Franck Songo'o
Encyclopedia
Franck Steve Songo'o, is a Cameroon
ian footballer who is currently unattached. He serves as a player of the Cameroonian national team
.
, Songo'o started his footballing career at Spanish club, Deportivo de La Coruña. The same club where his father, Jacques
, was playing many matches 10 years before his sons time. At Depor, Franck was spotted by Spanish giants FC Barcelona
. He came through his young years at FC Barcelona's youth facility centre, La Masia
. Although, not making an immediate impact on Barças first team, he impressed other clubs. Especially from the English Premier League.
for a fee of £250,000. On 13 January 2008 he made his first Premiership appearance for Portsmouth for over two years as a second-half substitute for Arnold Mvuemba
against Sunderland
due to the absence of many of the south coast side's first eleven being away at the African Cup of Nations
in Ghana
. Finally, all his loan deals to other clubs made an impact for the young Cameroonian.
on a one-month loan but failed to make an impact.
On 8 March 2007 he signed for Championship club Preston North End
on loan until the end of the season.
He became Neil Warnock
's first signing at Crystal Palace
at the end of October, returning to Portsmouth in the new year. On 7 March 2008 Franck joined Championship side Sheffield Wednesday
on an initial one month loan deal from his parent club. Whilst making his debut for Sheffield Wednesday he showed his wealth of trickery as he performed the rainbow kick
skill to bypass two QPR defenders in the last minute of the game. He scored his first goal in English football for Wednesday, scoring a late equaliser against Stoke City.
, where he was given the number 11 shirt. After a successful first season with the Spanish side, Songo'o now return to La Liga-football. A chance he didn't get at Barcelona.
On September 6, 2010 Real Zaragoza terminated Franck's contract. He since has signed for Albacete
, though still controversially named in Cameroon's squad to face The Democratic Republic of Congo in view of the 2012 Afircan Cup of Nations qualifiers.
for a change in nationality to allow him to play in the 2008 Beijing Olympics. The request was granted, and Songo'o was named in the Cameroon national squad for the games.
He made his first cap for Cameroon
in the 2010 World Cup Qualifiers
match against Cape Verde
on 6 September 2008.
goalkeeper Jacques Songo'o
, who featured for Spanish side Deportivo La Coruña in the late 1990s and early 2000s. His brother, Yann Songo'o
, is currently under contract by Spanish side, CE Sabadell
.
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 is currently unattached. He serves as a player of the Cameroonian national team
Cameroon 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...
.
Early career
Born in Cameroonian capital, YaoundéYaoundé
-Transportation:Yaoundé Nsimalen International Airport is a major civilian hub, while nearby Yaoundé Airport is used by the military. Railway lines run west to the port city of Douala and north to N'Gaoundéré. Many bus companies operate from the city; particularly in the Nsam and Mvan neighborhoods...
, Songo'o started his footballing career at Spanish club, Deportivo de La Coruña. The same club where his father, Jacques
Jacques Songo'o
Jacques Celestin Songo'o is a retired Cameroonian footballer, who played as a goalkeeper.Spent the vast majority of his professional career in France and Spain, also representing the Cameroonian national team in four FIFA World Cups.-Club career:After first establishing himself as a professional...
, was playing many matches 10 years before his sons time. At Depor, Franck was spotted by Spanish giants FC Barcelona
FC Barcelona
Futbol Club Barcelona , also known as Barcelona and familiarly as Barça, is a professional football club, based in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain....
. He came through his young years at FC Barcelona's youth facility centre, La Masia
La Masia
La Masia de Can Planes, usually shortened to La Masia, , is the name given to FC Barcelona's training facilities located near the Camp Nou in the Les Corts district of Barcelona, and is often used to generically describe the youth academy of Barcelona....
. Although, not making an immediate impact on Barças first team, he impressed other clubs. Especially from the English Premier League.
Portsmouth
On 31 August 2005 Songo'o signed for PortsmouthPortsmouth F.C.
Portsmouth Football Club is an English football club based in the city of Portsmouth. The club is nicknamed Pompey. Portsmouth's home matches have been played at Fratton Park since the club's formation in 1898. The team currently play in the Football League Championship after being relegated from...
for a fee of £250,000. On 13 January 2008 he made his first Premiership appearance for Portsmouth for over two years as a second-half substitute for Arnold Mvuemba
Arnold Mvuemba
Arnold Makengo Mvuemba is a French footballer who plays for FC Lorient as a midfielder.-Career:Born in Alençon, Orne, Mvuemba was signed by Premier League team Portsmouth on loan from Stade Rennais in January 2007 until May 2007, with an option to complete a permanent deal...
against Sunderland
Sunderland A.F.C.
Sunderland Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear who currently play in the Premier League...
due to the absence of many of the south coast side's first eleven being away at the African Cup of Nations
2008 African Cup of Nations
The 2008 Africa Cup of Nations, also known as the MTN Africa Cup of Nations due to the competition's sponsorship by MTN, was the 26th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations, the biennial football tournament for nations affiliated to the Confederation of African Football . The tournament was staged at...
in Ghana
Ghana
Ghana , officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country located in West Africa. It is bordered by Côte d'Ivoire to the west, Burkina Faso to the north, Togo to the east, and the Gulf of Guinea to the south...
