Top 10 Intriguing Facts about Johan Djourou

A photo of Joha Djourou by Ronnie Macdonald – Wikimedia commons

Top 10 Intriguing Facts about Johan Djourou

Are you a football fan? Then we are going to enjoy this topic so much, especially for those people who are biased toward Arsenal Football Club. So, today Arsenal fans will be able to know one of their former players, which I think most of those who were born in the 21st century are not much acquainted with Johan Djourou.

Danon Issouf Johannes Djourou Gbadjere was born on 18 January 1987. He is known as Johan Djourou and he was a Swiss former professional footballer who played as a center-back. He also played in Arsenal as a winger. In the article, we are going to undergo the top ten intriguing facts about Johan Djourou.

1. He acknowledged having two mothers

Djourou photo by Kadhi Rudminat – Wikimedia commons

Djourou was born in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, to Ivorian parents Joachim and Angeline, and was later adopted by his father’s first wife, Danièle, a Swiss woman. Djourou later acknowledged that he has two mothers in his life. They moved to Geneva, Switzerland when he was 17 months old.

2. He started playing football when he was very young

According to his father, Johan Djourou began playing football when he was a baby. Johan supported his father’s statement of him playing while he was young by saying that he would grab balls in stores and play football in the store.

Djourou enrolled at the Payerne Training Center when he was 13 and then, in 2002, Djourou joined local second division side Étoile Carouge as a midfielder at 15. He joined Arsenal on 1 August 2003. So, he must have been one of Arsenal’s best young players.

3. Djourou represented Switzerland up to the U21 levels

Djourou photo y Ronnie Macdonald – Wikimedia commons

He was a member of the Swiss under-19 squad that reached the semi-finals of the 2004 European Championships. Following the end of the tournament, UEFA said about Djourou’s performance was very impressive as a substitute.

He produced a fine display after coming on against Ukraine and was his country’s best player in the semi-final defeat by Turkey.

The following year, Djourou was called up to the Switzerland U20 for the FIFA World Youth Championship in the Netherlands. He went on to play three times in the tournament, as the U20 side was eliminated in the Group Stage.

In September 2006, Djourou made two appearances during Swiss U21’s qualification campaign for the UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification.

4. Djourou made his first senior start for Arsenal in 2004

Johan was only 16 when he joined the Arsenal club in 2003. A year later, in 2004, he was his first senior match against Everton, an English professional association football club based in Liverpool that competes in the Premier League.

Djourou made his first senior start for Arsenal in a 3–1 victory against Everton in the League Cup. This was after having made his first appearance after 89 minutes of the corresponding match in the previous round against Manchester City on 27 October 2004.

5. Why would Arsenal change his position

Johan Djourou photo by Steindy – Wikimedia commons

He played as a defensive midfielder in his youth for former club Étoile Carouge, but when he arrived at Arsenal, he was converted to a central defender. He occasionally filled in at the full-back for Arsenal and played several games in central midfield while on loan to Birmingham City.

According to his profile on the website of his former club Arsenal, Djourou possessed pace, power, and whole-hearted commitment” in addition to his versatility. This must have been the main reason why Arsenal wanted to use his pace, power, and versatility in central defense instead of defensive midfield.

6. He was loaned to Birmingham City in 2007

He made his debut for Birmingham City two days later against the previous season’s FA Cup and League Cup winners Chelsea. This was a closely fought contest in which Chelsea ran out eventual 3–2 winners, in which Djourou cleared off the line from Frank Lampard to keep Birmingham City in the game.

Johan then helped the club keep two consecutive clean sheets between 15 September 2007 and 22 September 2007 against gifted Bolton Wanderers and Liverpool.

Djourou continued to play for Birmingham consistently through his loan period until 22 December 2007, when he gifted Bolton Wanderers’ Nicolas Anelka a goal via an errant throw-in. This marked his last appearance for the club.

7. Johan returned to Arsenal and partnered with Cesc Fàbregas

Cesc Fabregas photo by Ronnie Macdonald – Wikimedia commons

Shortly after returning from a loan spell at Birmingham City, Djourou made his first Arsenal appearance of the 2007–08 season, coming against Tottenham Hotspur in the semi-finals of the League Cup, and played 45 minutes before being substituted at halftime, as they drew 1–1.

However, he suffered a groin injury that saw him sidelined for three months. Although Djourou returned to the substitute bench in mid–April, it wasn’t until 28 April 2008 when he returned to the first team, coming on as a 78th-minute substitute, in a 6–2 win against Derby County for Arsenal.

In May 2008, Djourou stated that he would be willing to partner Cesc Fàbregas in midfield after the departure of Mathieu Flamini to A.C. Milan.[46] Instead, he played in the center of defense as a first-choice backup following the departure of fellow Swiss defender Philippe Senderos to A.C. Milan on a season-long loan.

8. Johan was loaned to Hannover in 2013

On 3 January 2013, Djourou confirmed that he was set to move to Bundesliga club Hannover on loan until the end of the season, with no option to buy included in the deal. He said that he joined the club that wanted him the most.

Djourou made his Hannover 96 debut, starting the whole game, in a 5–4 loss against Schalke 04 on 18 January 2013. Since joining the club, he quickly became a first-team regular for the side, playing in the center-back position.

Djourou then helped Hannover 96 keep two consecutive clean sheets between 30 March 2013 and 7 April 2013 against FC Augsburg and VfB Stuttgart. At the end of the 2012–13 season, he went on to make sixteen appearances in all competitions. Following this, his time at Hannover 96 came to an end and he returned to his parent club.

9. Johan made his senior Switzerland international debut in 2006

Johan Djourou photo by Кирилл Венедиктов – Wikimedia commons

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Having been eligible to play for Switzerland and Ivory Coast, Djourou opted to play for Switzerland. He made his senior Switzerland international debut in a friendly away to Scotland on 1 March 2006, coming on as a half-time substitute for Valon Behrami in the 3–1 win.

10. What would Johan do after his football career was over?

Djourou said in an interview that he would like to become an actor once his playing career is over. Regarding his nationality, Djourou said that he was so happy and grateful that he had both of them and that he can combine the best of both cultures.

He added that he was 100 percent African. That includes eating, dancing, and music. Also, he is 100 percent Swiss, very punctual, and disciplined when it matters.