Idriss Carlos Kameni
Encyclopedia
Idriss Carlos Kameni is a Cameroon
ian footballer who plays for RCD Espanyol
in the Spanish first division
, as a goalkeeper.
gold medal
, in 2000
. This earned him a move to French
club Le Havre AC
but he was unable to break into the first team, and remained a reserve throughout his four-year stay, also being loaned to AS Saint-Étienne
, and also failing to gain any playing time there.
Kameni almost moved to Premier League Wolverhampton Wanderers
on a season-long loan for 2003–04, but the deal collapsed after he was not granted a UK
work permit.
side RCD Espanyol
in July 2004, for $600,000, and became first-choice in his second year, winning the Copa del Rey
as second-choice to Gorka Iraizoz
, who started in La Liga
. In 2006–07, the opposite: Kameni was the undisputed starter, so Iraizoz was picked for the Catalans
' UEFA Cup runner-up campaign; early in 2006, the club suspended two fans for racist abuse towards the player.
In 2008–09, a tense season for Espanyol, which ranked in the bottom three for a lengthy period, Kameni had two incidents: first, he had a near-physical confrontation with a fan (who first insulted the player) after a training session, in January, then fought with teammate Grégory Béranger
in another training session, in May. He still featured in 37 out of 38 league contests, being essential to the side's maintenance and, during the campaign, also broke countryman's Thomas Nkono record of minutes without conceding a goal, at 497.
After two more seasons as starter, Kameni was demoted to third-choice for 2011–12
, with Argentine
Mauricio Pochettino
still as Espanyol's manager.
since the age of 17, Kameni was part of the national team squads at the 2002, 2004, 2006 and 2008 Africa Cup of Nations, starting in all but in the first; in addition, he also represented the nation at the 2003 FIFA Confederations Cup
, also as first-choice (at only 19), for the eventual runners-up.
In 2002, aged 18, Kameni was picked for Cameroon's squad of 23 at the 2002 FIFA World Cup
. He was named Best African Goalkeeper for 2006–07, after being runner-up in the previous season.
Kameni was also chosen for the 2010 World Cup
in South Africa
, being expected to start by many observers. However, he ended up on the bench as coach Paul Le Guen
preferred Souleymanou Hamidou
over him, and the national side was the first team to be eliminated from the tournament, eventually losing all three group games.
, is also a footballer, a goalkeeper, and a Cameroon international.
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 RCD Espanyol
RCD Espanyol
Reial Club Deportiu Espanyol de Barcelona is a sports club based in Barcelona, Spain. It is best known for its football team. Espanyol currently play in the Estadi Cornellà-El Prat with seats for 40,500 spectators. It was inaugurated on 2 August 2009...
in the Spanish first division
La Liga
The Primera División of the Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional , commonly known as La Liga or, for sponsorship reasons, Liga BBVA since 2008, is the top professional association football division of the Spanish football league system...
, as a goalkeeper.
France
Kameni was first spotted when, aged 16, he became the youngest footballer to win an OlympicSummer Olympic Games
The Summer Olympic Games or the Games of the Olympiad are an international multi-sport event, occurring every four years, organized by the International Olympic Committee. Medals are awarded in each event, with gold medals for first place, silver for second and bronze for third, a tradition that...
gold medal
Gold medal
A gold medal is typically the medal awarded for highest achievement in a non-military field. Its name derives from the use of at least a fraction of gold in form of plating or alloying in its manufacture...
, in 2000
Football at the 2000 Summer Olympics
The football tournament at the 2000 Summer Olympics was the 20th official Olympic football tournament. A women's tournament was held for the second time.-Medal winners:-Venues:*Olympic Stadium, Sydney*Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney*Bruce Stadium, Canberra...
. This earned him a move to French
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...
club Le Havre AC
Le Havre AC
Le Havre Athletic Club Football Association is a French association football club based in Le Havre. The club was founded originally as an athletics and rugby club in 1872, thus making it the oldest association football and rugby club registered in France...
but he was unable to break into the first team, and remained a reserve throughout his four-year stay, also being loaned to AS Saint-Étienne
AS Saint-Étienne
Association Sportive de Saint-Étienne Loire is a French association football club based in Saint-Étienne. The club was founded in 1919 and currently play in Ligue 1, the top division of French football. Saint-Étienne plays its home matches at the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard located within the city...
, and also failing to gain any playing time there.
Kameni almost moved to Premier League Wolverhampton Wanderers
Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club that represents the city of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands region. They are members of the Premier League, the highest level of English football. The club was founded in 1877 and since 1889 has played at...
on a season-long loan for 2003–04, but the deal collapsed after he was not granted a UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
work permit.
