Samuel Eto'o

Samuel Eto'o
Samuel Eto'o - Inter Mailand (1).jpg
Personal information
Full name Samuel Eto'o Fils
Date of birth 10 March 1981 (1981-03-10) (age 29)
Place of birth Nkon[1], Cameroon
Height 1.79 m (5 ft 10 1⁄2 in)[2]
Playing position Striker
Club information
Current club Internazionale
Number 9
Youth career
Kadji Sports Academy
Senior career*
Years Team Apps† (Gls)†
1997–2000 Real Madrid 3 (0)
1997–1998 → Leganés (loan) 28 (3)
1999 → Espanyol (loan) 0 (0)
2000 → Mallorca (loan) 13 (6)
2000–2004 Mallorca 133 (54)
2004–2009 Barcelona 145 (108)
2009 Internazionale 32 (12)
National team‡
2000 Cameroon U23 6 (1)
1996– Cameroon 100 (50)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 16 May 2010.

† Appearances (Goals).

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 16:48, 18 April 2010 (UTC)

Samuel Eto'o Fils (French pronunciation: [samɥɛl eto fis]; born 10 March 1981) is a Cameroonian professional footballer who plays as a striker for Italian Serie A club Internazionale and is currently captain of the Cameroon national team.[3] Eto'o trained at Kadji Sports Academy.[4] He also holds a Spanish passport to enable him not to count among the 'foreign' players' in the European Union.

Eto'o scored over 100 goals in five seasons with FC Barcelona, and is also the record holder in number of appearances by an African player in La Liga.[5] In 2010, he became the first player to win two European Continental Trebles following his back-to-back achievements with Barcelona and Internazionale. He is the second player to have ever scored in two separate UEFA Champions League finals and the fourth player, after Marcel Desailly, Paulo Sousa and Gerard Piqué, to have won the UEFA Champions League two years in a row with different teams.[6] He is also, as of 22 May 2010, the most decorated African player of all time. Along with Clarence Seedorf he is one of only two players to win the UEFA Champions League with three separate teams, with Real Madrid in 2000 (though only playing three games), twice with FC Barcelona in 2006 and 2009 and once with Internazionale in 2010

As a member of the Cameroon national team, he was a part of the squad that won the 2000 Olympic tournament; he has participated in three World Cups and six African Nations Cups (being champion twice), and is the all-time leading scorer in the history of the African Nations Cup, with 18 goals.

Contents

Club career

Real Madrid

Samuel Eto'o joined Real Madrid in 1997, but he could only train with Real Madrid B, as he was still a minor. Real Madrid B were relegated to the Segunda División B, where non-EU players are not allowed, and as a result he was loaned to second-division CD Leganés for the 1996–97 season, which he was only in the tenth grade.[7] After making 30 appearances for the club and only scoring 4 goals, he returned to Madrid following the end of the 1997–98 season. In January 1999, he was loaned out to Espanyol,[8] but failed to make any appearances for the club.

Mallorca

The same season, in the winter transfer window, he went to first-division team Mallorca on loan, scoring 6 goals in 19 games. At the end of the season, Eto'o left Real Madrid, signing a permanent deal with Mallorca for a club record £4.4 million fee.[7]

In his second season, he scored 11 goals and began to garner attention throughout the league. Mallorca club president Mateo Alemany said of his style of play: "I doubt if there is any other player in the world who would please the fans more at this moment."[7] Eto'o himself commented on his rise to stardom, "I like it here in Mallorca, I have always been well looked after, the fans appreciate me and I also have a contract that runs until 2007." He returned the fans' appreciation when he donated €30,000 in meals to travelling Mallorca supporters who made the journey to the Copa del Rey final against Recreativo Huelva in 2003.[9] Mallorca won the match 3–0 with Eto'o scoring two late goals to seal the victory.[10] However, his volatile attitude resulted in several off-pitch incidents. Bartolome Terrassa, a television journalist, filed a formal complaint after a run-in with Eto'o in the club's parking lot, accusing the player of saying, "The next time, you are not going to escape; I'm going to kill you." This was not the first incident, however, as the previous year Eto'o's former agent, Daniel Argibeaut, accused the player of assaulting him with four accomplices, saying, "They then took off my shoes, which in Cameroon means I am threatened with death."[9]

