- Alexandre Song
Infobox Football biography
playername = Alexandre Song
fullname = Alexandre Dimitri Song Billong
height = height|m=1.83 [http://www.skysports.com/football/player/0,19754,11670_299259,00.html]
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1987|9|9
cityofbirth =Douala
countryofbirth =Cameroon
currentclub = Arsenal
clubnumber = 17
position = Defensive midfielder
youthyears =
youthclubs =
years = 2003–2004
2004–2006
2005–2006
2006–
2007
clubs = Bastia B
Bastia
→ Arsenal (loan)
Arsenal
→ Charlton Athletic (loan)
caps(goals) = 24 (0)
32 (0) [cite web | title=la fiche de ALEXANDRE SONG BILLONG | work=lequipe.fr | url=http://www.lequipe.fr/Football/FootballFicheJoueur20679.html | accessmonthday=10 August | accessyear=2006 ]
05 (0)
22 (0)
12 (0)
nationalyears = 2002–2003
2003–2004
2008–
nationalteam = France U16
Cameroon U17
Cameroon
nationalcaps(goals) = 06 (0) 03 (0) 11 (0)
pcupdate = 07:41, 4 August 2008 (UTC)
ntupdate = 09:20, 3 August 2008 (UTC)Alexandre Dimitri Song Billong or simply Alex Song (born
September 9 ,1987 inDouala ,Cameroon ) is a Cameroonian footballer who currently plays for Arsenal of theEnglish Premier League . He is the nephew ofTrabzonspor playerRigobert Song . He plays as a centre back or a defensive midfielder for Arsenal.Club career
Bastia
Song joined the Bastia youth team in 2003-04 and became a part of the first team the following season with 34 appearances. During his time at Bastia, he attracted attention from numerous clubs, including Inter, Manchester United, Lyon, and Middlesbrough. [cite web | title=Wenger moves for Song | work=SkySports.com) | url=http://home.skysports.com/list.asp?hlid=292220&plid=41116&clid=3&cpid=8 | accessmonthday=10 August |accessyear=2006 ] However, he impressed Arsenal manager
Arsène Wenger as a trialist during Arsenal's pre-season training camp inAustria , and Arsenal secured his services on loan for the 2005-06 season. Arsenal agreed to a £1 million fee [cite news | url=http://football.guardian.co.uk/News_Story/0,,1974975,00.html | title=Academies are not working and need big change, says Benítez | work=The Guardian | date=2006-12-09 ] in June2006 and signed him to a four year contract.Arsenal
Song made his Premiership debut during Arsenal's 2-0 win against Everton on
September 19 2005 as a substitute. He played in several Champions League matches and made several Premiership starts near the end of the season, when players likeCesc Fàbregas andGilberto Silva were injured or being rested.He scored his first goal for Arsenal against Liverpool in Arsenal's 6-3 win at
Anfield in the League Cup onJanuary 9 2007 .On
January 30 2007 , it was confirmed that Charlton Athletic had signed Song on loan until the end of the 2006-07 season. [cite news | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/charlton_athletic/6313465.stm | title=Arsenal's Song in Charlton move | work=BBC Sport | date=2007-01-30 ] Although he impressed, Charlton were relegated and Song returned to Arsenal.Over the 2007-08 season, Song started at centre back for Arsenal's Carling Cup matches, but missed their semi-final elimination by Tottenham while away with Cameroon at the Africa Cup of Nations. He also started at centre back in Premier League ties towards the end of the season, most notably in Arsenal's crucial visit to
Old Trafford against Manchester United, while regular starterKolo Touré filled in forBacary Sagna at right back andPhilippe Senderos was emotionally shaken by Arsenal's quarter-final exit from the Champions League.International career
Although uncapped at the time, Song was named in the Cameroon squad for the
2008 Africa Cup of Nations . He made his international debut for Cameroon in their first group match, a 4-2 defeat against holders Egypt; he replacedStephane Mbia at half time, joining his uncle Rigobert on the pitch. For the duration of the tournament he was a revelation in defense for Cameroon, earning a Man of the Match award in Cameroon's semi final, but then unfortunately going off injured in the final against Egypt. He was nonetheless named in the Tournament Best XI, alongside Newcastle midfielder Geremi.Cameroon career statistics
:"(correct as of 10 February 2008)"
Honours
Cameroon
*
African Cup of Nations : runner-up 2008With Arsenal
Personal
*chosen in
African Cup of Nations 2008 best XIReferences
External links
*lfpfr|106046
* [http://www.arsenal.com/player.asp?thisNav=first+team&plid=60092&clid=4421&cpid=703 Profile] at Arsenal.com
*soccerbase|id=40370|name=Alexandre Song
* [http://www.4thegame.com/club/arsenal-fc/player-profile/31635/alexandresong.html Profile] at 4thegame.comPersondata
NAME= Billong, Alexandre Song
ALTERNATIVE NAMES= Song, Alex
SHORT DESCRIPTION=Professional footballer
DATE OF BIRTH=1987-09-09
PLACE OF BIRTH=Douala ,Cameroon
DATE OF DEATH=
PLACE OF DEATH=
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