Roudolphe Douala

Roudolphe Douala M'bela (born 25 September 1978), known as Douala, is a Cameroonian former professional footballer.

For the Duala king, see Rudolf Duala Manga Bell.

Roudolphe Douala
Personal information
Full name Roudolphe Douala M'bela
Date of birth (1978-09-25) 25 September 1978
Place of birth Douala, Cameroon
Height 1.76 m (5 ft 9 in)
Playing position(s) Winger
Youth career
Saint-Étienne
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1996–1998 Saint-Étienne B 47 (9)
1998–2004 Boavista 40 (6)
2000–2001 → Aves (loan) 28 (4)
2001–2002 → Gil Vicente (loan) 31 (4)
2002–2004 → União Leiria (loan) 66 (15)
2004–2007 Sporting CP 47 (5)
2006–2007 → Portsmouth (loan) 7 (0)
2007–2008 Saint-Étienne 12 (0)
2008 Asteras Tripoli 12 (0)
2009 Plymouth Argyle 2 (0)
2010–2011 Lierse 11 (2)
Total 303 (45)
National team
2004–2009 Cameroon 17 (1)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Mainly a winger he could also operate as a forward, and played professionally in five countries, mainly in Portugal. He amassed Primeira Liga totals of 213 games and 34 goals over the course of nine seasons, notably representing in the competition Sporting (three years), Boavista and União de Leiria (two apiece).

Douala appeared for the Cameroon national team at the 2006 Africa Cup of Nations.

Club career

Douala was born in Douala. He started his professional career at AS Saint-Étienne but did not make any Ligue 2 appearances for the French club, moving to Portugal when he was 20 and signing with Boavista FC.

After two loans, at Gil Vicente F.C. and U.D. Leiria (where he first made an impact in the Primeira Liga championship), Douala moved to Sporting Clube de Portugal,[1] scoring five league goals in his debut season while also helping the Lions to the campaign's UEFA Cup final, notably scoring against Middlesbrough in a 3–2 away win.[2] Never an undisputed starter, however, he would be loaned for 2006–07 to England's Portsmouth on the very last day of the summer transfer window, with a view to a permanent signing.[3]

Speculation during the 2007 winter window had linked Douala with a move away from the club, with the player reportedly frustrated at his lack of first team opportunities at Fratton Park.[4] A transfer never materialized, however, and he revealed that "On the last day of the transfer window two clubs were calling me all day, but I said 'I want to stay'".[5]

Douala returned to Sporting when his loan ended and, on 14 July 2007, rejoined old club Saint-Étienne for an undisclosed fee.[6] After only one season where he appeared sparingly, he left for Asteras Tripoli F.C. in Greece.[7] A fruitless spell soon followed and, after agreeing a release from his contract, he signed with English club Plymouth Argyle on 22 March 2009, for the remainder of the 2008–09 campaign,[8] making his debut as a substitute in their 4–0 home win against Coventry City on 11 April;[9] however, he was unsuccessful in securing a long-term deal, and was released.

On 15 March 2010, 31-year-old Douala moved teams and countries again, signing with Belgium's Lierse SK,[10] and the club returned to the Pro League at the season's end, with the player contributing with one goal.

International career

Douala earned 17 caps for Cameroon, during five years. He participated at the 2006 Africa Cup of Nations, helping the national team reach the quarter-final stage.

International goals
# Date Venue Opponent Result Competition
1 8 October 2005 Ahmadou Ahidjo, Yaoundé, Cameroon  Egypt
1–1
 2006 World Cup qualification

Honours

Club

Sporting

Individual
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References
  1. Douala joins Sporting; UEFA.com, 11 July 2004
  2. Middlesbrough 2–3 Sporting; BBC Sport, 10 March 2005
  3. Douala becomes Redknapp's 10th summer signing; The Guardian, 31 August 2006
  4. Douala looks to end Pompey loan; BBC Sport, 8 January 2007
  5. Douala out to prove himself in Premier; The News, 12 June 2007
  6. St-Étienne make double swoop; UEFA.com, 13 July 2007
  7. Douala quitte l'ASSE (Douala leaves ASSE) Archived 20 May 2011 at the Wayback Machine; L'Équipe, 1 July 2008 (in French)
  8. Douala signs Archived 24 March 2009 at the Wayback Machine; Plymouth Argyle, 21 March 2009
  9. Plymouth 4–0 Coventry; Daily Mirror, 12 April 2009
  10. Twee nieuwe spelers en gesprekken over contractverlengingen (Two new players in contract negotiations); Lierse SK, 15 March 2010 (in Dutch)
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