Rigobert Song facts for kids
Song with Cameroon in 2008
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 1 July 1976 | ||
| Place of birth | Nkenglikok, Cameroon | ||
| Height | 1.85 m | ||
| Playing position | Centre-back | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 1994–1998 | Metz | 123 | (3) |
| 1998 | Salernitana | 4 | (1) |
| 1999–2000 | Liverpool | 34 | (0) |
| 2000–2002 | West Ham United | 24 | (0) |
| 2001–2002 | → 1. FC Köln (loan) | 16 | (0) |
| 2002–2004 | Lens | 63 | (3) |
| 2004–2008 | Galatasaray | 104 | (4) |
| 2008–2010 | Trabzonspor | 46 | (0) |
| Total | 414 | (11) | |
| National team | |||
| 1993–2010 | Cameroon | 137 | (5) |
| Teams managed | |||
| 2016–2018 | Cameroon A | ||
| 2017–2018 | Cameroon (caretaker) | ||
| 2018–2022 | Cameroon U23 | ||
| 2022–2024 | Cameroon | ||
| 2025– | Central African Republic | ||
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Rigobert Song Bahanag (born on 1 July 1976) is a famous Cameroonian former professional footballer. He is now the manager of the Central African Republic national team.
Song was known for his strong defensive skills. He usually played as a centre-back, which is a central defender. He could also play as a right-back, defending on the right side of the field.
He played in a record eight Africa Cup of Nations tournaments for his country. He was also the captain in five of these tournaments. Song holds the record for playing the most consecutive games in the tournament, with 35 matches. He helped Cameroon win two Africa Cup of Nations titles in 2000 and 2002.
With 137 appearances, Song is the most capped player for the Cameroon national team. He also played in four World Cups: in 1994, 1998, 2002, and 2010.
Song is one of only two players, along with Zinedine Zidane, to be sent off in two different World Cups. He was sent off against Brazil in 1994 and against Chile in 1998. He also holds the record as the youngest player ever to be sent off in a World Cup, at just 17 years old.
His nickname among Turkish fans was "Big Chief." He is also the uncle of fellow Cameroonian defensive midfielder Alex Song.
Contents
Rigobert Song's Early Life
Rigobert Song Bahanag was born on 1 July 1976. His birthplace was Nkenglikok, in Cameroon.
His father, Paul Song, passed away when Rigobert was very young. Even though he didn't know his father well, Rigobert says his father's absence motivated him greatly. He dedicates all his success to his father.
Playing Career Highlights
Starting Out in France (1993–1998)
Song began his professional football journey at Metz in France. He played very well, which helped him get selected for Cameroon's national team, known as The Indomitable Lions, for the 1994 World Cup. He also helped Metz win the Coupe de la Ligue in 1996.
Playing for Liverpool (1999–2000)
After playing briefly in Italy for Salernitana, Song moved to Liverpool in England in January 1999. He quickly made a good impression during a trial. Before joining Liverpool, Song had already played in two World Cups for Cameroon.
He was the first player from Cameroon to play for Liverpool. Fans loved his strong, energetic style of play. His main position was central defender, but he also played as a right-back. Liverpool fans even had a special song for him: "We've only got one Song!"
During his time at Liverpool, he captained Cameroon to victory in the 2000 African Nations Cup. He scored the winning penalty in the final against Nigeria. Liverpool also won the 2000–01 UEFA Cup, making Song a UEFA Cup winner. He played 38 games for Liverpool before moving to West Ham United in November 2000.
Time at West Ham, Köln, and Lens (2000–2004)
Song joined West Ham United for £2.5 million. He played 27 games for them over two seasons. In November 2001, he went on loan to 1. FC Köln in Germany for the rest of the season.
After his loan, he returned to France to play for Lens in 2002. He stayed there until 2004.
Success in Turkey with Galatasaray (2004–2008)
In 2004, Song signed with Galatasaray in Turkey. He quickly became a fan favorite. He formed a strong defensive partnership with another player, Stjepan Tomas.
He helped Galatasaray win two Süper Lig titles (the Turkish league championship) in 2006 and 2008. He also won the Turkish Cup in 2005. Song became the team's new captain in the 2007–08 season.
Final Club Years at Trabzonspor (2008–2010)
Song joined Trabzonspor, another Turkish club, in 2008. He quickly became popular with fans there too. He played 28 league games in his first season without getting any yellow or red cards.
