As comeback stories go, that of Eddy Gnahoré is quite impressive.
Back in 2009, the central midfielder was seen as a big talent in France, which is when Manchester City decided to hoover him up.
However, seeing his path to the first-team blocked, the young Frenchman decided to switch allegiances to Birmingham City, where he stayed for three years.
Now at Amiens in Ligue 1 after a career that went through Italy’s third division at one point, the 25-year-old is happy, and decided to have a chat with Le Parisien about his past.
On his time at St Andrew’s, he said: “Birmingham, in the Championship, offered me an elite contract: two years as a trainee and then three years as a pro. It went well. I even made two appearances with the first-team against Bristol City and Wolverhampton.
“Just before my third game, I ruptured the ligaments in my knee. Everything crumbled down. When I came back, the manager who trusted me had been sacked. I’m 19 and the new manager wants nothing to do with me. I decide to break my contract. Today, it’s a regret. I should have thought about it more”.
After that, he stayed without a club for a while, having trials here and there, but it wasn’t until Carrarese in Serie C in 2014 came knocking that he was given a new chance to return to professional football.
A transfer to Napoli then took place, followed by a few loans and a permanent transfer to Palermo before his return to Ligue 1 this summer.
At Amiens, he has started seven out of a possible 10 games, and appears to be one of the mainstays in Luka Elsner’s team.
As for how he sees himself after all his trials and tribulations? “I’m a survivor”.
