Most decorated African footballer of all time, Samuel Eto has announced his retirement from all forms of football after 22 years of successful football career.
The four-time African player of the year who had a wonderful career at the top level of the game won numerous trophies both at his club and country side winning 4 champions league at club side and two African Nation cup trophies for Cameroon amongst other numerous league title and cups.
Though did not bag a world cup trophy for his country, Eto represented Cameroon at four World Cups.
The Cameroonian footballer who last played as a striker for Qatar SC. In his prime,was regarded by pundits as one of the best strikers in the world
Known to be the most successful African player, Eto posted on his official Instagram handle: “The end. Towards a new challenge. Thank you all, big love.”
Eto’o moved to Real Madrid from Kadiji sports academy as a 16 year old. Due to competition in his position with more experienced players, he had several loan spells, before signing for Mallorca in 2000 where he scored 70 goals.
His impressive form saw him join Barcelona in 2004 where he scored over 100 goals in five seasons and also became the record holder for the most number of appearances by an African player in La Liga.
Winning La Liga three times with Barcelona, Eto was a key member of the Barcelona attack, alongside Ronaldinho, that won the 2006 UEFA Champions League Final, with Eto’o scoring in the final, and was part of a front three of Lionel Messi and Thierry Henry that won the 2009 UEFA Champions League Final.
With Eto’o again scoring in the final. He is the second player in history to score in two UEFA Champions League finals. At Barcelona, Eto’o came in third for the FIFA World Player of the Year in 2005 and was twice named in the FIFA FIFPro World XI, in 2005 and 2006.
At Inter Milan, he won his third Champions League under Jose Mourinho’s tutelage and also added Serie A, Supercoppa Italiana, Fifa Club World Cup and Coppa Italia titles to his impressive haul in Italy.
He was unable to collect any winners’ medals at Anzhi Makhachkala, Chelsea, Everton, Sampdoria, Antalyaspor and Konyaspor, before a move to Qatar SC.
On the international scene, he was the youngest player at the 1998 World Cup after making Cameroon squad at the age of 17.
Eto’o claimed gold at the 2000 Olympics as well as two Africa Cup of Nations titles in 2000 and 2002 with four African Player of the Year crowns – a record he shares with Cote d’Ivoire’s Yaya Toure.
