- Marc-Vivien Foé
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Marc-Vivien Foé 
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 Union Garoua Senior career* Years Team Apps† (Gls)† 1991–1994 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 1993–2003 Cameroon 64 (8) * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.
† Appearances (Goals).Marc-Vivien Foé (1 May 1975 – 26 June 2003) was a Cameroonian international footballer, who played in midfield for both club and country. With success in the French League, and stints in the English Premier League, his sudden death, while in the middle of an international competitive fixture, came as a shock to the worldwide footballing community.[1] He was posthumously decorated with the Commander of the National Order of Valour.
Contents
Biography
Foé was born on 1 May 1975 in Yaoundé. Foé started his career as a junior with Second Division Union Garoua,[2] before moving to Canon Yaoundé, one of the biggest clubs in Cameroon, where he won the Cameroon Cup in 1993.[3] He made his international debut against Mexico in September 1993,[4] and the following year he was included in the Cameroon squad for the 1994 World Cup, starting all three of Cameroon's matches.[5] Marred by financial and disciplinary disputes,[6] the 1994 Cameroon squad was a shadow of that which had reached the quarter-finals in 1990,[7] mustering just one point from three matches, and finishing with a 6–1 defeat to Russia.[8] However, Foé's performances in the tournament were sufficient to prompt interest from European clubs. After turning down an offer to join Auxerre as a trainee, he signed for another French club, RC Lens of Ligue 1.[9] Foé made his Lens debut on 13 August 1994 in a 2–1 win against Montpellier.[9] During his five seasons at Lens he won the French league title in 1998. In the close season he was targeted by Manchester United, who had a £3 million offer refused.[10] Further negotiations took place, but were curtailed abruptly when Foé sustained a broken leg at Cameroon's pre-World Cup training camp.[11] As a result, he missed the 1998 World Cup. Shortly after his recovery from injury Foé moved to English Premier League club West Ham United, who paid a club record £4.2 million in January 1999.[12] He played 38 league matches for West Ham, scoring one goal against Sheffield Wednesday.[13][14] He also scored a goal in West Ham's UEFA Cup victory over NK Osijek.[15]
He moved back to France to play for Lyon in 2000. In that same year, he missed a significant part of the season after suffering from a bout of malaria,[16] but recovered and went on to win the French league Cup in 2001 and the French league title in 2002. He was part of the Cameroon squad in the 2002 World Cup. As in 1994, he played in all of Cameroon's matches, but though the team's performances were improved in comparison to 1994, once again they were eliminated at the group stage, after beating Saudi Arabia, drawing with Ireland and losing to Germany.[7][13]
Foé made a return to the English Premier League when he was loaned to Manchester City for the 2002–03 season, Manchester City paying a £550,000 fee for the loan.[17] He made his City debut on the opening day of the season in a 3–0 defeat against Leeds United. Foé was a first team regular for Kevin Keegan's team, starting 38 of the club's 41 matches in all competitions. His first goal for the club came against Sunderland at the Stadium of Light on 9 December 2002,[18] and over the course of the next month he scored a further five goals. In total he scored nine goals for the club, the last of these having particular significance; his second goal in a 3–0 victory against Sunderland on 21 April 2003 was the club's final goal at their Maine Road stadium.[19]
Death
Tributes left at the front gates of Maine Road.
In June 2003, Foé died whilst on the pitch. He was part of the Cameroon squad for the FIFA Confederations Cup, a tournament played between continental champions. He played in wins against Brazil and Turkey, and was rested for the match against the United States, with Cameroon having already qualified. On 26 June 2003, Cameroon faced Colombia in the semi-final, held at the Stade de Gerland in Lyon, France. In the 72nd minute of the match Foé collapsed in the centre circle,[20] with no other players near him.[21] After attempts to resuscitate him on the pitch, he was stretchered off the field, where he received mouth-to-mouth resuscitation and oxygen. Medics spent 45 minutes attempting to restart his heart, and although he was still alive upon arrival at the stadium's medical centre he died shortly afterwards, in spite of the efforts to save his life.[20] A first autopsy did not determine an exact cause of death, but a second autopsy concluded that Foé's death was heart-related as it discovered evidence of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy,[22] a hereditary condition known to increase the risk of sudden death during physical exercise.
