Benoît Assou-Ekotto facts for kids
Assou-Ekotto playing for Tottenham Hotspur in 2010
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Benoît Pierre David Assou-Ekotto | ||
| Date of birth | 24 March 1984 | ||
| Place of birth | Arras, France | ||
| Height | 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Left back | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1994–2004 | Lens | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2004–2006 | Lens | 67 | (1) |
| 2006–2015 | Tottenham Hotspur | 155 | (4) |
| 2013–2014 | → Queens Park Rangers (loan) | 31 | (0) |
| 2015–2016 | Saint-Étienne | 20 | (0) |
| 2016–2018 | Metz | 31 | (0) |
| Total | 304 | (5) | |
| International career | |||
| 2009–2014 | Cameroon | 23 | (0) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Benoît Pierre David Assou-Ekotto, born on March 24, 1984, is a former professional football player. He was known for playing as a left back, a defensive position on the field.
Assou-Ekotto started his football journey in the youth teams at Lens in France. He made his first-team debut there in 2004. In 2006, he moved to England to play for Tottenham Hotspur. He became a regular player for this Premier League club, playing over 200 matches.
Later in his career, he was loaned to Queens Park Rangers in 2013. After leaving Tottenham in 2015, he joined Saint-Étienne in France. His final club was Metz, also in France's top league. Benoît also played for the Cameroon national team and took part in two FIFA World Cup tournaments.
Contents
Early Life and Family Background
Benoît Pierre David Assou-Ekotto was born on March 24, 1984, in Arras, France. His father was from Cameroon, and his mother was French. Benoît's father, David, was also a professional footballer in France. He was the one who first introduced Benoît to the sport.
Playing for Clubs: A Career Journey
Starting at Lens
When Benoît was ten years old, he joined the Lens football academy, following his brother. He made his first professional appearance in France's top league, Ligue 1, on March 28, 2004. Lens won that match 1–0 against Paris Saint-Germain.
He played 66 matches in Ligue 1 for Lens. In the 2005–06 season, he played in almost all of Lens' league matches. His strong performances made him known as one of the best left-backs in France. Lens also won the UEFA Intertoto Cup in 2005, which helped them qualify for the UEFA Cup.
Time at Tottenham Hotspur
Joining the Premier League
In the summer of 2006, Assou-Ekotto moved to Tottenham Hotspur in England. The club's manager, Martin Jol, saw him as a very promising young player. Benoît quickly earned a spot in the starting team, even though he was new to the club.
However, he faced some challenges early on. He got a knee injury in December 2006. This injury kept him from playing much during the 2007–08 season. When he first arrived in England, he also didn't speak much English, which made things harder.
Overcoming Challenges and Becoming a Star
Benoît later shared that his injury changed his view on football. He realized his career could have ended early. This made him more focused and determined.
In the 2008–09 season, Tottenham had a tough start. But manager Harry Redknapp gave Benoît a chance to play regularly. He quickly improved and became the team's main left-back. He played very well in the 2009 League Cup final against Manchester United. Even though Tottenham lost, Benoît's performance was outstanding. He signed a new contract in August 2009, showing how much the club valued him.
Key Moments and Loan Spells
Benoît scored his first professional goal in August 2009. It was a powerful shot from 20 yards against Liverpool. He continued to play well for Tottenham. Sometimes, he shared his position with Gareth Bale, who later moved to play on the left wing.
In September 2013, Benoît went on loan to Queens Park Rangers (QPR) for a season. He played 27 league matches and helped QPR get promoted back to the Premier League. After his loan, he left Tottenham in February 2015.
Later Career in France
On July 1, 2015, Benoît returned to France. He signed a one-year contract with Saint-Étienne, a club in Ligue 1. He played 20 league matches for them.
In August 2016, he joined Metz, another Ligue 1 club. He played for Metz until 2018, which was the final club of his professional career.
Playing for His Country: Cameroon
Benoît Assou-Ekotto made his debut for the Cameroon national team in February 2009. He played in a friendly match against Guinea. He also played in important World Cup qualifying matches.
He was chosen for Cameroon's squad for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. He played every minute of Cameroon's three matches in that tournament.
Benoît once explained why he chose to play for Cameroon instead of France. He said he felt no connection to the French national team. He felt it was natural to play for Cameroon because of his family background. He admired how English players felt proud to represent their country.
He also played in the 2014 World Cup. During one match, he had a disagreement with a teammate. After that, he did not play any more matches in the tournament.
Benoît's Unique Views and Community Work
Honest Opinions
Benoît Assou-Ekotto is known for being very honest about his thoughts. He once said that football was "just a job" for him. He explained that he played professionally mainly for the money, like most people work to support their families. He didn't like it when footballers pretended to play only for the love of the club. He believed they should be honest about wanting better pay.
Helping the Community
When he played for Tottenham, Benoît showed a strong interest in the local community. He often used public transport and walked with fans to matches. During the 2011 London riots, he suggested that footballers should do more to help their communities. He even made a big donation to a fund that helped people affected by the riots.
He wrote about his experiences meeting people in Tottenham. He felt a strong connection to the area. He believed it was important for people to connect with each other, even in a world made smaller by technology.
Images for kids
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Assou-Ekotto playing for Tottenham Hotspur in 2009
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Assou-Ekotto (left) playing for Tottenham Hotspur in 2011
See also
In Spanish: Benoît Assou-Ekotto para niños
