Rigobert Song

Rigobert Song
Personal information
Full name	Rigobert Bahanag Song
Date of birth	July 1 1976 (1976-07-01) (age 31)
Place of birth	Nkanglikock, Cameroon
Height	1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Playing position	Defender
Club information
Current club	Galatasaray
Number	4
Senior clubs1
Years	Club	App (Gls)*
1993-1994 1994-1997 1997-1998 1998-2000 2000-2002 2001-2002 2002-2004 2004-present	Tonnerre Yaoundé Metz Salernitana Liverpool West Ham United → 1. FC Köln (loan) Lens Galatasaray	0 (0) 123 (3) 4 (1) 33 (0) 24 (0) 16 (0) 65 (4) 120 (6)
National team2
1993-present	Cameroon	112 (4)
1 Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 11 July, 2006. 2 National team caps and goals correct as of 9 September, 2007. * Appearances (Goals)

Rigobert Bahanag Song (born July 1, 1976) is a Cameroonian football player who, as of 2007, is playing for Galatasaray.

Football career

A key tool for Cameroon for over a decade, Song has played in the 1994, 1998, and 2002 World Cups. He is their most capped player, with over 100 caps. Prior to joining Galatasaray in 2004, Song played for Metz, Salernitana, Liverpool, West Ham, Cologne, and RC Lens. Recently, in the 2006 African Cup of Nations, Rigobert became the most capped player in Cameroon history and has made up until now 106 international appearances. Also, in the 2006 African Cup of Nations, Rigobert broke the record for the greatest number of matches played at the CAF African Cup of Nations. [1] Nowadays, Rigobert plays for Galatasaray S.K. and captains his national side. In the 2006-2007 season, he struggled to find a place in the team after an argument with then Galatasaray Coach Eric Gerets during a League Game. Although Song apologised for the incident both publicly and privately, Eric Gerets had shown no sign of forgiving him, due to the idea that Song challenged his authority. However with the arrival of new coach, Karl-Heinz Feldkamp, Song has once again become a vital member of the squad. Rigobert is also the uncle of fellow footballer Alexandre Song who plays for Arsenal F.C. Apart from Zinedine Zidane, Song is the only player to have been sent off in two different World Cups, against Brazil in USA 94 and against Chile in France 98. He also holds the record as youngest player ever to be sent off in a world cup, aged 17 in the 1994 world cup.

Personal life

Song's father, Paul Song, died when Rigobert was young. As such, he never really knew his father but nevertheless dedicates all his success to him, as his absence was a strong motivational force for him. Rigobert Song is married to Esther, and has three children (a son and two daughters): Ronny, his oldest child; Yohanna Bernadette, his first daughter was born on September 22 2002 and his second daughter, Hillary Veronique Liliane, was born on September 13 2004. They currently live in Istanbul.

External links

• Profile at Galatasaray.org

•  • e Cameroon squad - 1994 FIFA World Cup
1 Bell • 2 Kana‑Biyik • 3 Song • 4 Ekeme • 5 Ndip • 6 Libiih • 7 Omam‑Biyik • 8 Mbouh • 9 Milla • 10 Mfédé • 11 Maboang • 12 Loga • 13 Kalla • 14 Tataw • 15 Agbo • 16 Tchami • 17 Foé • 18 Fiala • 19 Embé • 20 Mouyémé • 21 Nkono • 22 Songo'o • Coach: Michel

•  • e Cameroon squad - 1998 FIFA World Cup
1 Songo'o • 2 Elanga • 3 Wome • 4 Song • 5 Kalla • 6 Njanka • 7 Omam‑Biyik • 8 Angibeaud • 9 Tchami • 10 Mboma • 11 Eto'o • 12 Lauren • 13 Abanda • 14 Simo • 15 Ndo • 16 William • 17 Pensée • 18 Ipoua • 19 Mahouvé • 20 Olembé • 21 Job • 22 Boukar • Coach: Le Roy

•  • e Cameroon squad - 2002 FIFA World Cup
1 Boukar • 2 Tchato • 3 Wome • 4 Song • 5 Kalla • 6 Njanka • 7 Ndo • 8 Geremi • 9 Eto'o • 10 Mboma • 11 Ndiefi • 12 Lauren • 13 Mettomo • 14 Epalle • 15 Alnoudji • 16 Songo'o • 17 Foé • 18 Suffo • 19 Djemba‑Djemba • 20 Olembé • 21 Job • 22 Kameni • 23 Ngom Kome • Coach: Schäfer