Involved in a car crash on his way back from Belgium, Kevin Anin’s life changed on the 4th of June 2013.
A well-respected footballer in Ligue 1 at the time, the now 30-year-old was left paralysed from the waist down after an acquaintance, who was driving the car, fell asleep at the wheel while he was asleep in the back seat.
Speaking to So Foot about the accident and his life since, the player also discussed his football career, and how things might have changed had he said yes to a proposition from Arsène Wenger and Arsenal.
He said: “I went to Wenger’s house. There was my agent and Gilles Grimandi. We were on his sofa, there was some guy mowing the lawn, his piano, pictures of his daughter.”
His first reaction when meeting Wenger? How ‘tall and skinny’ he was.
He continued: “We spoke for two hours. He made me understand he wanted me personally. He told me Arsenal were working on another deal, Yann M’Vila, but he wasn’t the one taking care of that. I felt weird. I could see myself at Arsenal a bit, but I didn’t want to go.
“I was so happy at Sochaux. I was doing well there, and even if it was Arsenal, and that financially it was good for my career, there was something stopping me.”
Anin then explained he went to see the Sochaux president, without revealing he’d met Wenger because he wasn’t meant to know that, who refused to admit they’d received an offer from Arsenal.
From there, he “lost the desire”, and a move to Nice materialised in January of 2012 for £2m, who retired his #17 shirt following his accident.
Two years down the line, Anin admits he’s now ‘digested’ his situation: “The more time goes by, the more I get used to it”.
His goal? “If I can walk again one day, it’ll be because of my efforts. I’d love to walk again, but if I can’t, that’s how it is”.
