More power to the guy - if it was me I'd have done exactly the same thing.
Has Samuel Eto'o cheapened his legacy by solely pursuing money for the last 7 years?
- Thread starter Fortitude
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The average football fan has too much of a problem with people earning as much money as possible.
Yeh. It's different with us, the most knowledgeable fans who have no problem with that.
Not at all. His legacy remains as great as ever.
Is the right answer. He had a great career, but he could have achieved more.
Honestly never even knew he was still playing until i saw his name pop up on twitter earlier
I really doubt he cares. Money talks.
Interesting replies. Shows the attitude of fans is changing because a few years ago, elite players going to the little leagues before time for massive money was a cardinal sin, and now, many of you are acting like it should be the norm.
I've no issue with what players do - my previous posts on the subject will back that up, but it is curious when the elite essentially 'opt out' much more so than the lesser players who have no real legacy to try and enhance in the first place.
By the way, the old argument on here was that the elite get paid enough to not cash grab, as they can both enhance their all-time standing whilst getting a fortune to do so. Still, these things are obviously relative and a-then £150k per week at the elite club is not the £320k per week to effectively call it a day and go and play miles below your level.
It will be interesting to see the attitudes on here when the next round of contract talks come up for the star players of the teams posters in here support. Money certainly wasn't king on here a few years ago as it seems to be now.
I've no issue with what players do - my previous posts on the subject will back that up, but it is curious when the elite essentially 'opt out' much more so than the lesser players who have no real legacy to try and enhance in the first place.
By the way, the old argument on here was that the elite get paid enough to not cash grab, as they can both enhance their all-time standing whilst getting a fortune to do so. Still, these things are obviously relative and a-then £150k per week at the elite club is not the £320k per week to effectively call it a day and go and play miles below your level.
It will be interesting to see the attitudes on here when the next round of contract talks come up for the star players of the teams posters in here support. Money certainly wasn't king on here a few years ago as it seems to be now.
Legacy doesn't feed families, and buy expensive cars pal
I dont see how, until reading his name here I thought he had retired. I know he played for Chelsea, but I couldnt tell you when or how he got on. So Im guessing not very well. But his Barca days will always stand out.
But context is important, we don't really know the alternatives offered to Eto'o, there was nothing to achieve with Inter when he left and to me it seems that while money was very important playing and not spending most of his time on a bench was also important. Which club was going to enhance his legacy, actually play him and pay him good money?
No. His legacy isn't so great that it will be remembered within the next 10-15 years and if clubs still feel he is good enough to play a role then he should play football at what ever level he likes for as long as he feels he wants to.
We'll not know the answer to that question, but Eto'o was far from done when he went off to Anzhi, but that was a unique choice, which I don't think he even got much flack for back then, funnily enough. I'm sure he'd have had offers from top clubs had he remained in competitive football.
As an equivalency, it's not dissimilar to when the top players were being offered crazy wages to go play in the middle of nowhere but remained on their 'meagre' contracts at top clubs until they were truly spent as top-level players. Rooney, Xavi, Iniesta to name a few, have gone down that route.
I think once you're done at the very top, then fair play, just when I saw that tweet, it reminded me of what he opted for and it made me curious enough to make this thread and see what people thought about it.
If he is spending the silly money on charity then no it is amazing. Doing a meaningless job for the purpose of wealth redistribution having already had an amazing career
You see it's interesting that you mention two Barcelona players because Eto'o was forced out of the club and you are using players that were on far bigger wages than Eto'o in a club that was competing at the highest level. Personally I don't think Eto'o would found a single top club when he left for Anzhi, one year later PSG would have probably been an option though but in some people's mind that's also not good enough.
And again he has people to take care of and a lot of them.
Most people in this thread would do the same thing without a seconds hesitation. So what if any player could achieve higher elsewhere, that seems to be what you want for them, not what they want for them. Let them live their lives and pursue whatever goals they have for themselves, themselves. Some football players don't even like football and just do it as a job because they're good at it. Not everybody wants to win the Ballon d'Or. Some people just want to earn a feck tonne of money doing whatever they're good at so they can live a great life and provide for their family and/or use that wealth to achieve great things via philanthropy.
I don't think it's a case of 'money is king' but more of a case of, the ideas, plans, hopes, dreams and aspirations that people think a player should aspire to in order to please a fan, is way out of touch with reality and in reality we as fans have no right to tell another person what they should do with their lives just because we're fans of the sport. You see it always said 'disgrace, he should do X, Y or Z' well why the feck should he?
It's his life, he can do whatever the feck he wants. I highly doubt he did it for no reason at all, he did it for reasons that are important to him and that trumps every day the reasons that random fans on the other side of the world think he should be making his life decisions based on. There's nothing wrong with not wanting to chase a couple more trophies at a club of bigger stature so that some fans 40,000 miles away who you don't owe anything to, have no reason to care about, who do Facebook quiz's about what kind of potato they are can tell you if you have a good legacy or not. Good on him for making his decisions based on his own goals and what he wants to achieve in life, especially seeing what he currently spends his money on with his initiatives and outreach back in Cameroon.No. Anzhi was probably about his level when he joined them, he was clearly on the decline. Rivaldo is another who seemingly played forever for $$ and it didn't cheapen his legacy either.
