Has Samuel Eto'o cheapened his legacy by solely pursuing money for the last 7 years?

[Fortitude]

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It's ridiculous - arguably the greatest African player of all-time who was one of the best strikers of his generation and a key component in a treble and double-winning pair of sides, just stopped giving a feck about the game when he moved to Anzhi in 2011 at the age of 29.

Is it fair to castigate him for such actions, though? He had done tremendous things in the game up until that point and maybe it's fair to say legacy is nice, but absolutely stuffing your coffers for as long as you can going into retirement years is far more important?

I find his case more unique than lesser players who go off to China or what have you because it's a no-brainer - Eto'o still had a lot to offer and could have extended his legacy even further at the time he removed himself from proper football, so it stands out more.

What do you think of the player, and has his legacy been tarnished at all by doing what he has done?

 

[Wumminator]

I dunno, did it for David Beckham?

 

[Gandalf Greyhame]

Not at all. You look at his childhood, where he came from in Cameroon, and you'll understand what a good life means to people from such background. His legacy remains as great as ever for me.

 

[Keeps It tidy]

He has been washed for a while. His time at Chelsea proved that. Might as well cash in on your name

Edit forget he spent time at Everton and Sampdoria

 

[Adam-Utd]

Nothing wrong with a man getting paid. If the clubs are willing to give him good money even though he's "passed it" good on him.

Most people will remember him for his Barcelona days anyway, I can hardly remember him playing for Chelsea etc.

 

[Tommy]

What do you think of the player, and has his legacy been tarnished at all by doing what he has done?

An all time great, and his legacy hasn't been impacted in the slightest by his career choice.

 

[Billy Blaggs]

Was it all him though? I always thought noone really made him the main man when he should have been?

 

[RedTillI'mDead]

He has been washed for a while. His time at Chelsea proved that. Might as well cash in on your name

This. He has plenty of trophies and when he retires a couple of extra trophies will mean jack. A yacht, a few homes and endless fun will mean way more. And maybe even a fair chunk to charity which then leaves for me even more of a legacy.

 

[ivaldo]

I don't know why when it comes to being a footballer, that persuing money is considered a cardinal sin.

 

[Keeps It tidy]

Actually looking back at all the clubs he played for only Anzhi and now this Qatar move look like pure money grabs.

 

[B20]

Not in the least.

I find it quite weird that there are fans who think that players should do the noble thing and stop earning money at lower levels (or stop playing even if they enjoy it) just because they are no longer playing at the highest level like they used to.

It's bullshit really.

 

[Rob]

I never really understood good footballers, playing at the highest level, getting paid a shitload of money, wanting to play in some obscure place to get paid some more. That said, people are different and who knows what Eto'o could do with the extra cash for his family and friends back in Cameroon.

 

[Keeps It tidy]

And here are some of the things he uses his money for.

https://www.journalducameroun.com/en/samuel-etoo-equips-douala-hospital-unveils-plans-build-school/

The project worth 700 million F CFA is Eto’o’s way of reducing the rate of infant mortality as well as childbirth related complications for women. It stems from the Samuel Eto’o foundation and has been dubbed “Pavilion Samuel Eto’o”.

During the inauguration ceremony on May 8, Samuel Eto’o said it is important for people to make such contributions so that future mothers have a place where they can receive medical care.

Mama Fouda, Cameroon’s minister of public health for his part, expressed gratitude for the legendary act. “We are saying thank you. It is a very vital move,” he said.

The centre, which is intended to offer hospitality to the paediatric department of the hospital, has several resuscitation rooms. It has a capacity of 48 beds, which now gives a total of 148 beds in the pediatric department of the hospital. The building is also equipped with a number of specific equipment such as ultrasound and radiant tables.

Samuel Eto’o equally use the centre’s inauguration ceremony to announce his plans to build a school in Cameroon’s northern region. A project which he says is facilitated by foreign donors.

