theonlywayisup
16-02-2025, 07:26 AM
Was reading the post below from PHeffernan that was posted in the Luke Amos thread and thought Didier Agathe deserved his own thread. All written in the post was total news to me. Very interesting.
I obviously remember that goal against Dundee and that miss in the final minutes of the Derby.
I also read that he was in the 'A Shot at Glory' film, starring Robert Duvall and Ally McCoist. He played himself as a Rangers player.
There is far more background to the Agathe story.
His early career in France was one of constant injuries and they eventually found he had no cartilage in his right knee, zero, bone to bone! He was told he would never play at a high level as a result and a pay off from his contract was negotiated.
At the age of 24 he sold all his belongings, bought a car and set off for the UK. He was eventually offered a contract by Stockport but predictably failed the medical. Running out of money, he was about to go home when he met agent Willie McKay who suggested playing in Scotland. Agathe followed him up the road in his old car to negotiate with Motherwell but when they arrived at half 11 at night, found the manager Billy Davies was in hospital.
Undeterred McKay set off followed by Agathe and they ended up at Starks Park, Kirkcaldy at 2 in the morning where he managed to get a years contract from a desperate Raith Rovers after playing and scoring 2 goals in a bounce game against the first team the next day and 3 goals as a trialist against Airdrie at the weekend.
When his deal at Raith Rovers expired in the summer the best offer available was the two month deal at Hibs, probably due to his knee condition. He missed an open goal against Hearts on his debut and only played 6 games for Hibs but that included his great goal against Dundee where he ran from the half-way line past the challenges of four Dundee players before shooting past the keeper.
His form caught the eye of Martin O'Neill.
Agathe's knee condition was noted during his medical, but Celtic decided to complete the signing for 27k quid because they could afford the small loss if it didn't work out.
O'Neill allowed Agathe to sit out training when his right knee swelled up and it took an hour and a half of stretching every morning for him to warm up and loosen off enough to train.
A humble gentleman with a remarkable story of determination and perseverence.
I obviously remember that goal against Dundee and that miss in the final minutes of the Derby.
I also read that he was in the 'A Shot at Glory' film, starring Robert Duvall and Ally McCoist. He played himself as a Rangers player.
There is far more background to the Agathe story.
His early career in France was one of constant injuries and they eventually found he had no cartilage in his right knee, zero, bone to bone! He was told he would never play at a high level as a result and a pay off from his contract was negotiated.
At the age of 24 he sold all his belongings, bought a car and set off for the UK. He was eventually offered a contract by Stockport but predictably failed the medical. Running out of money, he was about to go home when he met agent Willie McKay who suggested playing in Scotland. Agathe followed him up the road in his old car to negotiate with Motherwell but when they arrived at half 11 at night, found the manager Billy Davies was in hospital.
Undeterred McKay set off followed by Agathe and they ended up at Starks Park, Kirkcaldy at 2 in the morning where he managed to get a years contract from a desperate Raith Rovers after playing and scoring 2 goals in a bounce game against the first team the next day and 3 goals as a trialist against Airdrie at the weekend.
When his deal at Raith Rovers expired in the summer the best offer available was the two month deal at Hibs, probably due to his knee condition. He missed an open goal against Hearts on his debut and only played 6 games for Hibs but that included his great goal against Dundee where he ran from the half-way line past the challenges of four Dundee players before shooting past the keeper.
His form caught the eye of Martin O'Neill.
Agathe's knee condition was noted during his medical, but Celtic decided to complete the signing for 27k quid because they could afford the small loss if it didn't work out.
O'Neill allowed Agathe to sit out training when his right knee swelled up and it took an hour and a half of stretching every morning for him to warm up and loosen off enough to train.
A humble gentleman with a remarkable story of determination and perseverence.