Didier Agathe
Encyclopedia
Didier Fernand Agathe is a professional footballer who currently plays for JS Saint-Pierroise
in Réunion
.
Agathe began his career at French side Montpellier HSC
before moving to Scotland to join Raith Rovers
and then Hibernian
. His performances gained him a high profile transfer to Celtic
where he enjoyed the most successful spell of his career winning three championships and was part of the squad that reached the 2003 UEFA Cup Final
.
with Montpellier HSC
and also had a loan spell with Olympique Alès
.
in 1999, playing for a year with Raith Rovers
. At this time he was playing as a striker. His goals alerted Premier League
club Hibernian
, who signed him on a short-term contract in the summer of 2000.
games for Hibs, who also used him as a striker.
35,000. Martin O'Neill
used Agathe as either a right back or right wingback and was a regular in his side. The club won three championships and reached the 2003 UEFA Cup Final
. Following good performances in European competition he was once linked with moves to Juventus and Valencia
during the 2001–02 season.. In February 2004, the Scotland
manager Berti Vogts
expressed interest in selecting Agathe.
Agathe hardly featured during the 2005–06 season
under new manager Gordon Strachan
, and was released at the end of the season.
prior to the 2006-07 season
. He began training with Aston Villa
, managed by his former Celtic
boss Martin O'Neill
, after his attempt at joining Blackburn was unsuccessful. He agreed a short term contract and made his Villa début at home to Tottenham Hotspur
in a 1–1 draw. On 11 January 2007, however, Agathe parted company with Aston Villa, after they chose not to extend his short term contract. Agathe made a total of six substitute appearances in his short time at Villa Park, but did not start a single game.
, a club in his homeland of Réunion
.
Agathe has set up an academy for young footballers on Réunion
. Three players — Heeking Jerome, Mathis Yohan and Jeremy Judith — signed for Stirling Albion
in August 2010.
striker in the Robert Duvall
movie, A Shot at Glory
.
JS Saint-Pierroise
Jeunesse Sportive Saint-Pierroise, is a football club from Saint-Pierre, Réunion.-Achievements:*Réunion Premier League: 16*Coupe de la Réunion: 8*Coupe D.O.M: 3-Performance in CAF competitions:...
in Réunion
Réunion
Réunion is a French island with a population of about 800,000 located in the Indian Ocean, east of Madagascar, about south west of Mauritius, the nearest island.Administratively, Réunion is one of the overseas departments of France...
.
Agathe began his career at French side Montpellier HSC
Montpellier HSC
Montpellier Hérault Sport Club is a French association football club based in the city of Montpellier. The club was founded in 1919 and currently plays in Ligue 1, the top level of French football. Montpellier plays its home matches at the Stade de la Mosson, located within the city...
before moving to Scotland to join Raith Rovers
Raith Rovers F.C.
Raith Rovers Football Club is a Scottish professional football club based in Kirkcaldy, Fife. They are members of the Scottish Football League, currently playing in the First Division, having secured promotion from the Second Division as champions in 2009. Rovers have won one national trophy, the...
and then Hibernian
Hibernian F.C.
Hibernian Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Leith, in the north of Edinburgh. They are one of two Scottish Premier League clubs in the city, the other being their Edinburgh derby rivals, Hearts...
. His performances gained him a high profile transfer to Celtic
Celtic F.C.
Celtic Football Club is a Scottish football club based in the Parkhead area of Glasgow, which currently plays in the Scottish Premier League. The club was established in 1887, and played its first game in 1888. Celtic have won the Scottish League Championship on 42 occasions, most recently in the...
where he enjoyed the most successful spell of his career winning three championships and was part of the squad that reached the 2003 UEFA Cup Final
2003 UEFA Cup Final
The 2003 UEFA Cup Final was played on 21 May 2003 between Celtic of Scotland and Porto of Portugal. Porto won the match 3–2 in extra time thanks to a goal from Derlei...
.
