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Didier Agathe

Discussion in 'Ex Players' started by Liam Scales, Mar 20, 2016.

Discuss Didier Agathe in the Ex Players area at TalkCeltic.net.

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Liam Scales Gold Member Gold Member

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Didier Agathe is a living, breathing miracle, lucky to be here at all, let alone having carved out such a successful career in professional football.
He has been sitting on one of the greatest football stories never told.
The former Celtic winger’s rise in Scottish football is well known. No player has ever gone from Raith Rovers to Hibs to Celtic Park in the space of a calendar year, becoming a key part of one of the club’s greatest ever sides.
He has told of his fairytale rise many times in interviews, shared his memories of nights in the Champions League, his appearance in the UEFA Cup Final, the club's historic treble win, three title victories and five domestic cup triumphs.
His career here also included a Hollywood interlude and a cameo in Robert Duvall’s now infamous Shot at Glory, where he starred in a Rangers team.
What he has never revealed is the full story of his playing career and arrival here and the fact is he is a living, breathing miracle, lucky to be here at all, let alone having carved out such a successful career in professional football.
“The truth is, I should never have played,” he began. “I was living on La Reunion and was spotted by a scout from Montpellier.
“I had 10 clubs after me but I chose Montpellier because it was in the south of France, the climate was good and Laurent Robert, who was also from my island, was already there.
“It was hard for me at first. We are French on La Reunion island, but are 10,000 kilometres from France and speak Creole, so it was difficult to adapt.
“I went for my medical, but they did not see that I had appendicitis and my appendix exploded. I spent six hours on an operating table and lost 12 kilos in one week.
“When I recovered I was always injured. It was only when they sent me to see a professor that they spotted that I didn’t have any cartilage in my right knee. There is no cartilage at all - it’s bone to bone.
“It’s hereditary, my brother had the same problem but didn’t play football and had an operation when he was younger.
“I was told if I got the operation, I wouldn’t be able to play. I told them not to do it, so they cleaned out my knee but told me I would never play at a high level again.”
That should have been the end of it and there will be club doctors reading this, trying to comprehend how Agathe got so far without the problem being spotted in the first place.
He began to negotiate a settlement with his club, tendering his resignation and one of his brothers flew over to France to help him return home.
Deeply depressed and struggling to accept the decision he did what most would do and attempted to drown his sorrows. Then, the morning after the night before, came the crash.
“I fell asleep at the wheel of my car,” he continued. “My car went over a fence and landed on a barrier. My windows were blown out, the airbags went off and I was stuck, on a quiet road on a Sunday morning with no one around.
“Suddenly an ambulance came along and found me, they were on their way to another accident, saw me and stopped.
“My car was totally destroyed. It was hanging on the edge of the road, over a steep drop. I don’t know why it didn’t fall.”
It was during his recovery that he decided to give it one more go, to try somewhere, somehow to make it as a professional.
His career in France was over, the odds were stacked against him, but he was taking a chance, and leaving it entirely to fate.
“This is a true story,” he said with a smile. “I took a map and took a coin and flipped it. The coin landed on England.
“I took everything I had in my flat and sold it. I managed to get together just over 10,000 Francs. I got a car and took everything I had and drove to Calais.
“I was sleeping in my car at first but had a friend in Burnley who let me come and stay with him. Every morning I went running and the money I had, I used to go to the gym.
“My friend arranged a trial with Stockport. I went there and it went perfectly. I had my top, with Agathe on the back and my number, but I failed my medical.”
By that time his money was almost out. His family was telling him to return home and was about to give up.
“On the morning I was about to leave I met a French guy, who just happened to be over for a trial with Wigan, whose name was Ludovic Pollet.
“We got talking and he told me, ‘we are playing tonight, come and watch the game.’ I went. I had no money, nothing at all and was introduced to his agent, Phil Black, who introduced me to another agent, whose name was Willie McKay.
“I hardly spoke any English, but my friend was translating and Willie asked, ‘why don’t you come to Scotland?’ I answered: ‘Where’s Scotland!?’ I had no idea!
“I followed Willie all the way up in my old Honda. We arrived in Motherwell at 11.30pm at night for a trial there. Willie phoned their manager, Billy Davies, but his wife explained that he was in hospital - with appendicitis!
“Willie said, it’s okay, follow me and we drove and drove and at two o’clock in the morning we arrived in Kirkcaldy.”
A white lie got him in the door at Starks Park, Raith Rovers had lost their first four games and manager John McVeigh needed a striker.
Agathe had never played up front but told the manager he had and scored two in a bounce game against the first team.
That weekend, as a trialist against Airdrie, he hit a hat trick.
When his deal ran out at the end of the season he thought he had a club lined up, but his best offer came from Alex McLeish and Hibs, who offered him a two-month contract.
He missed an open goal against Hearts on his debut, ‘the worst miss you will ever see’, but McLeish kept faith in him and in August, after scoring one of the best goals of his career against Dundee, he caught the eye of Martin O’Neill, who was at the match to watch Rab Douglas.
“A few days later I got a call and the voice said, ‘Hi, it’s Martin.’ I put the phone down on him - I thought it was a joke! Luckily he called me back again.
“I went for my medical and they spotted my knee straight away, but Martin said, don’t worry it’s not a problem. He did the same with John Hartson too who had problems with his back and I signed that day.
O’Neill continued to put his faith in Agathe, allowing him to sit out training when his right knee swelled up like a balloon.
Even then it took an hour and a half of stretching every morning to loosen up enough to walk.
In his time at Celtic you would struggle to find a player who took as much joy from the game as Agathe. He had a smile on his face every day at the club, took time to meet and help supporters and seemed to love every minute of it.
He was also, without publicity or fanfare, involved in charity works, even bringing over a group of young players from La Reunion to train at the club in 2005.
That thread has continued into his retirement and, now 40 years of age, he is running his own academy on the island and in neighbouring Mauritius and has helped young players win professional deals in France, Italy, England and Scotland, all without taking a penny in return.
This partly stems from his faith, an appreciation of what he had and a determination to try and make sure that his players do not face the same obstacles he did.
“I should never have played but looking back now, I really think it was * who helped me,” he said. “I can’t explain the feeling I had, playing for Celtic.
“I was like a child, I felt like I was dreaming, especially when we played in the Champions League. I always knew how lucky I was to be there. My first motivation was - give your best and make people happy.
“I dreamed all my life to play and there I was, playing. I was living my passion.
“You realise when you finish how you made people happy. When you are a player people tell you, ‘you are a star, a legend.
“You are not, definitely not and I am not just saying this to play games. Without the people who come and pay to see you play, without your friends and the staff at the club, without all these people who believe in you, you are nothing.”
With a glance at his watch the interview ends. Agathe has to pick up his player, Yoel, who has just finished training.
Do his players know, did anyone outside his family ever know, what he had came through to get there?
“No,” he replied. “I have never told them.”
Finally, the story is out.
Click to expand...

