Manchester City has a rich history of attracting talent from across the globe, and several players from Cameroon have proudly represented the club. This article highlights the contributions of these players, focusing on their time with Manchester City and their broader careers.
Marc-Vivien Foé
Marc-Vivien Foé was born on 1 May 1975 in Yaoundé. Having initially played for Canon Yaoundé, Foé went on to play professionally in Ligue 1 and the Premier League with Lens, West Ham United, Lyon and Manchester City.
Foé then returned to the English Premier League, loaned to Manchester City in the 2002-03 season for £550,000. His debut on the opening day of the season was a 3-0 loss to Leeds United. Foé was a first team regular for Kevin Keegan's team, starting 38 of 41 matches. His first goal for the club came against Sunderland at the Stadium of Light on 9 December 2002, and he scored five more goals in the next month.
At Manchester City's former ground, Maine Road, there is a small memorial to him in the stadium's memorial garden, and on the walls of the players' tunnel are plaques paid for by supporters, with their names, dubbed the Walk of Pride. The first plaque on the wall is for Marc and reads "Marc Vivien Foé - 1975-2003".
Remembering Marc-Vivien Foé: A Football Legend's Legacy
On 26 June 2003, Foé died suddenly during an international match for Cameroon, an event which shocked the football community worldwide. The death was later ruled to be due to hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.
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Foé was part of the Cameroon squad for the 2003 FIFA Confederations Cup. On 26 June 2003, Cameroon faced Colombia in the semi-final, held at the Stade de Gerland in Lyon, France. In the 72nd minute of the match Foé collapsed in the centre circle with no other players near him. After attempts to resuscitate him on the pitch, he was stretchered off the field, where he received mouth-to-mouth resuscitation and oxygen. Foé's widow Marie-Louise stated that he had been ill with gastric problems and dysentery before his final match, but he was adamant to play in his adopted hometown of Lyon.
Foé's death caused a profound shock. Numerous tributes to his joyous personality and infectious humour were expressed in the media. It was suggested that the Confederations Cup and the Stade Gerland could have been renamed after him, and Manchester City manager Kevin Keegan announced that the club would no longer use the number 23 shirt Foé wore during his successful season there. His first club, Lens, gave his name to an avenue near the Stade Félix Bollaert. Lyon also decided to withdraw the number 17 shirt that Foé also wore a year before during the time which he played at the Stade de Gerland with the Lyon team. People in Lyon were shocked as he had received a warm welcome on his return to the stadium.
Olivier Ntcham
Jules Olivier Ntcham (born 9 February 1996) is a professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for Süper Lig club Samsunspor. Ntcham played for numerous youth clubs in and around Paris before joining youth academies at Paris FC and Le Havre.
After signing a professional contract with City, Ntcham was loaned out for a two season spell at Genoa in Italy's Serie A, with an option to buy later. In July 2017, Ntcham signed for Scottish Premiership side Celtic on a four-year permanent deal.
Here's a summary of Ntcham's club career:
Read also: History of Cameroon Soccer
| Club | Years |
|---|---|
| Genoa (Loan) | 2015-2017 |
| Celtic | 2017-2021 |
| Marseille (Loan) | 2021 |
| Swansea City (Loan) | 2021-2022 |
| Samsunspor | 2023-Present |
Read also: A Look at Cameroon's Qualifying History
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tags: #Cameroon
