He was votedAfrican Footballer of the Year for 2008 while playing at Arsenal,[3] and during his latter career, when he joined Olimpia Asunción in 2020, he became the highest paid player in Paraguay.[4]
Adebayor was spotted playing for Sporting Club de Lomé by scouts fromMetz, who brought him to France in 1999. He made hisLigue 1 debut againstSochaux on 17 November 2001. Following Metz's relegation, he played a season inLigue 2, where 13 goals in 34 league matches prompted a summer 2003 move toMonaco. He featured nine times in Europe as Monaco reached the2004 UEFA Champions League final againstPorto inGelsenkirchen, for which he was an unused substitute in his club's 3–0 loss.[6]
Arsenal
On 13 January 2006,Premier League clubArsenal signed Adebayor for a reported£3 million.[7] He was given the nickname "Baby Kanu" due to his resemblance to former Arsenal starNwankwo Kanu, whom Adebayor had idolised as a youth.[8] On 4 February 2006, Adebayor made his Arsenal debut in a Premier League match atBirmingham City and scored after 21 minutes, with Arsenal winning 2–0.[9] Adebayor was cup-tied for Arsenal's run to the2006 UEFA Champions League Final.[10]
Adebayor scored Arsenal's winning goal againstManchester United to give Arsenal a 1–0 win atOld Trafford, their firstleague win of the2006–07 season. Earlier in the match, Adebayor was brought down in the six-yard box to earn Arsenal a penalty, which was taken byGilberto Silva and saved.[11]
Adebayor was sent off in the2007 League Cup final which Arsenal lost 2–1 toChelsea. He was shown ared card after a fracas towards the end of the match involving both Chelsea and Arsenal players. It was alleged that he had thrown a punch atFrank Lampard.The FA subsequently gave him an additional one-match ban and a fine of £7,500 for failing to leave the field of play immediately, as well as a three-match ban for the red card.[12] Adebayor and Lampard both denied it.[13]
On 15 September 2007, Adebayor's two goals againstTottenham Hotspur helped Arsenal win 3–1 in the firstNorth London derby of the season.[14] Adebayor then scored his first hat-trick for Arsenal in a 5–0 home win againstDerby County on 22 September; this was the second-ever hat-trick scored at Arsenal'sEmirates Stadium.[15] He was involved in a controversial incident on 22 January in which he clashed with teammateNicklas Bendtner seven minutes from the end of a 5–1 League Cup semi-final defeat to Tottenham. Bendtner appeared to cut his nose in the clash, for which Adebayor apologised the following day.[16] Three days later, he scored the 100th goal at the Emirates during the side's 3–0FA Cup victory overNewcastle United.[17] Starting on 4 March againstMilan, Adebayor went on a goalscoring streak in theChampions League. Despite having never scored before in the competition, he scored a goal in the second leg against Milan at theSan Siro.[18]
On 28 April, Adebayor scored his second hat-trick for Arsenal after coming off the bench at half time in a 6–2 victory against Derby County, making him the only player in Premier League history to score a hat-trick home and away against the same side in the same season.[19] Although Arsenal finished the season empty handed, he was named in thePFA Team of the Year.[20] Adebayor's second goal against Tottenham wonMatch of the Day'sGoal of the Season competition for the2007–08 season.[21] He was also awarded theBBC African Footballer of the Year for his performance in 2008.
In the 2008 summer transfer window, he was linked with £30 million moves to Milan and Barcelona,[22] but later signed a new long-term contract at Arsenal.[23] On 13 September 2008, Adebayor scored a hat trick in Arsenal's 4–0 win away toBlackburn Rovers, scoring his first league goals of the2008–09 season.[24] Adebayor received his first red card of the season in a 1–1 draw withLiverpool after an altercation with opposing defenderÁlvaro Arbeloa; this was his second bookable offence of the game and therefore served a one-match ban.[25] On 8 February, Adebayor suffered a hamstring injury in Arsenal's 0–0 draw against Tottenham. The injury would keep him out for almost two months, despite initial estimations suggesting only a three-week absence.[26] He made a goalscoring return to action, scoring a brace on his return againstManchester City.[27]
On 7 April 2009, Adebayor equalized a goal for Arsenal in the quarter-finals of theChampions League againstVillarreal, in which he chested the ball into his control and then performed a bicycle kick.[28] In the return leg at the Emirates a week later, he scored in a 3–0 Arsenal win, setting up a semi-final showdown with Manchester United. Adebayor, however, was injured for the last two Premier League matches and finished the season as Arsenal's second top goalscorer in all competitions with 16, behindRobin van Persie's 20.[29]
Manchester City
Adebayor in Manchester City colours.
