In a surprising yet heartwarming turn of events, Belgian football star and breakout Netflix sensation Jérémy Doku has gone viral after posting an emotional birthday message addressed to the Tennessee Volunteers fanbase. The message, delivered via a video that was shared across social media and featured in the latest episode of Netflix’s hit docuseries “Unscripted: The Doku Diaries”, has quickly captured the hearts of sports fans worldwide.
“You are my lucky charm, forever in my heart,” Doku says in the tearful tribute, which aired on his 23rd birthday. “You welcomed me like one of your own. I came to Knoxville just to support a friend—never expecting to be adopted by an entire community.”
Doku, known globally for his electric speed and footwork on the pitch, became an unexpected cult hero in Tennessee after attending a Volunteers football game last year while visiting a childhood friend studying at the University of Tennessee. What started as a casual appearance turned into a cultural phenomenon when cameras captured his animated reactions, interactions with fans, and sincere admiration for college football culture.
The Netflix series, which documents Doku’s life off the pitch, dedicated an entire episode to that visit. Since then, fans in Knoxville have embraced the Manchester City winger as one of their own, often displaying signs reading “Doku for Heisman” and chanting his name during games.
In his birthday message, Doku recalled that first game:
“Something clicked that night. The energy, the orange, the pride—it felt like home, thousands of miles from Belgium. You showed me how passion can cross oceans.”
The video quickly soared to the top of trending charts on TikTok, X (formerly Twitter), and Instagram, amassing over 20 million views within 48 hours. Volunteers players responded with a joint message: “Once a Vol, always a Vol. Happy Birthday, Jérémy!”
Tennessee head coach Marcus Gentry even chimed in:
“We’d take him on our team any day—just imagine him as a slot receiver,” he joked during a press conference.
As Doku prepares for another high-stakes season in the Premier League, his bond with Tennessee fans reminds the world that sportsmanship and gratitude can create unlikely and beautiful connections.
For now, Knoxville claims him with pride—and Jérémy Doku, it seems, is more than happy to wear a little orange in his heart.
Leave a Reply