After an astonishing 22-year career, Emmanuel Adebayor has made the difficult decision to finally hang up the boots.
At the peak of his powers, the ex-Togo international dazzled fans with his sparkling pace and incredible eye for goal. After showing unlimited potential at Monaco, the powerhouse caught the attention of Arsene Wenger, who swiftly signed him for Arsenal.
Proving the Frenchman’s judgement right, Adebayor took the Premier League by storm.
Utilising his flashy skills, he regularly left defenders in the dust, before putting the ball past the keeper. But after bagging 62 goals for ‘The Gunners’, his relationship with the boss soured, and he travelled north to join Manchester City.
It was here he committed the most brutal celebrations in football history. After bagging a fantastic finish against his former side, he sprinted the whole length of the pitch, before knee-sliding in front of a furious Arsenal crowd.
In January 2011, he secured a lone move to Real Madrid, scoring eight goals, before signing for Tottenham. He followed this with spells at Crystal Palace, Turkish sides Istanbul Basaksehir and Kayserispor and Paraguayan side, Olimpia, before concluding the playing chapter of his career at Togolese club, Semmassi.
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Emmanuel Adebayor takes to social media to announce his retirement
On Monday, the legend tweeted: “From the highs to the lows, my career as a professional athlete has been an incredible journey.
“Thank you to my fans for being there every step of the way. I am feeling so grateful for everything, and I am excited for what is to come.”
While many will be sad that the legend has called time on his stint as a professional footballer, they’ll always have the memories. In an incredible run, the Togolise icon racked up 32 goals in 85 appearances for his country, and for that, he will live in the hearts of his countrymen forever more.
But for now, he’s riding off into the sunset, and good luck to him for whatever the future has in store.
Featured Image Credit: Getty