 

[12OunceEpilogue]

He can do what he likes with his talent, but there's no doubt he put money before a chance of further footballing achievement in his late 20s by moving to Anzhi when he was still good enough to play at the very top in a proper European league. After that he spent a few years testing himself in the Premier League and in Italy (where I'm sure he wasn't on a pittance) before going to Turkey for big money in an easier league once he was definitively past his prime.

Nothing from Chelsea onwards is particularly objectionable on any level as he managed to earn plenty of money while generally being a useful player at the level he chose, with Qatar being no different (barring politics/human rights issues) at the age of 37. However it's the Anzhi move in 2011, which we all know was motivated by cash ahead of any possible footballing challenge, which can be interpreted from afar as a sad waste of the final years of his prime.

EDIT: As has been said previously he used some of the money he made for great causes, which tempers the argument he was motivated by greed somewhat. However though he didn't owe anybody anything different the charge that he misused some of his prime years stands.

 

[Annihilate Now!]

OP comes across as a bit snobbery if you ask me.

Agree with everyone else - there's nothing wrong with cashing in on what is a very small career window, and it doesn't tarnish his legacy at all.

 

[Oggmonster]

I never really understood good footballers, playing at the highest level, getting paid a shitload of money, wanting to play in some obscure place to get paid some more. That said, people are different and who knows what Eto'o could do with the extra cash for his family and friends back in Cameroon.

Probably nice to be in the position where you can make a load of money and I doubt that he's playing or training at a high intensity as he has done previously. Basically a lot of money for not much effort is pretty hard to turn down.

 

[Flying_Heckfish]

Playing for money whilst essentially retired is all well and good, but I thought he was above playing in Qatar. A bit disappointed in that.

 

[groovyalbert]

I don't think so, simply because he had established that legacy in the first place. The only players I feel deserve criticism for these types of moves are ones who go at an early age/when they've not realised their potential at the top level.

Players like Gyan and Oscar could have achieved much more in Europe's top leagues before making their money influenced moves. Eto'o at least achieved everything there was to achieve in Europe and, although only 29, had been on the scene a decade by then. He's maybe hung about these lesser leagues longer than most expected, but if he's able to make a decent living and still bring in the crowds, who can blame him. He'll never be able to earn as much as he can doing what he is right now, who here wouldn't be doing the same?

As has been pointed out, Eto'o does some incredible things with the money he earns. Seeing as a lot of his wages probably comes from, shall we say, less ethical sources, his getting paid to do what he does is arguably the only way that money will ever likely be put to good use.

 

[Cassidy]

Getting paid and travelling the world after having reached the top of the game. Not sure I see the issue

 

[Sarni]

It’s a bit weird to suggest that when he hasn’t been at a level that would allow him to play in a top league during that time. It’s not like he chose to play in Turkey over playing in Premier League.

That Anzhi move was a pure money grab but everything that followed it wasn’t. He declined badly after 30 and was no longer good enough to play in top leagues.

I doubt he was even paid that much in Turkey.

 

[Keeps It tidy]

Playing for money whilst essentially retired is all well and good, but I thought he was above playing in Qatar. A bit disappointed in that.

He could not score goals at Everton and Sampdoria. He does not have the ability to play at the top level anymore. Right now he is not above playing in Qatar.

 

[Beagle]

He will be remembered for his time with Barcelona and Inter. A fantastic striker he was and incredibly popular too. I remember him hitting rhe post/drawing a good save from VDS early on in the Rome final. He was one of those deadly strikers you always had to fear if he was playing against your side.

 

[MadMike]

Nothing wrong with a man getting paid. If the clubs are willing to give him good money even though he's "passed it" good on him.

Who did he pass it to?

 

[Nick7]

No.

 

[Reynoldo]

I don't know why when it comes to being a footballer, that persuing money is considered a cardinal sin.

I know, at the end of the day it is still a job. Even if its a job they love doing and are passionate about. And of course yes its a sport and you should always aim to be at the top of your game and win trophies as that is what its really about but for many people who come from poorer backgrounds (Not specifically taking about Eto'o) you have to factor in the financial aspect for your family and future generations, not to mention making a difference right now for other people who may need it as he is doing.

