Benoît Assou-Ekotto
Encyclopedia
Benoît Pierre David Assou-Ekotto (born 24 March 1984 in Arras
, France
) is a French
-born Cameroon
ian footballer who plays for Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur
as a left back.
, before making his bow for the first-team at the start of the 2003–04 season. He then made his league debut on 28 March 2004 against Paris Saint-Germain, which Lens won the game 1–0. He played in 66 games in Ligue 1
for Lens. He then played in seven of eight UEFA Cup matches as Lens went out to Udinese in the last 32. After breaking into the first-team with three appearances in 2003–04, Assou-Ekotto caught the eye with 29 starts in 2004–05. At the start of the 2005–06 season, he played in all of Lens' games in the UEFA Intertoto Cup
, as they won that tournament and secured a place in that season's UEFA Cup. In the 2005–06 season, he was an almost ever-present for Lens in the league missing just four of 38 league games as his team finished fourth and again qualified for the UEFA Cup. Assou-Ekotto's outstanding performances throughout the season led to him being praised as one of the best left backs in the country.
for an undisclosed fee, but the media expected it to be in the region of £3.5 million. Manager Martin Jol
and club sporting director Damien Comolli
described him as one of the brightest prospects in French football at that time. Assou-Ekotto was expected to provide competition with South Korea
n Lee Young-Pyo
at the left back position, but his performances in pre-season secured him a place in the starting line-up ahead of Lee. He made his full debut in a 2–0 defeat at Bolton Wanderers on the opening day of the 2006-07 season and looked to have unseated Lee until injury saw the Korean win his place back. After picking up a knee injury in December 2006, he appeared to have lost his place in the first-team to Lee and played just two matches throughout the entire 2007-08 season.
When he first arrived in England, Assou-Ekotto spoke little English
and he initially struggled at Tottenham. Assou-Ekotto has since argued that his injury changed his attitude to football because he realised that it could have ended his career:
At the start of the 2008-09 season, Spurs made their worst ever start to a campaign since 1912, losing six and drawing two of their opening eight matches. At that time, Assou-Ekotto's chances of first-team football were limited and he still claimed that he wanted to leave England to go back to French football, even after Juande Ramos was sacked and replaced by Harry Redknapp
. Redknapp decided to give Assou-Ekotto the chance to play in the team. He improved rapidly with regular games and became first choice towards the end of the 2008-09 season. Having regained his fitness in the 2008-09 season, he became the North-London club's first-choice left back due to a string of good performances under Redknapp. Such performances have led to Assou-Ekotto earning plaudits internationally and he is now regarded as a quality Premier League full back. He started the 2009 League Cup final
against Manchester United
, where he played exceptionally well up against Cristiano Ronaldo
. Even though Tottenham lost the match on penalties, Assou-Ekotto made left back his own position for the rest of the season as he made such a performance throughout the final. Since then, manager Redknapp has praised Assou-Ekotto, saying "I think he has been injured before but I have been very impressed with him this season as he has been in great form. He has looked an outstanding left back."
He scored his first career goal in a 2-1 win over Liverpool
on the opening weekend of the 2009–10 season with a half-volley from 20 yards. He was rewarded for this fine form with a four-year contract extension on 19 August. During mid-season, he temporarily lost his place to youngster Gareth Bale
but regained it when Redknapp moved Bale onto the left wing. He has been a regular starter for Tottenham in the 2010–11 Premier League
.
against Guinea
in a friendly match on the 11 February 2009. He also played the full 90 minutes in Cameroon's 1–0 surprise World Cup qualifying
defeat to Togo
on 28 March 2009. He was named in Cameroon's 2010 Africa Cup of Nations squad but was forced to withdraw prior to the tournament due to injury. Assou-Ekotto was also named in Paul Le Guen
's final 23-man roster for the 2010 World Cup
in South Africa
and played every minute of Cameroon's three matches.
In an interview with the BBC in February 2011, Assou-Ekotto stated that he was encouraged to play for the France national under-16 football team
as a teenager, but that "I told them I don't need to go because there is no point to wear the French shirt, I don't have feelings with French players". In an interview with The Guardian
in May 2010, he stated:
Tottenham Hotspur
Known for his frankness, he drew some attention when he commented that football was "just a job" to him.
Arras
Arras is the capital of the Pas-de-Calais department in northern France. The historic centre of the Artois region, its local speech is characterized as a Picard dialect...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
) is a French
French people
The French are a nation that share a common French culture and speak the French language as a mother tongue. Historically, the French population are descended from peoples of Celtic, Latin and Germanic origin, and are today a mixture of several ethnic groups...
