| Intro | Cameroonian footballer | ||
| Is |
Athlete Football player Association football player |
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| From | Cameroon | ||
| Type | Sports | ||
| Gender | male | ||
| Birth |
17 March 1964, Sackbayene, Sanaga-Maritime, Littoral, Cameroon |
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| Age | 56 years | ||
| Star sign | Pisces | ||
| Stats |
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Jacques Celestin Songo’o (born 17 March 1964) is a Cameroonian retired footballer who played as a goalkeeper.
He spent the vast majority of his professional career in France and Spain – Deportivo de La Coruña, appearing in more than 200 official games over the course of six seasons and winning the 2000 national championship – also representing the Cameroon national team in four World Cups.
Club career
Songo’o was born in Sackbayene. After first establishing himself as a professional in France, with Ligue 1 club FC Metz, he was voted Best African Goalkeeper in 1996, then arguably lived his most successful period at Spain’s Deportivo de La Coruña.
With the Galicians, Songo’o won the 1996–97 edition of the Ricardo Zamora Trophy (awarded to the best goalkeeper of the season), and was he side’s undisputed starter in his first four years, which ended with a first-ever title in La Liga. When Depor bought José Francisco Molina in 2000, he soon lost his place and was eventually transferred to old team Metz; on 13 February of that year, from a corner kick, he was supposed to have scored his first career goal, but it was wrongfully disallowed in an eventual 0–1 away loss against CD Numancia.
After two seasons, Songo’o returned to Deportivo and A Coruña, again in a free transfer. He settled there after having retired from football, aged 40.
International career
Songo’o featured for Cameroon in every FIFA World Cup from 1990 to 2002, although only as first-choice in 1998. He was also a member of the squad that competed at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.
In the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, Songo’o was part of Paul Le Guen’s coaching staff. After the tournament, which ended in the group stage, he led Cameroon to a 3–0 victory over Poland on an interim basis, the nation’s first win in 12 competitive games.
Personal life
Songo’o also has French citizenship. Both of his sons, Franck and Yann, are also professional footballers.
Honours
Club
- Elite One: 1984–85, 1985–86
- Cameroonian Cup: 1985-86
- Coupe de la Ligue: 1995–96
- La Liga: 1999–2000
- Supercopa de España: 2000
Country
- Africa Cup of Nations: 1988, 2002
Individual
- Ricardo Zamora Trophy: 1996–97