On 18 July 2009, Adebayor signed a five-year contract with Manchester City for a transfer fee believed to be in the region of £25 million.[30] He scored a goal on his debut for City against Blackburn with a shot from 18 yards in the third minute.[31] On his home debut, Adebayor scored in the 17th minute in a 1–0 win overWolverhampton Wanderers, assisted by fellow summer signingCarlos Tevez.[32] He scored in his third consecutive Premier League match, heading the winner in a 1–0 away victory againstPortsmouth.[33]
Adebayor then scored in his fourth consecutive match, this time against former club Arsenal in a 4–2 victory at theCity of Manchester Stadium.[34] After completing an acrimonious £25.5m transfer from North London, he enraged the visiting support by running the full length of the pitch and performing a provocative goal celebration.[35][36] In the match against Arsenal, Adebayor's former teammate Robin van Persie also accused him of deliberately kicking him in the face,[37] and he was later handed a three-match ban after being found guilty of violent conduct.[38] Manchester City managerMark Hughes suggested Adebayor did it because he wanted to be loved by City fans.[39] Moreover, Arsenal's former Cameroonian defensive midfielderAlex Song, who is one of Adebayor's closest friends in football, alleged he was slapped in the face by Adebayor during City's 4–2 victory, whileCesc Fàbregas, former Arsenal captain, felt that Adebayor had also tried to stamp on him.[40]
For the start of the2010–11 season, Adebayor was given the number 9 shirt instead of his favoured number 25, which he previously wore at Arsenal and City. He scored his first hat-trick for City on 21 October in aUEFA Europa League group stage match againstLech Poznań.[41] In doing so, he became the first Manchester City player to score a hat-trick in a European competition. During the 2010–11 season, however, Adebayor fell down the pecking order at Manchester City following the club purchasingEdin Džeko, with Carlos Tevez andMario Balotelli also being chosen ahead of him. In August 2011,Roberto Mancini confirmed that Adebayor, along withCraig Bellamy, were no longer part of his plans and could leave Manchester City.[citation needed]
On 25 January 2011, Adebayor signed a loan deal to play forReal Madrid for the remainder of the2010–11 season.[42] Adebayor scored his first goal for Real Madrid in the second leg of theCopa del Rey semi-final againstSevilla at theSantiago Bernabéu Stadium.[43] The game ended 2–0 with an aggregate score of 3–0.
