Jean Makoun
Encyclopedia
Jean II Makoun is a Cameroonian
footballer who plays for Greek Superleague club Olympiacos on loan from Aston Villa
. He also plays in the Cameroon national football team
.
, where he was part of the team's youth setup. Following this, he spent time at other Cameroonian clubs Jeunesse Star and Tonnerre Yaoundé
, before moving to France, to join Ligue 1
club Lille
.
Makoun became a firm fixture in the Lille side, making more than 150 appearances for the team in the league, and playing UEFA Champions League
football. His performances attracted interest from clubs around Europe, including Premier League clubs Arsenal
and Tottenham Hotspur, as well as Serie A
club Juventus, and French clubs AS Monaco, Marsielle
, and Lyon
.
on a four year contract. The fee is worth €14 million with Lille set to receive another €1 million based on incentives. During his time with Lyon, Makoun wore the number 17 shirt, which was retired in 2003 after the death of Cameroon
ian midfielder Marc-Vivien Foé
. Makoun, also from Cameroon and a native of Yaoundé
, stated on wearing the number: "In memory of Marc, for me and for the whole Cameroon, this will be for something."
On 16 February 2010, Makoun scored the only goal in Lyon's first leg UEFA Champions League knockout round win over Real Madrid
at Stade Gerland
by hitting a looping shot from 25 yards out over the head of goalkeeper Iker Casillas
and into the top corner of the net in the 47th minute.
. Two days later, on 15 January 2011, Aston Villa completed the signing of Makoun on a three-and-a-half year deal for an undisclosed fee believed to be in the region of £6.2m.
On 21 January 2011, Villa and Makoun were handed international clearance and a work permit, with this announcement it was also revealed that he would take over the number 17 shirt from fellow West African Moustapha Salifou
. He made his Premier League debut for Villa in an away match against Wigan Athletic
at the DW Stadium on 25 January 2011 in a 2–1 win. On 12 February 2011, Makoun was sent off after receiving a straight red card for a tackle on Blackpool's DJ Campbell. Following the departure of Houllier, Makoun struggled to hold down a first-team position at Villa Park
. His first appearance of the 2011–12 season came in a 2–0 League Cup
victory over Hereford United
on 23 August 2011.
in the UEFA Champions League
, coming on as a substitute in the 67th minute.
.
Cameroonian
Cameroonian may refer to:* Something of, from, or related to the country of Cameroon* A person from Cameroon, or of Cameroonian descent. For information about the Cameroonian people, see Demographics of Cameroon and Culture of Cameroon. For specific persons, see Lists of Cameroonians.* Cameroonian...
footballer who plays for Greek Superleague club Olympiacos on loan from Aston Villa
Aston Villa F.C.
Aston Villa Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Witton, Birmingham. The club was founded in 1874 and have played at their current home ground, Villa Park, since 1897. Aston Villa were founder members of The Football League in 1888. They were also founder...
. He also plays in the Cameroon national football 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
Makoun began his career in his native Cameroon at Cotonsport GarouaCotonsport Garoua
Coton Sport FC de Garoua is an Cameroonian football club based in Garoua. They play at the Stade Omnisport de Garoua. In 2008 they finished runners up in the CAF Champions League.-Domestic:*Cameroonian Championship: ...
, where he was part of the team's youth setup. Following this, he spent time at other Cameroonian clubs Jeunesse Star and Tonnerre Yaoundé
Tonnerre Yaoundé
Tonnerre Kalara Club of Yaoundé are a football club based in Yaoundé, Cameroon. The club was most prominent during the 1980s, winning all of their 5 national championship during the decade. They have also won the national cup 5 times...
, before moving to France, to join 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....
club Lille
Lille OSC
LOSC Lille Métropole is a French association football club based in Lille. The club was founded in 1944 as a result of a merger and currently play in Ligue 1, the first division of French football. Lille plays its home matches at the Stade Lille-Metropole in nearby Villeneuve-d'Ascq. In 2012, the...
.
