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The plight of Emmanuel Eboue

Dharmabum

Well-Known Member
Aug 16, 2003
8,274
12,242
I do not wish this plight on even Arsenal players but I have a feeling that there is more to this story though....
And he is not the first rich sportsman being skinned financially by an ex and he won't be the last one either

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/arsenal-emmanuel-eboue-skint-bailiffs-11746303

Skint ex-Arsenal defender Emmanuel Eboue hides from bailiffs, sleeps on pal's floor and can't afford washing machine
Emmanuel Eboue's staggering riches-to-rags plight, after an illustrious seven year career in the Premier League, has pushed him to the brink of suicide

Eleven years ago he was lining up to take part in the biggest club match in world football.

During an illustrious seven-year career in the Premier League , he pocketed millions of pounds in wages, lived in a mansion and drove flashy cars.

Now ex-Arsenal defender Emmanuel Eboue spends his days hiding from bailiffs, sometimes sleeps on the floor of a friend’s home, travels by bus and even cleans his clothes by hand because he has no washing machine.

Today, the 34-year-old tells how his staggering riches-to-rags plight has pushed him to the brink of suicide.

“I want God to help me,” he says. “Only he can help take these thoughts from my mind.”

To listen to Eboue open his heart is as harrowing as it is shocking.

He wants to talk openly and honestly in a bid to encourage others going through the same ordeal to open up.

The Sunday Mirror, through its Time To Change campaign, has been battling for the past six years to smash the stigma associated with the mental ill health with which Eboue is now suffering.

At the peak of his career with Arsenal he became a fans’ favourite. He was part of the side that faced Barcelona in the 2006 Champions League final.

Arsenal lost but Eboue remains a cult-hero at the Emirates Stadium, as much for his happy demeanour and his goal celebrations as the ability which saw him help the Ivory Coast reach the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations Final.

That joy, however, has been replaced by tears – and a deep fear of the future.

Eboue, currently unable to play football because of ill-health, says he has been pushed to the brink. He has:

  • Lost a bitter divorce battle, with his wife Aurelie awarded all of their assets.
  • Had to hide from cops and bailiffs after being ordered by a judge to transfer his remaining Enfield home to his wife.
  • Faced a heartbreaking estrangement from his three kids, who he has not seen since June.
  • Been grieving after the cancer death of grandfather Amadou Bertin – who raised him – and the loss of his brother N’Dri Serge, killed in a motorbike accident.
It is now three weeks since a deadline passed for Eboue to surrender ownership of the North London home he used to share with Aurelie.

A judge will sign the transfer if Eboue does not do so.

The player and his wife lived there in happier times before Eboue bought a mansion – which Aurelie has now put on the market.

He understands she will rent out the Enfield property.

So Eboue, his belongings in bags, now awaits the knock that will see him ordered to leave at any time.

The worried star said: “I can’t afford the money to continue to have any lawyer or barrister.

"I am in the house but I am scared. Because I don’t know what time the police will come.

“Sometimes I shut off the lights because I don’t want people to know that I am inside. I put everything behind the door.

"My own house. I suffered to buy my house but I am now scared.

“I am not going to sell my clothes or sell what I have. I will fight until the end because it is not fair.”

Eboue has taken a huge fall from the days he netted millions at Arsenal and then more than £1.5million a year at Turkish side Galatasaray.

His dream of a Premier League return with Sunderland evaporated last year, however, after he was hit with a 12-month ban by FIFA after a dispute with a former agent.

Eboue says he was never given guidance to manage his finances.

Insisting his wife looked after most of their affairs, he admits being “naive” with money.

He also claims he was beset by a string of people who gave bad advice and lost him huge sums.

With a limited education, Eboue is paying the price for being unaware of his financial situation. His handful of visits to the bank were with Aurelie.

Eboue even recalls an occasion when bank staff visited him – to sign paperwork – at Arsenal’s training ground.

And he now wants other young African footballers to learn from his mistakes.

He says: “I look back and say ‘Emmanuel, you have been naive... why didn’t you think about that before?’ It is hard.

"Very, very hard. The money I earned, I sent it to my wife for our children.

“In Turkey I earned eight million euros. I sent seven million back home. Whatever she tells me to sign, I sign.

"She is my wife. The problems with FIFA were because of people advising me. People who are supposed to care. But it was because of them FIFA banned me.”

Having surrendered the cars among assets transferred to his wife, Eboue now has an Oyster card and relies on London transport – while doing his best to avoid being recognised.

He splits his time between the Enfield house and the home of a confidante he calls his “sister” – Yasmin Razak.

He often sleeps on a mattress on her living room floor.

But even watching TV – and seeing the likes of former team-mate Thierry Henry as a football pundit – triggers negative thoughts.

He adds: “When I see Thierry I feel happy for him but ashamed of my own situation.

"When I see friends on TV that I played with or against I say to myself ‘I should still be there’. It’s hard to watch them.”

