All the facts and details about Geremi, the former Cameroonian footballer

All the facts and details about Geremi, the former Cameroonian footballer

Grace Waruguru
updated at November 11, 2023 at 4:09 PM

Geremi is a retired Cameroonian player born into a family of footballers in 1978. The athlete's skill saw him represent top clubs like Chelsea, Liverpool, and Real Madrid. He opted for an early retirement at 34 but remains affiliated with the sport in different capacities. What is known about Geremi?

Geremi
Geremi Nijitap is a retired professional player born on December 20, 1978. Photo: Gareth Cattermole (Modified by author)
Source: Getty Images

Geremi is remembered as a versatile player with impeccable free-kick ability. His senior debut was in 1996 during a match against Gabon. He participated in the 1998 FIFA World Cup qualifiers but did not make it to the final squad. Here are fascinating facts about Geremi Nitijap.

Geremi's profile summary

Full name

Geremi Sorele Njitap Fotso

Age

44 years old (As of 2023)

Date of birth

December 20, 1978

Zodiac sign

Sagittarius

Place of birth

Bafoussam, Cameroon

Nickname

The Hard Man, Geremi

Nationality

Cameroonian

Ethnicity

African

Father

Samuel Fotso

Siblings

17

Marital status

Married

Spouse

Laure Fotso

Height

5 feet, 10 inches

Weight

78kgs

Hair colour

Bald

Eye colour

Dark brown

Profession

Retired professional footballer

Position

Right back, midfielder

Social media presence

X (Twitter), Instagram

How old is Geremi Nijitap?

Geremi family
Geremi represented clubs like Chelsea and Real Madrid during his professional career. Photo: Clive Mason (Modified by author)
Source: Getty Images

Geremi Nijitap (aged 44 years old in 2023) was born on December 20, 1978. The retired footballer was born in Bafoussam, Cameroon, and has Cameroonian nationality. He is among the successful African athletes who made it big internationally, flying his country's flag high.

Geremi's family

Geremi was raised in a family of footballers. His father, Samuel Fotso, was a prominent footballer in the 70s, playing as a striker. His skills earned him the nickname ''Poison Arrow.''

According to playerswiki.com, Nitjap's father had five wives thanks to his societal status as a footballer. Geremi grew up alongside 17 siblings.

Geremi Njitap's career

Geremi nationality
Geremi retired in 2013 at 34 years old. Photo: Stephen McCarthy (Modified by author)
Source: Getty Images

The 44-year-old was interested in football from a young age and played with his father in their local town. According to online sources, the athlete dropped out of school to pursue a professional career in the sport. He represented his national team and several clubs, including Racing Bafoussam and Newcastle, scoring 16 goals in his international career. Some of Geremi's stats include:

  • Racing Bafoussam Cameroonian Cup - 1996
  • Cameroon Olympic Gold Medal - 2000
  • Cameroon African Cup of Nations - 2000, 2002
  • Newcastle United Football League Championship - 2009/2010
  • Liverpool UEFA Champions League 2005

Geremi's stay at Real Madrid

Geremi played with Real Madrid between 1999 and 2002, making 45 appearances and scoring two goals. He was nominated for the Ballon d'Or of 2000 during his tenure with Madrid. The former team coach, Vicente del Bosque, remembered Geremi and Steve Mcnaman as his crew's two most important players because they kept the club united.

Geremi's achievements at Chelsea

Nitijap played for Chelsea between 2003 and 2007. The team coach, José Mourinho, described him as a low-profile player ready to help and fight for the team. Geremi was also flexible and could play multiple positions, including right-back and right-winger. He won two Premier League titles with the team in 2004/2005 and 2005/2006.

Where is Geremi now?

After a successful career, Nitijap hung his boots in 2013 at 34. He currently serves as the president of the FIFPRO Africa Union. (International Federation of Professional Footballers). The 66-member association focuses on the welfare of professional footballers and deals with issues of inclusion, financial advice, and protecting upcoming players from fraudulent agents. He is also an ambassador for the Cameroonian Football Federation.

Geremi Nitijap's net worth

Geremi Nijitap
Geremi serves as the president of the International Federation of Professional Footballers (FIFPRO). Photo: Michael Regan (Modified by author)
Source: Getty Images

Geremi Nitijap has amassed a ton of wealth from his professional pursuits. According to online sources, he is worth approximately $5 million. In 2014, he made £60k weekly per whatculture.com, which likely went up by the time he retired.

Final word

Geremi Nitijap enjoyed a successful career that earned him a place on the international scene. The Olympic medalist has kept his family football legacy alive, paving the way for more Cameroonians to follow in his footsteps.

READ MORE: All the facts and details about Alex Song, the Cameroonian footballer

Sports Brief published an article featuring Cameroonian football star Alex Song. His rise to fame came after transferring from Arsenal to Barcelona. In 2010, Song represented his country at the Africa Cup of Nations and was the only Cameroonian picked for the Team of Tournament. What else should you know about Alex?

Alex Song was born in 1987 and has mixed ethnicity. His uncle raised him after his parents died when he was a young boy. Check out the above article for his full story and all the facts and details about his life.

Authors
Grace Waruguru photo
Grace Waruguru
Grace has over 4 years of experience in article writing and digital media content creation for various local and global brands. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Communication (Public Relations) from Daystar University, Kenya.