-born Cameroon
Cameroon
Cameroon, officially the Republic of Cameroon , is a country in west Central Africa. It is bordered by Nigeria to the west; Chad to the northeast; the Central African Republic to the east; and Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and the Republic of the Congo to the south. Cameroon's coastline lies on the...
ian footballer who plays for Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham Hotspur F.C.
Tottenham Hotspur Football Club , commonly referred to as Spurs, is an English Premier League football club based in Tottenham, north London. The club's home stadium is White Hart Lane....
as a left back.
RC Lens
At the age of 10, Assou-Ekotto followed his brother in signing for LensRC Lens
Racing Club de Lens is a French association football club based in the northern city of Lens in the Pas-de-Calais department. Its nickname, sang et or , comes from its traditional colours of red and gold. Their primary rivals are their northern neighbors Lille OSC, whom they contest the Derby du...
, before making his bow for the first-team at the start of the 2003–04 season. He then made his league debut on 28 March 2004 against Paris Saint-Germain, which Lens won the game 1–0. He played in 66 games in Ligue 1
Ligue 1
Ligue 1 , is the French professional league for association football clubs. It is the country's primary football competition and serves as the top division of the French football league system. Ligue 1 is one of two divisions making up the Ligue de Football Professionnel, the other being Ligue 2....
for Lens. He then played in seven of eight UEFA Cup matches as Lens went out to Udinese in the last 32. After breaking into the first-team with three appearances in 2003–04, Assou-Ekotto caught the eye with 29 starts in 2004–05. At the start of the 2005–06 season, he played in all of Lens' games in the UEFA Intertoto Cup
UEFA Intertoto Cup
The UEFA Intertoto Cup, also abbreviated as UI Cup and originally called the International Football Cup, was a summer football competition for European clubs that had not qualified for one of the two major UEFA competitions, the Champions League and the UEFA Cup. The competition was discontinued...
, as they won that tournament and secured a place in that season's UEFA Cup. In the 2005–06 season, he was an almost ever-present for Lens in the league missing just four of 38 league games as his team finished fourth and again qualified for the UEFA Cup. Assou-Ekotto's outstanding performances throughout the season led to him being praised as one of the best left backs in the country.
Tottenham Hotspur
In the summer of 2006, Assou-Ekotto moved to Tottenham HotspurTottenham Hotspur F.C.
Tottenham Hotspur Football Club , commonly referred to as Spurs, is an English Premier League football club based in Tottenham, north London. The club's home stadium is White Hart Lane....
for an undisclosed fee, but the media expected it to be in the region of £3.5 million. Manager Martin Jol
Martin Jol
Maarten Cornelis "Martin" Jol is a Dutch football manager and former midfielder who currently manages Fulham in the Premier League. Jol played over 400 games during his career which included spells in the Netherlands, Germany, and England, as well as earning three caps with the Dutch national team...
and club sporting director Damien Comolli
Damien Comolli
Damien Comolli is the Director of Football for Liverpool. He has previously worked as a football coach and scout, with AS Monaco, AS Saint-Étienne, Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur. He speaks fluent English, Spanish and French.He was born in Béziers, France, and played as a youth team player at AS...
described him as one of the brightest prospects in French football at that time. Assou-Ekotto was expected to provide competition with South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
n Lee Young-Pyo
Lee Young-Pyo
Lee Young-Pyo is a South Korean football player. Lee is recognized for his speed and dribbling skills. His former manager Martin Jol once called him "the best left-back in Holland"....
at the left back position, but his performances in pre-season secured him a place in the starting line-up ahead of Lee. He made his full debut in a 2–0 defeat at Bolton Wanderers on the opening day of the 2006-07 season and looked to have unseated Lee until injury saw the Korean win his place back. After picking up a knee injury in December 2006, he appeared to have lost his place in the first-team to Lee and played just two matches throughout the entire 2007-08 season.
When he first arrived in England, Assou-Ekotto spoke little English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
and he initially struggled at Tottenham. Assou-Ekotto has since argued that his injury changed his attitude to football because he realised that it could have ended his career:
When your surgeon tells you maybe you won't play football anymore many things are different in your mind. Before, when you're injured, your money comes into your account every month and everything is cool. But when they speak to you about the end of your career at 22 or 23… it's why maybe I changed. I'm safe now but this gave me a lesson. That's why I changed many things in my mind and in my life.