Eto'o departed Mallorca as the club's all-time leading domestic league scorer (54 goals) when he signed for FC Barcelona in the summer of 2004 for a transfer fee of €24 million, after lengthy three-way negotiations with Mallorca and Madrid.[11] Initially, Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez wanted to buy back the full transfer rights and loan him out again but eventually the Barcelona deal proved lucrative enough to warrant a sale.[12] Additionally, the team already had its full quota of three non-EU players.[11]

Barcelona

2004–2007

Eto'o playing for Barcelona

Eto'o made his Barcelona debut in the season opener at Racing Santander on 29 August 2004. After Barcelona won the 2004–05 La Liga title, the team organized a festive party in the Camp Nou, during which Eto'o harangued the fans chanting, "Madrid, cabrón, saluda al campeón" (roughly: "Madrid, bastards, salute the champions"). The Royal Spanish Football Federation fined Eto'o €12,000 for his comments, for which he later apologized. He expressed regret and asked for forgiveness from Real Madrid, his first professional team. The head of the Real Madrid fan club federation remained unimpressed however, stating: "This character is a fantastic player, but he leaves a lot to be desired as a person."[13] He signed an improved contract with Barça in June 2005.[14] A few days later Lionel Messi agreed a similar deal.

After missing out on the previous year's Pichichi (top La Liga goalscorer), Eto'o edged out Valencia CF striker David Villa for the award during the final matchday on 20 May 2006 when he scored his 26th goal of the season against Athletic Bilbao. Eto'o was very gracious to teammates after the game saying, "It has been a team effort although only one person gets the award. We've worked hard all season and have got our just rewards."[15]

Eto'o also contributed six goals during Barcelona's run to the 2005–06 Champions League title. In the final, Arsenal goalkeeper Jens Lehmann was sent off early on for bringing down Eto'o just outside of the penalty area, but the Catalans struggled to capitalize on their one-man advantage until Eto'o scored the game-tying goal in the second half. Barcelona went on to win the match 2–1 and Eto'o was awarded with the UEFA Best Forward of the Year award for his accomplishments in the European campaign.[16][17]

Eto'o also won an historic third consecutive African Player of the Year award that season. He said in his acceptance speech, "Above all, I dedicate this to all the children of Africa."[18] He was also selected to his second straight FIFPro World XI and finished third in the running for the FIFA World Player of the Year, making him only the second African footballer ever to be voted into the top three.[19][20]

The season started badly for Eto'o as he ruptured the meniscus in his right knee during Barcelona's Champions League group stage match against Werder Bremen on 27 September 2006. Barcelona team physician Ricard Pruna originally estimated that the injury would keep him out of action for two to three months.[21] After the operation Eto'o's recovery time was extended to five months but he resumed training with Barcelona in early January 2007.[22][23]

Samuel Eto'o of Barcelona defended by Patrice Evra of Manchester United

2007–2009

Eto'o refused to come on as a substitute in a league match against Racing Santander on 11 February 2007. Barcelona manager Frank Rijkaard said after the match, "He did not want to come on; I don't know why."[24] Ronaldinho was critical of Eto'o's actions, saying that Eto'o was not putting the team first but Eto'o rebutted the comment, claiming that he did not come on because he did not have enough time to warm up properly.[25][26] Three months later, Eto'o said, "These kind of things are usually just speculation and don't come through to me. However, if it is true that I am a problem for my team then I will go. But like I said, I am happy here. The press can write what they want." Following the comments, Barcelona president Joan Laporta was quick to quash rumours of transfers involving Eto'o and Ronaldinho.[27]

