Jean-Alain Boumsong

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Boumsong did not score in the 2003 French Cup Final; Djibril Cissé netted the 89th-minute winner in Auxerre's 2–1 victory over Paris Saint-Germain. He joined Rangers as a free agent in 2004, then moved to Newcastle United for £8 million in January 2005, a transfer later scrutinized by the Stevens inquiry. At Juventus, he helped the club return to Serie A after relegation. He returned to France with Lyon in 2008, winning Ligue 1 in 2007–08, though Lyon lost the Coupe de France final that season to Paris Saint-Germain.

In Their Own Story

When Boumsong arrived at Lyon in January 2008, he was determined to secure a place in France's squad for EURO 2008. His debut on 8 February 2008 at Stade de Gerland saw Lyon beat Sochaux 4–1, a strong start for the defender. Over the next two and a half seasons, he became a reliable presence in the backline. His first Lyon goal came on 4 April 2009 against Le Mans, a milestone in his time at the club. Though his stay was shorter than some fans might have hoped, he left with two major honors: the Ligue 1 title and the Coupe de France, both won in the 2007–08 season.

Reader's Guide

Boumsong was known for his physical strength, pace and reading of the game. He played as a centre-back and was praised for his defensive partnership with Titus Bramble at Newcastle. His move to Lyon was motivated by a desire to make the Euro 2008 squad. After retiring, he worked as a consultant for beIN Sports and briefly served as assistant manager of the Cameroon national team under Clarence Seedorf.

Did You Know?

• Boumsong is the first player in European Championship history to twice enter as a substitute for another substitute, doing so at Euro 2004 and Euro 2008.
• He acquired French nationality by naturalization on 16 January 2002.
• His younger brother Yannick Boumsong is also a professional footballer, and he is the older cousin of David Ngog.
• Boumsong did not score in the Coppa Italia match against Inter Milan on 23 January 2008; the equaliser was scored by Alessandro Del Piero.