Marc-Vivien Foé facts for kids
Foé playing for Cameroon in 2003
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Marc-Vivien Foé | ||
| Date of birth | 1 May 1975 | ||
| Place of birth | Yaoundé, Cameroon | ||
| Date of death | 26 June 2003 (aged 28) | ||
| Place of death | Lyon, France | ||
| Height | 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) | ||
| Playing position | Midfielder | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1991–1992 | Union de Garoua | ||
| 1992–1994 | Fogape Yaoundé | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 1994 | Canon Yaoundé | ||
| 1994–1999 | Lens | 85 | (11) |
| 1999–2000 | West Ham United | 38 | (1) |
| 2000–2003 | Lyon | 43 | (3) |
| 2002–2003 | → Manchester City (loan) | 35 | (9) |
| Total | 201 | (24) | |
| National team | |||
| 1993 | Cameroon U20 | 3 | (1) |
| 1993–2003 | Cameroon | 62 | (8) |
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Marc-Vivien Foé (born May 1, 1975 – died June 26, 2003) was a talented football player from Cameroon. He played as a defensive midfielder, a player who helps protect the defense and also starts attacks. Marc-Vivien Foé played for several big clubs in France and England, like Lens, West Ham United, Lyon, and Manchester City. He also proudly represented his home country, Cameroon, in many international matches. His sudden death during a game shocked the football world.
He played 62 times for his country and scored 8 goals. After he passed away, he was given a special award called the Commander of the National Order of Valour. His shirt number 23 was also retired by Manchester City, meaning no other player at the club would wear it again.
Playing for Football Clubs
Marc-Vivien Foé was born in Yaoundé, Cameroon. He started his football journey with a junior team called Union de Garoua. Later, he joined Canon Yaoundé, one of the biggest football clubs in Cameroon. With them, he won the Cameroonian Cup in 1993.
Playing in France
Foé then moved to France to play for RC Lens in Ligue 1, a top French league. His first game was on August 13, 1994, which Lens won 2–1. He played for Lens for five seasons and helped them win the French league title in 1998.
In 1998, a famous English club, Manchester United, wanted to sign him. However, Lens turned down their offer. Sadly, during this time, Foé broke his leg at a training camp for the World Cup. This injury meant he missed the entire 1998 FIFA World Cup.
After recovering from his injury, he returned to France. In May 2000, he joined Lyon for a transfer fee of £6 million. He faced a challenge when he got malaria, which made him miss a lot of games. But after he recovered, he helped Lyon win the Coupe de la Ligue in 2001 and the French league title in 2002.
Playing in England
In January 1999, Foé moved to England to play for West Ham United in the Premier League. This was a record transfer fee for West Ham at the time, costing £4.2 million. He played 38 league games for West Ham and scored one goal. He also scored in a UEFA Cup match.
Later, in the 2002–03 season, Foé returned to the English Premier League. He joined Manchester City on loan. He quickly became a key player for the team, playing in 38 out of 41 matches. He scored his first goal for Manchester City in December 2002. His goal against Sunderland on April 21, 2003, was the very last goal scored at Manchester City's old stadium, Maine Road.
Playing for Cameroon
Foé started playing for Cameroon's national teams when he was young. He was part of the under-20s squad for the 1993 FIFA World Youth Championship in Australia. He played in all three of their matches and even scored a goal.
He made his debut for the senior Cameroon team on September 22, 1993, against Mexico.
World Cup Appearances
Foé was chosen for the 1994 World Cup squad. He played in all three of Cameroon's games. Even though the team didn't do well, Foé's strong performances as a defensive midfielder caught the attention of European clubs.
He also played in the 2002 FIFA World Cup. Again, he played in all of Cameroon's matches. The team played better than in 1994 but was still eliminated in the group stage.
His Final Match
In 2003, Marc-Vivien Foé was part of the Cameroon team playing in the 2003 FIFA Confederations Cup. He played in wins against Brazil and Turkey. He was rested for the game against the United States because Cameroon had already qualified for the next round.
On June 26, 2003, Cameroon played against Colombia in the semi-final match. The game was held in Lyon, France, which was a special place for Foé as he had played there for Lyon. In the 72nd minute of the game, Foé suddenly collapsed on the field. Medical staff quickly tried to help him. He was taken off the field and received emergency care. Sadly, he passed away shortly after arriving at the stadium's medical center.
Later, doctors found that Foé's death was caused by a heart condition called hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. This is a condition that can increase the risk of sudden death during physical activity. His wife mentioned that he had not been feeling well before the match, but he was determined to play in Lyon.
Remembering Marc-Vivien Foé
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Marc-Vivien Foé's death deeply saddened the football community around the world. Many people remembered his happy personality and great sense of humor. Players like Thierry Henry pointed to the sky in tribute to Foé after scoring goals.
Many tributes were made to honor him:
- Manchester City decided to retire the number 23 shirt that Foé wore.
- At Manchester City's old stadium, Maine Road, there is a small memorial garden for him.
- His first club, Lens, named a street near their stadium after him. Lens also retired his number 17 shirt.
- Lyon also decided to retire the number 17 shirt that Foé wore. However, another Cameroonian player, Jean II Makoun, later chose to wear the number 17 shirt at Lyon. He explained that he wore it "In memory of Marc, for me and for the whole Cameroon."
- Foé was given a state funeral in Cameroon, which is a special ceremony for important people.
- Before the final match of the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup, Foé's son, who was 14 years old at the time, gave a short speech to remember his father.
Football Achievements
Marc-Vivien Foé achieved many great things in his football career.
Club Honours
- Canon Yaoundé
- Cameroonian Cup: 1993
- Lens
- Division 1: 1997–98
- West Ham United
- UEFA Intertoto Cup: 1999
- Lyon
- Division 1: 2001–02
- Coupe de la Ligue: 2000–01
International Honours
- Cameroon
- Africa Cup of Nations: 2000, 2002
Individual Awards
- FIFA Confederations Cup Bronze Ball: 2003 (This award is given to the third-best player in the tournament.)
Images for kids
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Foé playing for Cameroon in 2003
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Tributes left at the front gates of Maine Road.
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Marc-Vivien Foé streetway, between Louvre-Lens and Bollaert stadium (Lens)
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Tribute plaque at the City of Manchester Stadium
