Yado Mambo, The Infamous Mambo Number 5 Has Had To Retire

Life can be a bit cruel sometimes and it's dealt Yado Mambo a nasty blow. Just a month after the Ebbsfleet United defender became an internet sensation he has had to retire due to injury.

Yado Mambo only kicked off his footballing career in 2009 with Charlton Athletic but the 26 year old took in 16 spells at different clubs, sometimes repeating the clubs he played for.

But it wasn't until November this year that Mambo really caught the attention of those outside of the non leagues when a picture of him wearing his number 18 shirt went viral because Ebbsfleet had missed a trick not making him Mambo Number Five:

The club though brought out a one off replica shirt with Mambo '5' on it and auctioned it off on Ebay for charity, with the shirt raising over £1000 and in total raising £3500 for Prostate Cancer UK.

But just over a month later and Mambo took to Instagram to confirm that sadly a knee injury has put an end to his career in his mid 20s. In his post he wrote:

"Being told you can't play football again because of an injury/medical reason is probably one of hardest things I've ever heard in my life to date. Heart broken doesn't even come close to how I feel, I've played for some great clubs, played with/against some great players, played in front of great crowds, been coached by some great coaches. I'm grateful for all I've achieved thus far, just gutted my journey couldn't continue. As they say one door closes another opens."

_{Mambo battles for the ball. Image: Ebbsfleet United.}

The player was in his third spell at the Kent based club and he gave a statement to the club's website saying, "I'm really, really gutted but there's nothing I can do. The specialist told me last week when I had my scan and X-ray. It's one of those things, it's life and you've just got to carry on. I want to say thanks to the Fleet fans for making me feel so at home, not only this season but all three spells I've had here.

"I'm just gutted I couldn't play many more games for them. But it's not the last time you'll see my face, I'll be around the stadium on match days, I'll still be around the club. Ebbsfleet has a big place in my heart. I came through Charlton from a young player but Ebbsfleet is probably my second home."

It's very sad news for the internet sensation and we wish him all the best with his future.

Topics: Non League, injury

Ryan Sidle

Ryan is a writer for SPORTbible. He covers all sport from football, formula one, cricket, rugby, tennis, athletics, mma and wrestling. He obviously hates YOUR football team and has no interest in synchronised swimming.

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