Achille Emaná

Achille Emaná
Personal information
Full name	Achille Emana Edzimbi
Height	1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Position(s)	Midfielder
Team information
Current team	Galatasaray A.S.
Number	11
Youth career
1999	Babimbi Douala
1999–2000	Valencia
2000–2001	Toulouse
Senior career*
Years	Team
2001–2008	Toulouse
2008–	Real Betis
	Galatasaray
International career‡
2003–	Cameroon
	*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 16:26, 14 June 2010 (UTC); ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 16:26, 14 June 2010 (UTC)

Achille Emana Edzimbi (born 5 June 1982 in Yaounde) is a Cameroonian football Centre midfielder who currently plays for Spanish Segunda División side Real Betis.The 2010-2011 season Turkey team Galatasaray S.K .

Club career

Emana began his European club career at Spanish giants Valencia, where he rose through the academy ranks, before joining French Ligue 1 side Toulouse in 2000. In 2001 he joined the Toulouse first team, and quickly established himself in the starting eleven as an attacking midfielder.

Emana has reportedly attracted interest from French giants Olympique Lyonnais^[1] and Olympique de Marseille following his impressive displays for his club^[2].

In 2007 Emana was strongly linked with English Premiership club Portsmouth, where he would have joined a large contingent of African players. His chances of a move were quashed, however, when he was unable to obtain a work permit. He eventually signed a contract extension to 2010 with Toulouse.^[3]^[4]^[5]^[6]

In spring 2008 it was reported that there was interest in Emana from other clubs around Europe, including English Premiership sides West Ham United, and Newcastle United^[7], whilst Spanish La Liga outfit FC Sevilla were also said to be tracking the Cameroonian.^[8]

On June 11, 2008 it was reported that Spanish La Liga side Real Betis were negotiating with Toulouse for the services of Emana. The midfielder was quoted as being keen to secure a move to Spain to further his career, although his current club had apparently already rejected two bids for his signature.^[9]

on 22 July Emana finally completed his move to Real Betis for a fee believed to be £5.5m. He was assigned the number 20 shirt for the Andalusians, and scored his first goal for the club in a 3-0 win over RCD Mallorca.^[10] Unfortunately, Betis were relegated on the last day of the 2008/09 season despite Emana's 11 goals and 7 assists in the league, a goal tally that meant he finished top scorer for the club.

He has recently been linked with Blackburn Rovers, Birmingham City and Bolton Wanderers of the English Premier League, and Rangers in Scotland.

International career

He was a member of the Cameroon for the 2003 Confederations Cup, as well as the 2006 African Nations Cup squad, where his side exited in the quarter-finals.

In the 2008 African Cup of Nations, Emana scored his only goal in the tournament,scoring a goal during Cameroon's 5-1 score against Zambia. During Cameroon's 2010 World Cup qualification match against Gabon,Emana scored a goal in the 66th minute,which was followed by a goal from Samuel Eto'o just 2 minutes later. .^[11]

In the 2010 African Nations Cup, Emana scored his only goal in the tournament,scoring a goal from a corner-kick during Cameroon's 1-3 loss against Egypt.

References

External links

Achille Emaná – FIFA competition record (archived)
Achille Emaná at National-Football-Teams.com
Achille Emaná – French league stats at LFP – also available in French (archived)

[1] Lyon look at new Essien

[2] OM admit Emana's an option

[3] Emana waiting for Pompey offer

[4] Emana keeps up Pompey hope

[5] Permit problems for Pompey deal

[6] Emana extends Toulouse deal

[7] Emana linked with Newcastle

[8] Emana linked with a move abroad

[9] Emana eyes Betis switch

[10] Emana earns Betis move

[11] Emana calls time on Cameroon

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