An interview with Lomana LuaLua, by Callum McFadden for WFi.
You started your professional career with Colchester United before moving on to Newcastle United. How did it feel joining such a historic club under Sir Bobby Robson?
“The move really started at Colchester, which is where I started my career. I loved my time there.
“We were fighting relegation when Mick Wadsworth came in as coach. One day, he pulled me aside and said, ‘If you help me keep this team up, I’m going somewhere bigger, and I’ll come back for you.’ He did not give me details; just told me it would be a Premier League club.
“We stayed up, and he kept his word. He spoke to Sir Bobby Robson and told him, ‘You need to look at this boy, LuaLua.’ Newcastle started coming to watch me play, but as a young kid, I did not think too much about it. I was just enjoying football.
“At that time, I was actually close to signing for Tottenham. Growing up in East London, it was either West Ham or Spurs, and I loved Tottenham. Most of the players I admired were there. It felt like my dream. But Newcastle made the stronger offer, and I ended up going north. Looking back, I do not regret it.
“Once I understood more about Sir Bobby and the players he had coached, including Ronaldo at Barcelona, I became even more excited. I always saw myself as a skillful player. Knowing he had managed great talents made me believe he could take me to another level. Reuniting with Mick – who later joined Newcastle as a coach – and playing in front of those Newcastle supporters was special.”
How do you reflect on your time there?
“People forget that I did not come through an academy system. I did not have structured youth development like most players. I went from college football straight into Colchester’s first team, and then suddenly I was at Newcastle. I was raw.
“At first, Sir Bobby gave me freedom. He would say, “Just play.” Later, he tried to develop me into a number nine, more like Alan Shearer. That was difficult for me. I was not used to playing with my back to goal. I saw myself as a winger or a number ten. I wanted the ball at my feet and to face the goal.
“It was challenging, but it was also where I learned the game properly. Movement, positioning, using your body, and watching Shearer every day was like going to university. I did not play as many games as I wanted, but I do not complain. The fans appreciated flair and passion, and we had a great connection. Newcastle was my classroom.”
What was it like working with Harry Redknapp at Portsmouth?
“Harry was amazing. Before I joined any club, I always studied the manager. I knew Harry loved flair players and gave them freedom.
“I was supposed to go to Leeds, but I chose Portsmouth because I knew I would play my football there. Some players move for the biggest badge. I moved for the right fit.
“At Portsmouth, I wanted to prove something. I did not want to be seen as just a super sub. I wanted to show Newcastle they had made a mistake by not giving me more games. Sir Bobby taught me structure. Harry gave me expression. Portsmouth was where my Premier League career truly started.
“The fans were incredible. Everywhere I went, I built strong relationships with supporters, but Portsmouth was special.”
You then left England for Olympiacos, won trophies, and played Champions League football. How important was that period?
“Leaving England was not easy. In 2006, I lost my son, and that changed everything.
“I was injured, under pressure, and mentally struggling. Harry told me he would not sell me to another English club, but he would let me go abroad for a fresh start. That change of environment helped me.
“When I joined Olympiacos, the fans treated me like a hero before I even kicked a ball. Football in Greece is intense and passionate. The love I received helped me fall in love with football again.
“We won trophies and made history in Europe. Nothing replaces losing my son, but Greece helped me heal. It gave me joy again.”
You also played in Qatar. What was that experience like?
“Very difficult. The country is beautiful, and many people were kind, but the people running my club made life extremely hard. After we won a cup, I got injured. They tried to force me to play. When I refused because I was genuinely injured, they made me train with each of the youth teams at all of the different age levels for six or seven months. It was humiliating.
“Financially, it was my best contract. I could have stayed for the money, but I love football. If I do not play, I suffer. So, I left.
“It made me mentally stronger, but it was one of the hardest periods of my career.
“After Qatar, I briefly returned to Olympiacos before receiving another call from my former coach Dušan Bajević, who was then at Omonia in Cyprus.
“I was disappointed because a move to Paris Saint-Germain had fallen through. My country was a former French colony, so playing in France, especially for PSG, would have meant a lot to me.
“But I was not ready to go back to England. When my former coach called and said, “I need you,” I accepted the challenge.
“We did not reach the Champions League, but we won the domestic cup. It was another proud chapter for me.”
How much did representing DR Congo at international level mean to you?
“Everything.
“My father was a footballer. His dream was to represent our country, but he never got that chance. So, when I wore that shirt, I was fulfilling his dream too.
“Even though I grew up in England, Congo is in my blood. Seeing what football meant to the people, especially in a country that has suffered, changed me.
“When we won games, it gave people hope. In those moments, they could forget their problems. To give that joy, to wear the flag, and to captain the team is a feeling I cannot fully explain.
“Playing in four African Cup of Nations tournaments was a blessing. It is one of the proudest parts of my career.”
Finally, Lomana, who were the best players you played with and who were your toughest opponents?
“There are so many, it is hard to pick.
“At Newcastle and Portsmouth alone, there were incredible players. Alan Shearer, Andy Cole, Kanu, Teddy Sheringham, Robert Lee, Laurent Robert, Kieron Dyer, and Craig Bellamy.
“One special moment was playing in a charity match alongside Ronaldo against Zidane. It was not a competitive game, but sharing a pitch with someone who made me fall in love with football meant a lot.
“If I had to pick the partnership I enjoyed most, it would probably be Yakubu. What a player. We understood each other, and that chemistry was special.
“Looking back, my career was not a straight path. It was filled with brilliance, adversity, freedom, discipline, heartbreak, and redemption. Through it all, one thing remained constant. I love football. If I do not play, I suffer.
“Wherever I played, I gave everything.”