Togo's Adebayor takes flight

Standing an impressive 1.90 metres tall, Togo's Emmanuel Sheyi Adebayor has been Arsene Wenger's choice for Arsenal's starter squad in many match.

Adebayor (21) has signed for Arsenal from AS Monaco on a long-term contract for an undisclosed fee at January. He was the top scorer in the entire African Zone in the 2006 World Cup Qualifiers with 11 goals, helping Togo reach the World Cup Finals for the first time in the country's history.

Emmanuel has been a regular in the AS Monaco team over the past three seasons and was part of the squad which came runners-up in the 2004 UEFA Champions League. Before joining AS Monaco, Adebayor spent two seasons at French side Metz, where he made his first team debut for the club in Ligue 1 at the tender age of 17.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said: "Emmanuel Adebayor is a great addition to our squad. He has shown in his performances with Monaco and Togo that he will add great quality to our offensive game. He is tall, good in the air and makes good runs. We are looking forward to him joining the squad when he returns from the African Nations Cup."

Emmanuel Adebayor said: "This is a great day for me. I am joining Arsenal, one of Europe's leading teams, with a squad containing so many great players. I am looking forward to working very hard for the team and I hope I can give the Arsenal fans a lot of enjoyment in the future."

Born in 1984, Adebayor was spotted by a scout from FC Metz at the age of 15 playing for Togo at a tournament in Sweden. Since moving to France, he has not looked back. Making his professional debut aged barely 18, he played 10 games in his first season (scoring two goals) but was unable to prevent his formative club being relegated. As it turned out, Metz's relegation proved something of a godsend for the young Togolese, who took full advantage of this spell at a lower level to impose himself. In 34 matches played, he netted 13 times, making a name for himself in French football in the process.

His goals ensured Metz's return to the top flight, and he was lured to Monaco at the start of the 2003/04 season. Alongside the likes of Fernando Morientes, Dado Prso, and Ludovic Giuly, he continued his apprenticeship. As Monaco went head to head with Lyon for the French title, the youngster chipped in with eight goals for Didier Deschamp's charges.


Nonda the benchmark

The icing on the cake last season came in Monaco's fabulous Champions League campaign that was eventually ended by FC Porto in the final. The highlight for the young African was taking the field in the historic quarter-final second leg with Real Madrid. "It was absolutely amazing. Six years ago, when watching the World Cup Final on TV at home, I said to myself how unbelievable it would be to play against Zidane. But in football, anything really is possible. You just have to never give up and keep on working hard. When you believe in yourself, it always pays off in the end."

Blessed with lightning pace, excellent ball-shielding and dribbling skills, a highly developed sense of teamwork and all-important ruthlessness in front of goal, Adebayor has begun to look every inch the complete attacker this season. After 32 matches, he has already chalked up eight goals, including two in Europe. The ever-humble young man offers the following explanation for his successful development: "Shabani Nonda helped me a lot when I first came to Monaco. He’s like my big brother. When he was badly injured, he set me the goal of replacing him." A better role model would surely be hard to find.

*****


Emmanuel Adebayor - player factfile

Following the news that Emmanuel Adebayor has agreed to join Arsenal Football Club, we've put together a factfile on the young striker...

- Made his first team debut for Metz in French Ligue 1 at the age of 17.
- UEFA Champions League runner-up with AS Monaco in 2004.
- Togolese Footballer of the Year in 2004.
- Finished top scorer for the African Zone in the 2006 World Cup Qualifiers with 11 goals, helping Togo reach the Finals.
- Member of the Togo squad for the African Nations Cup in Egypt.
- Has already featured in this year's UEFA Champions League, playing for AS Monaco in the Third Qualifying Round against Real Betis.


PLAYER PROFILE

Full name: Sheyi Emmanuel Adebayor
Nationality: Togolese
Born: 26th February 1984. Lome, Togo
Age: 21
Height/Weight: 190cm / 75kg
Previous Clubs: Metz
2001/02: 10 appearances (2 goals)
2002/03: 34 (13)

AS Monaco
2003/04: 31 (8)
2004/05: 34 (9)
2005/06: 18 (4)
Position: Forward
Transfer details: Long term contract, undisclosed fee
International Honours: Togo
2004 - Present: 13 appearances (11 goals)

(Source: FIFAworldcup.com & Arsenal.com)

Ramos' dream within reach

While Spain were battling it out at Korea/Japan 2002, a 16-year-old Spaniard by the name of Sergio Ramos was roaring them on from his home in distant Seville and longing for the day when he too would don the famous red jersey. Now, four years down the road, it looks as if the youngster's dream is about to come true.