After aggravating a meniscus injury on 28 August during a summer friendly against Internazionale, Eto'o was sidelined indefinitely.[28] On 17 October, in the midst of his recovery period, he gained Spanish citizenship.[29] He was cleared to play again on 4 December, and returned to the side a week later in Barcelona's 2–1 league win over Deportivo La Coruña.[30][31]

Eto'o recorded his first league hat-trick in a match against UD Levante on 24 February 2008.[32] He finished with a total of 16 league goals in 18 appearances for the season.[33] On 25 October, he recorded the fastest hat-trick in club history after netting three times in 23 minutes in a victory over UD Almería.[34] Only two games later, on November 8, 2008, Eto'o scored four goals in the first half of Barcelona's game vs. Real Valladolid, which ended 6–0.

On 29 November 2008, he scored his 111th career Barcelona goal in all competitions in a 3–0 road win over Sevilla, moving him into the club's top ten all-time goalscorers.[35]

On 14 February 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 of the 2008–09 season in a La Liga match against Real Valladolid. The game ended 1–0 and meant that Barcelona kept a 6 point lead over Real Madrid in the league. He also scored against Villarreal CF in the game that put Barcelona one point away from lifting the 2008–09 La Liga.

Eto'o scored the opening goal in the 2009 UEFA Champions League Final against Manchester United. Barcelona went on to win the final 2–0, thus completing the Treble.

Internazionale

Eto’o playing for Internazionale in 2009.

After Maxwell completed the transfer from Internazionale[36], Joan Laporta confirmed that there was an agreement in principle between Barcelona and Internazionale for Zlatan Ibrahimović to join the club in exchange for Eto'o and €46 million.[37][38] After Ibrahimović agreed terms with Barcelona, the club announced Eto'o would travel to Milan for his medical to complete the transfer.[39].

On 27 July 2009 Eto'o passed his medical and signed for five years with Internazionale[40]. On his first press-conference in Milan he declared that he was where he wanted to be and refused to compare himself to Ibrahimović saying: "I'm Samuel Eto'o and I don't want to compare myself to anyone. I believe the victories I have earned up to now can contribute to giving the right value to my name."[41] On the 8th August, Eto'o scored his first competitive goal for Inter, in the 2009 Supercoppa Italiana.[42] Two weeks later, Eto'o scored from the penalty spot against A.S. Bari in his first Serie A match. In the following match, the Milan Derby, Eto'o won Inter a penalty, after being brought down by Gennaro Gattuso in the box. This was important because that penalty caused Gattuso to be yellow-carded. He would eventually be sent off. Eto'o scored again on 13 September against Parma, his first goal from open play in a Serie A match.[43]

At the end of September 2009, Eto'o demanded almost £2.75m from Barcelona after his transfer to Inter. The amount represented 15% of the US$29 million (£17.7m) fee which Inter paid Barcelona in July 2009. The demand was based on a Spanish rule that a player should get 15% of the amount of his transfer to another Spanish club. If the parties failed to reach a solution the matter could go to court.[44]

Eto'o scored two goals during a thrilling win over Palermo which ended 5–3, with a brace also being scored by Mario Balotelli.[45] Eto'o also scored in the Champion's league round-of-16 against Chelsea, in the 2nd leg on 16 March 2010, which allowed Inter to progress to the quarter-finals.On the 5th of May 2010, Eto'o and his team mates helped Inter to lift the Italian Cup after defeating A S Roma 1–0 at the Stadio Olimpico. Inter's goal was scored by Argentine's Diego Milito.

On 22 May 2010, Eto'o played in the third Champions League final of his career, and with Internazionale's triumph over Bayern Munich became the only player to win the treble in consecutive seasons.[46] On 21 August 2010, Eto'o scored twice as Internazionale beat AS Roma 3-1 to win the Italian Super Cup.[47]

International career

Eto'o playing for Cameroon

Eto'o earned his first cap with Cameroon at age 15 on 9 March 1996, in a 5–0 friendly loss to Costa Rica. In 1998, he was the youngest participant in the 1998 FIFA World Cup when he appeared in a 3–0 group stage loss to Italy on 17 June 1998, at the age of 17 years and three months. Eto'o scored his sole goal of the 2002 World Cup when he netted the game-winner against Saudi Arabia during the group stage on 6 June 2002, which was Cameroon's only win of the competition.

