Sébastien Bassong
Encyclopedia
Sébastien Aymar Bassong Nguena (born 9 July 1986 in Paris
, France
) is a French
-born Cameroon
ian football defender
who plays for Tottenham Hotspur
and the Cameroon national football team
.
youth academy, which has produced some of the world's most gifted players, including the likes of Thierry Henry
, Nicolas Anelka
, William Gallas
and Louis Saha
. Bassong's first professional contract was with FC Metz
where he made 87 appearances over three seasons.
. On 30 July it was confirmed that Newcastle had agreed a fee of £
500,000 with FC Metz for Bassong.
He made his professional debut for Newcastle on 26 August in a League Cup
game away to Coventry City
, before playing his first league game for Newcastle away to Arsenal
when he came on as a sub for José Enrique
. He received his first red card for the club away to Wigan Athletic
on 26 December. Another came on 16 May 2009 as part of 0–1 home defeat to Fulham
in the penultimate game of the season. Bassong was named the Newcastle player of the season for the 08–09 season.
, Bassong expressed his desire to leave the club, with Manchester City
, Arsenal
and Tottenham Hotspur
linked with him. On 6 August 2009, it was confirmed that he had passed a medical at Spurs signing a five-year deal and completed an £8 million move to the North London
club that same day. Bassong scored on his debut for Tottenham in a 2–1 victory over Liverpool
, heading in the winner from a free kick cross from team-mate Luka Modrić
in the 59th minute.
As the season progressed, Bassong became a regular starter for Tottenham playing in all of the first 7 games of the 2009–10 Premier League season. During the season Bassong made 38 appearances and scored once. Bassong scored Tottenham Hotspur's first ever Champions League goal versus Young Boys of Berne which Tottenham came from 3-0 down to 3-2. On 4 December 2010, he played the full 90 minutes alongside William Gallas
, and scored Tottenham's goal, in a 1-1 draw against Birmingham City at St Andrew's. On 30 January 2011 Bassong partnered Michael Dawson in the 4–0 FA Cup
fourth-round defeat against Fulham
at Craven Cottage
. On 2 February, due to injuries and suspensions, he partnered Gallas in central defence in a 1–0 win against Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park
which kept Tottenham in fifth place in the league. On 15 May 2011, Bassong made a substitute appearance coming on for Danny Rose on 82 minutes in Tottenham's 2-0 victory over Liverpool
at Anfield
.
, playing in two matches against the Netherlands
and Japan
in the summer of 2007 before joining Newcastle. On 25 May 2009 he was called up by the Cameroon national team
for their 2010 FIFA World Cup
qualifier
against Morocco
. He is eligible for Cameroon due to not having played in a competitive Under-21 match for the France team, and he made his debut for the national side on 12 August in a 2–0 away win to Austria
. He was selected for the 2010 World Cup squad in South Africa alongside Tottenham teammate Benoît Assou-Ekotto
. He regularly wears the number 5 jersey internationally for Cameroon.
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, France
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...
) is a 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...
-born 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 football defender
Defender (association football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
who plays for Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham Hotspur F.C.
Tottenham Hotspur Football Club , commonly referred to as Spurs, is an English Premier League football club based in Tottenham, north London. The club's home stadium is White Hart Lane....
and 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
Bassong's parents are Cameroonian, so he is eligible to play for Cameroon at International level even though he was born in France. Bassong is a graduate of the famous ClairefontaineClairefontaine
Le Centre Technique National Fernand Sastre , commonly referred to as INF Clairefontaine , INF, or simply Clairefontaine, is the national association football centre that specializes in training French football players...
youth academy, which has produced some of the world's most gifted players, including the likes of Thierry Henry
Thierry Henry
Thierry Daniel Henry is a French professional footballer who plays for the New York Red Bulls in Major League Soccer.Henry was born in Les Ulis, Essonne where he played for an array of local sides as a youngster and showed great promise as a goal-scorer. He was spotted by AS Monaco in 1990 and...
