By Daniel Ragusa
On August 1st 2014, Middlesbrough announced the signing of free agent Emilio Nsue on a 3-year deal.
He arrived on Teesside as an unknown quantity, having only ever played in the lower reaches of the Spanish top flight for RCD Mallorca. However, once he deparated Teesside, he had managed to forge a fantastic relationship with the Boro fans and leave a legacy of commitment, passion and success.
Here’s a look back at the journey of a player who was patient, and took his chance when it mattered most.
Arriving on Teesside
When Emilio Nsue signed for Middlesbrough, there was no doubt that this was Karanka’s signing. Although he turns out for the senior Equatorial Guinean international side, Nsue had previously worked with Aitor in the Spanish Youth set up.
This pre-existing relationship played a key part in why Karanka chose to sign Nsue, as Boro’s Head Coach explained in an interview with the club website:
"He is a versatile player, a good lad with a good mentality and approach to the game. I know the type of person he is, and that is important." Although Aitor’s comments weren’t always agreeable and/or accurate towards the latter stages of his time as Middlesbrough manager, I’m sure that now, looking back with hindsight, every Boro fan can agree that this initial description would be affirmed by Nsue’s later performances.
Settling In
Emilio wasn’t the typical build of a championship full back, being fairly short and nimble, so Boro fans originally saw him as competition for the wing positions.
In the pre-season friendly against Villarreal, Nsue came on as a winger and excited those present with pace and dynamism. Although he didn't have the blistering pace of Adama Traore, he was no slouch and also had a trick or two in his locker.
However, despite the promise shown in pre-season, Nsue had to settle for a place on the bench in the season opener against Birmingham City as Boro set up with an attacking midfield three of Adam Reach, Lee Tomlin and Albert Adomah behind new signing Kike, who lead the line as a lone striker. Nsue came on for Adomah to make his debut late on in the 2-0 win but failed to make an impact in a game which was already beyond doubt.
Appearances Few and Far Between
Nsue struggled to nail down a starting place in the squad at either right-wing or right-back during his first season on Teesside due to the form and strength of his competition.
Then Chelsea Loanee Patrick Bamford often played on the right flank, as did Albert Adomah. At right-back, depth was also strong with Ryan Fredericks, Tomas Kalas and the injury-stricken Damia Abella competing for the starting berth.
This meant that Nsue found himself as third choice in both of his favoured positions, resulting in a lack of game time for Boro’s number 24.
Play Off Defeat
After a successful season in which the squad achieved beyond what was expected of them, Boro reached the Play-Off Final.
Their opponents, Norwich City, had surged up the table following the appointment of Alex Neil, and after Kalas’ loan ended and Fredericks fell out of favour with Karanka, Dean Whitehead was chosen to start at right back.
However, two first-half goals from Cameron Jerome and Nathan Redmond left Boro needing an improved attacking threat for the second-half. Nsue came on at half-time and was given the role of dealing with the dangerous Bradley Johnson whilst also supporting teammate Albert Adomah in attack.
Despite the changes, Norwich ran out deserved 2-0 winners. However, despite the defeat, optimism was high on Teesside and things were looking up for Boro; their fourth position achieved during the 2014/15 season had been their highest finish since being relegated from the Premier League in 2009.
Nsue ended up making 26 appearances during the season, mostly as a substitute, but did develop his English speaking skills. He adapted to the English game and also became popular within the Boro squad, where he developed strong friendships with the Spanish contingent within.
Finding His Position
During the summer of 2015, Boro announced that the club had resigned Tomas Kalas on loan from Chelsea. However, after Dean Whitehead and Ryan Fredericks left the club, Nsue now found his competition at right-back down to one.
Kalas had shown his defensive solidity during the 2014/15 season and had won over the majority of the Boro fans. However, Nsue hadn’t really had a real chance to prove himself there as of yet and also was much stronger offensively.