Espanyol
Aged 20, Kameni left for SpanishSpain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
side RCD Espanyol
RCD Espanyol
Reial Club Deportiu Espanyol de Barcelona is a sports club based in Barcelona, Spain. It is best known for its football team. Espanyol currently play in the Estadi Cornellà-El Prat with seats for 40,500 spectators. It was inaugurated on 2 August 2009...
in July 2004, for $600,000, and became first-choice in his second year, winning the Copa del Rey
Copa del Rey
The Copa del Rey is an annual football cup competition for Spanish football teams. Its full name is Campeonato de España – Copa de Su Majestad el Rey de Fútbol ....
as second-choice to Gorka Iraizoz
Gorka Iraizoz
Gorka Iraizoz Moreno is a Spanish footballer who plays for Athletic Bilbao in the Spanish first division, as a goalkeeper.-Football career:Iraizoz was born in Pamplona, Navarre...
, who started in La Liga
La Liga
The Primera División of the Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional , commonly known as La Liga or, for sponsorship reasons, Liga BBVA since 2008, is the top professional association football division of the Spanish football league system...
. In 2006–07, the opposite: Kameni was the undisputed starter, so Iraizoz was picked for the Catalans
Catalonia
Catalonia is an autonomous community in northeastern Spain, with the official status of a "nationality" of Spain. Catalonia comprises four provinces: Barcelona, Girona, Lleida, and Tarragona. Its capital and largest city is Barcelona. Catalonia covers an area of 32,114 km² and has an...
' UEFA Cup runner-up campaign; early in 2006, the club suspended two fans for racist abuse towards the player.
In 2008–09, a tense season for Espanyol, which ranked in the bottom three for a lengthy period, Kameni had two incidents: first, he had a near-physical confrontation with a fan (who first insulted the player) after a training session, in January, then fought with teammate Grégory Béranger
Grégory Béranger
Grégory Béranger is a French footballer who plays for Elche CF in the Spanish second division, mainly as a left defender.-Football career:...
in another training session, in May. He still featured in 37 out of 38 league contests, being essential to the side's maintenance and, during the campaign, also broke countryman's Thomas Nkono record of minutes without conceding a goal, at 497.
After two more seasons as starter, Kameni was demoted to third-choice for 2011–12
2011–12 La Liga
The 2011–12 La Liga season is the 81st since its establishment. Barcelona are the defending champions, having won their 21st La Liga title in the previous season for the third time in a row. The campaign began on 27 August 2011, and will end on 13 May 2012...
, with Argentine
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
Mauricio Pochettino
Mauricio Pochettino
Mauricio Roberto Pochettino Trossero is a retired Argentine footballer who played as a central defender, and the current coach of RCD Espanyol.-Club career:...
still as Espanyol's manager.
International career
A Cameroonian internationalCameroon 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...
since the age of 17, Kameni was part of the national team squads at the 2002, 2004, 2006 and 2008 Africa Cup of Nations, starting in all but in the first; in addition, he also represented the nation at the 2003 FIFA Confederations Cup
2003 FIFA Confederations Cup
The 2003 FIFA Confederations Cup football tournament was the sixth FIFA Confederations Cup, held in France in June 2003. France retained the title they had won in 2001, but the tournament was overshadowed by the death of Cameroon player Marc-Vivien Foé, who died of heart failure in his side's...
, also as first-choice (at only 19), for the eventual runners-up.
In 2002, aged 18, Kameni was picked for Cameroon's squad of 23 at the 2002 FIFA World Cup
2002 FIFA World Cup
The 2002 FIFA World Cup was the 17th staging of the FIFA World Cup, held in South Korea and Japan from 31 May to 30 June. It was also the first World Cup held in Asia, and the last in which the golden goal rule was implemented. Brazil won the tournament for a record fifth time, beating Germany 2–0...
. He was named Best African Goalkeeper for 2006–07, after being runner-up in the previous season.
Kameni was also chosen 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...
, being expected to start by many observers. However, he ended up on the bench as coach 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...
preferred Souleymanou Hamidou
Souleymanou Hamidou
Souleymanou Hamidou is a Cameroonian football goalkeeper.-International career:He was a member of the Cameroonian 2006 African Nations Cup team, who exited in the quarter-finals. He was again called up to the Cameroon squad for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, where he has so far been the starting...
over him, and the national side was the first team to be eliminated from the tournament, eventually losing all three group games.
Club
Espanyol- Spanish CupCopa del ReyThe Copa del Rey is an annual football cup competition for Spanish football teams. Its full name is Campeonato de España – Copa de Su Majestad el Rey de Fútbol ....
: 2005–06 - UEFA Cup: Runner-up 2006–07
Country
- Summer OlympicsSummer Olympic GamesThe Summer Olympic Games or the Games of the Olympiad are an international multi-sport event, occurring every four years, organized by the International Olympic Committee. Medals are awarded in each event, with gold medals for first place, silver for second and bronze for third, a tradition that...
: 2000Football at the 2000 Summer OlympicsThe football tournament at the 2000 Summer Olympics was the 20th official Olympic football tournament. A women's tournament was held for the second time.-Medal winners:-Venues:*Olympic Stadium, Sydney*Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney*Bruce Stadium, Canberra... - Africa Cup of Nations: 2002
Personal life
Kameni's older brother, MathurinMathurin Kameni
Mathurin Kameni is a Cameroonian footballer who plays for Haras El Hodood in Egypt, as a goalkeeper.-Football career:...
, is also a footballer, a goalkeeper, and a Cameroon international.