Despite spending three years at Birmingham City between 2010 and 2013, Eddy Gnahoré only ever managed one appearance in the Championship club’s shirt.
Given his debut by Chris Hughton in a 4-0 away against Sheffield United back in 2012, the former Blues man is now at Amiens in Ligue 1, where he’s a regular fixture on loan from Palermo.
That being said, his time after Birmingham, whom he left after his contract ran out, has been anything but easy, having played for 10 different clubs throughout his career, even spending a year without a side following his St Andrew’s exit.
Speaking to Foot 365, he explained what happened during that tough period of his career.
He said: “I went through a lot of disappointments with people who made me believe things without ever getting anywhere, and that’s a shame. It was a difficult year.
“I was without a club, I had a few tryouts with Troyes, Saint-Etienne, Marseille. Nothing came from them. I don’t know the real reason why. I don’t think it was performance related. If clubs really wanted me, they would have done what’s necessary.”
Struggling with his situation for a while, Gnahoré does, however, explain that time away from the pitch helped him ‘rekindle his love of football’, finally realising how lucky he had been to pursue his passion as a job, having previously taken it for granted.
He also used that time to ‘clean the weeds’ around him, talking about those in his entourage who were using him, ensuring he kept only those who ‘were truly there’ when he hit ‘rock bottom’.
Once part of a France U18 squad that featured the likes of Alphonse Aréola and Paul Pogba, the now 25-year-old has scored two goals and picked up an assist in 13 league appearances for Amiens, who have an option to make the loan permanent at the end of the season.