Both Yasmin and another close pal, ex-Portsmouth and Newcastle striker Lomana Lua Lua, have been crucial in helping Eboue stay afloat.

Of Yasmin, he said: “I call her house The Bunker. I can hide there. She has children. I don’t want to disturb them, so I sleep on the floor.”

Eboue is devastated at spending Christmas apart from his own kids, daughters Clara, 14, and Maeva, 12, and son Mathis, nine.

He goes on: “It hurts me a lot. They used to call me. But now, no contact. It pains me to be alone without them.”

Eboue has been left without so much as a washing machine.

But he won’t be beaten, saying: “Every day I wash my jeans, my clothes, everything. My hands are hard. As though I have been working on a farm.

“I thank my grandmother because she taught me to wash, cook, clean, everything as a young man.

“I continue to thank God. I have my life. I didn’t want what has happened. I don’t wish it on anybody.”

While Eboue wants to return to playing one day, he would jump at the chance of working with former club Arsenal or players’ union the PFA.

He says: “I would accept help from anywhere but if my previous club wants to help me then I would be very, very happy. Maybe I could help the young players?

“The PFA helped me when I had my problems with my agent. If they gave me a job, even if it wasn’t a big, big job.

“Maybe I’d see some of the people I played with or against and I’d feel embarrassed. But I would cope.”

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/emmanuel-eboue-opens-door-help-11746064
 
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Danners9

Available on a Free Transfer
Mar 30, 2004
13,998
20,756
They should get an interview with the ex-wife. From this, it sounds like she's completely fleeced him and he wasn't smart enough to stop her.
 

TheChosenOne

A dislike or neg rep = fat fingers
Dec 13, 2005
47,874
49,706
They should get an interview with the ex-wife. From this, it sounds like she's completely fleeced him and he wasn't smart enough to stop her.

There are two sides to every story, however I can empathise with Eboue as this happened to me too.

Obviously the money/property wasn't anywhere near what he lost but in my case it was substantial back then but what was worse was the betrayal, the lies and the loss of having my children out of my daily life.
 

ERO

The artist f.k.a Steffen Freund - Mentalist ****
Jun 8, 2003
5,910
5,226
There must be more to this story, surely. Some reason as to why he had to give everything that he had earned to her, and did not get any rights to see his children?
 

ajspurs

Well-Known Member
Jul 7, 2007
22,987
31,167
There must be more to this story, surely. Some reason as to why he had to give everything that he had earned to her, and did not get any rights to see his children?

That's what I wonder too. Obviously, if it all is it's being portrayed then you have to feel sorry for the guy but we don't know the actions of him that led to this situation. He could have been abusive for all we know.
 

SugarRay

Well-Known Member
Jul 6, 2011
7,984
11,110
Marrying a wrong un is the biggest mistake anyone can make. Obviously he ( or his wife...as mentioned, this is one side of the story ) managed to do it.

I feel little sympathy for his financial state, complaining you don’t have a mansion or flash cars anymore is pathetic, but not seeing his kids is a bastard though. Lowest of the low.
 

slartibartfast

Grunge baby forever
Oct 21, 2012
18,320
33,955
They should get an interview with the ex-wife. From this, it sounds like she's completely fleeced him and he wasn't smart enough to stop her.
Newsflash.
If you're a man, have children and get divorced then you can have the best solictor in the land but you're still gonna get fleeced. Badly.
When I was about to get divorced I went to see a few solicitors for a free consultation. The first one said, and I quote, 'Its not a question of if you're going to get fked or not, its a question of how hard.'
Regardless of how bad his divorce is he's still going to have absolutely no trouble paying for a roof over his head, legal fees etc. Same cannot be said for most divorced men.
I was so stupid I've remarried :ROFLMAO:
 

spursfan77

Well-Known Member
Aug 13, 2005
46,680
104,956
There must be more to this story, surely. Some reason as to why he had to give everything that he had earned to her, and did not get any rights to see his children?

Yeah something doesn't add up. No way does someone get awarded 100% of everything.

He was a cheating thug as a player but I guess I should feel a little bit sorry for him but it's really hard to. Except for not being able to see his kids. That's shit.
 

TheChosenOne

A dislike or neg rep = fat fingers
Dec 13, 2005
47,874
49,706
I'll never forget that last NLD at Highbury 2006 when Eboue and Gilberto clashed heads.

Robbie Keane ignored their stupidity and slotted a goal while they were both getting up and falling down again to try and stop play.

