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Date of Birth: Saturday, June 4, 1983
Birth Place: Ivory Coast
Height: 178cm
Position: Defender
Former Clubs/Teams: KSK Beveren

Biography

Emmanuel Eboue is an attacking right-footed defender who plays for the Ivory Coast and Arsenal in the English Premier League. He began his career as a right-back but his attacking forays up the flank and his get-forward philosophy meant that he also played some games as the right winger. He is a tough opponent, never scared to get a foot in, and can be relied upon to put in solid performances.

Childhood

Eboue was born on 4th June 1983 in Abidjan, Ivory Coast. He enjoyed a typical African upbringing until he was spotted playing football as a twelve years old, and was scouted for ASEC’s academy, which had links with European clubs. Aged just 19, he moved to Belgium in search of the riches and football teams he had always dreamt of.

Early Career

He was taken on by Beveren in Belgium, where he learnt a great deal about European football. He was almost immediately thrown into the first team, making his debut in October 2002, and playing as the regular right-back from that point on. Two more accomplished seasons for Beveren gave Eboue the confidence and experience that is needed at the very top, and larger clubs began circling for this powerful defender.

Current Club

Eboue arrived on trial at Arsenal in December 2004, and was offered a contract. Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal were in the best position to take Emmanuel Eboue from Beveren, having signed a partnership agreement some years earlier. Eboue cost around £1.5m but remained on the fringe of the squad for the rest of the season.

Eboue started to break into the first team at the start of the 2005/06 season, battling furiously for and eventually winning the right-back spot from Cameroon international Lauren. Some fantastic performances followed, with Eboue applauded for marauding down the right flank by the Arsenal fans.

Some scandal followed his Champions League Final 2006 appearance, when even Arsene Wenger castigated him for diving, in spite of the fact that the resulting free-kick led to their only goal of the game.

The arrival of Bacary Sagna has meant competition for the right-back spot, with Eboue now playing slightly further forwards in right midfield.

International

Emmanuel Eboue won his first call up to the Ivory Coast national side whilst he was still playing for Beveren, in September 2004. Eboue played in every game in their African Cup of Nations 2006 campaign, which saw them losing in a disappointing final. He is a fixture in the right-back position now, alongside his Arsenal team-mate Kolo Toure, and played a major role in helping Ivory Coast qualify for the 2006 World Cup in Germany and the 2007 Cup of Nations.