Alex Song facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Alex Song

Song playing for Rubin Kazan in 2016
Personal information
Date of birth	(1987-09-09) 9 September 1987 (age 37)
Place of birth	Douala, Cameroon
Height	1.85 m
Playing position	Midfielder, defender
Youth career
2000–2001	Red Star
2001–2004	Bastia
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
2004–2006	Bastia	32	(0)
2005–2006	→ Arsenal (loan)	5	(0)
2006–2012	Arsenal	133	(7)
2007	→ Charlton Athletic (loan)	12	(0)
2012–2016	Barcelona	39	(1)
2014–2015	→ West Ham United (loan)	28	(0)
2015–2016	→ West Ham United (loan)	12	(0)
2016–2018	Rubin Kazan	22	(1)
2018–2020	Sion	20	(0)
2018–2019	Sion II	6	(0)
2020–2023	Arta/Solar7	23	(3)
Total		331	(12)
National team
2002–2003	France U16	6	(0)
2003–2004	Cameroon U17	3	(0)
2008	Cameroon U23	3	(0)
2005–2014	Cameroon	49	(0)
Honours Men's Football Representing  Cameroon Africa Cup of Nations Runner-up 2008 Ghana Team African U-17 Championship Winner 2003 Swaziland Team
Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals).

Alexandre Dimitri Song Billong (born 9 September 1987), known as Alex Song, is a former professional footballer from Cameroon. He played as a central or defensive midfielder. He could also play as a central defender.

Song started as a less common player for Arsenal. But he quickly became a key part of their main team. This led to a big transfer to Barcelona in 2012.

Song played for the Cameroon national team. He took part in the 2010 and 2014 FIFA World Cups. He was also chosen for the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations. He was the only Cameroonian player in the Team of the Tournament that year. Song also has French nationality. He is the nephew of famous footballer Rigobert Song.

Early Life and Career

Song was born in Douala, Cameroon. He lost his father when he was three years old. His uncle, Rigobert Song, became like a second father to him. His uncle greatly influenced his choice to become a footballer.

Song moved to France to improve his skills. He joined Bastia when he was 16. One of the players who inspired Song was Michael Essien. In 2011, Song became an ambassador for Grassroot Soccer. This group uses football to help stop the spread of HIV.

Playing for Clubs

Starting in France: Bastia

Song joined the Bastia youth team in 2003. He became part of the main team the next season. He played 31 games for them. Bastia was in Ligue 1, France's top league, at that time. Song was known for being able to play in many different positions.

While at Bastia, he was chosen for the France under-16 national team. Later, he chose to play for Cameroon, his home country. He played as a centre-back and then as a defensive midfielder. Many coaches and fans at Bastia thought highly of him. Several big clubs noticed him, including Internazionale and Manchester United. Bastia did not want to sell him. So, they loaned him to Arsenal for one season in 2005. Arsenal then bought him for £1 million. Song played 32 league games for Bastia.

Time at Arsenal

Song impressed Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger during a trial. Arsenal signed him on loan for the 2005–06 season. They then bought him permanently in June 2006. He signed a four-year contract. Song played his first Premier League game on 19 September 2005. He came on as a substitute in a 2–0 win against Everton. He also played in some UEFA Champions League matches. He started several Premier League games later in the season.

Song scored his first goal for Arsenal against Liverpool. This was in a 6–3 win in the League Cup on 9 January 2007. On 30 January 2007, Song was loaned to Charlton Athletic. He played well, but Charlton was relegated. Song then went back to Arsenal.

During the 2007–08 season, Song often played as a centre-back. He played in League Cup matches. He also started in some Premier League games. This included a big match against Manchester United.

Song playing for Arsenal

Becoming a Key Player

The 2008–09 season was a big one for Song at Arsenal. He became a very important player for Arsène Wenger's team. He played 48 games in all competitions. He became a strong and powerful midfielder. He worked well with Cesc Fàbregas in the middle of the field. Wenger said he had worked hard with Song since he was 17. He felt Song had the talent to become a good player.

On 21 October 2008, Song scored his first goal in a European competition. This was for Arsenal against Fenerbahçe in the UEFA Champions League. His first league goal for Arsenal was against Wigan Athletic. He scored after dribbling past several players. Arsenal won that game 4–1.

Later Years at Arsenal

Song continued to play well in the 2009–10 season. He was a regular starter in most of Arsenal's league games. He signed a new contract with Arsenal in November 2009. This contract lasted until 2014. He scored his second league goal for Arsenal against Portsmouth. Arsenal won that match 4–1.

Song in action in 2012

Song had a great start to the 2010–11 season. He played strongly in front of the defense. He scored Arsenal's 1,000th Premier League goal under Arsène Wenger. This was in a 4–1 win against Bolton Wanderers. He became a more attacking player in midfield. He helped the forwards with his movement. He scored important goals against Manchester City and West Ham United. He also scored in a 3–1 win over Chelsea. In this season, he played 42 games, scored five goals, and made three assists.

