad investments that were under his former wife's control.{{cite news|last1=Cole|first1=Brendan|title='I sleep on a friend's floor and hide from the bailiffs' -Ex-Arsenal star Emmanuel Eboue tells of riches-to-rags story|url=http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/i-sleep-friends-floor-hide-bailiffs-ex-arsenal-star-emmanuel-eboue-tells-riches-rags-1652730|access-date=24 December 2017|work=International Business Times|date=24 December 2017}}{{cite news|last1=de Menezes|first1=Jack|title=Emmanuel Eboue 'dodging bailiffs and sleeping on the floor' as former Arsenal stars admits he's contemplated suicide|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/emmanuel-eboue-arsenal-news-suicide-homeless-interview-washing-machine-sleeping-on-floor-a8127226.html|access-date=24 December 2017|work=The Independent|date=24 December 2017}}

In June 2019, Eboué spoke about his ongoing struggles with mental health.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/48593533|title=Emmanuel Eboue: Former Ivory Coast defender reveals his struggles continue|first=Oluwashina|last=Okeleji|date=11 June 2019|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=26 August 2019}}

:Source:{{NFT player|1668|name=Eboué, Emmanuel| access-date = 6 April 2012}}{{cite web|url=http://www.tff.org/Default.aspx?pageID=30&kisiID=1432014|title=EMMANUEL EBOUE| date = 6 April 2012|work=Turkish Football Federation| access-date = 6 April 2012}}{{cite web|url=http://www.mackolik.com/Futbolcu/22356/Emmanuel-Eboue|title=Emmanuel Eboue| date = 6 April 2012|work=Mackolik.com| access-date = 6 April 2012}}{{cite web | url=http://soccernet.espn.go.com/players/stats?id=27874&cc=4716 | title=Emmanuel Eboue | work=ESPN.com | access-date=4 June 2009 | archive-date=22 August 2009 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090822184207/http://soccernet.espn.go.com/players/stats?id=27874&cc=4716 | url-status=dead }}

• Allocation of appearances in the various seasons before his Arsenal career is uncertain, and therefore applied to the League section for each club, as per time he spent there.

{{notelist}}

:Source:{{citation needed|date=August 2018}}

International goals

:Source:

Arsenal

• Football League Cup runner-up: 2006–07,{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/league_cup/6371613.stm |title=Chelsea 2–1 Arsenal |website=BBC Sport |date=24 February 2008 |access-date=25 March 2024}} 2010–11{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/league_cup/9405702.stm |title=Arsenal 1–2 Birmingham |first=Philip |last=McNulty |publisher=BBC Sport |date=27 February 2011 |access-date=25 March 2024}}
• UEFA Champions League runner-up: 2005–06

Galatasaray

• Süper Lig: 2011–12, 2012–13
• Turkish Cup: 2013–14
• Turkish Super Cup: 2012, 2013

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{{2006 Africa Cup of Nations Team of the Tournament}}

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