1. Jean-Alain Boumsong Somkong was born on 14 December 1979 and is a French former professional footballer who played as a defender.
18 Facts About Jean-Alain Boumsong
1. 2.
Jean-Alain Boumsong's last spell was at Greek Super League side Panathinaikos before ending his career in 2013.
3.
Jean-Alain Boumsong was born in Douala, Cameroon, and started his career with French team Le Havre before joining AJ Auxerre.
4.
However, as Jean-Alain Boumsong was a free agent, his agent, the Monaco based Scot Willie McKay negotiated the best sign-on fee to the player for Jean-Alain Boumsong from Scottish Premier League club Rangers.
5.
However, as Jean-Alain Boumsong had played the requisite number of games for Rangers that season, he still received a Scottish Premiership Winners Medal, despite having been a Newcastle player for around five months by the time Rangers won the title.
6.
Jean-Alain Boumsong had a mixed time during his stay on Tyneside in regards to his form.
7.
Jean-Alain Boumsong's popularity led to fans shouting the first syllable of his name, elongating the sound in a similar way to Arsenal fans chanting Nwankwo Kanu's name.
8.
On 24 January 2008, Jean-Alain Boumsong moved to French club Olympique Lyonnais on a three-and-a-half-year contract.
9.
Jean-Alain Boumsong stated he made this move in order to increase his chances to make Raymond Domenech's EURO 2008 squad.
10.
In 2012, Jean-Alain Boumsong signed a two-year contract with the club, extending his stay at Panathinaikos until 2014.
11.
Jean-Alain Boumsong made his France debut against Japan on 20 June 2003 and went with the squad for Euro 2004, although he only made a brief appearance coming on as a substitute in one game.
12.
Jean-Alain Boumsong established himself as a regular starter in the national team in the 2006 World Cup qualifiers, and was called up to the squad for the 2006 World Cup, but did not see any game action during the competition because of Lillian Thuram's return to the team.
13.
Jean-Alain Boumsong was named in the France squad for Euro 2008.
14.
Jean-Alain Boumsong appeared in only one game during Euro 2008, when during the group match between France and Italy he substituted Samir Nasri.
15.
Four years earlier during the Euro 2004, Jean-Alain Boumsong had been already sent to the field once as a substitute's substitute, when he replaced William Gallas during a match against Switzerland, thus he is the first player in European Championship history to achieve this feat twice.
16.
Jean-Alain Boumsong was known for his physical strength, pace and reading of the game.
17.
Jean-Alain Boumsong acquired French nationality by naturalization on 16 January 2002.
18.
Jean-Alain Boumsong's younger brother, Yannick Boumsong, is a professional footballer.