, Nicolas Anelka
Nicolas Anelka
Abdul-Salam Bilal on 14 March 1979) is a French international footballer, who plays as a striker for English Premier League club Chelsea. Anelka was also a regular starter for the French national team...
, William Gallas
William Gallas
William Eric Gallas is a French footballer who plays for Tottenham Hotspur.Gallas began his career in France, before being signed by English club Chelsea in 2001. He transferred to rivals Arsenal as part of an exchange deal in 2006...
and Louis Saha
Louis Saha
Louis Laurent Saha is a French footballer of Guadelupian origin who currently plays as a forward for Everton FC in the Premier League and the France national team. A former scholar at the Clairefontaine football academy, he started his career at Metz before playing on loan at Newcastle United...
. Bassong's first professional contract was with FC Metz
FC Metz
Football Club de Metz, commonly referred to as simply Metz , is a French association football club based in Metz. The club was formed in 1932 and has spent most of its history in the Ligue 1, though they currently play in Ligue 2, the second level in French football league system. Metz plays its...
where he made 87 appearances over three seasons.
Newcastle United
In July 2008 Bassong was offered a one week trial and made his debut in a pre-season friendly against Doncaster RoversDoncaster Rovers F.C.
Doncaster Rovers Football Club is an English football club, based at the Keepmoat Stadium in Doncaster, South Yorkshire. The team currently competes in the Football League Championship, after being promoted via the League One play-offs in 2008, and have remained there since.The club was founded in...
. On 30 July it was confirmed that Newcastle had agreed a fee of £
Pound sterling
The pound sterling , commonly called the pound, is the official currency of the United Kingdom, its Crown Dependencies and the British Overseas Territories of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, British Antarctic Territory and Tristan da Cunha. It is subdivided into 100 pence...
500,000 with FC Metz for Bassong.
He made his professional debut for Newcastle on 26 August in a 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...
game away to Coventry City
Coventry City F.C.
Coventry City Football Club, otherwise known as the Sky Blues owing to the traditional colour of their strip, are a professional English Football league club based in Coventry...
, before playing his first league game for Newcastle away to 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...
when he came on as a sub for José Enrique
José Enrique Sánchez
José Enrique Sánchez Díaz , more commonly known as José Enrique, is a Spanish footballer who plays for Liverpool as a left-back.-Early career:...
. He received his first red card for the club away to 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...
on 26 December. Another came on 16 May 2009 as part of 0–1 home defeat to Fulham
Fulham F.C.
Fulham Football Club is a professional English Premier League club based in southwest London Fulham, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. Founded in 1879, they play in the Premier League, their 11th current season...
in the penultimate game of the season. Bassong was named the Newcastle player of the season for the 08–09 season.
Tottenham Hotspur
Following Newcastle's relegation to the Football League ChampionshipFootball League Championship
The Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League...
, Bassong expressed his desire to leave the club, with Manchester City
Manchester City F.C.
Manchester City Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Manchester. Founded in 1880 as St. Mark's , they became Ardwick Association Football Club in 1887 and Manchester City in 1894...
, 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
Tottenham Hotspur F.C.
Tottenham Hotspur Football Club , commonly referred to as Spurs, is an English Premier League football club based in Tottenham, north London. The club's home stadium is White Hart Lane....
linked with him. On 6 August 2009, it was confirmed that he had passed a medical at Spurs signing a five-year deal and completed an £8 million move to the North London
North London
North London is the northern part of London, England. It is an imprecise description and the area it covers is defined differently for a range of purposes. Common to these definitions is that it includes districts located north of the River Thames and is used in comparison with South...
club that same day. Bassong scored on his debut for Tottenham in a 2–1 victory over Liverpool
Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups...
, heading in the winner from a free kick cross from team-mate Luka Modrić
Luka Modric
Luka Modrić is a Croatian footballer who plays for Tottenham Hotspur and for the Croatia national football team.Modrić's childhood coincided with the Croatian War of Independence. After showing promise in hometown club Zadar's youth team, he was signed by Dinamo Zagreb as a teenager in 2002. His...
in the 59th minute.
