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Henri Camara

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Henri Camara
Personal information
Full name Henri Camara[1]
Date of birth (1977-05-10) 10 May 1977 (age 47)
Place of birth Dakar, Senegal
Height 1.76 m (5 ft 9 in)[2]
Position(s) Striker
Youth career
ASC Diaraf
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1998–1999 Strasbourg 0 (0)
1999–2000 Neuchâtel Xamax 32 (17)
2000–2001 Grasshoppers 11 (3)
2001–2003 Sedan 59 (22)
2003–2005 Wolverhampton Wanderers 30 (7)
2004–2005 → Celtic (loan) 18 (8)
2005 → Southampton (loan) 13 (4)
2005–2009 Wigan Athletic 69 (20)
2007–2008 → West Ham United (loan) 10 (0)
2009 → Stoke City (loan) 4 (0)
2009–2010 Sheffield United 23 (4)
2010–2011 Atromitos 28 (3)
2011–2014 Panetolikos 102 (29)
2014–2015 Kalloni 13 (1)
2015 Lamia 9 (1)
2015–2016 Panetolikos 5 (0)
2016 Apollon Smyrni 13 (6)
2016–2017 Ionikos 23 (10)
2017–2018 Fostiras 2 (0)
Total 464 (135)
International career
1999–2008 Senegal 99 (29)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Henri Camara (born 10 May 1977) is a Senegalese former professional footballer who played as a striker. Starting his career in the late 1990s, he went on to play professionally in France, Switzerland, Scotland, England, and Greece before retiring in 2018. A full international between 1999 and 2008, he won 99 caps for the Senegal national team and scored 29 goals. He represented his nation at the 2002 FIFA World Cup, where he scored two goals as Senegal reached the quarter-finals.

Club career

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Early career

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Camara was born in Dakar to a Guinean father and a Senegalese mother.[3] He began his career in France with Racing Club de Strasbourg Alsace (1998–1999), before playing for Swiss clubs Neuchâtel Xamax (1999–2000), and Grasshopper Club Zürich, where he won the Swiss Championship in 2001. He then returned to France with Sedan but sought a new move when they were relegated in 2003.

Wolverhampton Wanderers

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Camara joined newly promoted English Premier League club Wolverhampton Wanderers in August 2003 in a four-year deal for £1.5million.[4] He was a regular first-choice player, capable of creating goalscoring opportunities, but often guilty of erratic finishing that left him with just one goal from 23 games, this goal being the crucial winner as Wolves came back from 3 down at half time to beat relegation rivals Leicester City 4–3.[5] Towards the end of the season, he found his scoring touch and struck 6 times in the final 9 games. While this could not prevent relegation, he was named the fans' Player of the Year.[6]

However, Camara was unwilling to play at a lower level and did not turn up for pre-season training.[7] His future was further unsettled by a bid from Phil Gartside, Bolton Wanderers' chairman, which Wolves chief executive Jez Moxey rejected.[8] He eventually returned to the club but only to negotiate a loan move away.

Celtic and Southampton loans

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Camara's route out of Wolves came in the form of Celtic, who paid £1.5million to take him on loan for the 2004–05 season.[9] His time in Scotland was disappointing, though, as he scored eight goals from twelve starts and six substitute appearances. Camara claimed in the press that he would replace Henrik Larsson, who had just left the club. He also requested Larsson's squad number (7) which he had had at a previous club as well, but was instead given number 27.[10]

The loan deal was terminated during the January 2005 transfer window despite being contracted for longer, as he moved back to England with Southampton.[11] Here, he suffered relegation again as the Saints made the drop on the final day of the season.

Wigan Athletic

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Camara finally found a new permanent club when he was signed by Premiership newcomers Wigan Athletic in August 2005 in a three-year deal for £3million.[12] In 2006, his contract was extended to 2009 due to his outstanding goal scoring form. He had a great time playing with Jason Roberts as they linked well. He again found himself in a Premier League relegation battle, but it ended third time lucky for him as Wigan made a last day escape at the expense of Sheffield United.

After Wigan manager Paul Jewell's resignation, Camara found himself out of favour at Wigan and he was loaned out to West Ham United, for the duration of the 2007–08 season, at the end of the Summer transfer window.[13] By his own admission, he has had a torrid time at West Ham and wants to preferably find another club in England. Despite allowing him to leave on loan Steve Bruce suggested that if Camara wanted to stay at Wigan he was more than welcome to.[14]

Camara scored a brace in his first game back for Wigan under Bruce in the 4–0 win in the League Cup over Notts County.[15] He then scored the match winner against Everton in a 1–0 victory for Wigan at the JJB Stadium on 24 November 2008, their first win against Everton on home soil. He scored again against West Bromwich Albion the following match. Whilst at Wigan he started in the 2006 Football League Cup Final.