. Finally, all his loan deals to other clubs made an impact for the young Cameroonian.
Loan spells
On 20 October 2006 he joined League 1 side BournemouthA.F.C. Bournemouth
A.F.C. Bournemouth is an English football club currently playing in Football League One. The club plays at Dean Court in Kings Park, Boscombe, Bournemouth, Dorset and have been in existence since 1899....
on a one-month loan but failed to make an impact.
On 8 March 2007 he signed for Championship club Preston North End
Preston North End F.C.
Preston North End Football Club is an English professional football club located in the Deepdale area of the city of Preston, Lancashire, currently playing in the third tier of English league football, League One...
on loan until the end of the season.
He became Neil Warnock
Neil Warnock
Neil Warnock is an English former footballer who is currently manager of English Premier League club Queens Park Rangers....
's first signing at Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace F.C.
Crystal Palace Football Club are an English Football league club based in South Norwood, London. The team plays its home matches at Selhurst Park, where they have been based since 1924. The club currently competes in the second tier of English Football, The Championship.Crystal Palace was formed in...
at the end of October, returning to Portsmouth in the new year. On 7 March 2008 Franck joined Championship side Sheffield Wednesday
Sheffield Wednesday F.C.
Sheffield Wednesday Football Club are a football club based in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England, who are currently competing in the Football League One in the 2011-12 season, in England. Sheffield Wednesday are one of the oldest professional clubs in the world and the fourth oldest in the...
on an initial one month loan deal from his parent club. Whilst making his debut for Sheffield Wednesday he showed his wealth of trickery as he performed the rainbow kick
Rainbow kick
The rainbow kick is a trick used in association football, in which a player steps over the ball and...
skill to bypass two QPR defenders in the last minute of the game. He scored his first goal in English football for Wednesday, scoring a late equaliser against Stoke City.
Professional career
In Summer 2008, Songo'o joined Spanish side Real ZaragozaReal Zaragoza
Real Zaragoza, S.A.D. is a Spanish association football team from Zaragoza in Spain. Founded on 18 March 1932, Real Zaragoza have spent the majority of their 78 year history in the Spanish top-flight. Real Zaragoza are Spain's 9th highest ranked team in overall league points...
, where he was given the number 11 shirt. After a successful first season with the Spanish side, Songo'o now return to La Liga-football. A chance he didn't get at Barcelona.
On September 6, 2010 Real Zaragoza terminated Franck's contract. He since has signed for Albacete
Albacete Balompié
Albacete Balompié, S.A.D. is a Spanish football team based in Albacete, in the autonomous community of Castile-La Mancha. Founded on August 2, 1940, it currently plays in Segunda División B, holding home matches at Estadio Carlos Belmonte, with a 17,300-seat capacity.-History:The club was founded...
, though still controversially named in Cameroon's squad to face The Democratic Republic of Congo in view of the 2012 Afircan Cup of Nations qualifiers.
France U-19
Although he was born in Cameroon, he has represented the French under-19 international team.Cameroon national team
In 2008 Songo'o applied to FIFAFIFA
The Fédération Internationale de Football Association , commonly known by the acronym FIFA , is the international governing body of :association football, futsal and beach football. Its headquarters are located in Zurich, Switzerland, and its president is Sepp Blatter, who is in his fourth...
for a change in nationality to allow him to play in the 2008 Beijing Olympics. The request was granted, and Songo'o was named in the Cameroon national squad for the games.
He made his first cap for Cameroon
Cameroon 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...
in the 2010 World Cup Qualifiers
2010 FIFA World Cup qualification
The qualification competition for the 2010 FIFA World Cup was a series of tournaments organised by the six FIFA confederations. Each confederation — the AFC , CAF , CONCACAF , CONMEBOL , OFC , and UEFA — was allocated a certain number of the 32 places at the tournament...
match against Cape Verde
Cape Verde national football team
The Cape Verde national football team, nicknamed either the Tubarões Azuis or Crioulos , is the national team of Cape Verde and is controlled by the Federação Caboverdiana de Futebol.-Overview:...
on 6 September 2008.
Personal life
The Songo'o family has raised many footballers. Franck is the son of former Cameroonian national teamCameroon 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...
goalkeeper Jacques Songo'o
Jacques Songo'o
Jacques Celestin Songo'o is a retired Cameroonian footballer, who played as a goalkeeper.Spent the vast majority of his professional career in France and Spain, also representing the Cameroonian national team in four FIFA World Cups.-Club career:After first establishing himself as a professional...
, who featured for Spanish side Deportivo La Coruña in the late 1990s and early 2000s. His brother, Yann Songo'o
Yann Songo'o
Yann Songo'o is a Cameroonian footballer who plays for CE Sabadell FC as a central defender.-Personal life:...
, is currently under contract by Spanish side, CE Sabadell
CE Sabadell
Centre d'Esports Sabadell Futbol Club, S.A.D. is a Spanish football team based in Sabadell, in the autonomous community of Catalonia. Founded in 1903, it plays in Segunda División, holding home games at Estadi de la Nova Creu Alta.-Season to season:----...
.