The following weekend, he scored his first goal inLa Liga againstReal Sociedad, again at the Santiago Bernabéu. The game ended 4–1 and Adebayor scored the last goal within the last 3 minutes of the game. On 6 March 2011, Adebayor scored the opening goal in the 24th minute againstRacing de Santander from aMesut Özil pass. Real Madrid won the match 3–1. Adebayor was heavily criticised for his performance againstSporting de Gijón, especially for missing many chances; the match ended 0–1 to Sporting. Adebayor added two goals to his European tally for Madrid with goals against Tottenham Hotspur in a 4–0 win on 5 April 2011. He won his first winner's medal at Real Madrid on 20 April, coming on as a second-half substitute in his side's 1–0 win over Barcelona in the2011 Copa del Rey final.[44]
Adebayor scored his first hat-trick for Real Madrid on 21 May 2011, in the last round of the2010–11 La Liga season, againstAlmería. In that match, Real Madrid beat Almería 8–1.[45]
Adebayor returned to Manchester City after the Spanish season had finished, but was omitted from their pre-season tour of the United States on 11 July 2011 and later risked a £300,000 fine for refusing to train with the club's reserve and youth teams.[46]
Tottenham Hotspur
On 25 August 2011, Tottenham Hotspur signed Adebayor on a season-long loan.[47] On 10 September 2011, Adebayor scored on his debut against Wolverhampton Wanderers in the 67th minute.[48] On 18 September 2011, he scored twice on his home debut in a 4–0 win against Liverpool, his second strike marking the 100th league goal of his senior career.[49]
Adebayor also provided the assist forRafael van der Vaart's goal in their 2–1North London derby win against former club Arsenal on 2 October.[50] During that game, Adebayor was subjected to Arsenal fans taunting him about theTogo national football team attack, which he had survived 2 years earlier. The attack, which left 3 people dead and 9 others, including two of his teammates, wounded was described by Adebayor as being "one of the worst things I've ever been through in my life". During the derby match, the visiting Arsenal fans chanted at him, "It should have been you, it should have been you, killed inAngola, it should have been you."[51] He scored his fourth and fifth goal for Tottenham in their 2–0 win againstAston Villa on 21 November, the first with an overhead kick and the second after a mistake from Villa defenderJames Collins.[52] He scored another two goals in Tottenham's 3–1 win overWest Bromwich Albion.[53] Later on, Adebayor went on to score a further two goals – one a penalty atStoke City, and one in a derby against Chelsea where the score ended 1–1.
On 11 February 2012, Adebayor scored on a volley and supplied four assists in the 5–0 win over Newcastle United.[54] On 26 February, his 28th birthday, Adebayor converted a penalty against Arsenal to bring Spurs 2–0 up at the Emirates which ended in a 5–2 defeat for Tottenham.[55] On 1 April, Adebayor scored two goals in a 3–1 win overSwansea City.[56] On 15 April 2012, Adebayor provided an assist forGareth Bale in Tottenham's only goal in the 5–1 loss to Chelsea in the FA Cup semi-final.[57] Adebayor then went on to score goals in back to back games for Tottenham, scoring two againstBolton Wanderers in a 4–1 win atReebok Stadium[58] and converting a penalty against Aston Villa in a 1–1 draw.[59]
In the final game of his loan spell with Tottenham,[60] Adebayor opened the scoring as Spurs defeated London rivalsFulham 2–0 on 13 May to secure fourth place in thePremier League.[61]
Adebayor finished the season as Tottenham's top goalscorer, with 18 goals, 17 in the Premier League. On 21 August 2012, Adebayor signed a permanent deal with Tottenham in a deal worth £5 million after a protracted period of negotiations.[62][63]
Adebayor in action for Tottenham Hotspur in November 2014
On 17 November 2012, Adebayor scored an early goal for Tottenham in a North London derby match against Arsenal to put them 1–0 up, but seven minutes later his challenge onSanti Cazorla saw him sent off by refereeHoward Webb. Arsenal went on to win the match 5–2.[64] On 1 January 2013, Adebayor scored his first home goal of the season for Spurs againstReading, with a header from anAaron Lennon cross. Spurs eventually won 3–1.[citation needed]
On 14 March 2013, Adebayor scored the decisive away goal that put Spurs through to the quarter-finals of theEuropa League in an aggregate win againstInternazionale.[65] He went on to shoot over the bar following a run-up with a decisive penalty in the following round againstBasel, which ultimately resulted in Spurs' elimination from the tournament.[66] He scored a goal on 8 May against Chelsea in a 2–2 draw from outside the penalty box to bring the game level to 1–1.[67] He then scored the winning goal on the following Sunday (12 May 2013) to give Tottenham a 2–1 win at Stoke City on a cross fromClint Dempsey in the 83rd minute.[68]
After the sacking of Spurs managerAndré Villas-Boas, who had told the striker to train with the youth team at the start of the2013–14 season,[69]Adebayor returned to the Tottenham team underTim Sherwood, scoring in a 2–1League Cup quarter-final defeat at home toWest Ham United.[70] He went on to score eight goals in his next tenPremier League matches, with goals in wins againstSouthampton, Manchester United and Swansea City,[71] Everton[72] and Newcastle United.[73]
On 7 April 2014, Adebayor reached ten goals for the Premier League season, scoring twice in a 5–1 home win overSunderland.[74]
He ended the season as Spurs' top goalscorer with 14 goals from 25 appearances after scoring in their final Premier League match on 11 May 2014, a 3–0 defeat of Aston Villa atWhite Hart Lane.[75] He was released from his Tottenham contract by mutual consent on 13 September 2015.[76]
Crystal Palace
On 26 January 2016, Adebayor joined Premier League sideCrystal Palace on a six-month deal untilthe end of the season.[77] He scored his only goal for the club on 13 February in an ultimate 2–1 loss toWatford in thePremier League.[78] On 13 June 2016, it was confirmed that Adebayor would be released upon the expiry of his Palace contract on 30 June.[79]
İstanbul Başakşehir
On 31 January 2017, Adebayor signed a contract withSüper Lig clubİstanbul Başakşehir until June 2018.[80] He scored six goals in 11 league games over the remainder of the season, including a hat-trick on 10 April in a 4–0 home win overGalatasaray, as his team finished runners-up.[81] He added another goal from fiveTurkish Cup games, where his team was again runners-up.