On 2 February 2009, Camara joined Stoke City on loan until the end of the season in search of regular first-team football. He missed a glaring opportunity straight after coming off the bench for his debut at Sunderland, smashing a volley from 6 yards against the bar with the entire goal to aim for.[citation needed] He was released by Wigan at the end of the 2008–09 season, after not being offered a new contract.[16]

Camara spent much of the 2009 close-season on trial at Premier League club Hull City but was not offered a contract.[17]

Sheffield United

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After initially rejecting a deal with the Blades, Camara signed a short-term agreement with the Sheffield club until the end of the season.[18] Camara made his début in a 4–3 loss to Cardiff City at the end of October and scored his first goal for the club in a 1–0 win over Peterborough United a month later.[19] He made 23 appearances that season, often from the bench, and scored four goals but was released when his contract expired as the club sought to cut the wage bill.

Atromitos

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On 11 May 2010, Camara signed a one-year deal with Super League Greece side Atromitos.

Panetolikos

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On 19 June 2011, Camara signed a one-year deal with Super League side Panetolikos. Despite appearing in all 30 league games and being Panetolikos' top scorer for the season with 7 goals, he couldn't help his team avoid relegation.

Camara signed another one-year deal with Panetolikos on 27 August 2012,[20] and, by scoring 10 goals in the regular season and 3 goals in the playoffs, helped the team return to the Greek Super League after only one year at the Greek Football League.

In the summer of 2013, he signed a third one-year deal with Panetolikos.[21]

Kalloni

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On 12 May 2014, Camara signed a year deal with Kalloni,[22] for an undisclosed fee. He resigned on 1 February 2015.[23]

Lamia

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On 2 February 2015, Lamia announced the signing of the player for the rest of the season.[24]

Panetolikos

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On 18 August 2015, Camara returned to Panetolikos F.C., signing a one-year contract.[25] On 18 January 2016 Camara and Panetolikos parted ways. Having received an offer from Apollon Smyrni F.C., Camara asked for his contract with Panetolikos to be terminated, in an attempt to get more playing time and reach 100 Senegal caps.[26]

Apollon

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On 19 January 2016, Camara joined Apollon Smyrni.[27]

He spent the 2017–18 season at Greek third-tier side Fostiras.[28] He retired from football in August 2018 at the age of 41.[28]

International career

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Camara made his international debut for Senegal in a 1–1 African Cup of Nations qualifier against Nigeria on 28 February 1999. He went on to play in their surprising run at the 2002 World Cup, scoring two goals, including a golden goal, in the Round of 16 against Sweden, which took them to the quarter-finals for the first time in their history.[29] He was also part of the 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006 and 2008 Africa Cup of Nations squads.

Camara also featured in Ronaldinho's squad for a charity football match. The match was between Europe and the rest of the world. Camara came on as a substitute and scored 2 goals in the second half of the game to help his team take the victory.

Internationally, Camara could have played for Guinea as his father was born in Guinea. On choosing Senegal, he explained, "I was born in Senegal but my father is from Guinea, so, yes, I could have played with Momo Sylla in the Guinea national team. When I was young, I received an invitation from the Senegal youth team and my dad didn't want me to play. His dream was for me to play for Guinea. But I didn't know Guinea very well. Senegal was my country, so it was an easy decision for me to make."[3]

