Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. Photo by Tim.Reckmann. Wikimedia

Top 10 Outstanding Facts about Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang


 

Pierre-Emerick Emiliano François Aubameyang was born on 18th June 1989. He’s a Spanish La Liga striker who currently plays for Barcelona. He is known for his speed, finishing ability, and off-ball movement.  Aubameyang, a former Gabonese international, is the country’s all-time leading scorer.

He began his senior club career with Italian club AC Milan, but never played for the club due to a series of loan spells in France. In 2011, he relocated to Saint-Étienne. He won the Coupe de la Ligue there before joining Borussia Dortmund in 2013.

In Germany, Aubameyang was the league’s top goalscorer in 2016-17, winning the DFB-Pokal. He is also the club’s seventh all-time leading scorer. Aubameyang was the subject of a then-club record association football transfer in 2018. This is when he joined Arsenal for £56 million (€60 million), making him the most expensive Gabonese player of all time.

He won the FA Cup with Arsenal and was the league’s joint-top goalscorer in 2018-19. Aubameyang joined Barcelona in 2022 after his contract with Arsenal was mutually terminated.

Gabon’s all-time leading scorer is Aubameyang. He made his senior debut for Gabon in 2009, at the age of 19, and went on to play in four Africa Cup of Nations tournaments as well as the 2012 Summer Olympics.

Aubameyang was named African Footballer of the Year in 2016, becoming the first Gabonese and second European-born player to do so. 

1. Aubameyang played at Newcastle’s non-league ground

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang during training. Photo by KevFB. Wikimedia

This is possibly the least-known event in Aubameyang’s football career. Newcastle were one of the clubs interested in the Gabonese international when he was looking for new pastures.

In fact, he played at Newcastle’s non-league ground, but only because the Gabonese national team was practicing there. However, the fact that the Magpies wanted him does not change the fact that he chose to stay at Etienne for another year before moving to Germany to play for the Gelsenkirchen club.

Consider him in Newcastle. They would almost certainly not have been relegated if he had led their line.

2. He’s known for his speed 

Aubameyang. Photo by Dirk Vorderstraße. Wikimedia

Almost every football fan in the world is fascinated by speed. There are few sights more thrilling than seeing a quick player run full throttle and outpace defenders like there’s no tomorrow.

When Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang runs at full speed, it’s as if a cheetah has taken possession of him. He sends many defenders chasing his shadow and makes them taste the bitter helplessness of watching him wreak havoc while they are powerless to stop him.

3. Aubameyang can be referred to as the ‘first one’

Jose Mourinho joined Chelsea after winning the Champions League with FC Porto and proclaimed himself the “Special One” in his first press conference in England.

If Aubameyang so desires, he can do the same by referring to himself as the “First One” due to the number of records he has set first.

To begin with, he is the first Gabonese player to play in any German league. In fact, he scored a hat trick in his debut season for Borussia Dortmund. That’s a unique way to introduce yourself.

He was also the first – and so far the only – Gabonese to score at the Olympics when he scored against Switzerland in a group game at the 2012 Games. As a result, we can refer to him as the First One.

4. Aubameyang, played for France

Aubameyang was born in France, he was also eligible to play for them, just as he was for Italy.

However, he wanted to give it a shot with France and thus did not decline the offer to represent the under-21 team. In the end, he only played one game for the junior team and never donned the Blue of France again.

5. He declined to play for Italy

The former Dijon starlet is currently the Gabonese National team’s leading scorer. He is also the team’s captain and its all-time leading scorer. It could have been very different if he had chosen to represent Italy.

Aubameyang was eligible to play for the Azzurri because he was raised in Italy and had lived there for a long time. Indeed, such was his talent that the Italian federation wanted to sign him to a contract with them.

As a result, he was invited to play for Italy U19, but he declined.

6. His father was a captain

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. Photo by Reto Stauffer. Wikimedia

Anyone who knows anything about Aubameyang knows he is close to his father. Because of his father’s advice, he plays for Borussia Dortmund rather than a team in England’s second division.

What is less well known is that Pierre Aubameyang Sr. was a footballer who captained the Gabon national team during his playing career.

Aubameyang Sr., a natural defender, played 80 times for his country before becoming an AC Milan scout.

7. Aubameyang promised his grandfather he would play for Real Madrid

For Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, it’s all about fulfilling a promise he made to his grandfather on his deathbed: that he will one day play for Real Madrid.

Aubameyang’s mother previously stated that the entire family is a Real Madrid fan and that they all want to see the Gabonese international play for the Whites.

8. He owns expensive boots

By all accounts, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is a flamboyant player. He exudes swag from every angle, whether it’s his outrageous hairstyle or his fashion sense. He takes his opulence to the next level, however, with a pair of $3,918 custom-made boots.

The reason for the boots’ exorbitant price is simple: they are encrusted with the pricey Swarovski crystal. Given that 4,000 tiny crystals had to be used to design his name, number, and his club’s crest and color, the work was delicately done.

9. In 2015, he captained Gabon

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. Photo by Chensiyuan. Wikimedia

Aubameyang captained Gabon at the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations, scoring the team’s first goal in a 2-0 win over Burkina Faso on January 17, 2015. On March 25, 2015, he also scored twice against Mali. He is Gabon’s leading scorer. He turned down a call-up for a crucial World Cup qualifier against the Ivory Coast at home, which they lost 3-0. 

Aubameyang captained Gabon to a 3-0 home win over DR Congo on March 25, 2021, scoring the third goal to ensure qualification to the African Cup of Nations, which will be held in Cameroon.

He had malaria at the time, which caused him to develop a fever and require hospitalization.

10. Aubameyang retired from football

Aubameyang announced his retirement from international football on May 18, 2022. He appeared in 72 Gabonese national team games and scored 30 goals.