In December 2009, he became Trabzonspor's new captain. He won another Turkish Cup with them in 2010. Trabzonspor was the last club of his professional playing career.
International Career for Cameroon
Rigobert Song was a very important player for the Cameroon for over ten years. He played in four World Cups: 1994, 1998, 2002, and 2010. His first international game was on 22 September 1993, against Mexico.
World Cup Records
At just 17 years old, Song was called up for the 1994 World Cup. He played two group matches. In the game against Brazil, he received a red card. This made him the youngest player ever to be sent off in a World Cup.
He also played in the 1998 World Cup. In the last group game against Chile, he received another red card. This made him the first player ever to be sent off in two different World Cups.
Africa Cup of Nations Success
Song was part of the Cameroon teams that won the 2000 and 2002 Africa Cup of Nations. He played in a record eight Africa Cup of Nations tournaments. He was captain in five of them. He holds the record for playing the most consecutive games in the tournament, with 35 matches.
A Sad Moment: Marc-Vivien Foé
In the 2003 Confederations Cup, Cameroon reached the semi-finals. During the game against Colombia, Song's teammate and friend, Marc-Vivien Foé, suddenly collapsed on the field. Foé sadly passed away later that day due to a heart condition. Cameroon won that game but lost the final to France. This was a very difficult time for the team.
Later International Years (2006–2010)
In the 2006 Africa Cup of Nations, Song became the most capped player in Cameroon's history. Cameroon reached the quarter-finals but lost in a long penalty shootout.
He also played in the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations. Cameroon reached the final but lost to Egypt. In that final game, a mistake by Song led to Egypt's winning goal.
In 2009, a new coach, Paul Le Guen, decided to make Samuel Eto'o the new captain instead of Song. This was a big change, as Song had been a key player for over a decade.
Song was still selected for the 2010 World Cup squad in South Africa. This made him the only player to play in both the 1994 and 2010 World Cup finals. He was the most experienced player in the squad with 136 international games. He retired from international football on 1 August 2010, after 137 total appearances.
Managerial Career
After his playing career, Rigobert Song became a football manager. In February 2016, he was appointed manager of the Cameroon A' team, which is made up of players from Cameroon.
In October 2018, Song took charge of the Cameroon under-23 team. On 28 February 2022, he became the manager of the main Cameroon national team. He successfully led Cameroon to the 2022 FIFA World Cup. At the World Cup, his team made history by becoming the first Cameroon team to win a World Cup match since 2002, with a surprising 1–0 victory against mighty Brazil. He left the role in February 2024.
He is set to become the manager of the Central African Republic national football team in January 2025.
Life Outside Football
Family Life
Rigobert Song is married to Esther Song. They have four children: two sons named Ronny Paul and Bryan, and two daughters named Yohanna Bernadette and Hillary Veronique Liliane. His family lives in Liverpool.
His nephew, Alex Song, is also a professional footballer who played as a defensive midfielder for various clubs. Alex has said that he often asks Rigobert for advice because of his experience.
Health Scare
In October 2016, Rigobert Song suffered a serious health issue, a "cerebral attack" (a stroke). He was in a coma for two days and was hospitalized in Cameroon. After receiving treatment, he recovered and returned to coaching duties in 2017.