Eto'o was a part of the squads that won the 2000 and 2002 Africa Cup of Nations, and was a gold medalist at the 2000 Summer Olympics. At the 2003 FIFA Confederations Cup, in which Cameroon finished as runners-up, he scored his only goal in a 1–0 group-stage upset of Brazil on 19 June. Cameroon were eliminated in the quarter-finals of the 2006 Africa Cup of Nations after Eto'o missed the decisive penalty in a 12–11 shoot-out loss to Côte d'Ivoire following a 1–1 draw, but he nonetheless finished as the top scorer of the tournament with five goals. He missed a team practice before the quarterfinals to attend the CAF African Footballer of the Year award ceremonies in Togo.

In the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations, Eto'o became joint leading goalscorer (along with Laurent Pokou) in the competition's history after scoring his fourteenth goal with a penalty against Zambia on 26 January 2008. In the following game against Sudan on 30 January, Eto'o converted another penalty to become the tournament's all time leading scorer, followed by another goal in the same match that took his Cup of Nations tally to 16.[48] He finished as the top scorer for the second consecutive tournament, matching his 2006 total of five goals.

On 1 June 2008, Eto'o headbutted reporter Philippe Bony, following an incident at a press conference. Bony suffered an injury, but Eto'o later apologized for the altercation, offering to pay Bony's medical expenses.[49]

In the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifying match against Gabon, Eto'o scored a goal in the 68th minute. He followed it up with another goal in the home fixture. He now leads the scoring chart with eight qualification goals. Eto'o scored in the World Cup Qualification match against Morocco to win Cameroon a spot in the 2010 FIFA World Cup tournament.

On Tuesday December 1, 2009 Eto'o came in 5th for the Ballon d'Or, which was taken by his former teammate Lionel Messi.

On 19 June 2010, Eto'o scored a goal in Cameroon's 2010 World Cup group stage match against Denmark, from a mistake by Christian Poulsen. Cameroon eventually lost the game 2–1 and was eliminated from the World Cup. Eto'o described it as the biggest disappointment of his career.

He scored a brace away against Poland on the 11th August 2010 to take his international goal tally to 48.

