Lucien Mettomo (born 19 April 1977) is a Cameroonian former professional footballer who played as a defender for Tonnerre Yaoundé, Saint-Étienne, Manchester City, Kaiserslautern, Kayseri Erciyesspor and FC Luzern.

Lucien Mettomo
Personal information
Date of birth (1977-04-19) 19 April 1977 (age 47)
Place of birth Douala, Cameroon
Height 1.84 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position(s) Defender
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1995–1996 Tonnerre Yaoundé 26 (2)
1996–2001 Saint-Étienne 81 (9)
2001–2003 Manchester City 27 (1)
2003–2006 1. FC Kaiserslautern 41 (2)
2006 Kayseri Erciyesspor 11 (0)
2006–2007 FC Luzern 25 (2)
2007–2008 Southampton 0 (0)
2008–2009 Veria 6 (0)
Total 217 (16)
International career
1997–2005 Cameroon[1] 41 (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

He was part of the Cameroon squad at the 2002 World Cup and the 2004 African Nations Cup. He was also part of the victorious 2000 and 2002 African Cup of Nations squads.

Playing career

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Mettomo was born in Douala. He made his name in France, playing for St. Étienne. He holds Cameroonian and French nationalities.[2] He acquired French nationality by naturalization on 12 June 1998.[3]

In September 2001, he signed for Manchester City of the English First Division for a £1.5 million fee. His Manchester City debut came as a substitute in a 6–0 League Cup defeat of Birmingham City.[4] He played 23 league games that season, scoring once against Bradford,[5] helping Manchester City to win the 2001–02 First Division Championship. The following season, Mettomo rarely featured in the first team due to the signing of Sylvain Distin. He made only four Premier League appearances,[6] and in the close season signed for Kaiserslautern of the Bundesliga.

Mettomo went on trial with Norwich City in September 2007, but the club decided not to offer Mettomo a contract due to concerns over his fitness. Later that month, Mettomo signed a short-term deal at English Championship side Southampton that would run until the end of the 2007–08 season; this contract was cancelled in January, however, due to Mettomo's inability to break into the first team.[7]

References

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  1. ^ "Lucien Mettomo - International Appearances". www.rsssf.org. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
  2. ^ "Joueur". Ligue1. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
  3. ^ "JORF n° 0136 du 14 juin 1998 - Légifrance". www.legifrance.gouv.fr. Retrieved 6 November 2023.
  4. ^ "City's super six show". Manchester Evening News. 11 October 2001. Retrieved 6 September 2007.
  5. ^ "City comeback floors Bradford". BBC. 16 December 2001. Retrieved 2 November 2009.
  6. ^ James, Gary (2006). Manchester City – The Complete Record. Derby: Breedon. ISBN 1-85983-512-0. p473
  7. ^ "SAINTSFC.CO.UK: / News / Archive / Mettomo released". Archived from the original on 9 October 2020. Retrieved 3 January 2008.
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