At the start of the 2008-09 season, Spurs made their worst ever start to a campaign since 1912, losing six and drawing two of their opening eight matches. At that time, Assou-Ekotto's chances of first-team football were limited and he still claimed that he wanted to leave England to go back to French football, even after Juande Ramos was sacked and replaced by Harry Redknapp
Harry Redknapp
Henry James "Harry" Redknapp is a former English footballer who has enjoyed a long career in football management starting in 1983 with Bournemouth. He is the current manager of Tottenham Hotspur....
. Redknapp decided to give Assou-Ekotto the chance to play in the team. He improved rapidly with regular games and became first choice towards the end of the 2008-09 season. Having regained his fitness in the 2008-09 season, he became the North-London club's first-choice left back due to a string of good performances under Redknapp. Such performances have led to Assou-Ekotto earning plaudits internationally and he is now regarded as a quality Premier League full back. He started the 2009 League Cup final
2009 Football League Cup Final
The 2009 Football League Cup Final was the final match of the 2008–09 Football League Cup, the 49th season of the Football League Cup, a football competition for the 92 teams in the Premier League and The Football League...
against Manchester United
Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
, where he played exceptionally well up against Cristiano Ronaldo
Cristiano Ronaldo
Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro, OIH, , commonly known as Cristiano Ronaldo, is a Portuguese footballer who plays as a winger or striker for Spanish La Liga club Real Madrid and is the captain of the Portuguese national team...
. Even though Tottenham lost the match on penalties, Assou-Ekotto made left back his own position for the rest of the season as he made such a performance throughout the final. Since then, manager Redknapp has praised Assou-Ekotto, saying "I think he has been injured before but I have been very impressed with him this season as he has been in great form. He has looked an outstanding left back."
He scored his first career goal in a 2-1 win over Liverpool
Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups...
on the opening weekend of the 2009–10 season with a half-volley from 20 yards. He was rewarded for this fine form with a four-year contract extension on 19 August. During mid-season, he temporarily lost his place to youngster Gareth Bale
Gareth Bale
Gareth Frank Bale is a Welsh footballer who plays for English Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur and the Wales national team. Bale began his professional career with Southampton in 2005 and was transferred to Tottenham two years later...
but regained it when Redknapp moved Bale onto the left wing. He has been a regular starter for Tottenham in the 2010–11 Premier League
2010–11 Premier League
The 2010–11 Premier League was the 19th season of the Premier League since its establishment in 1992. The 2010–11 fixtures were released on 17 June 2010 at 09:00 BST. The season began on 14 August 2010, and ended on 22 May 2011...
.
Career statistics
| Club | League | Season | League | Cup FA Cup The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's... |
League Cup Football League Cup The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis... |
Europe | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | |||
| Lens RC Lens Racing Club de Lens is a French association football club based in the northern city of Lens in the Pas-de-Calais department. Its nickname, sang et or , comes from its traditional colours of red and gold. Their primary rivals are their northern neighbors Lille OSC, whom they contest the Derby du... |
Ligue 1 Ligue 1 Ligue 1 , is the French professional league for association football clubs. It is the country's primary football competition and serves as the top division of the French football league system. Ligue 1 is one of two divisions making up the Ligue de Football Professionnel, the other being Ligue 2.... |
2003–04 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 2004-05 | 29 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 29 | 0 | ||
| 2005-06 | 34 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 41 | 0 | ||
| Club Total | 66 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 73 | 0 | ||
| Tottenham Hotspur Tottenham Hotspur F.C. Tottenham Hotspur Football Club , commonly referred to as Spurs, is an English Premier League football club based in Tottenham, north London. The club's home stadium is White Hart Lane.... |
Premier League | 2006-07 | 16 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 25 | 0 |
| 2007-08 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | ||
| 2008-09 | 29 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 36 | 0 | ||
| 2009-10 | 30 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 34 | 1 | ||
| 2010-11 | 30 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 44 | 0 | ||
| 2011-12 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | ||
| Club Total | 115 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 20 | 0 | 142 | 1 | ||
| Career Total | 181 | 2 | 7 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 27 | 0 | 215 | 1 | ||
International career
Assou-Ekotto made his debut for CameroonCameroon national football team
The Cameroon national football team, nicknamed Les Lions Indomptables , is controlled by the Fédération Camerounaise de Football and is Africa's most successful side in FIFA world cup; having qualified for the FIFA World Cup six times – in 1982, 1990, 1994, 1998, 2002 and 2010– more than any...
