Geremi

Full name is: N'jitap Fotso Geremi Sorele.

A pacy right back or wide midfield player, Geremi first played for Cameroon as a 17-year old and after starting out with unfashionable Racing Bafoussam, he spent six months in Paraguay with Cerro Porteno.

He subsequently had two seasons in Turkey with Genclerbirligi before John Toshack signed him for Real Madrid in July 1999.

However, although he struggled to fully establish himself in the Bernabeu team, he saw regular European Champions' League action.

His progress alerted Chelsea and the London club tabled three unsuccessful bids in July 2001.

Geremi captained Cameroon to the gold medal at the 2002 Sydney Olympics and featured in six of the qualifying games for the Japan and South Korea World Cup.

After playing in all three games in the finals, a move to Chelsea fell through and he was snapped up by Middlesbrough on a season long loan deal in July 2002.

Chelsea finally got their man in August 2003 for £7million and his tireless efforts in midfield were key to Chelsea's subsequent successes.

He joined Newcastle United in July 2007 with a three-year contract.

Despite an otherwise glittering career, Geremi's spell at Newcastle coincided with the club's relegation from the Premier League.