Djibril Cisse was part of the Liverpool team that won the Champions League in Istanbul but on the night of this year’s final he will be making his UK debut as a DJ under the name ‘Tcheba’ a few miles away in London.
Nearly two decades ago, he was helping Liverpool win the Champions League on a truly unforgettable night in Istanbul.
This time around, as Real Madrid takes on Borussia Dortmund in the final of this year’s tournament at Wembley, a former Reds cult hero will be embarking on a new milestone just a few miles down the road. That’s because former Liverpool striker Djibril Cisse will be making his UK debut as a DJ on the night of the big game.
Cisse has become a full-time DJ since retiring from football in 2017. He declared at the time he would devote himself to his new music areer, which has seen him make waves in the Afro-house scene.
“I loved being a footballer,” he said at the time. ”So far football has been my whole life.
“I would like to have continued my career, which was interrupted in spite of me, but I have to admit today that football is finished.
“I will devote myself wholeheartedly to my career as a DJ, producer and consultant, as well as developing my clothing brand. Thank you for all your support. The adventure continues, another life begins. A lion never dies.”
Cisse has appeared around the world but never in the UK, where he enjoyed many years of his career. He won the Champions League and FA Cup during his two seasons at Liverpool and also had spells with Sunderland and QPR later in his career.
He’s now chosen the Champions League final weekend to return in his new career. Known as ‘Tcheba’, the event taking place at the E1 warehouse in Wapping is advertised by RA, with the description saying:
“On the evening of the 2024 Champions League Final (Sat 1st June) we welcome former professional footballer Djibril Cisse aka Tcheba to the Warehouse for an unmissable performance.
“The ex professional saw Champions League trophies, Golden Boots and many other accolades with the France national team, Liverpool and many other international clubs.
“In 2017 he retired from the realm of football, and took on DJing as ‘Tcheba’ full time. Through his lifelong influences contributing towards his musical repertoire choice, he’s now built up a signature style bringing his assortment of Amapiano, Afrohouse, rap and jump up for any occassion.”
Cisse saw his Liverpool career derailed by a freak injury which almost saw him lose his leg. He got his studs caught in the turf while challenging for the ball in a game against Blackburn Rovers and suffered a broken tibula and fibula.
He was expected to miss the rest of the season, but made a surprise return just six months later and ended the season by scoring a penalty in the famous shootout win in Istanbul in the Champions League final.
Cisse later revealed that he might have lost his leg had it not been for the swift medical attention he received at Ewood Park. He told talkSPORT in 2020: “I had a fracture and the bone snapped and came on top of the other. My blood circulation was not working and reaching my foot.
“The doctor said to me: ‘I’m going to have to reduce the fracture’. I didn’t know what he was talking about so I just said: ‘Do what you’ve got to do’. He counted to three and pulled my leg. Everything went fine and I think some months after, I said: ‘Why did you do this?’.
“He said: ‘Your blood circulation at your foot was irrigated’. I don’t know if this is the right word. He said after 30 minutes to an hour it would have to be amputated, so thanks to the doc.”
After getting a second chance to continue his football career, he went on to score 24 goals in 79 games for Liverpool and nearly 100 goals in the French top division before turning his focus to life as a DJ.