He has cheapened his legacy from a sporting perspective, but fair enough.
I'd probably do the same, although I'd have hoarded all the money and invested it in property to be set for life.
I'd probably do the same, although I'd have hoarded all the money and invested it in property to be set for life.
While most people who spent 2k per month to live will be enthralled with having 50m players like etoo, messi, ronaldo spends millions per month just for what they considered basic.
95m would last me 7 generations but probably for etoo would only last him 50 years considering his lifestyle. Nothing wrong with wanting to secure more. There's no guarantee in life, you cash in while you can.
95m would last me 7 generations but probably for etoo would only last him 50 years considering his lifestyle. Nothing wrong with wanting to secure more. There's no guarantee in life, you cash in while you can.
Good for $amuel £to'o
He has won it all at club level, multiple leagues, 3 champions leagues, etc.
He went to a place that pays him to dollars and he can still contribute something on and off the pitch.
He has won it all at club level, multiple leagues, 3 champions leagues, etc.
He went to a place that pays him to dollars and he can still contribute something on and off the pitch.
Not at all. If you've ever played a sport at a high level and it pays well for it to be a legitimate career, you're always told at least once to continue playing if you enjoy it and if someone is willing to pay you for it.
When it's over, it's over. Credit it to Eto'o. He's won the major trophies and looks to be playing wherever for whomever. It's taken him around the world, probably twice at least!
When it's over, it's over. Credit it to Eto'o. He's won the major trophies and looks to be playing wherever for whomever. It's taken him around the world, probably twice at least!
I've never knocked a player for chasing money, I don't think. I also don't like when people state players who are having tough times should be consoled by their vast wealth as many are wont to do on here.I don't think it's a case of 'money is king' but more of a case of, the ideas, plans, hopes, dreams and aspirations that people think a player should aspire to in order to please a fan, is way out of touch with reality and in reality we as fans have no right to tell another person what they should do with their lives just because we're fans of the sport. You see it always said 'disgrace, he should do X, Y or Z' well why the feck should he?
I think 'legacy' is only a concern for the very, very top-end of player - those who will be remembered over generations and some players are aware of (and care about) their standing, which is why they don't go to lesser leagues, no matter how much they are offered, until they have to as they can no longer cut it in the top leagues, nor will they go to lesser clubs in said top leagues until they have no chance to play at the elite clubs they have represented for the best years of their career.
Eto'o made a huge choice in going to Russia for a number of reasons. He knew he was about to be embroiled in racial hostility and he knew he was stepping down, but he went anyway. The only question I have about that is what it did to his overall story as a player.
Frankly, I don't care what players do with their money - good on him that he's doing great things, but even if he were an immoral tyrant it'd be neither here nor there. If he one day comes out and says he essentially martyred himself for the greater good of all those he's helped, it'd be fair to say his actions, and the decisions he made, transcend football.
I'll say one thing, though: I bet if this thread was made a few years back, the answer wouldn't be so in favour of what he opted to do.
That really doesn't mean anything other than people have matured. I don't think anybody will look back on Eto'o any differently. Does anybody really follow the career of anybody when they drop off and go play in leagues you've never heard of? I couldn't care less about following those leagues so if a player signs there, I instantly just forget anything about them from that point on and all I can remember is the times they played for clubs I had any interest in watching and that's the legacy I remember them by. The same for most people I'd wager.
I’ll be honest, I would have been one of those, say about 7-8 years ago, who would have agreed that it’s ridiculous that footballers would choose to go to these lesser leagues chasing money rather than glory, albeit that was during my teens.
As I’ve matured and understood more of the world, I realized that were I in their position, my absolute number one aim would have been to amass as much money as possible, with trophies merely an afterthought. At the end of the day, how you’re thought of by football fans doesn’t pay the bills.
Not sure it's maturity, per se, rather acceptance that money, exorbitant amounts of it, have permeated the game and the collective consciousness and where players used to be slaughtered and called greedy for their pursuit of it because the average salary-man found their wealth incomprehensible, it's now seen differently.
True, once a player 'opts out' there isn't much interest in him from viewers of the top leagues, but the choice of taking that step before being pushed is always going to be an interesting one, isn't it?
I doubt anyone begrudges, or thinks much of, a horse that's been put out to pasture going off to find as much fortune, and I guess, appreciation as he can in his twighlight years, but it's not a well-trodden path for the truly great players, well, not yet, anyway. Like I said, the elite players on the high wages with huge legacies behind them, rarely go and do what Eto'o did - he's still an outlier in the grand scheme of the game.
Fair dues. A player asking for more is seen as greedy now, to an extent, but it was sacrilegious a few years back and was derided by fans and media in a way you just don't see anymore. I think the replies in this thread are a sign of how the times have changed.