Career statistics

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Club

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Appearances and goals by club, season and competition[30][31][32]
Club Season League National cup[a] League cup[b] Europe Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Strasbourg 1998–99 Division 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 – 0 0
Neuchâtel Xamax 1999–2000 Swiss Nationalliga A 32 17 0 0 – – 32 17
Grasshopper Club Zürich 2000–01 Swiss Nationalliga A 11 3 0 0 – – 11 3
Sedan 2001–02 Division 1 25 8 3 0 0 0 2[c] 0 30 8
2002–03 Ligue 1 34 14 0 0 1 1 – 35 15
Total 59 22 3 0 1 1 2 0 65 23
Wolverhampton Wanderers 2003–04 Premier League 30 7 0 0 2 0 – 32 7
2004–05 Championship 0 0 0 0 0 0 – 0 0
Total 30 7 0 0 2 0 – 32 7
Celtic (loan) 2004–05 Scottish Premier League 18 8 1 0 1 0 6[d] 0 26 8
Southampton (loan) 2004–05 Premier League 13 4 3 2 0 0 – 16 6
Wigan Athletic 2005–06 Premier League 29 12 0 0 3 0 – 32 12
2006–07 Premier League 23 6 0 0 0 0 – 23 6
2007–08 Premier League 0 0 0 0 1 0 – 1 0
2008–09 Premier League 17 2 1 1 3 3 – 21 6
Total 69 20 1 1 7 3 – 77 24
West Ham United (loan) 2007–08 Premier League 10 0 0 0 0 0 – 10 0
Stoke City (loan) 2008–09 Premier League 4 0 0 0 0 0 – 4 0
Sheffield United 2009–10 Championship 23 4 2 0 0 0 – 25 4
Atromitos 2010–11 Super League Greece 28 3 7 1 – – 35 4
Panetolikos 2011–12 Super League Greece 30 7 2 0 – – 32 7
2012–13 Football League Greece 40 13 1 0 – – 41 13
2013–14 Super League Greece 32 9 2 0 – – 34 9
Total 102 29 5 0 – – 107 29
Kalloni 2014–15 Super League Greece 13 1 2 2 – – 15 3
Lamia 2014–15 Football League Greece 9 1 0 0 – – 9 1
Total 9 1 0 0 – – 9 1
Panetolikos 2015–16 Super League Greece 5 0 2 0 – – 7 0
Apollon Smyrni 2015–16 Football League Greece 13 6 0 0 – – 13 6
Ionikos 2016–17 Gamma Ethniki 23 10 0 0 – – 23 10
Fostiras 2017–18 Gamma Ethniki 2 0 0 0 – – 2 0
Career total 491 135 26 6 10 4 8 0 533 145
  1. ^ Includes Coupe de France, FA Cup, Scottish Cup, Greek Football Cup
  2. ^ Includes Coupe de la Ligue, Football League Cup, Scottish League Cup
  3. ^ Appearances in UEFA Cup
  4. ^ Appearances in UEFA Champions League

International

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Appearances and goals by national team and year[33]
National team Year Apps Goals
Senegal 1999 11 2
2000 13 2
2001 10 3
2002 13 3
2003 7 3
2004 13 4
2005 7 4
2006 9 2
2007 4 3
2008 12 3
Total 99 29
Scores and results list Senegal's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Camara goal.
List of international goals scored by Henri Camara[33]
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1 6 June 1999 Stade du 4-Août, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso  Burkina Faso 1–0 2–2 1999 African Cup of Nations qualification
2 20 August 1999 Cicero Stadium, Asmara, Eritrea  Eritrea 1–0 2–0 2000 African Cup of Nations qualification
3 25 January 2000 Sani Abacha Stadium, Kano, Nigeria  Burkina Faso 1–0 3–1 2000 African Cup of Nations
4 1 February 2000 National Stadium, Lagos, Nigeria  Zambia 1–0 2–2 2000 African Cup of Nations
5 10 March 2001 Stade Leopold Senghor, Dakar, Senegal  Namibia 4–0 4–0 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification
6 24 March 2001 Stade Leopold Senghor, Dakar, Senegal  Uganda 2–0 2–0 2002 African Cup of Nations qualification
7 30 December 2001 Stade Leopold Senghor, Dakar, Senegal  Algeria 1–0 1–0 Friendly
8 16 June 2002 Ōita Bank Dome, Ōita, Japan  Sweden 1–1 2–1 2002 FIFA World Cup
9 2–1
10 8 September 2002 Setsoso Stadium, Maseru, Lesotho  Lesotho 1–0 1–0 2004 African Cup of Nations qualification
11 7 June 2003 Stade Leopold Senghor, Dakar, Senegal  Gambia 2–0 3–1 2004 African Cup of Nations qualification
12 14 June 2003 Stade Leopold Senghor, Dakar, Senegal  Lesotho 2–0 3–0 2004 African Cup of Nations qualification
13 3–0
14 18 August 2004 Stade Pierre de Coubertin, Avignon, France  Ivory Coast 1–0 1–2 Friendly
15 5 September 2004 Stade 26 mars, Bamako, Mali  Mali 1–1 2–2 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification
16 10 October 2004 National Complex, Paynesville, Liberia  Liberia 2–0 3–0 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification
17 3–0
18 26 March 2005 Stade Leopold Senghor, Dakar, Senegal  Liberia 4–0 6–1 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification
19 18 June 2005 Stade Leopold Senghor, Dakar, Senegal  Togo 2–1 2–2 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification
20 8 October 2005 Stade Leopold Senghor, Dakar, Senegal  Mali 1–0 3–0 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification
21 3–0
22 23 January 2006 Port Said Stadium, Port Said, Egypt  Zimbabwe 1–0 2–0 2006 Africa Cup of Nations
23 3 February 2006 Harras El-Hedoud Stadium, Alexandria, Egypt  Guinea 3–1 3–2 2006 Africa Cup of Nations
24 8 September 2007 Stade Leopold Senghor, Dakar, Senegal  Burkina Faso 3–1 5–1 2008 Africa Cup of Nations qualification
25 4–1
26 17 November 2007 Stade Olympique Yves-du-Manoir, Colombes, France  Mali 1–0 3–2 Friendly
27 12 January 2008 Stade Leopold Senghor, Dakar, Senegal  Namibia 3–1 3–1 Friendly
28 31 January 2008 Baba Yara Stadium, Kumasi, Nigeria  South Africa 1–1 1–1 2008 Africa Cup of Nations
29 21 June 2008 Stade Leopold Senghor, Dakar, Senegal  Liberia 3–0 3–1 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification

