If you’re a football fan, chances are you’ve heard of French-born Gabonese Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. Born in France to Gabonese parents, he is a professional footballer who plays as a striker for Premier League club Chelsea. He has played for multiple European clubs and is renowned for his speed, finishing, and off-ball movement. In 2016, he was crowned African Footballer of the Year—the first Gabonese and second European-born player to win the award. So what’s so special about Pierre-Emerick? Let’s break it down.
Aubameyang’s Career Highlights
After moving around various lower league clubs in France, he joined the Italian club AC Milan in 2007 but never actually made an appearance for the Italian side. His breakthrough performance came when he signed with Saint Etienne in 2011. During his two seasons there, Aubameyang scored 35 goals in all competitions and became one of the most sought after strikers on the market.
In 2013, Borussia Dortmund snapped him up and over the next 5 years he scored 141 goals in 213 appearances becoming one of Europe’s most prolific strikers during that period. He won three straight Bundesliga top scorer awards from 2016-2018 before leaving Dortmund for Arsenal in 2018 making him Africa’s most expensive player at £56 million.
It was also during this time that Aubameyang was named African Footballer of the Year—the first Gabonese and second European-born player to win the award—cementing his status as one of Africa’s premier players on the world stage. In 2020, he became the first African to win the FA Cup as a captain after scoring all matches for his team. That same year, he scored a goal that secured Arsenal their first Premier League win at Old Trafford since 2006.
Onwards & Upwards
In September 2022 Aubameyang joined Chelsea and have not secured a goal yet and supporters have criticised his output. But some believe those failing to understand the point that the 33-year-old is failing to thrive due to lack of service from his teammates? While the striker has been accused of trying – as evidenced by Chris Sutton’s allegations of “he didn’t want to be here” following their most recent loss, and Paul Merson’s assertion that his time is up. He is currently Gabon’s all-time leading goal scorer with 36 international goals. With his career still going strong yet, it will be exciting to see what new heights awaits him!
Conclusion: By any measure, it is clear that Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has had an incredible career thus far from humble beginnings in France all the way up to becoming Africa’s premier footballer on the global stage today. While the world wait with anticipation to see what new heights this star can reach next season and beyond, there’s no denying that Pierre Emerick’s story is truly inspirational for aspiring young Africans looking to make their mark on football history!
