Cyrille Makanaky

Cyrille Makanaky
Personal information
Full name	Cyrille Thomas Makanaky
Date of birth	28 June 1965 (age 59)
Place of birth	Douala, Cameroon
Height	1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position(s)	Midfielder
Senior career*
Years	Team
1984–1985	Saint-Leu
1985–1987	Gazélec Ajaccio
1987–1988	Toulon
1988–1989	Lens
1989–1990	Toulon
1990–1992	Málaga
1992–1993	Villarreal
1993–1994	Maccabi Tel Aviv
1994–1995	Barcelona SC
1995–1996	Gazélec Ajaccio
1996–1997	Barcelona SC
Total
International career
1987–1993	Cameroon
	*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Cyrille Thomas Makanaky (born 28 June 1965) is a Cameroonian retired footballer who played as an attacking midfielder.

Club career

Makanaky was born in Douala. After impressing at amateur level in France, with FC Saint-Leu and Gazélec Ajaccio, he represented, with little impact but always in Ligue 1, SC Toulon (twice) and RC Lens.

In 1990, Makanaky moved to Spain and remained in the country for three years, playing in Segunda División for CD Málaga and Villarreal CF. His second year, whilst at the Andalusians, finished in relegation, and the club folded soon afterwards.

Until his retirement at the age of 32, Makanaky also played in Israel with Maccabi Tel Aviv FC, Ecuador for Barcelona Sporting Club – two spells, winning the national league on both occasions – and France with former side Gazélec.

International career

Makanaky appeared in two Africa Cup of Nations with the Cameroon national team. In the 1988 edition, held in Morocco, he scored the game's only goal, helping defeat the hosts in the semifinals and eventually winning the trophy.

Makanaky also represented the nation at the 1990 FIFA World Cup in Italy, playing all five matches (two complete) as the Lions Indomptables reached the quarterfinals.

In popular culture "Makanaki" is a nickname coined from Makanaky's name and was commonly used in some Yoruba speaking parts of western Nigeria after the exploits of the Cameroun National Team in the FIFA 1990 World Cup. The rougedness and flambouyance of Makanaky led to the use of the Nigerianized version of the name to be used to refer to a skillful and rugged person.

External links

Racing Lens archives (in French)
Cyrille Makanaky at BDFutbol
Cyrille Makanaky at National-Football-Teams.com
Cyrille Makanaky – FIFA competition record (archived)