Honours

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Wigan Athletic

References

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  1. ^ "Henri Camara". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 6 March 2017.
  2. ^ "H. Camara". Soccerway. Retrieved 16 August 2018.
  3. ^ a b White, Nicolas (26 August 2004). "Camara breaks father's heart". BBC Sport. Retrieved 24 June 2009.
  4. ^ "Camara and Craddock in the spotlight". wolves.co.uk. 1 August 2003. Archived from the original on 2 September 2012.
  5. ^ "Wolves comeback stuns Leicester". BBC. 25 October 2003. Retrieved 1 September 2009.
  6. ^ "Player of the Year is announced". wolves.co.uk. 15 May 2004. Archived from the original on 30 August 2012.
  7. ^ "Camara walks out on Wolves". BBC Sport website. 13 July 2004.
  8. ^ "Wolves firm on Camara". BBC Sport website. 14 July 2004.
  9. ^ "Camara joins Celtic". BBC Sport website. 30 July 2004.
  10. ^ "Camara keen to impress". BBC Sport website. 31 July 2004.
  11. ^ "Camara completes switch to Saints". BBC Sport website. 31 January 2005.
  12. ^ "Camara joins Wigan in £3m switch". BBC Sport website. 6 August 2005.
  13. ^ "West Ham sign Solano and Camara". BBC Sport website. 31 August 2007.
  14. ^ "Sky Sports – Football – Premier League – News – Camara looks for new club". Sky Sports.
  15. ^ "Wigan 4–0 Notts County". BBC Sport. 26 August 2008.
  16. ^ "Sibierski keen to play on". Wigan Today. 9 June 2009. Archived from the original on 20 June 2009. Retrieved 10 June 2009.
  17. ^ "No Deal For Camara". Hull City. 13 August 2009. Archived from the original on 1 March 2012. Retrieved 7 June 2013.
  18. ^ "Blades snap up Camara". Sheffield United F.C. 22 October 2009. Archived from the original on 24 October 2009. Retrieved 22 October 2009.
  19. ^ "Camara clicks in an instant". The Sheffield Star. 23 November 2009. Retrieved 22 November 2009.
  20. ^ "Dimbala and Camara sign with Panetolikos". panaitolikos1926.gr. 27 August 2012. Archived from the original on 8 January 2014. Retrieved 6 January 2014.
  21. ^ "Junior and Camara sign with Panetolikos". allsportsagrinio.gr. 28 July 2013. Archived from the original on 7 January 2014. Retrieved 6 January 2014.
  22. ^ "Στην Καλλονή ο Ανρί Καμαρά". www.novasports.gr. 12 May 2014. Archived from the original on 24 September 2018. Retrieved 15 August 2015.
  23. ^ "Έφυγε από την Καλλονή ο Καμαρά". www.sport24.gr. 1 February 2015.
  24. ^ "Στη Λαμία ο Ανρί Καμαρά". www.zougla.gr. 2 February 2015.
  25. ^ "Επέστρεψε ο Καμαρά". panetolikos.gr. 18 August 2015. Archived from the original on 27 May 2016. Retrieved 12 January 2020.
  26. ^ "Λύση συνεργασίας με Ανρί Καμαρά". www.panetolikos.gr. 18 January 2016. Archived from the original on 2 March 2016. Retrieved 12 January 2020.
  27. ^ "Ανακοίνωσε Καμαρά ο Απόλλων". www.sport-fm.gr. 19 January 2016. Retrieved 19 January 2016.
  28. ^ a b Okeleji, Oluwashina. "Much-travelled Senegal striker Henri Camara quits at 41". BBC Sport. Retrieved 16 August 2018.
  29. ^ "Golden day for Senegal". 16 June 2002. Retrieved 13 June 2019.
  30. ^ "Henri Camara". National Football Teams. Retrieved 18 July 2018.
  31. ^ "H. Camara". Soccerway. Retrieved 18 July 2018.
  32. ^ "Henri Camara". ESPN Soccernet. Archived from the original on 19 July 2018. Retrieved 7 December 2011.
  33. ^ a b "Henri Camara – Goals in International Matches". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 7 December 2011.
  34. ^ "Man Utd ease to Carling Cup glory". BBC Sport. 26 February 2006. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
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