I think you are just not looking back enough. Pele, Cruyff, Beckenbauer, Best, Muller, Neeskens all played in the NASL in the 70s. When the Jleage was getting going in the 90s players like Zico, Stojkovic played there. Jairzinho played in a tonne of countries, etc
I think the outlook you refer to (players must stay in Europe leagues to compete until they retire completely) is actually the anomaly among fans from the early 2000s from a historical view.
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Why not? travel the world in style, earn some dosh and have some great experiences.
I doubt the likes of Giggs or Maldini or Totti would ever regret their career choices but maybe they do get the odd "what if?" thought popping in their heads.
I doubt the likes of Giggs or Maldini or Totti would ever regret their career choices but maybe they do get the odd "what if?" thought popping in their heads.
That's a terrible slur. Angie Best was never an alcoholic.
It doesn't take anything away for me.
At the end of the day, we're talking about a real person with his own motivations, desires, goals. Playing for Barcelona can be as meaningful as playing for Antalyaspor, in the grand scheme of things. One's wikipedia page is not a top priority for some, and it doesn't have to be.
At the end of the day, we're talking about a real person with his own motivations, desires, goals. Playing for Barcelona can be as meaningful as playing for Antalyaspor, in the grand scheme of things. One's wikipedia page is not a top priority for some, and it doesn't have to be.
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legacy?
he is the best african player of all time, most Barça fans would pick him in an "all time XI Barça" as their '9' (Suarez declined last season, only had 2 good seasons so far, Ronaldo and Romario only had 1 great year also).
His legacy is underrated because he is african and played for Cameroon.
he is the best african player of all time, most Barça fans would pick him in an "all time XI Barça" as their '9' (Suarez declined last season, only had 2 good seasons so far, Ronaldo and Romario only had 1 great year also).
His legacy is underrated because he is african and played for Cameroon.
Along with the medals he’s won, he has the greatest collection of club jerseys of any player and a huge stash of cash to boot.
In his own head his legacy is absolutely fine and he won’t feel any need to explain himself.
I’m sure we could come up with a few legacy type names who hit the skids financially, maybe they get a pint or two gifted to them, but they’d probably swap it for endless amounts of cash in the bank.
Legacy won’t necessarily pay the bills, but a stuffed bank account surely will.
In his own head his legacy is absolutely fine and he won’t feel any need to explain himself.
I’m sure we could come up with a few legacy type names who hit the skids financially, maybe they get a pint or two gifted to them, but they’d probably swap it for endless amounts of cash in the bank.
Legacy won’t necessarily pay the bills, but a stuffed bank account surely will.
Hence the hardly lol.Scored a hatrick against us
Feck David Moyes.
He did sod all apart from that
I think you're missing my point - players going off to vastly inferior leagues once they're done at the top level is par for the course. Players doing the same whilst still have 'top years' in them, becomes rarer and rarer the better the player and the more legacy they have.
My point wasn't about Europe, just the leap from the top leagues to the others.
Nearly all the players you've mentioned fit the template I refer to - they went to those leagues as old (in football terms) men:
Pele was 34, which, given the ridiculous punishment he had been put through throughout his career, was fair enough.
Cruyff was 32, but had burned through his money so had to go seek his fortune.
Beckenbauer was 32, he went to get paid after truly having nothing left to do.
Best... completely lost his way in his late 20's.
Muller was 34.
Neeskens was 28, which, I didn't know - that is a bit of a shock. It's fair to say his money-grab didn't taint his legacy whatsoever.
Regarding the NASL and stories of the time: https://thesefootballtimes.co/2017/07/24/johan-cruyff-the-american-diaries/ is a fun read and provides some interesting insight.
Zico was 38.
Jairzinho was 33.
Anyway, apart from Neeskens, the ages these players took the leap at is standard fare
This isn't quite the right thread for this, but I really enjoyed this article about Darius Vassell going to play for Ankaragucu, a small club in Turkey.
Not really chasing money but an interesting read about the experiences footballers can have when they step into clubs that aren't in the typical leagues you'd expect.
Eto's probably got some good stories from playing in these weird leagues. Plus it's hard to begrudge him cashing in given his background, particularly as he seems to give some of the money to good causes.
https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2017/sep/03/darius-vassell-goat-sacrificed-book-ankaragucu
Not really chasing money but an interesting read about the experiences footballers can have when they step into clubs that aren't in the typical leagues you'd expect.
Eto's probably got some good stories from playing in these weird leagues. Plus it's hard to begrudge him cashing in given his background, particularly as he seems to give some of the money to good causes.
https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2017/sep/03/darius-vassell-goat-sacrificed-book-ankaragucu
Well for me, despite the exact age, Eto'o absolutely falls into the category of the footballers mentioned above. To me he doesn't even qualify for having this money vs. legacy debate like Oscar for example. He'd already achieved everything there was to achieve and established a legacy over 10 years.
Maybe he just loves the game. Doesn't want to retire till he hits 40?