Alex Song

Alexander Song
Personal information
Full name Alexander Dimitri Song Billong[1]
Date of birth 9 September 1987 (1987-09-09) (age 23)[2]
Place of birth Douala, Cameroon
Height 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)[3]
Playing position Defensive midfielder, Centre back
Club information
Current club Arsenal
Number 17
Youth career
2003–2004 Bastia
Senior career*
Years Team Apps† (Gls)†
2004–2006 Bastia 32 (0)
2005–2006 → Arsenal (loan) 5 (0)
2006– Arsenal 69 (4)
2007 → Charlton Athletic (loan) 12 (0)
National team‡
2002–2003 France U16 6 (0)
2003–2004 Cameroon U17 3 (0)
2008 Cameroon U23 3 (0)
2008– Cameroon 19 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 14:24, 21 August 2010 (UTC).

† Appearances (Goals).

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 23:04, 4 April 2010 (UTC)

Alexander Dimitri Song Billong (born 9 September 1987), more commonly known as Alex Song, is a professional footballer who plays for Arsenal of the English Premier League and the Cameroon national football team. He is the cousin of Rigobert Song though refers to him as an uncle.[4] He plays as a defensive midfielder in front of the back four and has also played as a stand-in centre back and right back. Originally a utility player on the fringes of the first team, he quickly became an integral part of the first team during the preseason to the 2009–10 campaign, and has since started most games for which he has been available.

Contents

Background

Song was born in Douala, Cameroon and lost his father at the age of three. Since then, his more famous cousin Rigobert Song has been like a second father and was a major influence in choosing football as a career. Alex Song wanted to give his children a good upbringing in life, which he claims eluded him; he married at the age of 18 and is now father to two children, the eldest being two-year-old Nolan.[5]

Club career

Bastia

Song joined the Bastia youth team in 2003–04 and became a part of the first team the following season with 34 appearances. During his time at Bastia, he attracted attention from numerous clubs, including Inter, Juventus, Manchester United, Lyon, and Middlesbrough.[6]

Arsenal

Song impressed Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger as a trialist during Arsenal's pre-season training camp in Austria, and Arsenal secured his services on loan for the 2005–06 season on 11 August 2005.[7] Arsenal agreed to a £1 million fee[8] in June 2006 and signed him to a four-year contract. Song made his Premiership debut during Arsenal's 2–0 win against Everton on 19 September 2005 as a substitute. He played in several UEFA Champions League matches and made several Premiership starts near the end of the season, when first team players were injured or being rested.

He scored his first goal for Arsenal against Liverpool in Arsenal's 6–3 win at Anfield in the League Cup on 9 January 2007.[9]

On 30 January 2007, it was confirmed that Charlton Athletic had signed Song on loan until the end of the 2006–07 season.[10] Although he impressed, Charlton were relegated and Song returned to Arsenal.

Over the 2007–08 season, Song started at centre back for Arsenal's Carling Cup matches, but missed their semi-final elimination by Tottenham while away with Cameroon at the Africa Cup of Nations. He also started at centre back in Premier League ties towards the end of the season, most notably in Arsenal's crucial visit to Old Trafford against Manchester United, while regular starter Kolo Touré filled in for Bacary Sagna at right back.

He scored in Arsenal's 5–2 away win over Fenerbahce in the UEFA Champions League.[11] Song's first league goal, and third in all competitions for the Gunners, was scored against Wigan Athletic on the 11th of April 2009 in which he took on several players and then coolly finished in the bottom corner. Arsenal won the match 4–1.[12]

2009–10 season

Song began the season well, playing in all but one of Arsenal's first 12 league games. He was voted third in the Arsenal.com player of the month award for October, behind winner Cesc Fàbregas and runner-up Robin van Persie. After putting in consistently commanding performances at the heart of midfield, allowing Arsenal's creative attackers to operate effectively, Alex Song is now one of the first names on the team sheet. On 25 November 2009, Song signed a new long-term contract with Arsenal, lasting until 2014.[13] On 30 December 2009, he scored his second goal in the league for Arsenal when he completed the scoring in a 4–1 win over Portsmouth. Song during 2009-10 season was the most improved player in the entire Arsenal team, finally cementing his place in Arsenal first XI.

International career

Although uncapped at the time, Song was named in the Cameroon squad for the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations. He made his international debut for Cameroon in their first group match, a 4–2 defeat against holders Egypt; he replaced Stéphane Mbia at half time, joining his uncle Rigobert on the pitch. For the duration of the tournament he was a revelation in defence for Cameroon, earning a Man of the Match award in Cameroon's semi final, but then going off injured in the final against Egypt. He was nonetheless named in the Tournament Best XI, alongside Newcastle midfielder and compatriot Geremi.