Makoun became a firm fixture in the Lille side, making more than 150 appearances for the team in the league, and playing UEFA Champions League
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
football. His performances attracted interest from clubs around Europe, including Premier League clubs Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
and Tottenham Hotspur, as well as Serie A
Serie A
Serie A , now called Serie A TIM due to sponsorship by Telecom Italia, is a professional league competition for football clubs located at the top of the Italian football league system and has been operating for over eighty years since 1929. It had been organized by Lega Calcio until 2010, but a new...
club Juventus, and French clubs AS Monaco, Marsielle
Olympique de Marseille
Olympique de Marseille is a French association football club based in Marseille. Founded in 1899, the club plays in Ligue 1 and have spent most of its history in the top tier of French football. Marseille have been French champions nine times and have won the Coupe de France a record ten times. In...
, and Lyon
Olympique Lyonnais
Olympique Lyonnais is a French association football club based in Lyon. They play in France's highest football division, Ligue 1. The club was formed as Lyon Olympique Universitaire in 1899, according to many supporters and sport historians, but was nationally established as a club in 1950. The...
.
Lyon
On 16 June 2008, Makoun signed with seven time French champions Olympique LyonnaisOlympique Lyonnais
Olympique Lyonnais is a French association football club based in Lyon. They play in France's highest football division, Ligue 1. The club was formed as Lyon Olympique Universitaire in 1899, according to many supporters and sport historians, but was nationally established as a club in 1950. The...
on a four year contract. The fee is worth €14 million with Lille set to receive another €1 million based on incentives. During his time with Lyon, Makoun wore the number 17 shirt, which was retired in 2003 after the death of 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 midfielder Marc-Vivien Foé
Marc-Vivien Foé
Marc-Vivien Foé was a Cameroonian international footballer, who played in midfield for both club and country. With success in the French League, and stints in the English Premier League, his sudden death, while in the middle of an international competitive fixture, came as a shock to the worldwide...
. Makoun, also from Cameroon and a native of Yaoundé
Yaoundé
-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...
, stated on wearing the number: "In memory of Marc, for me and for the whole Cameroon, this will be for something."
On 16 February 2010, Makoun scored the only goal in Lyon's first leg UEFA Champions League knockout round win over Real Madrid
Real Madrid C.F.
Real Madrid Club de Fútbol , commonly known as Real Madrid, is a professional football club based in Madrid, Spain. The club have won a record 31 La Liga titles, the Primera División of the Liga de Fútbol Profesional , 18 Copas del Rey, 8 Spanish Super Cups, 1 Copa Eva Duarte and 1 Copa de la...
at Stade Gerland
Stade Gerland
The Stade de Gerland is a stadium, in the city of Lyon, France and home to Ligue 1 football club Olympique Lyonnais...
by hitting a looping shot from 25 yards out over the head of goalkeeper Iker Casillas
Íker Casillas
Iker Casillas Fernández is a Spanish football goalkeeper who plays for the Spanish La Liga club Real Madrid and the Spanish national team, being the captain of both...
and into the top corner of the net in the 47th minute.
Aston Villa
On 13 January 2011, Lyon revealed via their official website that Makoun had travelled to England in order to discuss a possible move to Premier League club Aston Villa, managed by former Lyon boss Gérard HoullierGérard Houllier
Gérard Houllier, OBE , is a French football manager, who was last manager of Premier League club Aston Villa. He stepped down on 1 June 2011, following hospitalisation over heart problems towards the end of the 2010-2011 season....
. Two days later, on 15 January 2011, Aston Villa completed the signing of Makoun on a three-and-a-half year deal for an undisclosed fee believed to be in the region of £6.2m.
On 21 January 2011, Villa and Makoun were handed international clearance and a work permit, with this announcement it was also revealed that he would take over the number 17 shirt from fellow West African Moustapha Salifou
Moustapha Salifou
Moustapha Salifou is a Togolese footballer who plays as a midfielder for 1. FC Saarbrücken in Germany's 3rd Liga. He is notable for spending time in England with Aston Villa...
. He made his Premier League debut for Villa in an away match against Wigan Athletic
Wigan Athletic F.C.