On 20 June 2019, Adebayor left İstanbul Başakşehir.[83]
Kayserispor
On 26 August 2019, Adebayor joinedSüper Lig sideKayserispor on a one-year contract.[84][85] He left the club in December 2019.[86]
Olimpia
Adebayor joinedParaguayan Primera División clubOlimpia Asunción on 11 February 2020, on a free transfer from Kayserispor.[87][88] On his arrival in Paraguay on 14 February, Adebayor was met by a crowd at theSilvio Pettirossi International Airport. He signed a contract after a successful medical examination and was officially presented at theEstadio Manuel Ferreira.[89] He was allocated the number 25 jersey.[90] Adebayor was reunited at Olimpia with his former Manchester City teammateRoque Santa Cruz, who had returned to the club in 2016. Adebayor said that it was the influence of Santa Cruz that convinced him to join Olimpia.[91]
On 23 February, Adebayor made his debut for Olimpia in theParaguayan Superclásico againstCerro Porteño in a 1–1 home draw, coming on after half time in place of Santa Cruz.[92] On 5 March, Adebayor made his first appearance in the2020 Copa Libertadores in a 1–1 away draw against Ecuadorian clubDelfin, replacing Santa Cruz in the 80th minute.[93]
On 9 March 2020, he made his second and last league appearance againstRiver Plate Asunción in a 1–1 home draw, playing the full 90 minutes at Olimpia's Estadio Manuel Ferreira.[94] Three days later, Adebayor played in the Copa Libertadores against Argentine clubDefensa y Justicia. In the 73rd minute of the fixture Adebayor received ared card for a flying kick onEnzo Coacci when disputing an aerial ball, jumping for the ball with his right foot forward which impacted the opponent's face.[citation needed] This was Adebayor's last appearance for the club.[95] In the same month, Adebayor travelled toTogo to undergo quarantine with his family amidst theCOVID-19 pandemic.[96] In April, Adebayor stated during aFacebook post that he would return to Paraguay in two more weeks.[97]
At the beginning of July, it was announced that Adebayor, who was contracted until December,[98] would not return to the club, by mutual consent, due to the high risk of the contagious virus during travel and that the flights and stop offs were complicated.[99][100] That same month, Adebayor stated that he wanted to return to Olimpia at some point.[101] Adebayor played four games for Olimpia from February to March.[102]
Adebayor was also eligible to play forNigeria but chose to represent the country of his birth,Togo.[105] Adebayor helped Togo qualify for the2006 Africa Cup of Nations after scoring 11 goals in the qualifiers, more than any other player in the African qualifiers. On 10 February 2009, theConfederation of African Football (CAF) picked Adebayor as theAfrican Footballer of the Year for 2008 at an awards ceremony held inLagos, Nigeria. Adebayor beat final nomineesMohamed Aboutrika of Egypt and Ghana'sMichael Essien in a vote that involved the national team coaches of CAF's 54 member-nations. It was the first time a Togolese won the award as Africa's best player.
