Marc-Vivien Foé
Updated: 12/20/2025, 1:50:02 PM Wikipedia source
Marc-Vivien Foé (1 May 1975 – 26 June 2003) was a Cameroonian professional footballer, who played as a defensive midfielder. Having initially played for Canon Yaoundé, Foé went on to play professionally in Ligue 1 and the Premier League with Lens, West Ham United, Lyon and Manchester City. On 26 June 2003, Foé died suddenly during an international match for Cameroon, an event which shocked the football community worldwide. The death was later ruled to be due to hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. He was capped 62 times by his nation and had scored 8 goals. He was posthumously decorated with the Commander of the National Order of Valour and had his shirt numbers 23 and 17 retired by Manchester City and Lens, respectively.
Infobox
1993
Cameroon U20
1994
Canon Yaoundé
Full name
Marc-Vivien Foé
Date of birth
(1975-05-01)1 May 1975
Place of birth
Yaoundé, Cameroon
Date of death
26 June 2003(2003-06-26) (aged 28)
Place of death
Lyon, France
Height
1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
Position
Midfielder
1991–1992
Union de Garoua
1992–1994
Fogape Yaoundé
Years
Team
1994–1999
Lens
1999–2000
West Ham United
2000–2003
Lyon
2002–2003
→ Manchester City (loan)
1993–2003
Cameroon
Tables
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition[32] · Career statistics › Club
Division
Division
Club
Division
Season
Apps
League
Goals
League
Apps
League
Goals
National Cup
Apps
National Cup
Goals
League Cup
Apps
League Cup
Goals
Continental
Apps
Continental
Goals
Lens
Lens
Club
Lens
Season
1994–95
League
Division 1
League
15
League
3
Total
15
Total
3
1995–96
1995–96
Club
1995–96
Season
19
League
2
Continental
19
Continental
2
1996–97
1996–97
Club
1996–97
Season
28
League
2
Continental
28
Continental
2
1997–98
1997–98
Club
1997–98
Season
18
League
2
League Cup
0
League Cup
0
Continental
18
Continental
2
1998–99
1998–99
Club
1998–99
Season
5
League
2
League Cup
1
League Cup
0
Continental
6
Continental
2
Total
Total
Club
Total
Season
85
League
11
League Cup
1
League Cup
0
Continental
86
Continental
11
West Ham United
West Ham United
Club
West Ham United
Season
1998–99
League
Premier League
League
13
League
0
National Cup
0
National Cup
0
League Cup
0
League Cup
0
Continental
0
Continental
0
Total
13
Total
0
1999–2000
1999–2000
Club
1999–2000
Season
25
League
1
League
1
League
0
National Cup
3
National Cup
0
League Cup
3
League Cup
1
Continental
32
Continental
2
Total
Total
Club
Total
Season
38
League
1
League
1
League
0
National Cup
3
National Cup
0
League Cup
3
League Cup
1
Continental
45
Continental
2
Lyon
Lyon
Club
Lyon
Season
2000–01
League
Division 1
League
25
League
1
National Cup
3
National Cup
0
League Cup
3
League Cup
0
Continental
8
Continental
1
Total
39
Total
2
2001–02
2001–02
Club
2001–02
Season
18
League
2
League
0
League
0
National Cup
0
National Cup
0
League Cup
8
League Cup
0
Continental
26
Continental
2
Total
Total
Club
Total
Season
43
League
3
League
3
League
0
National Cup
3
National Cup
0
League Cup
16
League Cup
1
Continental
65
Continental
4
Manchester City (loan)
Manchester City (loan)
Club
Manchester City (loan)
Season
2002–03
League
Premier League
League
35
League
9
National Cup
1
National Cup
0
League Cup
2
League Cup
0
Continental
0
Continental
0
Total
38
Total
9
Career total
Career total
Club
Career total
Season
201
League
24
League
5
League
0
National Cup
8
National Cup
0
League Cup
20
League Cup
2
Continental
234
Continental
26
| Club | Season | League | National Cup | League Cup | Continental | Total | ||||||
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Lens | 1994–95 | Division 1 | 15 | 3 | 15 | 3 | ||||||
| 1995–96 | 19 | 2 | 19 | 2 | ||||||||
| 1996–97 | 28 | 2 | 28 | 2 | ||||||||
| 1997–98 | 18 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 2 | ||||||
| 1998–99 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 2 | ||||||
| Total | 85 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 86 | 11 | ||||||
| West Ham United | 1998–99 | Premier League | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 0 |
| 1999–2000 | 25 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 32 | 2 | ||