Ramos' progress both at club and international level has been nothing short of meteoric. He made his Spanish league debut with Sevilla in February 2004 and then went on to play six more top-flight games that season. After another 31 appearances for the Andalusian club the following year, Real Madrid were sufficiently impressed to fork out an eye-watering €27million to take the gifted defender to the Bernabeu.

"Very few kids of my age have managed to do what I've done," says Ramos during an exclusive interview with FIFAworldcup.com. "It's true the only thing I have right now on my CV is the European U-19 Championship, but that's something I intend to address very soon," he adds with a smile. It seems that the number 19 has been an auspicious one for the young Sergio. It was at the UEFA European U-19 Championship in Switzerland that he won his first international tournament, helping Spain to victory over Turkey in the final. Then on 30 March 2005 - the player's 19th birthday - he made his debut for the senior side in their crunch FIFA World Cup™ qualifier in Belgrade against Serbia and Montenegro wearing, you guessed it, the No19 shirt.

"I was over the moon when (coach Luis) Aragones gave me my chance. Naturally, I chose that number because of my birthday. All in all, it was a very special day for me," he confesses, the emotions of the whole experience still fresh in his mind.

In December Aragones brought together 33 players whom he felt were candidates for a place in the Spain squad for Germany and Ramos was among them. "It was a group occasion and an opportunity for us all to meet and spend some quality time together. After lunch, the coach stressed that it was imperative we keep on working hard with such an important competition as the World Cup coming up. The final squad will be chosen from the 33 of us who were there."

The prospect of playing in his first FIFA World Cup at just 20 is the stuff of dreams for this born-and-bred Andalusian. Though he welcomes his coach's motivational words, Ramos says his own hunger is enough to make him strive during every game and training session for a place in Germany.

"That is one of the goals I've set myself, and it's a significant one for any footballer. I'll fight every day to achieve success with my team and to make it to the World Cup," he vows.

Ramos has played in the centre of defence, as a defensive midfielder and at right-back, but where does he feel most at home? "I've been asked that question many times but have never given a straight answer. That's because I believe versatility is a very important quality in a player. As long as the coach decides to play me from the start, I'm not too bothered about where I play."

He already knows Aragones would rather play him on the right, which would put him in direct conflict for a starting place with Real Madrid team-mate Michel Salgado. The choice would be youth versus experience, though interestingly both would be taking their FIFA World Cup bow.

"I think it's very important to have young players in the side, as they can bring something new to the table. That said, I also believe you need to strike a balance between new talent and old heads. In the latter group there are veterans like Raul, (Carles) Puyol, (Fernando) Morientes, guys with a wealth of experience in the national team who have an important role to play both on the field and in the dressing room," says Ramos.

Then there are the young guns. Despite his dramatic rise through the ranks, the defender has not forgotten his old colleagues from the youth sides, even going so far as to make a few recommendations to his boss: "There are many players making a strong case for inclusion. Yes, I know it's complicated, but Cesc Fabregas (at Arsenal) and Andres Iniesta (at Barcelona) are two players who are making the grade and would deserve it."

Ramos firmly believes in Spain's potential and says they have what it takes to make a big impression at the finals in Germany, especially after a relatively kind draw pitted them in Group H alongside Ukraine, Tunisia and Saudi Arabia. In spite of that, Ramos is keeping his enthusiasm in check.

"Your first impression might be that it's an easy group, but you have to respect all the teams," he says. "They're where they are for a reason. We know they're all strong sides, even if they don't have the same reputation as some other countries and so we'll be going all out to try and beat them and get out of our group. Ukraine might turn out to be the key side in the group. We know they will be a strong proposition, and so we’ll be very wary of them."

Spain's best ever finish at a FIFA World Cup was fourth, back in Brazil in 1950. Since then they have seen their repeated attempts to emulate that feat founder at the quarter-final stage, and sometimes even earlier. So just how far can they go this time round? "Hopefully all the way to the final," says Ramos.

"We've got a great squad this year, so we're hoping for a great World Cup.

At the very least, we hope to break the curse of the quarter-finals."

Given that almost everything else he has longed for has come true, perhaps that wish will too.

(by FIFAworldcup.com)