Newcastle United midfielder Cheik Tiote grew up idolising former Tottenham and Crystal Palace star Edgar Davids.
Tiote, however, says Chelsea ace Michael Essien is now his hero.
"Football has always been the biggest thing to me," Tiote told the Sunday Sun.
"I gave up my studies very early when I was living in Abdijan and played for a very small team back in Ivory Coast.
"Growing up in Abdijan, I knew what I wanted to do and made sure that this was going to be my life.
"But I worked and worked and worked for it and it is because of that hard work that I have managed to make it. I had a lot of people I looked up to when I was a kid coming through.
"Edgar Davids was the one when I was growing up, he was so combative and wanted to win every ball - just like me.
"We have the same style of play - very competitive.
"But now Michael Essien is my biggest hero in football."