International Goals

# Date Opponent Result Competition
1 9 August 1997 Zambia Zambia 3–3 LG Cup
2 28 January 2000 Côte d'Ivoire Ivory Coast 3–0 2000 Africa Cup of Nations
3 6 February 2000 Algeria Algeria 2–1 2000 Africa Cup of Nations
4 10 February 2000 Tunisia Tunisia 3–0 2000 Africa Cup of Nations
5 13 February 2000 Nigeria Nigeria 2–2 2000 Africa Cup of Nations
6 19 April 2000 Somalia Somalia 3–0 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification
7 28 January 2001 Togo Togo 2–0 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification
8 1 July 2001 Togo Togo 2–0 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification
9 7 January 2002 Burkina Faso Burkina Faso 3–1 Friendly match
10 29 January 2002 Togo Togo 3–0 2002 Africa Cup of Nations
11 27 March 2002 Argentina Argentina 2–2 Friendly match
12 26 May 2002 England England 2–2 Friendly match
13 6 June 2002 Saudi Arabia Saudia Arabia 1–0 2002 FIFA World Cup
14 27 March 2003 Madagascar Madagascar 2–0 International Tournament
15 19 June 2003 Brazil Brazil 1–0 2003 FIFA Confederations Cup
16 8 February 2004 Nigeria Nigeria 1–2 2004 Africa Cup of Nations
17 6 June 2004 Benin Benin 2–1 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification
18 4 July 2004 Côte d'Ivoire Ivory Coast 2–0 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification
19 15 September 2004 Egypt Egypt 2–3 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification
20 4 June 2005 Benin Benin 4–1 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification
21 21 January 2006 Angola Angola 3–1 2006 Africa Cup of Nations
22 21 January 2006 Angola Angola 3–1 2006 Africa Cup of Nations
23 21 January 2006 Angola Angola 3–1 2006 Africa Cup of Nations
24 25 January 2006 Togo Togo 2–0 2006 Africa Cup of Nations
25 29 January 2006 Democratic Republic of the Congo Congo-Kinshasa 2–0 2006 Africa Cup of Nations
26 3 June 2007 Liberia Liberia 2–1 2008 African Cup of Nations qualification
27 22 January 2008 Egypt Egypt 2–4 2008 Africa Cup of Nations
28 22 January 2008 Egypt Egypt 2–4 2008 Africa Cup of Nations
29 26 January 2008 Zambia Zambia 5–1 2008 Africa Cup of Nations
30 30 January 2008 Sudan Sudan 3–0 2008 Africa Cup of Nations
31 30 January 2008 Sudan Sudan 3–0 2008 Africa Cup of Nations
32 31 May 2008 Cape Verde Cape Verde 2–0 2010 World Cup qualification
33 8 June 2008 Mauritius Mauritius 3–0 2010 World Cup qualification
34 21 June 2008 Tanzania Tanzania 2–1 2010 World Cup qualification
35 21 June 2008 Tanzania Tanzania 2–1 2010 World Cup qualification
36 11 October 2008 Mauritius Mauritius 5–0 2010 World Cup qualification
37 11 October 2008 Mauritius Mauritius 5–0 2010 World Cup qualification
38 11 February 2009 Guinea Guinea 3–1 Friendly match
39 11 February 2009 Guinea Guinea 3–1 Friendly match
40 5 September 2009 Gabon Gabon 2–0 2010 World Cup qualification
41 9 September 2009 Gabon Gabon 2–1 2010 World Cup qualification
42 14 November 2009 Morocco Morocco 2–0 2010 World Cup qualification
43 17 January 2010 Zambia Zambia 3–2 2010 Africa Cup of Nations
44 21 January 2010 Tunisia Tunisia 2–2 2010 Africa Cup of Nations
45 19 June 2010 Denmark Denmark 1–2 2010 FIFA World Cup
46 24 June 2010 Netherlands Netherlands 1–2 2010 FIFA World Cup
47 11 August 2010 Poland Poland 3–0 Friendly
48 11 August 2010 Poland Poland 3–0 Friendly

[50]

Personal life

Eto'o has two brothers: David, who plays for Kadji Sports Academy in the MTN Elite One league in Cameroon, and Étienne, who is currently on loan to Pobla de Mafumet CF from Gimnàstic de Tarragona. Eto'o married his longtime sweetheart Georgette on 6 July 2007. They have three children together: Étienne, Maelle, and Siena, who all live along with Georgette in Paris, France.[51]

Racism

Eto'o has experienced racial abuse in some away matches. Eto'o along with former Barcelona teammate Thierry Henry, and Vitória de Setúbal defender Marco Zoro have reacted by being outspoken in their criticism and threatening to leave the pitch.

In February 2005, during an away match with Real Zaragoza, Eto'o was the subject of racist taunts by Zaragoza supporters, who began making monkey-like chants onto the pitch whenever he had possession of the ball. However, the referee, Fernando Carmona Méndez, made no mention of the incidents in his match report, commenting only that the behavior of the crowd was "normal"; two of the abusers were caught and given five-month sporting-event bans after being identified to police by other spectators.[52][53] Eto'o later declared that the punishment was insufficient and that La Romareda should have been closed for at least one year, but Frank Rijkaard told him to concentrate on football and to stop talking about the incident. However, infuriated again by Zaragoza fans' racist chants the next season, Eto'o attempted to walk off the pitch in protest.[54] His teammates intervened and convinced him to continue playing. Video of the incident captured him saying "No más" ("No more") as he walked to the sidelines.[55]

