'But...he's rubbish.' How a Championship reject became a 500-game icon.

The 40-year-old cult hero who survived a brutal rejection by Harry Redknapp keeps on impressing

When Olivier Pickeu, the Angers director of football, called Birmingham’s City Harry Redknapp in 2019 to ask if they could rescue Cheikh N’Doye from his troubled stint in the English Championship, Redknapp’s response was one that took him by surprise.

‘But…he’s rubbish.’

N’Doye had arrived at Birmingham in 2017 following five excellent years in French football and regular call-ups to the Senegal national side.

With Créteil, N’Doye established his reputation as a marauding midfielder by netting 32 goals in 107 appearances over three seasons. His impressive performances caught the attention of Angers SCO, leading to a transfer in 2015. At Angers, N’Doye became a pivotal figure, scoring 14 goals in 65 appearances and captaining the team to the Coupe de France Final in the 2016/17 season, where they narrowly lost to Paris Saint-Germain. He was linked with a move to Manchester City.

Not bad for a player who only signed his first professional contract at 27.

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Instead, N’Doye opted for Birmingham, who had three managers in the space of a year and deployed him as a defensive midfielder. He made 39 league appearances in a largely unhappy and frustrating 2018/19 season,

Pickeu was pleased to have his star man back and recalls the phone conversation with Redknapp.

I told him: ‘Coach, he’s not Mesut Özil, but he’s a really good player, he was our captain and scored nine goals a season. ‘I was surprised about [Redknapp’s assessment], but they had three managers that year, it was complicated. He’s someone who needs stability. He needed that experience abroad, that’s why he asked to leave, but it was evident he would return eventually.’

N’Doye says the move wasn’t his choice and he only went because no new contract was forthcoming from Angers at the time.

‘I stayed one season in the Championship, but even in December, Angers wanted to bring me back,’ he told RMC Sport. ‘The problem is, in England, when it goes bad, things go quickly. Redknapp made me come, and after seven games he was gone.

‘Steve Cotterill took over, and at the beginning he made me play. I played, despite the losses, but then he put me on the bench for no reason. I ask him, and he says it’s because my English isn’t good, I’m struggling to talk with team-mates. I’m out, then he gets sacked.’

Cotterill was replaced by Garry Monk, who granted N’Doye his return to Angers. But a knee injury meant he was soon out of contract. After his rehabilitation, N’Doye joined Red Star in October 2020, in the Championnat National.

Over four seasons, he made 119 appearances and scored 31 goals. Manager Habib Beye made him captain and the talismanic midfielder turned striker became a cult hero with fans.

N’Doye smashed home a sweet volley during his 100th appearance – against FC Sochaux in August 2023 – which firmly established him in the fans’ affections and future Red Star folklore.

He became Red Star’s oldest goalscorer, at 38 years, one month and five days, after his goal against Versailles at the end of the 2023/24 season.

Promotion back to Ligue 2 was the curtain call for N’Doye’s time with Red Star. Always leave on a high, I suppose.

From there, he went to AS Cannes in the Championnat National 2 on a free transfer.

Despite most people thinking there couldn’t be many more matches left in those tree trunk legs, N’Doye has played more than 50 games and notched a dozen goals for Cannes. The fans love their club captain, who continues to be a role model on and off the pitch.

N’Doye helped them to the Coupe De France semi final in 2025, only losing out to Ligue 2 Reims on penalties.

N’Doye revealed his departure from Red Star had not been his decision, and months afterwards, he accused owners 777 Partners of a ‘lack of respect’.

‘I wanted to finish my career there,"‘ he said. ‘I was supposed to work there after my retirement,’ he told the local press. ‘For me it was a lack of respect. The Americans didn’t want to keep any players that were over 35.’

Their loss. Cannes gave N’Doye the chance to play beyond his 40th birthday and cemented his place in the hearts of an army of French football fans. An inspiring tale of resilience, self-belief and honest endeavour. Thirty-three international caps don’t happen by accident.

Some fans value fancy step overs and daft goal celebrations - but most just want a player to work for the shirt. Players like N’Doye are a disappearing bridge between the pitch and the stands.

Manchester City might have been a step too far in the Cheikh N’Doye story. But you won’t find many in France’s lower leagues sharing Harry Redknapp’s view.

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