Career Statistics
Club Appearances and Goals
| Club | Season | League | National cup | League cup | Europe | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Metz | 1994–95 | French Division 1 | 24 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | – | 27 | 2 | |
| 1995–96 | French Division 1 | 37 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | – | 41 | 0 | ||
| 1996–97 | French Division 1 | 34 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 41 | 1 | |
| 1997–98 | French Division 1 | 28 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 33 | 1 | |
| Total | 123 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 10 | 1 | 142 | 4 | ||
| Salernitana | 1998–99 | Serie A | 4 | 1 | 2 | 0 | – | – | 6 | 1 | ||
| Liverpool | 1998–99 | Premier League | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | 13 | 0 | |
| 1999–2000 | Premier League | 18 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | – | 21 | 0 | ||
| 2000–01 | Premier League | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | |
| Total | 34 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 38 | 0 | ||
| West Ham United | 2000–01 | Premier League | 19 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | – | 22 | 0 | |
| 2001–02 | Premier League | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | – | 6 | 0 | ||
| Total | 24 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | – | 28 | 0 | |||
| 1. FC Köln | 2001–02 | Bundesliga | 16 | 0 | 3 | 1 | – | – | 19 | 1 | ||
| Lens | 2002–03 | Ligue 1 | 35 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 1 | 45 | 4 |
| 2003–04 | Ligue 1 | 28 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 35 | 0 | |
| Total | 63 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 12 | 1 | 78 | 4 | ||
| Galatasaray | 2004–05 | Süper Lig | 28 | 2 | 4 | 0 | – | – | 36 | 2 | ||
| 2005–06 | Süper Lig | 29 | 1 | 2 | 0 | – | 2 | 0 | 33 | 1 | ||
| 2006–07 | Süper Lig | 25 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 35 | 1 | |
| 2007–08 | Süper Lig | 22 | 0 | 2 | 1 | – | 8 | 1 | 32 | 2 | ||
| Total | 104 | 4 | 10 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 17 | 1 | 132 | 6 | ||
| Trabzonspor | 2008–09 | Süper Lig | 28 | 0 | 3 | 0 | – | – | 31 | 0 | ||
| 2009–10 | Süper Lig | 18 | 0 | 5 | 1 | – | 2 | 1 | 23 | 2 | ||
| Total | 46 | 0 | 8 | 1 | – | 2 | 1 | 56 | 2 | |||
| Career total | 414 | 11 | 29 | 3 | 16 | 0 | 42 | 4 | 501 | 18 | ||
International Appearances and Goals
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cameroon | 1993 | 1 | 0 |
| 1994 | 4 | 1 | |
| 1995 | 2 | 0 | |
| 1996 | 5 | 0 | |
| 1997 | 7 | 0 | |
| 1998 | 12 | 1 | |
| 1999 | 3 | 1 | |
| 2000 | 11 | 0 | |
| 2001 | 10 | 0 | |
| 2002 | 15 | 0 | |
| 2003 | 7 | 0 | |
| 2004 | 11 | 1 | |
| 2005 | 6 | 1 | |
| 2006 | 7 | 0 | |
| 2007 | 6 | 0 | |
| 2008 | 12 | 0 | |
| 2009 | 6 | 0 | |
| 2010 | 4 | 0 | |
| Total | 129 | 5 | |
- Source:
List of international goals scored by Rigobert Song
| # | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 28 January 1998 | Roumdé Adjia Stadium, Garoua, Cameroon |  Angola |
1–0 | Win | Friendly match |
| 2 | 6 June 1999 | Stade Ahmadou Ahidjo, Yaoundé, Cameroon |  Eritrea |
1–0 | Win | 2000 African Cup qualifying |
| 3 | 6 June 2004 | Stade Ahmadou Ahidjo, Yaoundé, Cameroon |  Benin |
2–1 | Win | 2006 World Cup qualifying |
| 4 | 4 June 2005 | Stade de l'Amitié, Cotonou, Benin | Benin |
1–4 | Win | 2006 World Cup qualifying |
| 5 | 31 May 2008 | Stade Ahmadou Ahidjo, Yaoundé, Cameroon |  Cape Verde |
2–0 | Win | 2010 World Cup qualifying |
Managerial Record
| Team | From | To | Record | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | W | D | L | Win % | |||
| Cameroon U23 | 23 October 2018 | 17 July 2022 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 33.33 |
| Cameroon | 1 March 2022 | 28 February 2024 | 23 | 6 | 8 | 9 | 26.09 |
| Total | 31 | 9 | 11 | 11 | 29.03 | ||
Football Achievements
Metz
- Coupe de la Ligue: 1995–96
Liverpool
- UEFA Cup: 2000–01
Galatasaray
- Süper Lig: 2005–06, 2007–08
- Turkish Cup: 2004–05
Trabzonspor
- Turkish Cup: 2009–10
Cameroon National Team
- African Cup of Nations: 2000, 2002; runner-up: 2008
- Confederations Cup runner-up: 2003
Individual Awards
- Africa Cup of Nations Player of the Tournament: 2002
- Africa Cup of Nations Team of the Tournament: 2000, 2002, 2006
- UNFP Ligue 1 Team of the Year: 1997–98
- IFFHS All-time Africa Men's Dream Team: 2021
- CAF Legends Award: 2012
Honors and Orders
Knight of the Order of Valour
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See also
In Spanish: Rigobert Song para niños
- List of men's footballers with 100 or more international caps