Due to ongoing racism from La Liga crowds, Eto'o stopped bringing family members to matches. "It is something that has affected me personally. I think players, leaders, and the media have to join forces so that no one feels looked down upon because of the colour of their skin. At this moment in time I prefer my children don't go to football matches. In the stands they have to listen to things that are difficult to explain to a child. It is better they aren't exposed to it."[56]

Career statistics

As of 22/1/2010

Club Season League Cup[57] Europe[58] Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Leganés 1997–98 28 3 2 1 – 30 4
Total 28 3 2 1 – 30 4
Real Madrid 1998–99 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
Total 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
Espanyol 1998–99 0 0 0 0 – 0 0
Total 0 0 0 0 – 0 0
Real Madrid 1999–00 2 0 0 0 3 0 5 0
Total 2 0 0 0 3 0 5 0
Mallorca 1999–00 13 6 0 0 – 13 6
2000–01 28 11 5 2 – 33 13
2001–02 30 6 1 1 9 3 40 10
2002–03 30 14 6 5 – 36 19
2003–04 32 17 2 0 7 4 41 21
Total 133 54 14 8 16 7 163 69
Barcelona 2004–05 37 25 1 0 7 4 45 29
2005–06 35 26 2 2 11 6 48 34
2006–07 19 11 4 1 4 1 27 13
2007–08 18 16 3 1 7 1 28 18
2008–09 36 30 4 0 12 6 52 36
Total 145 108 14 4 41 18 200 130
Internazionale 2009–10 32 12 3 2 12 2 47 16
2010–11 0 0 1 2 1 0 2 2
Total 32 12 4 3 13 2 49 18
Career Total 341 176 34 17 72 27 450 220

