How Samuel Eto’o won back-to-back trebles with different clubs

• Samuel Eto’o is a former professional footballer from Cameroon who played for some of Europe’s biggest clubs
• He is widely regarded as one of the greatest footballers Africa has produced over the years
• Eto’o is the only player to win back-to-back trebles with different clubs

Samuel Eto’o is a former professional footballer from Cameroon who played for some of Europe’s biggest clubs. At the peak of his career, he was considered one of the best strikers in the football world. Also, he is widely regarded as one of the greatest footballers Africa has produced over the years.

Eto’o’s journey to the top started in Douala, Cameroon, where he was born to David Eto’o, an accountant, and Christine Eto’o, a fishmonger. He was a precocious talent and luckily for him, he was already playing for one of Cameroon’s top junior sides, Kadji sports academy, by the time he was ten.

Samuel Eto’o. Photo/ Goal.com.

A young striker then, his performance caught the attention of many and he was signed by Real Madrid in 1997. Since he was still a minor, he first trained with Real Madrid B before getting the chance to play for the senior team. Eto’o struggled to break into Real Madrid’s starting XI and spent time on loan at various clubs before being signed on a permanent deal by Mallorca in 2000.

The African icon spent four years at Mallorca and what followed was years of success with FC Barcelona and Inter Milan. In the end, he set a record that is yet to be broken, being the only player to win back-to-back trebles with different clubs. He first won the treble playing for Barcelona and then followed it with another at Inter Milan. Here, we are going to take a look at how Eto’o achieved that feat that has defeated the best of the best in football history.

How Samuel Eto’o Won Back-To-Back Trebles 

After developing to become one of the best strikers in Europe while at Mallorca, Samuel Eto’o was signed by Spanish giants FC Barcelona in 2004. In his debut season, Eto’o helped the Catalans won the La Liga title.

His impressive performance saw him win the Pichichi trophy, which is given to the top scorer in La Liga, at the end of the 2005-06 season. That season, he helped Barca win the La Liga and also the UEFA Champions League, contributing six goals in the latter.

Eto’o’s impressive form continued after the arrival of Pep Guardiola and he played a big role and he scored 30 La Liga goals, winning the Pichichi trophy as Barca claimed the league title. In that same season, the Catalans had won the Copa del Rey so winning the Champions League saw them claim the treble. Eto’o scored the opening goal in the Champions League final as Barca beat United 2-0.

Despite finishing with 36 goals across all campaigns, he was not the Catalans leading goalscorer across all competitions as Lionel Messi scored 38 goals. Meanwhile, their attacking partner Thierry Henry recorded 26 goals.

Samuel Eto’o left Barca after the end of the treble winning campaign, signing with Italian giants Inter Milan. He signed a five-year contract and went on to play a massive role in his debut season, scoring crucial goals as Inter won the Serie A, Coppa Italia and the UEFA Champions League. As a result, he became the first player in history to win back-to-back trebles with two different clubs.

Eto’o had an outstanding 2010-11 campaign, scoring 37 goals, the most in a single season since he became a professional. He decided to leave Inter Milan after the end of that season.

Samuel Eto’o won his second Treble after moving to Inter Milan. Photo/ Inter.it.

Eto’o’s Career After Leaving Inter Milan

Samuel Eto’o continued with his football journey in Russia where he signed a mega deal with Anzhi Makhachkala. During his time at the Russian club, he was the highest-paid footballer on the planet with an annual salary of €20 million (after taxes).

Eto’o spent two seasons in Russia and then moved to England where he signed with Chelsea. After a season at the Premier League club, Eto’o had a nomadic career which included spells at Everton, Sampdoria, Antalyaspor, Konyaspor and Qatar SC.

The legendary Eto’o announced his retirement from professional football in September 2019 and on 11 December 2021, he was elected President of the Cameroon Football Federation (FECAFOOT), a position which he still holds.