Adebayor helped Togo to qualify for the2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany and started all three group matches againstSouth Korea,Switzerland andFrance, but did not score any goals and Togo ended up in last place in their group. Adebayor was made team captain after the finals.
Adebayor was called up for the2006 Africa Cup of Nations, where he was a substitute for the country's first match, following a row with the coach. Adebayor first vowed to leave the tournament and return home, although he later resumed training with the side.[106] Togo were eliminated after losing all three matches. He was dropped by Togo following the row over bonus payments.[107] However, Adebayor was brought back into the Togo team in September 2007. On 11 October 2008, he scored four goals in Togo's 6–0 hammering ofSwaziland during theWorld Cup qualification rounds.
Despite being injured, Adebayor played for Togo againstCameroon. In the match, he scored the only goal for Togo to seal the win.[108]
On 8 January 2010, Adebayor was one of the players involved when theTogo national team's bus came under a gunfire attack on the way to theAfrica Cup of Nations in Angola.[109] The fatal attack, in which all the players survived but three other people were killed, led to Togo withdrawing from the tournament.[110] Adebayor consequently announced his retirement from international football on 12 April 2010 in a statement which read, "I have weighed up my feelings in the weeks and months since the attack and I am still haunted by the events which I witnessed on that horrible afternoon on the Togo team bus. We were just footballers going to play a football match and represent our country, yet we were attacked by people who wanted to kill us all. It is a moment I will never forget and one I never want to experience again."[111]
After refusing to play earlier in the year, he was recalled again in November 2018.[114] In March 2019, he was selected for the decisive2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualification match againstBenin.[115]
Style of play
Upon signing for Arsenal, the club's manager Arsene Wenger likened Adebayor to one of his major influences as a striker,Nwankwo Kanu, and described him as "tall, good in the air" and capable of making good runs behind the defenders.[116] Adebayor even wore thenumber 25 shirt at Arsenal, like his Idol, and the number 4 shirt at international level, while he was even given the nickname "Baby Kanu" in the media due to their similar playing styles.[117] He was also known for his pace, strength, and technique, as well as his goalscoring and ability to link-up with his teammates. However, he was also notorious for his lack of discipline, in particular in his early career.[118][119]
Born inLomé to parents ofYoruba ethnicity, Adebayor spent most of his youth in Togo, where he attended the Centre de Développement Sportif de Lomé (English: Sports Development Centre of Lomé), also known as Sporting Club de Lomé.[121] In his childhood, Adebayor and his family lived in an apartment without electricity or bathrooms, and to shower themselves, they would go to the beach.[122]
Adebayor has spoken about his faith, saying, "Everything I do in life I put in the hands ofGod, my creator. He gave me the chance to be where I am today and He's the one that can take it all away from me. There is nothing more important for me than God." Adebayor could not walk for the first four years of his life. His mother took young Adebayor around Africa looking for a cure. Adebayor then spoke about his "miracle" saying, "I was in the church laying down and, around nine or ten o'clock on the Sunday morning, I could hear children playing outside. Suddenly somebody kicked a ball into the church. And the first person to stand up and run was me, because I wanted to get that ball."[123]
On 5 May 2015, Adebayor made a lengthy post on his publicFacebook page describing his family troubles. These troubles included several relatives asking for large amounts of money, his sister renting out a house he had bought for her without him knowing, and complications surrounding the death of his brother Peter. In July 2017, Adebayor stated in an interview regarding his family issues that his late brother had sent an official letter to Real Madrid asking them to not keep Adebayor on after his loan spell.[124]
^Does not include the match againstBurkina Faso on 14 August 2012. The match is not considered a full A-international match by FIFA, but is by theTogolese Football Federation. He did not score in the match.
^Two appearances in Africa Cup of Nations, three appearances inFIFA World Cup, one appearance in Africa Cup of Nations qualification
^Does not include the match againstBurkina Faso on 14 August 2012. The match is not considered a full A-international match by FIFA, but is by theTogolese Football Federation. He did not score in the match.
