Didier Agathe

Didier Agathe
Personal information
Full name Didier Fernand Agathe
Date of birth (1975-08-16) 16 August 1975
Place of birth Saint-Pierre, Réunion, France
Height 1.81 m (5 ft 11 1⁄2 in)
Playing position Wingback
Club information
Current team
 JS Saint-Pierroise
Number 17
Senior career*
Years Team Apps† (Gls)†
1992–1999 Montpellier 41 (3)
1996–1997 → Alès (loan) 29 (4)
1999–2000 Raith Rovers 30 (7)
2000 Hibernian 5 (4)
2000–2006 Celtic 127 (13)
2006–2007 Aston Villa 5 (0)
2007– JS Saint-Pierroise

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 08:50, 14 August 2010 (UTC).

† Appearances (goals)

Didier Fernand Agathe (born 16 August 1975) is a French professional footballer who currently plays for JS Saint-Pierroise in Réunion.

Agathe began his career at French side Montpellier HSC before moving to Scotland to join Raith Rovers and then Hibernian. His performances gained him a high profile transfer to Celtic where he enjoyed the most successful spell of his career winning three championships and was part of the squad that reached the 2003 UEFA Cup Final.

Career

Early career

Agathe began his career in France with Montpellier HSC and also had a loan spell with Olympique Alès.

Raith Rovers

He moved to Scotland in 1999, playing for a year with Raith Rovers. At this time he was playing as a striker. His goals alerted Premier League club Hibernian, who signed him on a short-term contract in the summer of 2000.

Hibernian

Agathe scored four goals in five Scottish Premier League games for Hibs, who also used him as a striker.

Celtic

This form and his short contract led to Celtic stepping in to sign Agathe for just £35,000. He was given the nickname "The Red Squirrel" as he was often compared to the famous Edinburgh player. Martin O'Neill used Agathe as either a right back or right wingback and was a regular in his side. The club won three championships and reached the 2003 UEFA Cup Final.[1] Following good performances in European competition he was once linked with moves to Juventus and Valencia during the 2001–02 season.. In February 2004, the Scotland manager Berti Vogts expressed interest in selecting Agathe.[2]

Agathe hardly featured during the 2005–06 season under new manager Gordon Strachan, and was released at the end of the season.

Aston Villa

Agathe underwent a trial at Premier League side Blackburn Rovers prior to the 2006–07 season. He began training with Aston Villa, managed by his former Celtic boss Martin O'Neill, after his attempt at joining Blackburn was unsuccessful. He agreed a short term contract and made his Villa début at home to Tottenham Hotspur in a 1–1 draw. On 11 January 2007, however, Agathe parted company with Aston Villa, after they chose not to extend his short term contract.[3] Agathe made a total of six substitute appearances in his short time at Villa Park, but did not start a single game.

JS Saint-Pierroise

He then signed for JS Saint-Pierroise, a club in his homeland of Réunion.

Agathe has set up an academy for young footballers on Réunion.[1] Three players – Heeking Jerome, Mathis Yohan and Jeremy Judith – signed for Stirling Albion in August 2010.[1]

On 8 September 2013, Agathe played for the "Celtic XI" during the Stiliyan Petrov charity match put on by Celtic FC.[4]

Film

Agathe, who played over 100 league games for Celtic, was portrayed in fiction as a Rangers striker in the Robert Duvall movie, A Shot at Glory.[5]

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 "Three join Stirling Albion from Agathe's academy". BBC Sport. 13 August 2010. Retrieved 13 August 2010.
  2. ↑ Clark, Graham (2 February 2004). "Dour debut for other De Boer". The Guardian. Retrieved 14 August 2010.
  3. ↑ "Agathe parts company with Villa". BBC. 11 January 2007. Retrieved 13 January 2007.
  4. ↑ http://www.footballorgin.com/2013/09/charity-match-celtic-legends-xi-v.html
  5. ↑ Trivia for A Shot at Glory, Internet Movie Database.

External links

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