against Guinea
Guinea national football team
The Guinea national football team, nicknamed Syli national , is the national team of Guinea and is controlled by the Fédération Guinéenne de Football. They have never qualified for the World Cup finals, and their best finish in the African Nations Cup was second in the 1976...
in a friendly match on the 11 February 2009. He also played the full 90 minutes in Cameroon's 1–0 surprise World Cup qualifying
2010 FIFA World Cup qualification (CAF)
The Confederation of African Football section of the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification saw teams compete for five berths in the final tournament in South Africa...
defeat to Togo
Togo national football team
The Togo national football team, nicknamed Les Eperviers The Togo national football team, nicknamed Les Eperviers The Togo national football team, nicknamed Les Eperviers (The Sparrow Hawks, is controlled by the Fédération Togolaise de Football.They played at the 2006 FIFA World Cup. Their team bus...
on 28 March 2009. He was named in Cameroon's 2010 Africa Cup of Nations squad but was forced to withdraw prior to the tournament due to injury. Assou-Ekotto was also named in Paul Le Guen
Paul Le Guen
Paul Le Guen is a French football manager and former player. He was recently confirmed as new manager of the Oman national football team.Le Guen had a successful managerial career in France, most notably leading Olympique Lyonnais to three consecutive Ligue 1 titles. He has also managed Stade...
's final 23-man roster for the 2010 World Cup
2010 FIFA World Cup
The 2010 FIFA World Cup was the 19th FIFA World Cup, the world championship for men's national association football teams. It took place in South Africa from 11 June to 11 July 2010...
in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
and played every minute of Cameroon's three matches.
In an interview with the BBC in February 2011, Assou-Ekotto stated that he was encouraged to play for the France national under-16 football team
France national under-16 football team
The France national under-16 football team is the national under-16 football team of France and is controlled by the French Football Federation. The team previously competed in the annual UEFA European Under-16 Football Championship before it was converted into an under-17 competition in 2002...
as a teenager, but that "I told them I don't need to go because there is no point to wear the French shirt, I don't have feelings with French players". In an interview with The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
in May 2010, he stated:
Me playing for Cameroon was a natural and normal thing. I have no feeling for the France national team; it just doesn't exist. When people ask of my generation in France, 'Where are you from?', they will reply MoroccoMoroccoMorocco , officially the Kingdom of Morocco , is a country located in North Africa. It has a population of more than 32 million and an area of 710,850 km², and also primarily administers the disputed region of the Western Sahara...
, AlgeriaAlgeriaAlgeria , officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria , also formally referred to as the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of Northwest Africa with Algiers as its capital.In terms of land area, it is the largest country in Africa and the Arab...
, CameroonCameroonCameroon, officially the Republic of Cameroon , is a country in west Central Africa. It is bordered by Nigeria to the west; Chad to the northeast; the Central African Republic to the east; and Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and the Republic of the Congo to the south. Cameroon's coastline lies on the...
or wherever. But what has amazed me in England is that when I ask the same question of people like LennonAaron LennonAaron Justin Lennon is an English footballer who plays as a right winger for Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League and the England national team.-Early life:...
and DefoeJermain DefoeJermain Colin Defoe is an English footballer who plays as a striker for English Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur, and the England national football team....
, they'll say: 'I'm English.' That's one of the things that I love about life here.
Honours
RC Lens- UEFA Intertoto CupUEFA Intertoto CupThe UEFA Intertoto Cup, also abbreviated as UI Cup and originally called the International Football Cup, was a summer football competition for European clubs that had not qualified for one of the two major UEFA competitions, the Champions League and the UEFA Cup. The competition was discontinued...
: 2005
Tottenham Hotspur
- Vodacom ChallengeVodacom ChallengeThe Vodacom Challenge is a association football pre-season tournament that features Vodacom-sponsored South African giants Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs plus from 2006 onwards an invited European club...
: 20112011 Vodacom ChallengeThe Vodacom Challenge celebrated its 11th anniversary in 2011 with the English Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur touring South Africa and playing against two local PSL clubs, Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs....
Individual
- Tottenham Hotspur Most Improved Player 2008–09
Personal life
He is the younger brother of fellow professional football player Mathieu Assou-EkottoMathieu Assou-Ekotto
Mathieu Assou-Ekotto is a professional Cameroonian footballer currently playing for Royal Boussu Dour Borinage.-References:...
Known for his frankness, he drew some attention when he commented that football was "just a job" to him.