Wigan Athletic Football Club is an English Premier League Association football club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester, having been promoted from the Championship in 2005. Wigan's current spell in the Premier League is the only top flight run in the club's history.They have played at the DW...
at the DW Stadium on 25 January 2011 in a 2–1 win. On 12 February 2011, Makoun was sent off after receiving a straight red card for a tackle on Blackpool's DJ Campbell. Following the departure of Houllier, Makoun struggled to hold down a first-team position at Villa Park
Villa Park
Villa Park may mean:United Kingdom* Villa Park, an association football stadium in Birmingham, EnglandUnited States* Villa Park, California, a small city in Orange County* Villa Park, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago in DuPage County...
. His first appearance of the 2011–12 season came in a 2–0 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...
victory over Hereford United
Hereford United F.C.
Hereford United Football Club is an English professional football club based in the city of Hereford. Founded in 1924, they are competing in Football League Two in the 2011–12 season. Hereford have played at Edgar Street for their entire history and are nicknamed 'The Whites' or 'The Lilywhites',...
on 23 August 2011.
Olympiacos (loan)
On 28 August 2011, Makoun joined the Greek club Olympiacos on a season-long loan deal. He chose the number 77 for his shirt. On 13 September 2011, he made his club debut for them in their 1–0 loss to MarseilleOlympique de Marseille
Olympique de Marseille is a French association football club based in Marseille. Founded in 1899, the club plays in Ligue 1 and have spent most of its history in the top tier of French football. Marseille have been French champions nine times and have won the Coupe de France a record ten times. In...
in the UEFA Champions League
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
, coming on as a substitute in the 67th minute.
Career statistics
| Club | Season | League | Cup | Europe UEFA The Union of European Football Associations , almost always referred to by its acronym UEFA is the administrative and controlling body for European association football, futsal and beach soccer.... |
Total | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Lille Lille OSC LOSC Lille Métropole is a French association football club based in Lille. The club was founded in 1944 as a result of a merger and currently play in Ligue 1, the first division of French football. Lille plays its home matches at the Stade Lille-Metropole in nearby Villeneuve-d'Ascq. In 2012, the... |
2002–03 | 10 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 0 |
| 2003–04 | 32 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 33 | 2 | |
| 2004–05 | 33 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 41 | 1 | |
| 2005–06 | 31 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 42 | 5 | |
| 2006–07 | 33 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 1 | 43 | 2 | |
| 2007–08 | 26 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 27 | 2 | |
| Total | 165 | 9 | 8 | 2 | 25 | 1 | 198 | 12 | |
| Lyon Olympique Lyonnais Olympique Lyonnais is a French association football club based in Lyon. They play in France's highest football division, Ligue 1. The club was formed as Lyon Olympique Universitaire in 1899, according to many supporters and sport historians, but was nationally established as a club in 1950. The... |
2008–09 | 35 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 8 | 2 | 47 | 9 |
| 2009–10 2009–10 Ligue 1 The 2009–10 Ligue 1 season was the 72nd since its establishment. Bordeaux were the defending champions. The fixtures were announced on 5 June 2009, and play commenced on 8 August and ended on 15 May 2010. There were three promoted teams from Ligue 2, replacing the three teams that were relegated... |
28 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 1 | 41 | 2 | |
| 2010–11 2010–11 Ligue 1 The 2010–11 Ligue 1 season was the 73rd since its establishment. Entering the season, Marseille were the defending champions. The fixtures were announced on 21 May 2010 and the season began on 7 August and ended on 29 May 2011. The winter break was in effect between 23 December and 15 January 2011... |
13 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 17 | 1 | |
| Total | 76 | 8 | 5 | 1 | 24 | 3 | 105 | 12 | |
| Aston Villa Aston Villa F.C. Aston Villa Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Witton, Birmingham. The club was founded in 1874 and have played at their current home ground, Villa Park, since 1897. Aston Villa were founder members of The Football League in 1888. They were also founder... |
2010–11 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 |
| 2011–12 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| Olympiacos (loan) | 2011–12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Career Total | 245 | 17 | 13 | 3 | 49 | 4 | 307 | 24 | |
International career
He was part of the Cameroonian 2004 African Nations Cup team, who finished top of their group in the first round of competition, before failing to secure qualification for the semi-finals. Makoun also participated in the 2006 African Nations Cup, 2008 African Nations Cup and 2010 African Nations Cup.He participated in all of Cameroon's games in their disappointing 2010 FIFA World Cup2010 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...
.