Eric Djemba-Djemba joined Manchester United, in 2003, as a potential successor to the legendary Roy Keane. The tough tackling midfielder struggled to live up to the expectations of being a Manchester United player and was burdened by the anticipation of replacing Keane.
Djemba-Djemba first came to the attention of Sir Alex Ferguson whilst playing for French side Nantes. He had shown a great understanding and maturity in his play and matched with an uncompromising and fierce tackle, it was clear to see why he was noted as a potential replacement for Roy Keane.
His impressive performances for Nantes earned him international recognition with the Cameroon. He played at the World Cup in 2002 and was part of the squad that won the African Cup of Nations the same year. The young midfielder also participated in the 2003 FIFA Confederations Cup where the Cameroon finished as runners-up to France. It was during that particular tournament that Marc Vivien-Foe, Djemba-Djemba’s midfield partner, collapsed on the pitch before later passing away in the stadium’s medical centre.
In the summer of 2003, he secured a £3.5 million transfer to Manchester United, with Sir Alex Ferguson revealing that he had been tracking Djemba-Djemba for quite some time. The 22-year-old described the move to Old Trafford as “a very proud moment for me”.
He soon set about establishing himself in a United shirt with an aggressive display in the 2003 Community Shield against Arsenal. Arsene Wenger was moved to describe one particular tackle on Sol Campbell from Djemba-Djemba as “obscene”.
Djemba-Djemba’s first full season was one of steady progress at best as he failed to command a regular place in United’s starting eleven. The season saw him score his first, and only, goals in the red shirt. He scored on his first Champions League start, netting in the 5-0 demolition of Panathinaikos in September 2003. A month later came arguably his finest moment of his 18 month spell at United, a looping finish which secured an extra time victory against Leeds United in the League Cup. That winner at Elland Road was to be as good as it would get for Eric Djemba-Djemba.
The following season, 2004/05, saw his progess stunted at Old Trafford. After making 17 first team appearances, he was sold to Aston Villa in January 2005 for just £1.5 million.
His spell at Villa Park was to be disastrous. During his two year stay, Djemba-Djemba would only manage 11 league appearances before being deemed surplus to requirements by manager Martin O’Neil. In January 2007, he moved on loan to Championship side Burnley but despite impressing during his 15 appearances there, his contract was terminated in July by Aston Villa.
Since his departure from English football in 2007, Djemba-Djemba’s career has resembled that of a journeyman. After leaving Villa, he played for a season in Qatar and did enough to earn a move to Danish side Odense BK. In Denmark, he would enjoy the most stable part of his career, making over 100 appearances during his four year spell there.
He looked to have restored his reputation whilst in Denmark and was linked to a move back to England during the summer of 2010. West Bromwich Albion were said to have been in talks over a move but the transfer eventually broke down. Despite his return to form at Odense, he was at one point considered the best player in the Danish league, Djemba-Djemba once again found himself unwanted by a club, his contract not being renewed upon its expiry in 2012.
He spent a season in Israel with Hapoel Tel-Aviv before joining Partizan of Serbia. He never established himself there and was released from his contract in December 2013. In February 2014 Djemba-Djemba signed a short-term deal with St Mirren. Upon signing for St Mirren, which was in a bid to earn himself a place in the Cameroon squad at the 2014 World Cup, he admitted that he “was too young for Manchester United”. His naivety during his spell at United was highlighted by his former agent, Christophe Mongay, who said that “Eric is on a different planet. He simply has no motion of money. At one point, he had 30 different bank accounts”.
Whilst his personal life was overtaken by debt and bankruptcy, and his football career has never lived up to the hype of his early promise, Djemba-Djemba has maintained a position in the game. Currently playing for Indonesian side Persebaya Surabaya, he once said “you can enjoy playing football anywhere in the world”. And Eric Djemba-Djemba has seen and played over most of it.
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