Nicolas N'Koulou
Encyclopedia
Nicolas Alexis Julio N'Koulou N'Doubena (born 27 March 1990), commonly referred to as Nicolas N'Koulou, is a Cameroon
ian footballer currently playing for Ligue 1
side Olympique de Marseille
.
in Douala
. The same academy that produced the likes of Samuel Eto'o
, Carlos Kameni, and Eric Djemba-Djemba
. In late 2007, it was announced that he was acquired by the principality
-based side AS Monaco FC
. He agreed to a three-year professional contract. He spent the latter portion of the 2007–08 season playing with Monaco's CFA
squad, before joining the squad for preseason in July 2008, where he was handed the number 3 kit.
He made two appearances during the pre-season starting their opening friendly match against fellow Ligue 1 side Toulouse FC
and also starting against Croation side NK Zagreb
. He made his professional debut on September 13, 2008 in a 2–0 victory over FC Lorient
starting the match before being substituted in the 65th minute. He has started every match since playing the full 90 minutes in them all. He has yet to score a goal.
His performances with Monaco have led to him being scouted by several prominent Europe
an clubs. The English
clubs Arsenal
and Hull City
, Spanish
sides Sevilla and Atlético Madrid, and French
champions Olympique Lyonnais
have all declared their interests in the Cameroonian defender. On 29 June 2011, N'Koulou passed his medical and signed for four years with Marseille
. However, Arsenal
later rekindled their interest in the centre back and are lining up a January transfer move for the player.
squad that participated in the 2008 Summer Olympics
. He helped the squad reach the knockout round, where they were eliminated by Brazil
. He would make his international debut in the senior squad on November 19, 2008 in a friendly against South Africa
.
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 currently playing for 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....
side Olympique de Marseille
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...
.
Club career
N'Koulou began his career at Kadji Sports AcademyKadji Sports Academy
Kadji Sport Academies is a sports academy and association football team from Békoko, Douala in Cameroon. The academy was founded by Gilbert Kadji....
in Douala
Douala
Douala is the largest city in Cameroon and the capital of Cameroon's Littoral Province. Home to Cameroon's largest port and its major international airport, Douala International Airport, it is the commercial capital of the country...
. The same academy that produced the likes of Samuel Eto'o
Samuel Eto'o
Samuel Eto'o Fils is a Cameroonian professional footballer who plays as a striker for Russian team Anzhi Makhachkala. He is also the current captain of the Cameroon national team.Eto'o trained at Kadji Sports Academy...
, Carlos Kameni, and Eric Djemba-Djemba
Eric Djemba-Djemba
Eric Daniel Djemba-Djemba is a Cameroonian footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for Danish side Odense BK and the Cameroon national football team. He has previously played club football in France, England and Qatar.-Nantes:...
. In late 2007, it was announced that he was acquired by the principality
Principality
A principality is a monarchical feudatory or sovereign state, ruled or reigned over by a monarch with the title of prince or princess, or by a monarch with another title within the generic use of the term prince....
-based side AS Monaco FC
AS Monaco FC
Association Sportive de Monaco Football Club are a French football club based in Fontvieille, Monaco. The club was founded in 1924 and currently play in Ligue 2, the second tier of French football. The team plays its home matches at the Stade Louis II located within Fontvieille...
. He agreed to a three-year professional contract. He spent the latter portion of the 2007–08 season playing with Monaco's CFA
Championnat de France Amateurs
The Championnat de France amateur, commonly referred to as simply CFA and formerly known as National 2, is a football league competition. The league serves as the fourth division of the French football league system behind Ligue 1, Ligue 2, and the Championnat National...
squad, before joining the squad for preseason in July 2008, where he was handed the number 3 kit.
He made two appearances during the pre-season starting their opening friendly match against fellow Ligue 1 side Toulouse FC
Toulouse FC
Toulouse Football Club is a French association football club based in the city of Toulouse. The club was founded in 1970 and currently play in Ligue 1, the top level of French football. Toulouse plays its home matches at the Stadium Municipal located within the city. The first team is managed by...
and also starting against Croation side NK Zagreb
NK Zagreb
NK Zagreb is a Croatian football club, from the Croatian capital of Zagreb.NK Zagreb's home is the Stadion Kranjčevićeva with capacity of 8,850. The club's fans are known as the White Angels...
. He made his professional debut on September 13, 2008 in a 2–0 victory over FC Lorient
FC Lorient
Football Club Lorient-Bretagne Sud is a French association football club based in Lorient. The club was founded in 1926 and currently play in Ligue 1, the top level of French football. Lorient plays its home matches at the Stade du Moustoir located within the city. The team is managed by Christian...
starting the match before being substituted in the 65th minute. He has started every match since playing the full 90 minutes in them all. He has yet to score a goal.
His performances with Monaco have led to him being scouted by several prominent Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
an clubs. The English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
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 Hull City
Hull City A.F.C.
Hull City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, founded in 1904. The club participates in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football...
, Spanish
Spain
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...
sides Sevilla and Atlético Madrid, and 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...
champions Olympique Lyonnais
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...
have all declared their interests in the Cameroonian defender. On 29 June 2011, N'Koulou passed his medical and signed for four years with Marseille
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...
. However, Arsenal
Arsenal
An arsenal is a place where arms and ammunition are made, maintained and repaired, stored, issued to authorized users, or any combination of those...
later rekindled their interest in the centre back and are lining up a January transfer move for the player.
International career
N'Koulou was included in the Cameroon U-23Cameroon 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...
squad that participated in the 2008 Summer Olympics
2008 Summer Olympics
The 2008 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, was a major international multi-sport event that took place in Beijing, China, from August 8 to August 24, 2008. A total of 11,028 athletes from 204 National Olympic Committees competed in 28 sports and 302 events...
. He helped the squad reach the knockout round, where they were eliminated by Brazil
Brazil national football team
The Brazil national football team represents Brazil in international men's football and is controlled by the Brazilian Football Confederation , the governing body for football in Brazil. They are a member of the International Federation of Association Football since 1923 and also a member of the...
. He would make his international debut in the senior squad on November 19, 2008 in a friendly against South Africa
South Africa national football team
The South Africa national football team represents South Africa in association football and is controlled by the South African Football Association, the governing body for football in South Africa. South Africa's home ground is Soccer City, known as FNB Stadium due to a naming rights deal, in...
.