‘I performed for Jose Mourinho and Arsene Wenger however Tim Sherwood was finest for me’
One of Jose Mourinho and Arsene Wenger’s former stars suggested that neither of the two legendary managers were his best boss – that was instead Tim Sherwood
Jose Mourinho and Arsene Wenger both managed Emmanuel Adebayor(Image: Getty Images Europe)
A former Premier League star played under Jose Mourinho and Arsene Wenger but enjoyed his best football away from the two managerial legends.
Emmanuel Adebayor’s legacy in the Premier League is overshadowed by his bizarre celebration when he ran the length of the pitch to goad Arsenal fans after leaving them to sign for Manchester City. But the Togo star, who turned 42 on Thursday, played under some of the top managers in history.
Adebayor starred for Arsenal under Wenger and Jose Mourinho at Real Madrid, but Tim Sherwood is the man who he most fondly remembers.
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His form under Wenger in 2008 played a major part in him becoming the first and only Togolese to be crowned African Footballer of the Year.
“In 2008, I was unplayable,” he said. “To be recognised as Africa’s best player was huge – it is something I will never forget and never take for granted.”
Despite his success under Wenger his relationship with the club turned sour when he controversially joined City. However, his time at the Etihad was short-lived and he joined Real Madrid on loan under Jose Mourinho in 2011 before a loan move to Tottenham turned permanent the following year.
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While at Spurs, Adebayor played under Sherwood and had a great relationship with the Blackburn Premier League winner. So much so, he suggested that Sherwood was the best manager for him.
Sherwood arrived at White Hart Lane following the sacking of Andre Villas-Boas, who had frozen the Togo star out of the team, but his new manager made his plans for the striker clear from the start.
“The first meeting (Sherwood) had with the first team,” Adebayor said ‘My talisman will be Emmanuel Adebayor, everything will go through Adebayor. Penalty taker – Adebayor’.”
Adebayor scored in his first game under Sherwood against West Ham and went on a run of 11 goals in 14 games.
“After the game, we had a one-hour phone call where he told me how brilliant I was, how he counted on me and that no matter what happened he was 100% behind me,” he said.
“When your boss is telling you that, the rest is easy. Up until today, we still chat. That’s beautiful.”
Adebayor left Tottenham in 2015 to join Crystal Palace but he didn’t last long at Selhurst Park before he played in Turkey and Paraguay before returning to his homeland to end his career in 2023.
Meanwhile, Sherwood took the managerial job at Aston Villa after he was sacked by Spurs. But he was also dismissed at Villa Park just 28 games into the job. He is yet to return to management.