Awards and honours

Club

Real Madrid
Mallorca
Barcelona
Internazionale

International

Cameroon
Cameroon Olympic Team

Individual

References

  1. ↑ "Samuel Eto'o Fils". FC Internazionale Milano. http://www.inter.it/aas/squadra/player1?codgioc=G0854&L=en&stagione=2009/10. Retrieved 2009-01-12. 
  2. ↑ Samuel Eto'o Fils
  3. ↑ Cameroon place faith in Eto'o
  4. ↑ [1]
  5. ↑ Phil Minshull (2008-05-05). "Eto'o sets La Liga record". BBC Sport. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/africa/7383851.stm. Retrieved 2008-05-05. 
  6. ↑ personal records
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 "La revancha de Eto’o". Fox Sport]. http://arogeraldes.com/2007/07/la-revancha-de-etoo.html. Retrieved 2006-10-20. 
  8. ↑ QUI SUIS JE ? Samuel, Eto´o Fils
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Minshull, Phil (2003-05-13). "Eto'o fever grips Mallorca". BBC Sport. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/africa/3024675.stm. Retrieved 2008-11-26. 
  10. ↑ "Eto'o helps Mallorca lift Copa del Rey". The Hindu (AP). 2003-06-30. http://www.hinduonnet.com/2003/06/30/stories/2003063005631800.htm. Retrieved 2008-11-26. 
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 McCoy, Tim (2004-08-26). "Six to watch in the Primera Liga". BBC Sport. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/3556318.stm. Retrieved 2008-11-26. 
  12. ↑ "Eto'o is Barca priority". BBC Sport. 2004-07-12. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/africa/3894767.stm. Retrieved 2008-11-26. 
  13. ↑ "Eto'o apologizes for outburst". BBC Sport. 2005-05-15. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/africa/4553179.stm. Retrieved 2008-11-26. 
  14. ↑ "Eto'o aims for even better at Barça". UEFA.com. 2005-06-29. http://www.uefa.com/competitions/ucl/news/kind=1/newsid=312993.html. Retrieved 2009-07-23. 
  15. ↑ "Eto'o thanks team for Pichichi". BBC Sport. 2005-05-21. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/africa/5002096.stm. Retrieved 2008-11-26. 
  16. ↑ "Ronaldinho delivers for Barça". UEFA. 2006-06-01. http://www.uefa.com/competitions/ucl/history/season=2005/intro.html. Retrieved 2008-11-26. 
  17. ↑ Haslam, Andrew (2006-08-24). "Ronaldinho reigns in Monaco". UEFA. http://www.uefa.com/competitions/supercup/news/kind=1/newsid=447990.html. Retrieved 2008-11-26. 
  18. ↑ "Eto'o king of Africa once again". BBC Sport. 2006-02-16. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/africa/4722080.stm. Retrieved 2008-11-26. 
  19. ↑ "Ronaldinho voted FIFPro World Player of the Year again". FIFPro. http://worldx1.fifpro.org/index.php?mod=plink&id=9025. Retrieved 2008-11-26. 
  20. ↑ "FIFA World Player". FIFA. http://www.fifa.com/classicfootball/awards/playeroftheyear/winnermen.html. Retrieved 2008-11-26. 
  21. ↑ "Eto'o setback for Barça". The Guardian. 2006-09-29. http://football.guardian.co.uk/continentalfootball/story/0,,1883793,00.html. Retrieved 2006-09-29. 
  22. ↑ "Eto'o out for five months after knee operation". ESPN. 2006-09-27. http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=382133&&cc=5739. Retrieved 2008-11-26. 
  23. ↑ "Eto'o to train again on Monday". BBC Sport. 2007-01-11. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/africa/6251923.stm. Retrieved 2008-11-26. 
  24. ↑ Chick, Alex (2007-02-17). "Eto'o refuses to play". Eurosport. http://www.eurosport.com/football/sport_sto1084515.shtml. Retrieved 2007-02-17. 
  25. ↑ "Cameroon: Ronaldinho Slams Eto'o – Over Racing snub". allAfrica.com. 2007-02-17. http://allafrica.com/stories/200702130067.html. Retrieved 2007-02-17. 
  26. ↑ "Eto'o slams Rijkaard and Ronaldinho". Eurosport. 2007-02-14. http://www.eurosport.com/football/la-liga/2006-2007/sport_sto1085983.shtml. Retrieved 2007-02-14. 
  27. ↑ "No Change at Barca, Says Chairman". Agence France-Presse. 2007-06-19. http://www.soccerway.com/news/2007/June/19/no-change-at-barca-says-chairman/. Retrieved 2008-11-26. 
  28. ↑ "Eto'o cleared to return to action". BBC Sport. 2007-12-04. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/africa/7127353.stm. Retrieved 2008-11-26. 
  29. ↑ "Eto'o nationalized" (in Spanish). FC Barcelona. 2007-10-17. http://www.fcbarcelona.com/web/castellano/noticies/futbol/temporada07-08/10/n071017101231.html. Retrieved 2008-11-26. 
  30. ↑ Jensen, Pete (2007-12-10). "Barcelona 2 Deportivo la Coruna 1: Barcelona achieve harmony with REM's return to stage". The Independent. http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/european/barcelona-2-deportivo-la-coruna-1-barcelona-achieve-harmony-with-rems-return-to-stage-764272.html. Retrieved 2008-11-26. 
