Valéry Mézague facts for kids
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Valéry Mézague | ||
| Date of birth | 8 December 1983 | ||
| Place of birth | Marseille, France | ||
| Date of death | 15 November 2014 (aged 30) | ||
| Place of death | Toulon, France | ||
| Height | 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1999–2006 | Montpellier | 57 | (10) |
| 2004–2005 | → Portsmouth (loan) | 11 | (0) |
| 2005–2009 | Sochaux | 34 | (0) |
| 2007–2008 | → Le Havre (loan) | 28 | (3) |
| 2009 | Châteauroux | 16 | (2) |
| 2009–2011 | Vannes | 46 | (5) |
| 2011–2012 | Panetolikos | 3 | (0) |
| 2013 | Bury | 7 | (0) |
| 2014 | Toulon | 3 | (0) |
| Total | 205 | (20) | |
| International career | |||
| 2003–2004 | Cameroon | 7 | (0) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Valéry Mézague (born December 8, 1983 – died November 15, 2014) was a professional footballer from Cameroon. He played as a midfielder for various clubs and his national team.
Contents
Early Life and Background
Valéry Mézague was born in Marseille, France, in 1983. His mother was from Cameroon. He became a French citizen in 1997. This meant he had strong connections to both France and Cameroon.
Playing for Cameroon
Valéry was proud to play for the Cameroon national team. They are often called the Lions Indomptables. One of his most important moments was at the 2003 FIFA Confederations Cup. This was a big international football tournament.
Confederations Cup 2003
During the 2003 Confederations Cup, Valéry became a starting player. He stepped in during the semi-final match against Colombia. This was after the sad passing of his teammate, Marc-Vivien Foé. Valéry then played as the main central midfielder in the final. Cameroon played against the host country, France, but they lost the match.
Club Career Highlights
Valéry Mézague played for several football clubs during his career. He started his professional journey with Montpellier in France.
Moving to Portsmouth
In 2003, Valéry was in a serious car accident. This kept him from playing for four months. But he worked hard to get back in shape. His strong play caught the eye of Harry Redknapp, a famous football manager. Valéry then joined Portsmouth F.C. in England for the 2004–05 season. He played there on loan.
Returning to France
After his time at Portsmouth, Valéry went back to France in 2005. He joined Sochaux. This was the same club where his former manager, Alain Perrin, had gone. Valéry continued his career playing for other French clubs like Le Havre, Châteauroux, and Vannes.
Later Career
Later in his career, Valéry also played for teams outside France. He joined Panetolikos in Greece. He also had a short spell with Bury in England. His last club was Toulon in France.
Family and Legacy
Valéry Mézague had a younger brother named Teddy. Teddy also became a professional footballer.
Sad Passing
Valéry Mézague sadly passed away on November 15, 2014. He was found in his apartment. His death was caused by a heart condition.