Song was called-up for the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations and was the only Cameroonian named in the Team of the Tournament.

Club career statistics

(correct as of 24 April 2010)
Club Season League Cup* Europe Total
Apps Goals Assists Apps Goals Assists Apps Goals Assists Apps Goals Assists
Bastia 2004–05 31 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 31 0 0
Total 31 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 31 0 0
Arsenal 2005–06 5 0 0 2 0 0 2 0 0 9 0 0
2006–07 2 0 0 3 1 0 1 0 0 6 1 0
Charlton Athletic (loan) 2006–07 12 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 12 0 1
Arsenal 2007–08 9 0 0 3 0 0 3 0 0 15 0 1
2008–09 31 1 1 6 0 2 11 1 0 48 2 3
2009–10 26 1 1 2 0 0 10 0 1 38 1 2
2010–11 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0
Total 86 2 3 16 1 2 27 1 1 129 4 7
Career total 117 2 3 16 1 2 27 1 1 160 4 7

(* FA Cup, League Cup and FA Community Shield)

Honours

International

Winner

Runner-up

Individual

References

  1. ↑ "Statistics". Premier League. http://www.premierleague.com/staticFiles/c2/3b/0,,12306~146370,00.pdf. Retrieved 2010-01-10. 
  2. ↑ "Song". FootballDatabase. http://www.footballdatabase.com/index.php?page=player&Id=7953&pn=Alexandre_Song_Billong. Retrieved 2010-01-10. 
  3. ↑ "PFA Profile". PFA. 2008-11-04. http://www.givemefootball.com/player-profiles/alexandre-song-billong. Retrieved 2008-11-04. 
  4. ↑ "Arsenal star Song so happy to sing the praises of family values". Daily Mail. 17th april 2009. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1171570/Arsenal-star-Song-happy-sing-praises-family-values.html. Retrieved 24 july 2010. 
  5. ↑ Barlow, Matt (2009-04-17). "Arsenal star Song so happy to sing the praises of family values". Daily Mail. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1171570/Arsenal-star-Song-happy-sing-praises-family-values.html. 
  6. ↑ "Wenger moves for Song". Sky Sports. http://home.skysports.com/list.asp?hlid=292220&plid=41116&clid=3&cpid=8. Retrieved 10 August 2006. 
  7. ↑ "Arsenal take Song on season loan". BBC Sport. 2005-08-11. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/a/arsenal/4692645.stm. Retrieved 2010-01-10. 
  8. ↑ Fifield, Dominic (2006-12-09). "Academies are not working and need big change, says Benítez". The Guardian (London). http://football.guardian.co.uk/News_Story/0,,1974975,00.html. Retrieved 23 April 2010. 
  9. ↑ "Liverpool 3–6 Arsenal". BBC Sport. 9 January 2007. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/league_cup/6236687.stm. Retrieved 2 September 2009. 
  10. ↑ "Arsenal's Song in Charlton move". BBC Sport. 2007-01-30. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/charlton_athletic/6313465.stm. 
  11. ↑ "Fenerbahce 2–5 Arsenal". BBC Sport. 21 October 2008. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/7671422.stm. Retrieved 2 September 2009. 
  12. ↑ "Wigan 1–4 Arsenal". BBC Sport. 11 April 2009. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/7978865.stm. Retrieved 17 August 2009. 
  13. ↑ "Song signs new Arsenal contract". BBC Sport. 25 November 2009. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/europe/8378745.stm. Retrieved 2009-11-25. 
  14. ↑ "Song won U-17 African Championships". http://georgefominyen.wordpress.com/2009/03/22/cameroon-under-17s-bundled-out-of-nations-cup/. 

External links

Arsenal F.C. – current squad

1 Almunia · 2 Diaby · 3 Sagna · 4 Fàbregas (c) · 5 Vermaelen · 6 Koscielny · 7 Rosický · 8 Nasri · 10 van Persie · 11 Vela · 14 Walcott · 15 Denílson · 17 Song · 18 Squillaci · 19 Wilshere · 20 Djourou · 21 Fabiański · 22 Clichy · 23 Arshavin · 27 Eboué · 28 Gibbs · 29 Chamakh · 52 Bendtner · 53 Szczęsny · Manager: Wenger