Cheick Tiote has died aged 30 while
training with his Chinese club Beijing
Enterprises, his spokesman announced in
a statement on Monday.
Tiote, who was part of the Ivory Coast
squad that delivered the 2015 Africa Cup
of Nations after a 23 year drought
although he was injured for the final, had
only moved to China in February after
ending a seven year stay with English
outfit Newcastle United.
"It is with deep sadness that I confirm
that my client Cheick Tiote sadly passed
away earlier today after collapsing in
training with his club Beijing
Enterprises," Tiote's spokesman
Emanuele Palladino said.
"We cannot say any more at the moment
and we request that his family's privacy
be respected at this difficult time.
"We ask for all your prayers."
Newcastle manager Rafael Benitez paid
tribute to the talented Tiote, one of 10
children who like many of his
international team-mates grew up in
abject poverty and didn't possess a pair
of boots until he was 15.
"It is with great sadness that I have this
afternoon learned of Cheick's death,"
Benitez told the Newcastle website.
"In the all the time that I have known
him, he was a true professional,
dedicated and above all, a great man.
"Our hearts go out to his family and
friends at such a sad time."
Tiote moved to Newcastle from Dutch
side FC Twente in 2010 and made 161
appearances for the Magpies, scoring
once -- the equaliser when Newcastle
recovered from 4-0 down to draw 4-4
with Arsenal in 2011.
The 52-times capped Tiote, who was in
both the 2010 and 2014 World Cup
squads, began his European club career
with Belgian outfit Anderlecht but only
played four times in three years with
them -- being loaned out to Dutch side
Roda JC Kerkrade -- before moving to
Twente in 2008.
No comments:
Post a Comment