In the 2011–12 season, Song became even more important. With Cesc Fàbregas leaving, Song helped create goals for the team. He scored his first goal of the season against Bolton. He also provided many assists for goals. He made a great pass to Robin van Persie in a Champions League match. This helped Arsenal reach the next round. Wenger praised Song's improvement. Song also assisted Van Persie's winning goal against Liverpool. He made an overhead pass for Theo Walcott against Aston Villa. His partnership with Van Persie was very strong. He made 12 assists that season. Fans voted him second for Arsenal player of the season.

Moving to Barcelona

Song at Barcelona

On 20 August 2012, Song joined Barcelona. He signed a five-year contract. The transfer fee was £15 million. He played his first game for Barcelona against Real Madrid. This was in the 2012 Supercopa de España on 29 August 2012. He came on as a substitute and made all his passes correctly. In his first season, he played 20 games in Barcelona's La Liga-winning season. He scored one goal against Real Zaragoza.

Song was a substitute in the 2014 Copa del Rey Final. Barcelona lost that game to Real Madrid.

Loan to West Ham United

Alex Song with West Ham in 2014

On 30 August 2014, Song joined West Ham United on loan for a season. He played his first game for West Ham against Hull City. He came on as a substitute in a 2–2 draw. He played 31 games for West Ham that season. His early performances were praised. In August 2015, West Ham agreed to sign Song permanently. However, he joined them again on a season-long loan instead. West Ham had the option to extend the loan.

Playing in Russia: Rubin Kazan

On 21 July 2016, Rubin Kazan agreed to sign Song from Barcelona. On 1 August 2016, Song officially joined the Russian team. He moved on a free transfer after his contract with Barcelona ended.

In January 2018, Song trained with his old club Arsenal. Rubin Kazan had allowed him to find a new club. However, he was still officially with Rubin. He was removed from their player list in March 2018.

Time in Switzerland: Sion

Song signed with Swiss Super League club Sion on 14 August 2018. He joined them on a free transfer. In March 2020, Song and eight other players left Sion. This happened after a disagreement during the coronavirus pandemic.

Final Club: Arta/Solar7

In November 2020, Song joined Arta/Solar7, a club in Djibouti. On 14 November 2023, Song announced he was retiring from professional football. He had played 332 club games and 49 international games.

International Career

Song playing against Morocco in 2009

Song first played for Cameroon in 2005. He was part of the Cameroon squad for the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations. He played in their first group match against Egypt. He joined his uncle Rigobert on the field. He played very well in defense during the tournament. He was named Man of the Match in the semi-final. He was also chosen for the Tournament Best XI team.

Song was also called up for the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations. He was the only Cameroonian player in the Team of the Tournament again.

Song was in the Cameroon squad for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. He played the full game in Cameroon's loss to Denmark. This result meant Cameroon was the first team out of the World Cup.

Song played in his second FIFA World Cup in 2014 in Brazil. In the team's second group match, Song was sent off. This happened after an incident with Mario Mandžukić. Cameroon lost 4–0 to Croatia and was knocked out. Song later said sorry for being sent off. FIFA gave Song a three-match ban from international games. They also fined him. In December 2014, he was not chosen for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations squad.

On 6 January 2015, Song announced his retirement from international football. He was 27 years old and had played 49 games for his country. He said he wanted to focus on his club career.

Style of Play

Song was a very flexible player. He could play as a central midfielder, a defensive midfielder, or even a centre-back. He was known for his energy and physical strength. He was good at winning the ball and covering a lot of ground. He was also comfortable with the ball and a strong passer.

In 2012, a former Barcelona director described Song as "good in the air, physically powerful and smart with tactics." Even though he played defensively, a former Cameroon coach said Song was "much better in attack than he is defensively." He could move forward with the ball. He could also start attacking plays after winning the ball back. This helped him switch quickly between defense and attack.

Career Statistics

Club

International

Honours

Arsenal

• Football League Cup runner-up: 2010–11

Barcelona

• La Liga: 2012–13
• Supercopa de España: 2013; runner-up: 2012
• Copa del Rey runner-up: 2013–14

Arta/Solar7

• Djibouti Premier League: 2020–21, 2021–22
• Djibouti Cup: 2020–21, 2021–22

Cameroon U17

• African U-17 Championship: 2003

Cameroon

• Africa Cup of Nations runner-up: 2008

Individual

• African Player of the Year Third Place: 2012
• Africa Cup of Nations Best XI: 2008, 2010
• CAF Team of the Year: 2009, 2012

Images for kids

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  Song playing against Morocco in 2009

See also

In Spanish: Alex Song para niños