Foé's death caused a profound shock. Numerous tributes to his joyous personality and infectious humour were expressed in the media. Also Thierry Henry and other players pointed to the sky in tribute to Foé after Henry had opened the scoring against Turkey in France's Confederations Cup semi-final that evening.[23]
Tribute plaque at City of Manchester StadiumIt was suggested that the Confederations Cup and the Stade Gerland could have been renamed after him, and former Manchester City manager Kevin Keegan announced that the club would no longer use the number 23 shirt Foé wore during his successful season there. At Manchester City's ground, the City of Manchester Stadium, there is a small memorial to him in the stadium's memorial garden, and on the walls of the players' tunnel are plaques paid for by supporters, with their names, dubbed the Walk of Pride. The first plaque on the wall is for Marc and reads "Marc Vivien Foé – 1975–2003". His first club (Lens) has given his name to an avenue near the Félix Bollaert Stadium. Foé was given a state funeral in Cameroon.[1]
Lyon also decided to withdraw the number 17 shirt that Foé wore a year before when he played in Stade de Gerland with the Lyon team. People in Lyon were shocked as he had received a warm welcome on his return to the stadium. However since the transfer of fellow Cameroonian Jean II Makoun to Lyon, the number 17 shirt will be used by Makoun, who stated on wearing the number: "In memory of Marc, for me and for the whole Cameroon, this will be for something."
Prior to the kick-off of the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup final between the USA and Brazil, his son, then fourteen years old, gave a brief speech in memory of his father.
Career statistics
Club performance League Cup League Cup Continental Total Season Club League Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals France League Coupe de France Coupe de la Ligue Europe Total 1994–95 Lens Division 1 15 3 15 3 1995–96 19 2 19 2 1996–97 28 2 28 2 1997–98 18 2 0 0 18 2 1998–99 5 2 1 0 6 2 England League FA Cup League Cup Europe Total 1998–99 West Ham United FA Premier League 13 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 13 0 1999–2000 25 1 1 0 3 0 3 1 32 2 France League Coupe de France Coupe de la Ligue Europe Total 2000–01 Olympique Lyonnais Division 1 25 1 3 0 3 0 8 1 39 2 2001–02 18 2 0 0 0 0 8 0 26 2 England League FA Cup League Cup Europe Total 2002–03 Manchester City FA Premier League 35 9 1 0 2 0 0 0 38 9 Country France 128 14 3 0 3 0 1 0 151 17 England 73 10 2 0 5 0 19 2 83 11 Total 201 24 5 0 8 0 20 2 234 28 Cameroon national team Year Apps Goals 1993 1 0 1994 4 0 1995 1 1 1996 4 0 1997 3 0 1998 5 0 1999 2 0 2000 8 3 2001 9 2 2002 14 2 2003 4 0 Total 55 8 International goals
- Scores and results list Cameroon's goal tally first.
# Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition 1. 24 December 1995 Stade Ahmadou Ahidjo, Yaoundé 
Liberia1–0 1–0 Friendly 2. 22 January 2000 Accra Sports Stadium, Accra 
Ghana1–0 1–1 2000 African Cup of Nations 3. 6 February 2000 Accra Sports Stadium, Accra 
Algeria2–0 2–1 2000 African Cup of Nations 4. 19 April 2000 Stade Ahmadou Ahidjo, Yaoundé 
Somalia2–0 3–0 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification 5. 1 July 2001 Stade Ahmadou Ahidjo, Yaoundé 
Togo2–0 2–0 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification 6. 14 July 2001 Independence Stadium, Lusaka 
Zambia1–0 2–2 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification 7. 7 January 2002 Stade du 4-Août, Ouagadougou 
Burkina Faso1–0 3–1 Friendly 8. 7 February 2002 Stade 26 mars, Bamako 
Mali3–0 3–0 2002 African Cup of Nations Honours
Club
- French Division 1: 2001–02
International
Individual
- Confederations Cup Bronze Ball: 1
See also
- List of association footballers who died while playing
References
- ^ a b Martin Etonge (2003-07-07). "State funeral for Foe". BBC Sport. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/africa/3050794.stm. Retrieved 2007-12-16.
- ^ "Thousands follow Foe to burial". Rediff. 2003-07-08. http://www.rediff.com/sports/2003/jul/08foe.htm. Retrieved 2007-12-16.
- ^ "La fiche de Marc-Vivien Foé" (in French). L'Equipe. http://www.lequipe.fr/Football/FootballFicheJoueur2682.html. Retrieved 2007-12-16.
- ^ "Marc-Vivien Foe Factbox". CNN. http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/soccer/news/2003/06/26/foe_facts/. Retrieved 2007-12-16.
- ^ "World Cup 1994". RSSSF. http://www.rsssf.com/tables/94full.html. Retrieved 2007-12-16.
- ^ Glanville, Brian (2005). The Story of the World Cup. London: Faber and Faber. pp. 343. ISBN 0-571-22944-1.
- ^ a b Brian Glanville (2003-06-28). "Marc-Vivien Foé". London: The Guardian. http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/2003/jun/28/guardianobituaries.brianglanville. Retrieved 2008-10-03.
- ^ Glanville, The Story of the World Cup, p 344.