As the season progressed, Bassong became a regular starter for Tottenham playing in all of the first 7 games of the 2009–10 Premier League season. During the season Bassong made 38 appearances and scored once. Bassong scored Tottenham Hotspur's first ever Champions League goal versus Young Boys of Berne which Tottenham came from 3-0 down to 3-2. On 4 December 2010, he played the full 90 minutes alongside William Gallas
William Gallas
William Eric Gallas is a French footballer who plays for Tottenham Hotspur.Gallas began his career in France, before being signed by English club Chelsea in 2001. He transferred to rivals Arsenal as part of an exchange deal in 2006...
, and scored Tottenham's goal, in a 1-1 draw against Birmingham City at St Andrew's. On 30 January 2011 Bassong partnered Michael Dawson in the 4–0 FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
fourth-round defeat against Fulham
Fulham F.C.
Fulham Football Club is a professional English Premier League club based in southwest London Fulham, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. Founded in 1879, they play in the Premier League, their 11th current season...
at Craven Cottage
Craven Cottage
Craven Cottage is the name of a football stadium in the Hammersmith and Fulham area that has been the home ground of the association football team Fulham F.C. since 1896....
. On 2 February, due to injuries and suspensions, he partnered Gallas in central defence in a 1–0 win against Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park
Ewood Park
Ewood Park is a football stadium in the English town of Blackburn, Lancashire, and is the home of Blackburn Rovers Football Club — one of the founder members of the Football League and Premier League. Rovers have played there since they moved from Leamington Street in the summer of 1890. The...
which kept Tottenham in fifth place in the league. On 15 May 2011, Bassong made a substitute appearance coming on for Danny Rose on 82 minutes in Tottenham's 2-0 victory over Liverpool
Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups...
at Anfield
Anfield
Anfield is an association football stadium in the district of Anfield, Liverpool, England, with a seating capacity of 45,522. It has been the home of Liverpool F.C. since their formation in 1892 and was originally the home of Everton F.C. from 1884 to 1892, before they moved to Goodison Park...
.
International career
Bassong played at centre defensive midfield for the French under 21 national teamFrance national under-21 football team
The France national under-21 football team , known in France as Les Espoirs , is the national under-21 football team of France and is controlled by the French Football Federation. The team competes in the UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship, held every two years...
, playing in two matches against the Netherlands
Netherlands national under-21 football team
The Netherlands national under-21 football team is the national under-21 team of the Netherlands and is controlled by the Royal Dutch Football Association. The team competes in the European Under-21 Championship, held every two years....
and Japan
Japan national under-20 football team
The Japan national under-20 football team is a national association football youth team of Japan and is controlled by the Japan Football Association.-FIFA U-20 World Cup Rosters:*1979 FIFA World Youth Championship*1995 FIFA World Youth Championship...
in the summer of 2007 before joining Newcastle. On 25 May 2009 he was called up by the Cameroon 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...
for their 2010 FIFA 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...
qualifier
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...
against Morocco
Morocco national football team
The Morocco national football team , nicknamed أسود الأطلس , is the national team of Morocco and is managed by Eric Gerets. Winners of the African Nations Cup in 1976, they were the first African team to win a group at the World Cup, which they did in 1986, finishing ahead of Portugal, Poland, and...
. He is eligible for Cameroon due to not having played in a competitive Under-21 match for the France team, and he made his debut for the national side on 12 August in a 2–0 away win to Austria
Austria national football team
The Austria national football team is the association football team that represents the country of Austria in international competition and is controlled by the Austrian Football Association ....
. He was selected for the 2010 World Cup squad in South Africa alongside Tottenham teammate Benoît Assou-Ekotto
Benoît Assou-Ekotto
Benoît Pierre David Assou-Ekotto is a French-born Cameroonian footballer who plays for Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur as a left back.-RC Lens:...
. He regularly wears the number 5 jersey internationally for Cameroon.