Foé Marc-Vivien is one of the most tragic figures in the history of world football. The talented Cameroonian central midfielder managed to play in many clubs, achieve serious success and die right on the field. Of course, there are dozens of cases of football deaths, but this was one of the most notorious. Until now, many people remember with horror the moment when Marc-Vivien fell on the lawn and did not rise from it anymore.
Well, it’s worth taking a look at his career as a football player and see what this guy has achieved in his not-so-long life, which ended so tragically. Who was Foe Mark Vivien?
Carier start
Foé Marc-Vivien was born in 1975 in Cameroon, where he began to play football. He was in two junior schools before starting his professional career at the Canon Club at the age of 18. Unfortunately, his statistics on this club were not preserved, but it is worth assuming that his performances were outstanding, since even then he was called up to the Cameroon national team and moved to Europe because the French club Lance signed a professional contract with him . Thus began the incredible journey of a young football player into the world of sports. Foé Marc-Vivien is a player who is remembered by many fans of the national team of Cameroon, Lance and other French and English clubs.
Performances in "Lance"
Foe took himself later number 23 - under it everyone remembered him. The young Cameroonian was quick, had an impressive game intelligence and a smart pass, beat the opponents perfectly and kept the ball. In general, he brought a lot to Lance for the five years he spent in this club. Largely thanks to him, this club became the champion of France in 1998 - it was then that Marc-Vivien won his first trophy in Europe.
A year later, together with Lance, he won the French Cup, but still Lance is not such a big name in the football world. Therefore, one should not expect that he would linger here throughout his career. And so it happened that in 1999 Lance received an offer to buy a 24-year-old midfielder for six million euros (at that time a very large sum of money). The offer came from the English club West Ham, and the French could not refuse. Moreover, Marc-Vivien himself sought to England, where he took the number 23.
Period at West Ham
As it turned out, the Cameroonian football player was just beginning his ascent on the career ladder. West Ham was the first step for him, which allowed him to climb much higher than anyone could have expected. Marc-Vivien perfected his skills and showed the world what he is capable of. Thus, he attracted the attention of top clubs in Europe, but Cameroonian with French roots still pulled to France.
That is why in 2000, at the age of 25, he again went to this championship, but this time not at Lance, but at one of the strongest clubs - Lyon. Foe played 38 matches for West Ham, making an impressive contribution to the development of this club. But ahead of him were more serious achievements.
The heyday of Lyon
Lyon signed a two-year contract with the Cameroonian midfielder, which Marc-Vivien worked conscientiously. Over these two years, he managed to repeat his achievement - as with Lance, Marc-Vivien won the French Championship and Cup with Lyon. However, his achievements were not limited to the club level - together with the national team of Cameroon, he twice won a victory at the African Cup of Nations (in 2000 and 2002).
The year 2002 changed the life of Foe, since he again went to England. This time, a contract with him was signed by one of the largest clubs on the British island - FC Manchester City. “Lyon” tried hard to keep one of the most talented Cameroonian football players in history, but the attraction to England was stronger.
Last Club Foe
Manchester City FC, unfortunately, has become the player’s last club. In 2002, Foé signed a contract at the age of 27 - he played all season at Manchester City, becoming a key player, scoring nine goals and almost always leaving the base. However, a year later the player was waiting for a call to the national team of Cameroon and participation in the Confederations Cup, which would be fatal for Marc-Vivien.
General appearances for the national team
Separately, it is worth talking about how Foé played for the national team of Cameroon as a whole. As mentioned earlier, this was one of the most talented players in the country in history. And this can be noted due to the fact that it was with him that the country in 2000 and 2002 won the largest African tournament. In total, Marc-Vivienne Foé spent sixty-four matches for the national team, scoring eight goals in them. Unfortunately, this number was not able to increase due to the tragedy that occurred in 2003 at the Confederations Cup, held in France. This is what will be discussed now.
The tragic death of Foe
So, what happened to such a brilliant footballer like Marc-Vivienne Foeh? The cause of death turned out to be quite commonplace - a heart attack, and it was simply impossible to avoid this. But first things first. Cameroon team played very confidently in this tournament. In the first match, she beat the Brazilian national team, one of the most formidable opponents of the time, and then the Turkish national team. These two victories, in which Foe directly participated, allowed the team to qualify for the semifinals. Therefore, the third group match against the US national team Foé held out of the field - he was given rest. But he reached the semi-finals against the Colombian national team in full combat readiness.
Alas, the semifinal of the Confederations Cup 2003 was the last match in which this talented footballer played. For seventy minutes he ran as if wound up and showed nothing that something was wrong with him. But in the seventy-first minute a terrible thing happened - Foe simply fell on the lawn and stopped breathing. Doctors tried to save him, tried to pump him out, made him artificial respiration, but nothing helped. And forty-five minutes later, Foe died. So completely suddenly the career and life of one of the most talented African football players that this world saw was cut short. About him a lot of things were told both by his partners in all the teams for which he played, and by the coaches.
The coach of the Cameroon national team, who brought the team to the Confederations Cup, later admitted that a few minutes before the terrible incident, he wanted to replace Foe, as he looked a little tired. But Marc-Vivien showed him that everything was in order, and continued the game. As everyone knows, Foe’s 23rd number was assigned to him in the national team of Cameroon and in Manchester City, a club for which Marc-Vivien dreamed of playing all his life. Well, his dream came true, but, unfortunately, did not last long. More than ten years have passed since the death of this Cameroonian football player, but they still remember him and respond exclusively with warmth, and also remember his incredible talent and desire to win at all costs. It is such players that are needed in football at all times.