- ^ a b "La vie de Marc Vivien Foé". Bonaberi. http://www.bonaberi.com/article.php?aid=2263. Retrieved 2007-12-16.
- ^ Metcalf, Rupert; Nixon, Alan (19 May 1998). "Football: Lens want United to dig deep for Foe". The Independent (London). http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-lens-want-united-to-dig-deep-for-foe-1158509.html. Retrieved 4 January 2011.
- ^ "Foe's World Cup dream ends with broken leg". The Independent. http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-4910995.html. Retrieved 2007-12-16.
- ^ Keogh, Frank (2003-06-27). "Fans unite in Foe grief". BBC Sport. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/africa/3026400.stm. Retrieved 2007-12-16.
- ^ a b Glanville (28 June 2003). "Marc-Vivien Foé". The Guardian (London). http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/2003/jun/28/guardianobituaries.brianglanville. Retrieved 4 January 2011.
- ^ Rowbottom, Mike (21 November 1999). "Wednesday undone by Di Canio". London: The Independent. http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-wednesday-undone-by-di-canio-1127841.html. Retrieved 29 December 2009.
- ^ Isaacs, Mark (30 September 1999). "Hammers ease ahead on cruise control". London: The Guardian. http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/1999/oct/01/newsstory.sport6. Retrieved 29 December 2009.
- ^ "Marc-Vivien Foe". ESPN. http://soccernet.espn.go.com/archive/england/players/foemarc-vivien.html. Retrieved 2008-10-03.
- ^ "Foe signs for City". Manchester Evening News. http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/s/15/15328_foe_signs_for_city.html. Retrieved 2007-12-16.
- ^ "Sunderland 0 Manchester City 3". Manchester Evening News. http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/manchester_city/s/26/26287_sunderland_0_manchester_city_3.html. Retrieved 2007-12-16.
- ^ "Foe: Career on two continents". BBC Sport. 2003-06-26. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/africa/3024476.stm. Retrieved 2007-12-16.
- ^ a b "Cameroon star Foe dies". BBC Sport. 2003-06-26. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/3024360.stm. Retrieved 2008-01-05.
- ^ "Footballer Foe dies during game". London: Guardian. 2003-06-26. http://football.guardian.co.uk/News_Story/0,1563,985814,00.html. Retrieved 2008-01-05.
- ^ "Autopsy reveals Foe died of heart problem". CNN. http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/soccer/news/2003/07/07/foe_autopsy/. Retrieved 2008-01-05.
- ^ "France 3–2 Turkey". BBC Sport. 2003-06-26. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/3019126.stm. Retrieved 2009-09-26.
- ^ http://www.national-football-teams.com/v2/player.php?id=14524
External links
- History, stats and pictures of Marc-Vivien FOE
- Marc Vivien FOE : Actualité
- Marc-Vivien Foe: The Most Indomitable of Lions (Just Football)
- Marc-Vivien Foé career stats at Soccerbase
- A Tribute to Marc-Vivien Foe: 5 Years On
Cameroon squads Cameroon squad – 1994 FIFA World Cup 
Cameroon squad – 1996 Africa Cup of Nations Cameroon squad – 1998 Africa Cup of Nations Cameroon squad – 2000 Africa Cup of Nations Winners (3rd Title) Cameroon squad – 2001 FIFA Confederations Cup • 2 Tchato • 3 Wome • 4 Song (c) • 5 Kalla • 6 Dika Dika • 7 Ndo • 8 Geremi • 9 Eto'o • 10 Mboma • 11 Ndiefi • 12 Lauren • 13 Mettomo • 14 Epalle • 15 Alnoudji • 16 Songo'o • 17 Foé • 18 Suffo • 19 Djemba‑Djemba • 20 Olembé • 21 Ngom Kome • 22 Kameni • Coach: Schäfer
Cameroon squad – 2002 FIFA World Cup Cameroon squad – 2003 FIFA Confederations Cup Runners-up Categories:- 1975 births
- 2003 deaths
- People from Yaoundé
- Cameroonian footballers
- Cameroon international footballers
- Cameroonian expatriate footballers
- Ligue 1 players
- RC Lens players
- Premier League players
- West Ham United F.C. players
- Olympique Lyonnais players
- Manchester City F.C. players
- Expatriate footballers in France
- Expatriate footballers in England
- 1994 FIFA World Cup players
- 1996 African Cup of Nations players
- 1998 African Cup of Nations players
- 2000 African Cup of Nations players
- 2001 FIFA Confederations Cup players
- 2002 FIFA World Cup players
- 2003 FIFA Confederations Cup players
- Association football players who died while playing
- Filmed deaths in sports
- Sport deaths in France
- Canon Yaoundé players
- Cardiovascular disease deaths in France
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