Plus in this individual case Eto'o had already achieved so much in the game so why not cash in?

 

[VeevaVee]

Looking at his career, he's only really played for lesser clubs in his mid 30s.

I suppose the only difference is he's less noticeable in the tail end of his career than if he went to the US. But then again I've no idea how a lot of players do there anyway.

By the way, I count 14 clubs according to that article. 3 loan spells in that.

 

[Flying_Heckfish]

He could not score goals at Everton and Sampdoria. He does not have the ability to play at the top level anymore. Right now he is not above playing in Qatar.

That's not what I'm saying. Clearly his ability is not there. There are other reasons.

 

[#07]

One of the greatest strikers in the history of football. Treble winner with two different clubs. Nothing can affect that legacy.

 

[Varun]

No

 

[villain]

He's won everything there is to win (except WC), why would it cheapen his legacy?

It sounds like OP has an issue with players' earnings.

 

[Jacob]

Enough with these silly arguments. Football is a job, everyone wants a salary increase. You would think a player like Eto'o should be excused having won everything that he has.

I'm sure he and his family will enjoy a few extra million in the bank more than a third or fourth league title many years ago.

 

[Henrik Larsson]

"On 23 August 2011, Russian club Anzhi Makhachkala reached an agreement with Inter to sign Eto'o in a three-year deal that made him the world's highest-paid player, with a salary of €20 million (after taxes) per season"

This means a) he was 30 years of age when he moved to Anzi, not 29 like @Fortitude states. b) It clearly was an offer not many could refuse since he literally became the best paid player in the world and c) with Mourinho who worked with him a lot joking about his 'real' age it's very much possible he was already a bit older than 30 when he made that move.

In general I think you can criticise players for such a move, yes. But there are shiteloads of players who've made similar moves. A lot of times they do it to get even richer, but don't forget there's also countless of players who haven't managed their money well during their career and are actually pretty broke near the end, meaning they very much need such a move to end with a bit of money.

 

[OnlyTwoDaSilvas]

29 is a good age to start cashing in, especially as footballers are practically corpses by that point.

 

[James Peril]

Nah, he’s lived a great life in many countries. Many players have messed up their careers by staying at clubs that didn’t win a lot of trophies. Le Tissier, Shearer, Gerrard, Kane and so on and so forth. Playing here and there and living in different continents (luxury life as well) is beriching for the person - if not their legacy. I don’t think Eto’o will care one bit, and it’s not like he would have gone down in folklore anyway. He has had 3-4 good seasons, the rest is pretty meh.

 

[Rado_N]

29 is a good age to start cashing in, especially as footballers are practically corpses by that point.

I only entered this thread to make this joke. Damn you.

 

[ClaytonBlackmoorLeftPeg]

Does he care about a ‘legacy’? Who is actually interested in those sorts of things. Legacy also means leaving money to the next generation - so perhaps he’s just maximising that, and fair play to him.

George Best was an alcoholic wife beater, Maradona a coke head cheat, Pele was the face of viagra, Ian Rush ended up at Newcastle and was appalling - does any of that affect the good things they did in their career, or cheapen their achievements. No. I don’t know why anyone would particularly care.

 

[charlenefan]

Nah it's not like he was ever in the top 3 players in the world, just another footballer as far as I'm concerned

 

[Lay]

Nah, won it all by 30. Money over trophies.

 

[The Uncle of All Uncles]

He won two trebles in a row didn't he? '09 Barca and '10 Inter? Has anyone else ever done that? Remarkable achievement (and pity poor Zlatan who moved the opposite way at the time)!

I don't think it affects his legacy having wound down after that - it must be so hard to stay motivated having won all there is (at club level at least).

 

[Robbie Boy]

Eh, how about no?

 

[Adisa]

There is nothing wrong with chasing money.