Timothée Atouba
Timothée Atouba (born 17 February 1982) is a Cameroonian footballer who played as a left back.
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Personal information | |||
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Full name | Timothée Atouba Essama | ||
Date of birth | 17 February 1982 | ||
Place of birth | Douala, Cameroon | ||
Height | 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in) | ||
Playing position(s) | Left back | ||
Youth career | |||
1996–1999 | Union Douala | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
1998–1999 | Mineduc | 24 | (11) |
1999–2000 | Union Douala | 16 | (4) |
2000–2002 | Neuchâtel Xamax | 46 | (2) |
2002–2004 | FC Basel | 72 | (3) |
2004–2005 | Tottenham Hotspur | 18 | (1) |
2005–2009 | Hamburger SV | 83 | (1) |
2009–2011 | Ajax | 1 | (0) |
2012–2014 | Las Palmas | 8 | (1) |
National team | |||
1999–2008 | Cameroon[1] | 44 | (0) |
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only |
Career
Born in Douala, Cameroon, Atouba went to Europe to play for Swiss club Neuchatel Xamax.[2]
Atouba signed for Tottenham Hotspur in August 2004.[3][4] Although he played promising games in his first few months at the club, scoring the only goal in a win at Newcastle United,[5] he finished the season as an occasional left-back. After only one year in London he was deemed surplus to requirements.
Atouba was transferred to Hamburger SV in July 2005.[6] In 2006, Atouba caused a stir after several rash challenges led to goals against his German club in the Champions League. After receiving some jeering from a disgruntled crowd he reacted by raising his middle finger to them, and asking to be substituted. Having been substituted he repeated his actions and then received a red card.[7][8] In the summer of 2009, Atouba's contract in Hamburg ended.
In July 2009, he moved to Amsterdam, where he was reunited with ex-HSV-coach Martin Jol. He joined AFC Ajax on a two-year deal.[9][10] After injury problems during 2009, Atouba lost his place in the first eleven to Ajax-youngster Vurnon Anita.
In May 2012, Atouba was invited to a trial by the MLS expansion team, the Montreal Impact.[11] In November 2012, the Spanish team UD Las Palmas confirmed the signing of Atouba until the end of season 2012–13.[12]
International career
He was part of the Cameroonian 2004 African Nations Cup team, who finished top of their group in the first round of competition, before failing to secure qualification for the semi-finals.
Honours
Club
FC Basel[13]
- Swiss Super League: 2003–04
- Swiss Cup: 2002–03
- Uhren Cup: 2003
Hamburger SV[13]
- UEFA Intertoto Cup: 2005, 2007
- Dubai Challenge Cup: 2007, 2008
- Emirates Cup: 2008
- T-Home Cup: 2009
Ajax[13]
References
- Mamrud, Roberto (9 March 2017). "Timothée Atouba Essama – International Appearances". RSSSF. Retrieved 9 August 2017.
- "Dit is het allesomvattende interview met Thimothée Atouba". vice.com (in Dutch). 15 May 2020. Retrieved 18 July 2020.
- "Thimothée Atouba zu den Tottenham Hotspurs" (in German). FC Basel 1893. 8 August 2004. Retrieved 15 March 2012.
- "Tottenham land Atouba". BBC Sport. 7 August 2004. Retrieved 21 July 2009.
- "Newcastle 0–1 Tottenham". BBC Sport. 21 August 2004. Retrieved 21 July 2009.
- "Thimotee Atouba". uefa.com.
- "Hamburg reprimand Atouba for gesture to jeering fans". Scotsman.com. 8 December 2006. Retrieved 8 December 2006.
- "Hamburg's Atouba punished". BBC Sport. 7 December 2006. Retrieved 21 July 2009.
- "Ajax contracteert Thimothée Atouba" (in Dutch). nieuwslog.nl. 7 July 2009. Retrieved 14 March 2010.
- "Atouba completes move to Ajax". BBC Sport. 21 July 2009. Retrieved 21 July 2009.
- "Un nouveau joueur à l'essai" (in French). canoe.ca. 15 May 2012. Retrieved 15 May 2012.
- "La UD Las Palmas ficha al lateral camerunés Atouba" (in Spanish). udlaspalmas.es. 11 November 2012. Archived from the original on 13 November 2012. Retrieved 11 November 2012.
- "Timothée Atouba – Career Honours". Soccerway.