Samuel Eto'o

Name: Samuel Eto'o Fils
Nationality: Cameroonian
Date and Place of Birth: March 10, 1981 in Nkon, Cameroon
Playing Position: Centre forward / winger
Current Club: FC Barcelona (Spanish La Liga)
Club Career History: 1997-1998 Leganes - 28 appearances, 3 goals
1998-1999 Real Madrid - 3 appearances, 0 goals
1999-2004 Real Mallorca - 133 appearances, 54 goals
2004-present FC Barcelona

International Career: 1996-Present Cameroon

Samuel Eto'o's Qualities:
Samuel Eto’o is widely respected as one of the best natural strikers in the world today due to his quick pace and deadly shooting technique. During his time with Real Mallorca Eto’o became the highest league scorer in the history of the club with an impressive tally of 54 goals. His ability to score goals together with his impressive ball control skills attracted the interest of some of Europe’s finest clubs.

About Samuel Eto'o:
Eto’o signed for FC Barcelona in the summer of 2004 for an impressive transfer fee of £24 million after his release from Real Madrid. Eto’o made his debut for Barcelona in August 2004 and quickly became an integral player in the first team. In 2006 Eto’o was awarded the title of “pichichi” (top scorer in La Liga) after scoring a goal in Barcelona’s last match of the season against Athletic de Bilbao.

Playing for the Catalan giants has meant that Eto’o has been given the opportunity to fine tune his skills at the highest level by competing in the European Champions League. Samuel Eto’o has proven his versatility as a player as he has moved from the central striker role onto both wings on separate occasions in an attempt to outwit teams who endeavour to man-mark the Barca front line. Eto’o’s adaptability means that he can create goal scoring chances for his team mates whilst scoring them himself. In the 2005-2006 season Samuel Eto’o became the first player since the 1990’s to score over 50 goals in two seasons in La Liga.

Recently Eto’o suffered a serious injury on 27th September 2006 whilst competing for Barca in the Champions League. Eto’o sustained a ruptured meniscus in his right knee and it has been estimated that he could be out of action for up to five months. Barca have lost one of their most influential players and the team are likely to suffer due to his absence on the pitch.

Samuel Eto’o plays for the Cameroon national team and he made his debut at the tender age of 15 years. Eto’o was the youngest player at the 1998 Fifa World Cup at 17 years and 3 months. He was named African Footballer of the year in 2003, 2004 and 2005 becoming the first player to win the award three times in succession since its inception.

Samuel Eto’o was in the news in early 2006 after suffering racist chants by a group of Spanish football fans. Eto’o criticised the crowd and was vocal in his condemnations of racism in Spanish football and this opened a general discussion on the issue of racism in football. However Eto’o was reprimanded by his Coach Frank Rijkaard for his outbursts and was told to concentrate on his football.

Eto’o’s tremendous work ethic and natural ability combine to make a player of international quality and a force to be reckoned with. He is the type of player who can change a game in an instance and is widely respected by the football fans and players at Barcelona.