Emmanuel Adebayor BiographyMetz and Monaco
Adebayor started his professional career at a training camp in Lomé. He made it to Under-15 level and was spotted by French club, FC Metz. After a trial, Adebayor joined the club in 1999, and after playing at Under-17 level for two years he moved up to the first team. In his first season, he played nine games and scored twice, however he could not stop them from being relegated. In the 2002-03 season Adebayor scored 17 goals in 35 games, which attracted the attention of top clubs including Arsenal and Juventus.
However, it was AS Monaco who signed him. In the 2003-04 season he scored seven goals in 17 matches for them, helping them to reach the UEFA Champions League final with two goals in ten games.
Arsenal
On January 13, 2006, Adebayor signed for Arsenal for an undisclosed fee, which is rumoured to be around £7 million. He was assigned shirt number 25, which previously belonged to, amongst others, Nigerian striker Nwankwo Kanu. In an interview with Arsenal.com, Adebayor said that he chose that shirt number because he idolised Kanu while he was a young player. Like Kanu, he also wears the number 4 shirt when playing for his national team. The two players also share an extraordinary physical resemblance, earning Adebayor the affectionate nickname 'Baby Kanu' in homage to the former Arsenal man
Arsenal Career
On February 4, 2006, he made his Arsenal début in a Premiership match at Birmingham City and scored after 21 minutes; Arsenal won 2-0. At the end of his first season for the Gunners he had scored 4 goals in 10 matches. However, Adebayor was cup-tied for Arsenal's 2006 Champions League run and missed the final against FC Barcelona, as he had appeared for Monaco in the Champions League the season prior to his January transfer.
In the 2006-07 season, Adebayor has proved to be an integral part of the Arsenal squad, given the injuries to skipper Thierry Henry. On September 17, 2006, Adebayor scored Arsenal's winning goal against rivals Manchester United, to give Arsenal a 1-0 win at Old Trafford, their first league win of the 2006-07 season. Cristiano Ronaldo lost possession of the ball to Cesc FÃ bregas, who then threaded a through ball to Adebayor, who stroked the ball under goalkeeper Tomasz Kuszczak. Earlier in the game Adebayor had himself been brought down to earn Arsenal a penalty. On November 8, 2006, Adebayor scored the only goal of the match to send a youthful Arsenal side into the quarter finals of the League Cup against a vastly experienced Everton F.C. side, popping up at the back post unmarked to head home the winner. On December 2, 2006, Adebayor continued endearing himself to the red side of north London by scoring the first goal in Arsenal's 3-0 Premiership win over Tottenham Hotspur.
On December 13, 2006, Adebayor once again shows his ability and put Arsenal 1-0 away victory at JJB stadium against Wigan. In the 88th minute, after a long ball from FÃ bregas, and a well timed run, Adebayor was able to poke the ball under and between then legs of the advancing Chris Kirkland. On December 16, 2006, Adebayor came on for an Arsenal team losing 2-0 at home to Portsmouth F.C.; he scored within minutes, and Arsenal went on to draw after his cross was slotted home by Gilberto Silva, via an accidental control from Theo Walcott. Adebayor's next appearance for the Gunners on December 23, 2006 resulted in him converting the third goal, a penalty, in a 6-2 victory over Blackburn Rovers. He further contributed by assisting another two goals, firstly for Alexander Hleb and the second for Robin Van Persie.
His next goal came in the second leg of the semi final of the Carling Cup. With the scores at 0-0 (though Arsenal holding an advantage due to a 2-2 draw in the previous leg) Adebayor executed a skillful finish after Rosicky had cleverly played him through, rather than attempt a shot himself. It was, in many ways very similar to his finish earlier that season at Manchester United, a creative midfielder playing an acutely angled ball through a deep defence, and Adebayor finishing across the keeper. Both goals were scored late in the game.
Adebayor was sent off in Arsenal's 2-1 Carling Cup loss to Chelsea. He reacted to getting red card after a fracas towards the end of the match involving both Chelsea and Arsenal team members. The FA is currently investigating (hearing to take place on Tuesday 6th March) claims of mistaken identity and also allegations of a lying linesman that contributed to Adebayor's sending off.
The 'Ade-bay-or' song
The Arsenal faithful have taken Emmanuel Adebayor to their hearts audibly. This is underlined by the frequent use of the chant "Ade-bay-or, Ade-bay-or". It is sung to the same tune as the famous Portsmouth F.C. song "Play up Pompey, Pompey Play Up!", otherwise known as Westminster Chimes. It has been erroneously reported as having extra lyrics such as "Ade-bay-or, he will score".
International career
On the international front, Adebayor helped Togo qualify for the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany by scoring 11 goals in the qualifiers, the most in the African qualification tournament. He has been nominated twice for African Footballer of the Year.
His first footballing action following his move to Arsenal came for Togo at the 2006 African Cup of Nations, where he was only a substitute for the country's first match. Adebayor first vowed to leave the tournament and return home, although he later rescinded and resumed training with the side . He played in Togo's two remaining fixtures, where he impressed despite not scoring; Togo were eliminated after losing all three matches.
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