IFFHS NEWS AND STATISTICS OF THE WEEK 33
Picture : Sara Gunnarsdottir, two titles in one month in two clubs and two countries !
MEYONG ZE, FIRST CAMEROONIAN TO COACH TOP FLIGHT EUROPEAN CLUB
Albert Meyong Zé has become the first Cameroonian ever to coach a top flight European football club. Vitoria de Setubal of Portugal for whom the former Cameroonian national team striker was deputy manager for a few months after sporting the colors of the club for several years, and retiring at 36, have made him embrace the challenge; first, as an assistant, and then caretaker following the dismissal of Sandro Mendes, and now as the man in charge. No Cameroonian has achieved that feat before.
Born on October 19, 1980, the Tonnerre Yaounde, and then later, Canon Yaounde striker, before Portuguese trainer, Artur Jorge gave him a first-cap call for the Indomitable Lions in is best known by the Lions fans foremost for the incredible back-flip goal he scored during the 2006 AFCON against The Sparrow Hawks of Togo, scooping cheers from all and sundry, including Togolese fans. He was also part of the Cameroon Team the won the football gold at the 2000 Sydney Olympics.
Meyong Zé began his professional career at Ravenna Calcio of Italy, before moving to Vitoria Futebol Clube, winning the Taça de Portugal in 2005 when he scored the winning goal in the final against S.L. Benfica. In the Summer of 2005, he signed a two-year contract with C.F. Os Belenenses where he was the league’s top scorer although the club was amongst the last four. Later in the year, he moved to Levante UD, making one appearance and then being loaned to Albacete Balompié due to late payment of salary. After a brief stay there, he proceeded to Spain where he flouted the rules of the game by playing for three clubs in one season. The move earned him a six-month ban, after which he picked up a contract with Sporting Braga in August 2008, scoring 11 league goals as the team finished on the second spot, their best performance yet. In December, 2011, he was released by Braga and so he went back to Setubal de Vitoria after seven years to retire from competitive football and then being offered a place in the club’s managerial staff.
THE PICTURE
November 13, 1965 in Leicester. Manchester United with Charlton and Law played against Leicester FC with his National Goalkeeper and future IFFHS Silber Century Award, Gordon Banks. Suddenly, a dog came on the field and Gordon Banks helped the organisators to catch the dog. No hesitation, a fantastic dive and it was made ! He could not save his teammates, ManU won 5 – 0 before 34550 spectators.
TRANSFERS
Konstantinos Tsimikas (Greece) from Olympiakos to Liverpool FC (England)
Jonathan David (Canada) from Kaa Gent (Belgium) to Lille OSC (France)
Takefusa Kubo (Japan) from Real Madrid loaned to Villareal CF
Samantha Mewis (USA) from NCC Courage to Manchester City FC
Julia Simic (Germany) from West Ham (England) to AC Milan (Italy)
EUROPA LEAGUE – THE FINAL ROUND
Europa League quarter-finals