Although Kalas started as right back in Boro’s opening fixture away at Preston, he was moved inside to centre back for the next fixture against Bolton Wanderers as cover for the injured Ben Gibson and in place of the youthful Dael Fry.
This created an opening at right back for Nsue, who impressed, kept a clean sheet, and supported Albert Adomah as Boro cruised to a 3-0 victory. However, for the next game away at Derby County, Aitor returned Kalas to the right-back position following Ben Gibson’s recovery.
For the next few games after that, Nsue and Kalas battled for the starting birth as Karanka fluctuated between the two. Eventually, he realised that Boro looked a better and more balanced side with the overlapping runs of his wing backs. With the marauding George Friend on the left, Nsue was chosen over Kalas as first-choice right-back due to his similarly strong offensive capabilities.
As the season went on, a back four of Nsue, Ayala, Gibson and Friend became a constant outfit, and Boro boasted the best defensive record in the league. Not too bad when you’ve a winger at right-back, is it?
Big Goals
As well as being part of the Boro brick wall in his own box, Nsue was also prepared to get into the opponent’s box, too.
He’d often link up with Adomah and be an option on the overlap, and occasionally he’d pull out a Neymar esque skill move (although Leadbitter wasn’t too happy with his failed rainbow-flick away against Fulham).
Nsue’s first Boro goal came away at Huddersfield Town in November 2015 after he broke forward in the 84th minute and latched onto a brilliant Adam Forshaw back heel before stroking the ball into the back of the net.
This goal made it 2-0 to Boro and eased all the nerves in what had been a frantic game during which the Terriers had spurned chance after chance. Nsue’s next goal came less than a month later, as Boro played promotion rivals Burnley at the Riverside. A clinical finish just inside the right-hand post sent Boro top of the league; Boro’s in-form right-back was quickly becoming a fans favourite at the Riverside.
He then scored his last goal for Boro against Reading in April 2016, a scrappy goal that rebounded off the post to his feet nonetheless but still one of great importance as Boro edged closer to promotion from the Championship.
Promotion
As the season drew to a close and Boro played in numerous amounts of crucial games, Karanka stuck by Nsue and played him ahead of Kalas and Leicester City loanee Ritchie de Laet.
Despite only needing a point against Brighton to win promotion, Karanka stuck by Nsue even though the superior experience and defensive abilities of de Laet and Kalas could have justified their inclusion.
Boro were, as expected, bombarded with wave after wave of Brighton attacks but Nsue played the full game and defended brilliantly as the Riverside roared it’s way back to the top flight.
The celebrations following the promotion were nothing short of brilliant and Nsue was rightly given a standing ovation as his name was read out before the 2nd place trophy was lifted. His efforts during the season were second to none and he’d improved his defending drastically to keep both Tomas Kalas and Ritchie De Laet out of the side.
Moving On
After a summer of celebration, hard work had to begin for Nsue and the Boro squad if they were to retain their place in the Premier League. However, Aitor Karanka knew that the level of the opposition was going to improve and he had to strengthen his squad.
The signing of Valencia’s Antonio Barragan and Arsenal’s Calum Chambers on loan indicated that it was going to be an uphill battle for Nsue if he was to remain Boro’s first-choice right-back.
Although he started in the season opener against Stoke City, to the sadness of fans around Teesside and the player himself, Nsue quickly lost his place in the starting eleven. He stuck around until January when he was sold to Birmingham City in a deal worth £2m including add-ons.
Nsue left knowing that he’d improved the team, his individual game, and given joy to the fans who he stated he would hold dearly in his heart forever. He also left us with memories of a promotion, his large array of huge, precariously balanced baseball-caps and a chant that is simply unforgettable even to this day.
Felix Jaehn’s ‘Aint Nobody’ will never be sung again on Teesside without evoking memories of a special player from Equatorial Guinea. It was sung in the stands during games, and in clubs in town on nights out.
There wasn’t a person on Teesside who didn’t know the lyrics by the end of the 2015/16 season and rightly so.
There really wasn’t anyone, like Nsue.
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