Early career
Agathe began his career in FranceLigue 1
Ligue 1 , is the French professional league for association football clubs. It is the country's primary football competition and serves as the top division of the French football league system. Ligue 1 is one of two divisions making up the Ligue de Football Professionnel, the other being Ligue 2....
with Montpellier HSC
Montpellier HSC
Montpellier Hérault Sport Club is a French association football club based in the city of Montpellier. The club was founded in 1919 and currently plays in Ligue 1, the top level of French football. Montpellier plays its home matches at the Stade de la Mosson, located within the city...
and also had a loan spell with Olympique Alès
Olympique Alès
Olympique Alès is a French association football club founded in 1923, based in the commune of Alès. The Cévennes club currently playing in the Division d'Honneur Régionale – the seventh division – of the Ligue du Languedoc; the club in the past has played for six seasons in Ligue 1...
.
Raith Rovers
He moved to ScotlandScotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
in 1999, playing for a year with Raith Rovers
Raith Rovers F.C.
Raith Rovers Football Club is a Scottish professional football club based in Kirkcaldy, Fife. They are members of the Scottish Football League, currently playing in the First Division, having secured promotion from the Second Division as champions in 2009. Rovers have won one national trophy, the...
. At this time he was playing as a striker. His goals alerted Premier League
Scottish Premier League
The Scottish Premier League , also known as the SPL , is a professional league competition for association football clubs in Scotland...
club Hibernian
Hibernian F.C.
Hibernian Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Leith, in the north of Edinburgh. They are one of two Scottish Premier League clubs in the city, the other being their Edinburgh derby rivals, Hearts...
, who signed him on a short-term contract in the summer of 2000.
Hibernian
Agathe scored four goals in five Scottish Premier LeagueScottish Premier League
The Scottish Premier League , also known as the SPL , is a professional league competition for association football clubs in Scotland...
games for Hibs, who also used him as a striker.
Celtic
This form and his short contract led to Celtic stepping in to sign Agathe for just £Pound sterling
The pound sterling , commonly called the pound, is the official currency of the United Kingdom, its Crown Dependencies and the British Overseas Territories of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, British Antarctic Territory and Tristan da Cunha. It is subdivided into 100 pence...
35,000. Martin O'Neill
Martin O'Neill
Martin Hugh Michael O'Neill, OBE, is a Northern Irish football manager and former player.Until resigning the post on 9 August 2010, he was manager of Aston Villa. Starting his career in his native Northern Ireland, O'Neill moved to England where he spent most of his playing career with Nottingham...
used Agathe as either a right back or right wingback and was a regular in his side. The club won three championships and reached the 2003 UEFA Cup Final
2003 UEFA Cup Final
The 2003 UEFA Cup Final was played on 21 May 2003 between Celtic of Scotland and Porto of Portugal. Porto won the match 3–2 in extra time thanks to a goal from Derlei...
. Following good performances in European competition he was once linked with moves to Juventus and Valencia
Valencia CF
Valencia Club de Fútbol is a Spanish football club based in Valencia, Spain. They play in La Liga and are one of the most successful and biggest clubs in Spanish Football and European Football. Valencia have won six La Liga titles, seven Copa del Rey trophies, two Fairs Cups which was the...
during the 2001–02 season.. In February 2004, the Scotland
Scotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
manager Berti Vogts
Berti Vogts
Hans-Hubert "Berti" Vogts is a German former footballer. He played for Borussia Mönchengladbach and won the World Cup with West Germany in 1974. He later managed Germany , Scotland and Nigeria...
expressed interest in selecting Agathe.
Agathe hardly featured during the 2005–06 season
2005-06 in Scottish football
The 2005–06 season was the 109th season of competitive football in Scotland.-2005:*1 June: Gordon Strachan officially takes charge of Celtic after the resignation of Martin O'Neill...
under new manager Gordon Strachan
Gordon Strachan
Gordon David Strachan OBE is a Scottish football manager and former player. He is currently without a club, having last managed Middlesbrough. Strachan played for Dundee, Aberdeen, Manchester United, Leeds United and Coventry City, as well as the Scotland national team. Prior to Middlesbrough,...