Unfortunately Henry got an equaliser but also BMJ was at his best with Wenger and not shaking hands at the end
 
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thinktank

Hmmm...
Sep 28, 2004
45,893
68,893
Newsflash.
If you're a man, have children and get divorced then you can have the best solictor in the land but you're still gonna get fleeced. Badly.
When I was about to get divorced I went to see a few solicitors for a free consultation. The first one said, and I quote, 'Its not a question of if you're going to get fked or not, its a question of how hard.'
Regardless of how bad his divorce is he's still going to have absolutely no trouble paying for a roof over his head, legal fees etc. Same cannot be said for most divorced men.
I was so stupid I've remarried :ROFLMAO:

7K9NaBH.jpg
 

thinktank

Hmmm...
Sep 28, 2004
45,893
68,893
There are two sides to every story, however I can empathise with Eboue as this happened to me too.

Obviously the money/property wasn't anywhere near what he lost but in my case it was substantial back then but what was worse was the betrayal, the lies and the loss of having my children out of my daily life.

Bet you didn't recognise her, right? A "who the fuck are you??" event.
 

Phantom

Well-Known Member
Jun 6, 2005
5,856
3,212
Eager to see the explanation of why he has been so seemingly hard done by. I do feel sorry for him, I went through a divorce and even though things were amicable and I actually gained financially from it, it was still hard. Thankfully there were no kids involved for me.

I got to keep the house and only had to pay her half of the deposit but I didn't want the house I wanted her :(
 

slartibartfast

Grunge baby forever
Oct 21, 2012
18,320
33,955
Eager to see the explanation of why he has been so seemingly hard done by. I do feel sorry for him, I went through a divorce and even though things were amicable and I actually gained financially from it, it was still hard. Thankfully there were no kids involved for me.

I got to keep the house and only had to pay her half of the deposit but I didn't want the house I wanted her :(
Its the kids that throw it all in the womans favour.
If you'd had a child, which also normally causes the 'being amicable' to fly straight out the window, you probably wouldn't have a cup to piss in nevermind getting the house.
Normal situation is woman moves into blokes house, marry, have kids, divorce, woman gets house and kids, man has to move back in with parents, woman has bloke move in, man has to pay wife for the roof over her and her lovers head and if he's lucky might get to see his kids twice a week.
Now you've got to try and pay her a fortune every month and somehow save up for a deposit on your own place.
Its a shite situation.
I know of about 3 men who got divorced after they discovered she hadnt been paying Mortgage or any bills for months, they owed thousands and there these woman all had credit cards stacked up in the thousands as well.
Men really are naive when it comes to a relationship financially.
Normal procedure is get married, get a joint bank account, let her sort bills out etc and never look at or check bank statements, and if I've got £50 for pub at the end of week then that'll do me.
Guy few doors up from me only discovered this scenario when they had a porch extention built and went to get money out and..... 'Where the fk is our money???'
I remarried. I will never have a joint bank account again. Ever. And my ex didn't even do the financial thing. She was just a fruit loop lol.
 

Japhet

Well-Known Member
Aug 30, 2010
19,232
57,391
That's some divorce settlement if she gets 100% of everything and he ends up homeless. Few porkies being told here IMO.
 

Phantom

Well-Known Member
Jun 6, 2005
5,856
3,212
Its the kids that throw it all in the womans favour.
If you'd had a child, which also normally causes the 'being amicable' to fly straight out the window, you probably wouldn't have a cup to piss in nevermind getting the house.
Normal situation is woman moves into blokes house, marry, have kids, divorce, woman gets house and kids, man has to move back in with parents, woman has bloke move in, man has to pay wife for the roof over her and her lovers head and if he's lucky might get to see his kids twice a week.
Now you've got to try and pay her a fortune every month and somehow save up for a deposit on your own place.
Its a shite situation.
I know of about 3 men who got divorced after they discovered she hadnt been paying Mortgage or any bills for months, they owed thousands and there these woman all had credit cards stacked up in the thousands as well.
Men really are naive when it comes to a relationship financially.
Normal procedure is get married, get a joint bank account, let her sort bills out etc and never look at or check bank statements, and if I've got £50 for pub at the end of week then that'll do me.
Guy few doors up from me only discovered this scenario when they had a porch extention built and went to get money out and..... 'Where the fk is our money???'
I remarried. I will never have a joint bank account again. Ever. And my ex didn't even do the financial thing. She was just a fruit loop lol.

This Thread is in desperate need of a sad rating.

My ex paid next to nothing towards any bill, she gave me £150 a month and that was it, barely covered the council tax. The mortgage alone was £800 (was my first house, I know that isn't a lot!). In actual fact she would borrow money from me all the time, despite this she would always find £50 for her nails every 2-3 weeks. I paid every bill and did all the admin

As the one to break us up after 12 years together she felt horrendous and still feels bad now. We had grown apart but basically she had made no effort to rectify things whilst I did my best. Refused counselling, said we never did anything together anymore but when I suggested things would rather watch TV.

So I paid her 10k for her part of the deposit, plus 5k (minus what she owed me over the years) as recognition of the equity increase. I have about 100k worth of equity now and so could sell but am considering buying a place with my new Girlfriend, whilst renting this place out.
 
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