  31. ↑ "Lyon and Fenerbahce roll on". UEFA. 2007-12-12. http://www.fifa.com/worldfootball/clubfootball/news/newsid=659220.html. Retrieved 2008-11-26. 
  32. ↑ Jensen, Pete (2008-02-25). "Eto'o hat-trick keeps Barcelona in hot pursuit". The Independent. http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/european/etoo-hattrick-keeps-barcelona-in-hot-pursuit-786938.html. Retrieved 2008-11-26. 
  33. ↑ Barclay, Patrick (2008-07-07). "Eto'o out to prove class is permanent". The Irish Independent. http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/etoo-out-to-prove-class-is-permanent-1428710.html. Retrieved 2008-11-26. 
  34. ↑ Jensen, Pete (2008-10-27). "Eto'o treble maintains Barcelona's flying start". The Independent. http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/european/etoo-treble-maintains-barcelonas-flying-start-974450.html. Retrieved 2008-11-26. 
  35. ↑ "Eto'o is one of Barça's top ten all-time goalscorers". fcbarcelona.cat. 2008-11-30. http://www.fcbarcelona.cat/web/english/noticies/futbol/temporada08-09/11/n081130106317.html. Retrieved 2008-12-01. 
  36. ↑ Ibrahimovic unterschreibt bei Barça
  37. ↑ "Laporta announces agreement in principle with Inter". FC Barcelona. 2009-07-17. http://www.fcbarcelona.com/web/english/noticies/futbol/temporada09-10/07/n090717105959.html. Retrieved 2009-07-23. 
  38. ↑ "Ibrahimovic firma por cinco años" (in Spanish). FC Barcelona. 2009-07-27. http://www.fcbarcelona.cat/web/castellano/noticies/futbol/temporada09-10/07/n090727107758.html. Retrieved 2009-07-27. 
  39. ↑ "Ibrahimovic will arrive on Sunday". FC Barcelona. 2009-07-24. http://www.fcbarcelona.cat/web/english/noticies/futbol/temporada09-10/07/n090724107725.html. Retrieved 2009-07-25. 
  40. ↑ "Samuel Eto'o signs five-year deal". FC Internazionale Milano. 2009-07-27. http://www.inter.it/aas/news/reader?N=31823&L=en. Retrieved 2009-07-28. 
  41. ↑ "Eto'o: "I'm where I wanted to be"". FC Internazionale Milano. 2009-07-28. http://www.inter.it/aas/news/reader?N=31833&L=en. Retrieved 2009-07-29. 
  42. ↑ "Lazio stun Inter to win Super Cup in Beijing". ESPN. 2009-08-08. http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=665987&sec=europe&cc=5739. Retrieved 2009-08-10. 
  43. ↑ "Internazionale 2 – 0 Parma". ESPN. 2009-09-13. http://soccernet.espn.go.com/report?id=278238&cc=5739&league=ITA.1. Retrieved 2009-09-22. 
  44. ↑ "Eto'o seeks payout from Barcelona". BBC Sport. 2009-09-22. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/africa/8269115.stm. Retrieved 2009-09-22. 
  45. ↑ Inter beat resilient Palermo in thriller
  46. ↑ "Milito's magic gives Inter the Treble". ESPN Soccernet. 2010-05-22. http://soccernet.espn.go.com/report?id=292088&cc=5739. Retrieved 2010-05-24. 
  47. ↑ "Benitez begins Inter reign with Supercoppa triumph". ESPN Soccernet. 2019-08-21. http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=816536&sec=europe&cc=5739. Retrieved 2010-08-23. 
  48. ↑ "Eto'o goal record". BBC Sport. 2008-01-26. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/africa/7210917.stm. Retrieved 2008-01-27. 
  49. ↑ "Eto'o apologizes for head butt". BBC Sport. 2008-06-05. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/africa/7438122.stm. Retrieved 2008-11-17. 
  50. ↑ http://www.rsssf.com/miscellaneous/etoo-intlg.html
  51. ↑ "Samuel Eto’o and his sweetheart were now one in spirit through wedding". Samuel Etoo. 2007-10-04. http://www.samueletoo.name/. Retrieved 2009-05-18. 
  52. ↑ "Eto'o responds to racist abuse". BBC Sport. 2005-02-13. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/africa/4261881.stm. Retrieved 2008-11-26. 
  53. ↑ "Two fined for Eto'o taunts". BBC Sport. 2004-12-17. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/africa/4104067.stm. 
  54. ↑ "The Ugly Game". 2006-03-26. http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,901060403-1176955,00.html. Retrieved 2007-06-28. 
  55. ↑ "Eto'o being abuse!". http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQv4aIXaGQ4. Retrieved 2007-06-28. 
  56. ↑ "Racism forces Eto'o to keep kids away from games". ESPN. 2007-04-04. http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=418751&cc=3888. Retrieved 2008-11-26. 
  57. ↑ Includes Supercopa de España
  58. ↑ Counts for appearances and goals at the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Cup, UEFA Supercup and UEFA Intertoto Cup. Including qualifying games.

External links

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