| Total | 38 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 45 | 2 | ||
| Lyon | 2000–01 | Division 1 | 25 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 8 | 1 | 39 | 2 |
| 2001–02 | 18 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 26 | 2 | ||
| Total | 43 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 16 | 1 | 65 | 4 | ||
| Manchester City (loan) | 2002–03 | Premier League | 35 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 38 | 9 |
| Career total | 201 | 24 | 5 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 20 | 2 | 234 | 26 | ||
Appearances and goals by national team and year[33] · Career statistics › International
Cameroon
Cameroon
National team
Cameroon
Year
1993
Apps
2
Goals
0
1994
1994
National team
1994
Year
6
Apps
0
1995
1995
National team
1995
Year
2
Apps
1
1996
1996
National team
1996
Year
4
Apps
0
1997
1997
National team
1997
Year
6
Apps
0
1998
1998
National team
1998
Year
5
Apps
0
1999
1999
National team
1999
Year
2
Apps
0
2000
2000
National team
2000
Year
8
Apps
3
2001
2001
National team
2001
Year
9
Apps
2
2002
2002
National team
2002
Year
14
Apps
2
2003
2003
National team
2003
Year
4
Apps
0
Total
Total
National team
Total
Year
62
Apps
8
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
| Cameroon | 1993 | 2 | 0 |
| 1994 | 6 | 0 | |
| 1995 | 2 | 1 | |
| 1996 | 4 | 0 | |
| 1997 | 6 | 0 | |
| 1998 | 5 | 0 | |
| 1999 | 2 | 0 | |
| 2000 | 8 | 3 | |
| 2001 | 9 | 2 | |
| 2002 | 14 | 2 | |
| 2003 | 4 | 0 | |
| Total | 62 | 8 | |
International goals by date, venue, cap, opponent, score, result and competition · Career statistics › International goals
1
1
No.
1
Date
24 December 1995
Venue
Stade Ahmadou Ahidjo, Yaoundé, Cameroon
Cap
10
Opponent
Liberia
Score
1–0
Result
1–0
Competition
Friendly
2
2
No.
2
Date
22 January 2000
Venue
Accra Sports Stadium, Accra, Ghana
Cap
28
Opponent
Ghana
Score
1–0
Result
1–1
Competition
2000 African Cup of Nations
3
3
No.
3
Date
6 February 2000
Venue
31
Cap
Algeria
Opponent
2–0
Score
2–1
4
4
No.
4
Date
19 April 2000
Venue
Stade Ahmadou Ahidjo, Yaoundé, Cameroon
Cap
34
Opponent
Somalia
Score
2–0
Result
3–0
Competition
2002 FIFA World Cup qualification
5
5
No.
5
Date
1 July 2001
Venue
42
Cap
Togo
Opponent
2–0
Score
2–0
6
6
No.
6
Date
14 July 2001
Venue
Independence Stadium, Lusaka, Zambia
Cap
43
Opponent
Zambia
Score
1–0
Result
2–2
7
7
No.
7
Date
7 January 2002
Venue
Stade du 4 Août, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
Cap
45
Opponent
Burkina Faso
Score
1–0
Result
3–1
Competition
Friendly
8
8
No.
8
Date
7 February 2002
Venue
Stade du 26 Mars, Bamako, Mali
Cap
51
Opponent
Mali
Score
3–0
Result
3–0
Competition
2002 African Cup of Nations
| No. | Date | Venue | Cap | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
| 1 | 24 December 1995 | Stade Ahmadou Ahidjo, Yaoundé, Cameroon | 10 | Liberia | 1–0 | 1–0 | Friendly |
| 2 | 22 January 2000 | Accra Sports Stadium, Accra, Ghana | 28 | Ghana | 1–0 | 1–1 | 2000 African Cup of Nations |
| 3 | 6 February 2000 | 31 | Algeria | 2–0 | 2–1 | ||
| 4 | 19 April 2000 | Stade Ahmadou Ahidjo, Yaoundé, Cameroon | 34 | Somalia | 2–0 | 3–0 | 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 5 | 1 July 2001 | 42 | Togo | 2–0 | 2–0 | ||
| 6 | 14 July 2001 | Independence Stadium, Lusaka, Zambia | 43 | Zambia | 1–0 | 2–2 | |
| 7 | 7 January 2002 | Stade du 4 Août, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso | 45 | Burkina Faso | 1–0 | 3–1 | Friendly |
| 8 | 7 February 2002 | Stade du 26 Mars, Bamako, Mali | 51 | Mali | 3–0 | 3–0 | 2002 African Cup of Nations |
References
- "State funeral for Foe"https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/africa/3050794.stm
- "Thousands follow Foe to burial"http://www.rediff.com/sports/2003/jul/08foe.htm
- L'Équipehttps://www.lequipe.fr/Football/FootballFicheJoueur2682.html
- "La vie de Marc Vivien Foé"http://www.bonaberi.com/article.php?aid=2263
- The Independenthttps://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-lens-want-united-to-dig-deep-for-foe-1158509.html
- The Independenthttps://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-foes-world-cup-dream-ends-with-broken-leg-1157199.html
- "Fans unite in Foe grief"https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/africa/3026400.stm
