Jean Alain Boumsong, International footballer

Name Jean Alain Boumsong

Born 14 December 1979, Douala, Cameroon

Height 1.90m

Weight 84kg

Position Centre Half

Squad Number 6

Date Signed 1 January 2005

Debut 9 January 2005 v Yeading (A)

International Career:

17 France caps, 1 goal (v Israel)

Debut 20 June 2003 v Japan

Premiership Playing Career:

43 (0) 0

Newcastle United Playing Career:

FAPL FA Cup Lge Cup Europe Total

Total 43 (0) 0 7 (0) 0 1 (0) 0 4 (0) 0 55 (0) 0

France international defender Jean Alain Boumsong joined the Magpies on 1 January 2005 from Glasgow Rangers, signing a contract until the end of the 2009/10 season. Born in Douala, Cameroon, he was initially considered too small to play top-level football and took to volleyball instead at the age of 12. Two years later though, with a strong passion to play football still burning inside him, he moved to France and joined the youth set-up at US Palaiseau. Two years later, in 1995, he joined Le Havre for whom he made his professional debut in 1998. During the 1999/2000 season his good form earned him a move to Auxerre where, after a slow start, he established himself in their back four excelling throughout the 2001/02 season as Auxerre finished 3rd in the league, claiming a Champions League slot. The following season he played in all six of Auxerre's Champions League games and at the end of the season made his full international debut for Les Bleus in the FIFA Confederations Cup, a 2 -1 victory over Japan in June 2003.

Four years earlier he had made his France U21 debut in February 1999, a 2 - 1 defeat to England, but went on to play in the 2002 UEFA U21 Championships in Switzerland where the French lost in the Final. He was also part of the French squad at Euro 2004. Boumsong's fine form had attracted the attention of Glasgow Rangers and he signed for the Ibrox side in June 2004 after his contract had expired at Auxerre. A month later he was turning out for the Gers against United in the NewcastleGateshead Cup at St. James' Park, and found himself on the wrong end of a 4-2 defeat! Jean Alain became the 12th Frenchman to wear the black and white shirt of United in the Premiership and immediately became a fans favourite. Despite leaving Rangers in mid-season, he still collected a Scottish League winners medal at the end of the 2004/05 season. His last goal came in Rangers' 2-1 league win at Dunfermline in October 2004. He lists Beethoven and other classical artists as his main relaxation away from football. His interest in mathematics began in France and he completed his degree whilst at Auxerre. He considers it to be very stimulating and a valuable tool away from football.