When Samuel Eto’o Clapped Back at Jose Mourinho’s ‘old Man Jibe with Cheeky Goal Celebration

When Samuel Eto’o Clapped Back at Jose Mourinho’s ‘old Man Jibe with Cheeky Goal Celebration

Rene Otinga
updated at April 12, 2023 at 8:05 PM
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  • Eto’o made headlines back in 2014 for his strange goal celebration after scoring against Tottenham Hotspur
  • The former Barcelona striker celebrated by simulating an old man to hit out at suggestions that he was losing his spark because of his age
  • Chelsea finished third that season, but went on to win the league the following campaign

Samuel Eto’o might just be the owner of one of the most clutch goal celebrations in Premier League history.

The Cameroon star, in 2014, won the internet with an interesting goal celebration to ironically call-out suggestions that he was getting old as a football player.

At the time, Eto’o had secured an unlikely move to Chelsea from Anzhi Makhachkala, and the Blues was being managed by Jose Mourinho for a second stint.

Samuel Eto'o, Chelsea, Mourinho
Samuel Eto'o celebrates after scoring against Tottenham Hotspur in 2014. Photo: Getty.
Source: Getty Images

The former Barcelona man was 32 at the time, which is still fairly decent for a striker, but there were initial suggestions that he was well past his prime.

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His own manager, Jose Mourinho, had a gaffe at a press conference, when he referred to his African striker as a 35-year old instead of his actual 32.

Mourino’s sentiments were the talking point in the build up to Chelsea’s game against Tottenham Hotspur in the London derby in March 2014

Chelsea on the day were too strong for their opponents as they ran out comfortable 4-0 winners that afternoon, with Eto’o getting one of the goals.

The Cameroon star showed no signs of ageing when he pounced on Jan Vertonghen’s disastrous back-pass to put his side ahead.

While the goal was brilliant, it was the celebration that stole the show as Eto’o went to the corner flan and hunched like an old man in a brilliant comeback to his own manager.

After the game, Mourinho could not help but see the funny side to the whole thing.

‘I didn’t suggest the celebration but I knew about it,’ Mourinho said as quoted by Daily Mail.
‘We thought it was good because the best way to defuse the situation is to make fun of it.’

That season, Manchester City went on to win the Premier League title in dramatic fashion, narrowly beating Liverpool who suffered a sensational collapse towards the end.

Mourinho’s Chelsea finished third.

Milan start negotiations for Ziyech

Still on Chelsea news and AC Milan has begun negotiations over a season-long loan deal for Chelsea's wantaway winger Hakim Ziyech

The 29-year-old is set to follow in the footsteps of Romelu Lukaku who recently dumped the Blues to seal a move back to the Serie A with Inter Milan on loan for one season.

Ziyech has found himself down the pecking order at Chelsea as Thomas Tuchel prefers using Kai Havertz and Mason Mount instead of the Moroccan international.

Authors
Rene Otinga photo
Rene Otinga
Rene Otinga is a sports journalist with over eight years of working experience in digital media. Rene's experience includes working as a Copywriter at X News Kenya and TUKO.co.ke.
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