Benoît Assou-Ekotto facts for kids
Assou-Ekotto playing for Tottenham Hotspur in 2010
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 24 March 1984 | ||
| Place of birth | Arras, France | ||
| Height | 1.78 m | ||
| Playing position | 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) | |
| National team | |||
| 2009–2014 | Cameroon | 23 | (0) |
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Benoît Pierre David Assou-Ekotto (born 24 March 1984) is a former professional footballer. He played as a left back, a defensive position on the left side of the field.
Benoît 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, he was loaned to Queens Park Rangers in 2013. After leaving Tottenham in 2015, he joined Saint-Étienne in France. His last club was Metz, also in France's top league.
Benoît also played for the Cameroon national team. He represented his country in two FIFA World Cup tournaments.
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Early Life and Football Start
Benoît Pierre David Assou-Ekotto was born on 24 March 1984 in Arras, France. His father was from Cameroon and his mother was French.
His father, David, was also a professional footballer in France. He introduced Benoît to the sport at a young age.
Club Career Highlights
Playing for Lens
When Benoît was ten years old, he joined the youth academy of Lens. His brother had already joined the club.
He made his first professional appearance in France's top league, Ligue 1, on 28 March 2004. Lens won that match against Paris Saint-Germain 1–0. He played 66 league matches for Lens.
In the 2005–06 season, he played almost every league game. His strong performances made him known as one of the best left-backs in France. Lens also won the UEFA Intertoto Cup during his time there.
Time at Tottenham Hotspur
Joining Spurs and Early Challenges
In the summer of 2006, Benoît moved to Tottenham Hotspur in England. The club's manager and sporting director saw him as a very promising player. He quickly earned a spot in the starting team.
However, he faced challenges, including a knee injury in December. This injury kept him out for a long time. When he first arrived in England, he also spoke little English.
Benoît later said that his injury changed his view on football. He realized his career could have ended early. This made him appreciate the game more.
Becoming a Key Player
At the start of the 2008–09 season, Tottenham had a difficult start. Benoît's chances to play were limited at first. He even thought about returning to French football.
But then, manager Harry Redknapp gave him more opportunities. Benoît 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, his performance was excellent.
In August 2009, he signed a new contract with the club. Manager Redknapp praised him, calling him an "outstanding left back."
First Goal and Loan Spell
Benoît scored his first professional goal on the opening day of the 2009–10 Premier League season. It was a powerful shot from about 20 yards against Liverpool.
He continued to play well for Tottenham for several more seasons. In September 2013, he joined Queens Park Rangers on a season-long loan. His former manager, Harry Redknapp, was also the manager at QPR.
Benoît played 27 league matches for QPR. He helped the team get promoted back to the Premier League through the play-offs. In February 2015, he left Tottenham after playing no part in that season.
Later Career in France
On 1 July 2015, Benoît signed a one-year contract with French club Saint-Étienne. He was happy to be back playing football after a season without a club. He made 20 league appearances for Saint-Étienne.
In August 2016, he joined Metz, another club in France's top league. He played for Metz for two seasons before ending his professional career.
International Career for Cameroon
Benoît made his debut for the Cameroon national team in a friendly match in February 2009. He also played in a World Cup qualifying match that year.
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 the tournament.
Benoît once said that he felt a strong connection to Cameroon. He explained that he didn't feel the same way about playing for the French national team. He felt it was natural to play for Cameroon because of his family background.
He also took part in the 2014 World Cup. During one match, there was an incident with a teammate, and he did not play in the rest of the tournament.
Life Off the Field
Benoît Assou-Ekotto now lives in his hometown of Arras, France. He has two children.
His Views on Football
Benoît is known for being very honest about his opinions. He once said that football is "just a job" for him. He explained that he plays professionally 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, especially if they later left for more money.
Helping the Community
When he was playing for Tottenham, Benoît showed a lot of 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 local causes. He himself made a "significant contribution" to a fund helping those affected by the riots. He wrote about his experiences meeting people in Tottenham and how he felt connected to the community there. He believed in the idea of community, perhaps because he grew up in a small town.
Career Statistics
Here are Benoît Assou-Ekotto's statistics for his club and international career.
Club
| Club | Season | League | National cup | League cup | Europe | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Lens | 2003–04 | Ligue 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 2004–05 | Ligue 1 | 29 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 29 | 1 | |
| 2005–06 | Ligue 1 | 35 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 42 | 0 | |
| Total | 67 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 74 | 1 | ||
| Tottenham Hotspur | 2006–07 | Premier League | 16 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 25 | 0 |
| 2007–08 | Premier League | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
| 2008–09 | Premier League | 29 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 36 | 0 | |
| 2009–10 | Premier League | 30 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | – | 34 | 1 | ||
| 2010–11 | Premier League | 30 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 45 | 0 | |
| 2011–12 | Premier League | 34 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 38 | 2 | |
| 2012–13 | Premier League | 15 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 22 | 1 | |
| Total | 155 | 4 | 9 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 28 | 0 | 202 | 4 | ||
| Queens Park Rangers (loan) | 2013–14 | Championship | 31 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | 32 | 0 | |
| Saint-Étienne | 2015–16 | Ligue 1 | 20 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 27 | 0 |
| Metz | 2016–17 | Ligue 1 | 18 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | – | 21 | 0 | |
| 2017–18 | Ligue 1 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | 13 | 0 | ||
| Total | 31 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | – | 34 | 0 | |||
| Career total | 304 | 5 | 11 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 42 | 0 | 369 | 5 | ||
International
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cameroon | 2009 | 5 | 0 |
| 2010 | 9 | 0 | |
| 2011 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2013 | 3 | 0 | |
| 2014 | 5 | 0 | |
| Total | 23 | 0 | |
Honours and Achievements
Lens
- UEFA Intertoto Cup: 2005 (a European football competition)
Tottenham Hotspur
- Football League Cup runner-up: 2008–09 (finished second in this English cup competition)
Images for kids
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Assou-Ekotto playing for Tottenham Hotspur in 2010
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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
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Assou-Ekotto (right) playing for Cameroon in 2009
See also
In Spanish: Benoît Assou-Ekotto para niños