Found this on facebook...

Liam Scales, Mar 20, 2016

#1

KRS-1888 likes this.
Doogs. Lustig your the one, you still turn me on.

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Scanned through it as I'm just heading out but seems a brilliant wee read come back to it later

Doogs., Mar 20, 2016

#2
Liam Scales Gold Member Gold Member

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Aye, it was. Probably explains how his downfall came so rapidly as well.

Liam Scales, Mar 20, 2016

#3
We named the dog Indiana Gold Member Gold Member

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One kf our best ever signings. Fabulous for us. Not the best crosser but what an athlete.

We named the dog Indiana, Mar 20, 2016

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PaulM1888 Moderator Moderator Gold Member

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Brilliant.
PaulM1888, Mar 20, 2016

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Just Kieran Gold Member Gold Member

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A good performer for us. Especially since he cost us, what, 50k?

Nowadays he'd have been sold at a huge profit after the performances he put in against Juve or during the run to the UEFA Cup Final.

I can't remember a quicker player pulling on the hoops.

Just Kieran, Mar 20, 2016

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PaulM1888 Moderator Moderator Gold Member

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I've never seen a quicker footballer at Parkhead including all of the speed merchants that came in Europe.

Folk say Forrest is quick, Agathe would leave him standing. Only guy I've watched and thought could be as quick on the telly is Bellerin at Arsenal.

PaulM1888, Mar 20, 2016

#7
Liam Scales Gold Member Gold Member

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He could go from a standing start to full out instantly, was insane.

Liam Scales, Mar 20, 2016

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Goggzy60

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My Favourite Winger to watch still watch some games to watch his speed.

Goggzy60, Mar 20, 2016

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honda Gold Member Gold Member

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A couple strides and he was already nearly in the other box. Emmense.

honda, Mar 20, 2016

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Fabulous player, MO pulled off a masterstroke when he made this guy a rightback, unbelievable pace.

dbhoy72, Mar 21, 2016

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Antz1888

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Wow!!

I never fully realised the hardships he went through to make it. What a player he was too, I can still remember him tearing down the line vs Juventus Ajax Bayern etc, blowing past people without looking like he was full on sprinting.

His slide tackles were also something else, barely anyone got the better of him down his line.

He used to get a bit of groaning from his crosses, but when you look at highlights throughout his years at the club, he had some amount of assists and particularly in big matches.

Antz1888, Mar 21, 2016

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Drakhan Nac Mac Feegle Gold Member

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Enjoy this vid

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_srKrsp5XZY

Drakhan, Mar 21, 2016

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Doogs. Lustig your the one, you still turn me on.

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\o/ said: ↑

Aye, it was. Probably explains how his downfall came so rapidly as well.
Click to expand...

Aye it was a really good read mate, enjoyed it

Doogs., Mar 21, 2016

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Senna s1979

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What a story. Film worthy in all honesty.

Senna s1979, Mar 21, 2016

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Swervedancer Guest

That's a great story \o/ , thanks for posting it. Didn't realise he had those odds stacked against him. Just shows you some folk can make their own fate if they refuse to give up. I mean I'm sure most people would stop playing if they failed a medical like that. Fair play to MON for saying it was alright too.

I loved Agathe, sight of him in full flow going down the wing was a sight to behold.

Sounds like a fantastic person too if he's getting players contracts and not taking the massive agent cut.

Brilliant stuff

Drakhan said: ↑

Enjoy this vid

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_srKrsp5XZY
Click to expand...

Nice memories

Swervedancer, Mar 21, 2016

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Gyp Rosetti Gold Member

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His timing of the last ditch slide tackle was a thing of beauty

Gyp Rosetti, Mar 21, 2016

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Pacific Ocean Blue

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Underrated as *

Pacific Ocean Blue, Mar 22, 2016

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Tim-Time 1888 Always look on the bright side of Life Gold Member

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Good read that. Meet him and he was always happy as *, genuinely a nice person.

Tim-Time 1888, Mar 22, 2016

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Callum McGregor The Captain Gold Member

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Wow. Gained a lot of respect for him after reading that. Thanks for sharing.

Callum McGregor, Mar 22, 2016

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