Remembering the tragic fate of former Premier League star Cheick Tiote

Cheick Tiote saw a tragic end to his football career in 2017 at the age of 30. Let's take a look back at the career and life of a Premier League star who is still remembered fondly. All stats and career/life info are sourced from Transfermarkt unless otherwise stated.

Tiote was born in Yamoussoukro, the capital of the Ivory Coast, on 21 June 1986. After playing at youth level in his country, he tried his luck for the first time in Europe, with Belgian club RSC Anderlecht.

However, he struggled to get a regular playing chance at Anderlecht, who loaned him to Dutch club Roda JC in the 2007/08 season. In the Netherlands, he made a name for himself with 31 appearances and attracted interest from other clubs.

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It was FC Twente who signed Tiote in the summer of 2008 on a four-year contract. In Enschede, Tiote established himself as a highly respected midfielder and contributed to the first league title in the club's history in 2009/10.

After two seasons, Tiote bid farewell to Twente, signing for Premier League side Newcastle United. "It's a great thrill for me to be joining such a famous club as Newcastle United," he told the Evening Chronicle.

The cheerful Ivorian would quickly become a firm favourite with Magpies fans, who appreciated his hard-working, no-nonsense mentality.

Tiote played almost seven years for Newcastle, but only managed to score one goal for the club, but what a goal it was. In a thrilling home game against Arsenal in the 2010/11 season (4-4), Tiote scored the equaliser with a brilliant left-footed volley that sent St. James' Park into raptures.

In total, Tiote made 156 appearances for Newcastle, most of them in the Premier League.

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Tiote was also a respected member of the Ivorian national team, representing his country at the 2010 and 2014 World Cups and having played in the 2015 Africa Cup, which Ivory Coast won. He won 55 caps and scored one goal.

In February 2017, the midfielder broadened his footballing horizons and signed for China's Beijing Enterprises Group. His adventure in Chinese football, unfortunately, would be his last.

In early June 2017, Tiote suffered a cardiac arrest while training with his team, per The Guardian.

"During a routine training session at 6pm today, Ivory Coast player Cheick Tioté suddenly fainted and the club immediately rushed him to hospital, but unfortunately efforts to save him failed and he passed away at 7pm," a Beijing Enterprises Group club statement read.

"He had the most beautiful smile in football. Every morning at Newcastle if (Papiss) Cisse and Cheick were smiling I knew the world was OK," Tiote's former coach Steve McLaren praised the midfielder, speaking to BBC Radio 5. "He was the kind of player that everyone wants in their team. He was a winner. I just can't believe it."

Then Newcastle manager Rafa Benitez shared McLaren's sentiments: "In all the time that I have known him, he was a true professional, dedicated and above all, a great man. Our hearts go out to his family and friends at such a sad time".

Tiote's death devastated the football world, fans and his former clubs. He was flown back to his native country from China and buried in Abidjan, in the presence of several big names in Ivorian football, NOS reported.

Tiote's smile, his football qualities and his achievements will never be forgotten. May he rest in peace.

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