Premier League cult hero Emmanuel Adebayor offered brand new career as a politician after retirement from football

Emmanuel Adebayor has been invited to swap penalty boxes for ballot boxes – by becoming a politician.

The striker spent 11 years in the Premier League with Arsenal, Manchester City, Tottenham and Crystal Palace.

AFPEmmanuel Adebayor has been urged to become a politician[/caption]

Getty Images – GettyAdebayor hung up his boots last year after a career that saw him star for teams such as Manchester City and Arsenal[/caption]

The 40-year-old took part in his testimonial game in capital city Lome at the weekend.

Yawo Date, the president of Togolese opposition party Comite d’Action Pour Le Renouveau, has now urged Adebayor to join them.

Known as CAR, the party’s name means Renewal Action Committee.

Date declared: “It’s a good thing that our brother Adebayor has celebrated his testimonial game.

“But now he has finished with sport he needs to get involved in politics.

“And the ideal party for him to campaign with is the CAR. I invite him to join us.

“With him on board we can continue the political struggle for freedom in Togo.

“In Adebayor we see an example of perseverance and success.

“He embodies the kind of ambition and dynamism that Togo’s young people want from their political leaders.”

Adebayor has also played for Real Madrid, Metz, Turkish sides Istanbul Basaksehir and Kayserispor, plus Paraguayan outfit Olimpia.

Arsenal signed him from Monaco in 2006, and he made 142 Gunners appearances – scoring 62 goals – before joining City in 2009.