- The Guardianhttps://www.theguardian.com/news/2003/jun/28/guardianobituaries.brianglanville
- The Independenthttps://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-wednesday-undone-by-di-canio-1127841.html
- The Guardianhttps://www.theguardian.com/football/1999/oct/01/newsstory.sport6
- "Summer signings"https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/876185.stm
- "Marc-Vivien Foe"https://web.archive.org/web/20070718025457/http://soccernet.espn.go.com/archive/england/players/foemarc-vivien.html
- "Former clubs to honor fallen player"http://www.espnfc.com/story/270672/former-clubs-to-honor-fallen-player
- "Foe signs for City"http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/s/15/15328_foe_signs_for_city.html
- "Sunderland 0 Manchester City 3"http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/manchester_city/s/26/26287_sunderland_0_manchester_city_3.html
- "Foe: Career on two continents"https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/africa/3024476.stm
- "Facts and figures"https://web.archive.org/web/20100215184357/http://www.fifa.com/mm/document/afdeveloping/technicaldevp/50/05/87/wyc_93_tr_part4_187.pdf
- "Marc-Vivien Foe Factbox"https://web.archive.org/web/20030920155929/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/soccer/news/2003/06/26/foe_facts/
- Los Angeles Timeshttps://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1993-09-23-sp-38071-story.html
- "World Cup 1994"https://www.rsssf.org/tables/94full.html
- The Story of the World Cup
- The Guardianhttps://www.theguardian.com/news/2003/jun/28/guardianobituaries.brianglanville
- Glanville, The Story of the World Cup, p 344.
- "Planet World Cup – 1994 – Group B – Sweden v Cameroon"http://www.planetworldcup.com/CUPS/1994/groupb_swe_v_cmr.html
- "Cameroon star Foe dies"https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/3024360.stm
- The Guardianhttps://www.theguardian.com/world/2003/jun/26/football
- "Autopsy reveals Foe died of heart problem"https://web.archive.org/web/20030713132415/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/soccer/news/2003/07/07/foe_autopsy/
- "Foe ill before match"https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/3027850.stm
- "Fans unite in Foe grief"https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/africa/3026400.stm
- "Joueur"https://web.archive.org/web/20230715150558/https://www.ligue1.fr/joueur?id=marc-vivien-foe
- "France 3–2 Turkey"https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/internationals/3019126.stm
- Single source here, if player is inactive. If player has not retired, move source next to "Updated" template.
- "Marc-Vivien Foé – International appearances"https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/mvfoe-intl.html
- Libérationhttp://www.liberation.fr/sports/1998/05/11/foot-les-sang-et-or-champions-sur-le-fil-devant-metzau-bonheur-de-lens_238437
- The Irish Timeshttp://www.irishtimes.com/sport/west-ham-unable-to-master-a-meaty-metz-challenge-1.215621
- The Independenthttps://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-hammers-storm-metz-citadel-1115281.html
- The New York Timeshttps://www.nytimes.com/2002/05/06/sports/06iht-soccer_ed3__1.html?pagewanted=all
- Hürriyet Daily Newshttp://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/ambitious-lyon-clinches-first-trophy-in-28-years.aspx?pageID=438&n=ambitious-lyon-clinches-first-trophy-in-28-years-2001-05-07
- "African Nations Cup 2000 - Final Squads-Lists, Cameroon"https://www.rsssf.org/tables/00a.html#squad
- "African Nations Cup 2000 - Final Tournament Details"https://www.rsssf.org/tables/00a-det.html
- "African Nations Cup 2002 - Final Tournament Details"https://www.rsssf.org/tables/02a-det.html
- "FIFA Confederarions 2003-Cameroon Squad"https://web.archive.org/web/20071204163305/http://fifa.com/tournaments/archive/tournament=101/edition=6489/teams/team=43849.html
- "France overcome Cameroon"https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/internationals/3028578.stm
- Fédération Internationale de Football Associationhttps://web.archive.org/web/20030704024400/http://www.fifa.com/en/display/mrel%2C70513.html