Biography
Who is Carlos Kameni?
Early life and start in football
Idris Carlos Kameni was born in Douala, Cameroon. At age 16, he became the youngest football player to secure an Olympic gold medal during the 2000 games. This achievement led to a transfer to the French club Le Havre AC.
While he remained a reserve player there, he also spent time on loan at AS Saint-Étienne. During this period, he was linked to a potential move to Juventus FC, though the deal did not materialize. He also attempted to join Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Premier League for the 2003–04 season, but he could not obtain a United Kingdom work permit, causing the agreement to fail.
Club career in Spain
In 2004, Carlos Kameni joined RCD Espanyol for a fee of US$600,000. He eventually became the first-choice goalkeeper, helping the team win the Copa del Rey in the 2005–06 season. During his time in Spain, he broke Thomas N'Kono's record by maintaining 498 consecutive minutes without allowing a goal.
In 2012, he moved to Málaga CF. His tenure at Málaga included a standout performance against Real Madrid in 2015, where he kept a clean sheet despite facing 31 shots. He also became the first goalkeeper for the club to provide an assist in the Spanish top flight during a match against Real Sociedad.
International achievements
Carlos represented the Cameroon national team beginning at age 17. He debuted in a friendly match against South Korea in 2001. Throughout his international career, he participated in two World Cup tournaments and six Africa Cup of Nations competitions.
He served as the primary goalkeeper when Cameroon finished as runners-up in the 2003 FIFA Confederations Cup. His performance was recognized when he was named the Best African Goalkeeper for the 2006–07 season. Although he was selected for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, he served as a substitute for that tournament.
Later career and personal details
In 2017, Carlos moved to Turkey to sign a three-year contract with Fenerbahçe SK. Following his time there, he briefly retired before returning to professional football in 2021 to play for the Djiboutian club Arta/Solar7 alongside Alex Song. He later signed with UE Santa Coloma in Andorra and Antequera CF in Spain.
Outside of his professional life, his older brother, Mathurin Kameni, also played as a professional football goalkeeper. Carlos stands 186 centimeters tall and continues to be remembered for his long tenure in European leagues.
Birthday and age
Carlos Kameni was born on February 18, 1984, which makes Carlos 42 years old today. That birthday falls under the Aquarius sign. Carlos shares the date with 64 other famous people.
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