, and was released at the end of the season.
Aston Villa
Agathe underwent a trial at Premier League side Blackburn RoversBlackburn Rovers F.C.
Blackburn Rovers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the town of Blackburn, Lancashire. The team currently competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football....
prior to the 2006-07 season
2006-07 in English football
The 2006–07 season was the 127th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:* The number of divisions at Level 8 of the English football league system increased from four to five...
. He began training with Aston Villa
Aston Villa F.C.
Aston Villa Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Witton, Birmingham. The club was founded in 1874 and have played at their current home ground, Villa Park, since 1897. Aston Villa were founder members of The Football League in 1888. They were also founder...
, managed by his former Celtic
Celtic F.C.
Celtic Football Club is a Scottish football club based in the Parkhead area of Glasgow, which currently plays in the Scottish Premier League. The club was established in 1887, and played its first game in 1888. Celtic have won the Scottish League Championship on 42 occasions, most recently in the...
boss Martin O'Neill
Martin O'Neill
Martin Hugh Michael O'Neill, OBE, is a Northern Irish football manager and former player.Until resigning the post on 9 August 2010, he was manager of Aston Villa. Starting his career in his native Northern Ireland, O'Neill moved to England where he spent most of his playing career with Nottingham...
, after his attempt at joining Blackburn was unsuccessful. He agreed a short term contract and made his Villa début at home to Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham Hotspur F.C.
Tottenham Hotspur Football Club , commonly referred to as Spurs, is an English Premier League football club based in Tottenham, north London. The club's home stadium is White Hart Lane....
in a 1–1 draw. On 11 January 2007, however, Agathe parted company with Aston Villa, after they chose not to extend his short term contract. Agathe made a total of six substitute appearances in his short time at Villa Park, but did not start a single game.
JS Saint-Pierroise
He then signed for JS Saint-PierroiseJS Saint-Pierroise
Jeunesse Sportive Saint-Pierroise, is a football club from Saint-Pierre, Réunion.-Achievements:*Réunion Premier League: 16*Coupe de la Réunion: 8*Coupe D.O.M: 3-Performance in CAF competitions:...
, a club in his homeland of Réunion
Réunion
Réunion is a French island with a population of about 800,000 located in the Indian Ocean, east of Madagascar, about south west of Mauritius, the nearest island.Administratively, Réunion is one of the overseas departments of France...
.
Agathe has set up an academy for young footballers on Réunion
Réunion
Réunion is a French island with a population of about 800,000 located in the Indian Ocean, east of Madagascar, about south west of Mauritius, the nearest island.Administratively, Réunion is one of the overseas departments of France...
. Three players — Heeking Jerome, Mathis Yohan and Jeremy Judith — signed for Stirling Albion
Stirling Albion F.C.
Stirling Albion F.C. are a Scottish football club currently playing in the Scottish Second Division. The club are nicknamed The Binos . They play at Doubletree Dunblane Stadium in Stirling, on the outskirts of the city near the River Forth...
in August 2010.
Position
Agathe has normally played as a right back, right wingback or as a striker earlier in his career.Film
Agathe, who played over 100 league games for Celtic, was portrayed in fiction as a RangersRangers F.C.
Rangers Football Club are an association football club based in Glasgow, Scotland, who play in the Scottish Premier League. The club are nicknamed the Gers, Teddy Bears and the Light Blues, and the fans are known to each other as bluenoses...
striker in the Robert Duvall
Robert Duvall
Robert Selden Duvall is an American actor and director. He has won an Academy Award, two Emmy Awards, four Golden Globe Awards and a BAFTA over the course of his career....
movie, A Shot at Glory
A Shot at Glory
A Shot at Glory is a film by Michael Corrente produced in 1999 and released in 2001, starring Robert Duvall and the Scottish football player Ally McCoist. It had limited commercial and critical success. The film features the fictional Scottish football club Kilnockie, as they attempt to reach their...
.