François Omam-Biyik

François Omam-Biyik (born 21 May 1966) is a Cameroonian football manager and former player who works as assistant manager of Cameroon.

François Omam-Biyik
Personal information
Date of birth (1966-05-21) 21 May 1966
Place of birth Sackbayene, Cameroon
Height 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Position(s) Forward
Team information
Current team
 Cameroon (assistant)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1986–1987 Canon Yaoundé
1987–1990 Laval 81 (27)
1990–1991 Rennes 38 (14)
1991–1992 Cannes 35 (7)
1992 Marseille 1 (0)
1992–1994 Lens 53 (18)
1994–1997 América 75 (49)
1997 Atlético Yucatán 21 (10)
1997–1998 Sampdoria 6 (0)
1998–1999 Atlante[1] 0 (0)
1999 Puebla 17 (5)
1999–2000 Cháteauroux 3 (0)
International career
1986–1998 Cameroon 73 (26)
Managerial career
2005–2006 EGC Touvent Châteauroux
2007 Palmeros
2008 Real Colima
2009–2010 Saint-Christophe Châteauroux
2010–2011 EGC Touvent Châteauroux
2010–2011 Cameroon (assistant)
2013 Gomido
2013–2019 US Bitam
2019– Cameroon (assistant)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

A forward, he was one of the most important players of the Cameroon national team in the nineties, playing at the three World Cups in 1990, 1994 and 1998.[2] He played 73 international matches in total.

Early life

Omam-Biyik started out as a goalkeeper, and later a defender, before converting into a striker at the age of 16.[3]

Club career

Omam-Biyik had success with different French clubs before moving to Marseille in the summer of 1992. He only played one match, and was transferred to Lens in October 1992.[4] After a few years he continued his career in Mexico with Club América and Puebla F.C.,[5] with short stops in European clubs towards the late nineties. Omam-Biyik retired after the 1999–2000 season.[6]

In 1987 and 1991 he finished third in a run for an African Footballer of the Year award.[6]

In 2003, he played in the Adecmac amateur soccer league in Mexico City with Club Deportivo Sahara, where he scored 10 goals in the season.

International career

Omam-Biyik's greatest moment came when he scored the downward header that gave Cameroon a historic 1–0 win over defending world champions Argentina in the San Siro in the opening match of the 1990 World Cup.[6][7][8] He and his brother André helped Cameroon to the quarter-finals.[9]

He also scored against Sweden in the first round of the 1994 World Cup.[10]

He was called up to 1998 World Cup, which was his third.[11]

Omam-Biyik scored a total of 26 goals in 73 appearances.[12] He is Cameroon's record World Cup player, with 11 matches in three tournaments.

Style of play

Omam-Biyik's aerial ability led to the term "Omam-Biyik" being used as a nickname for a headed goal.[6] While he took part in high jumping at school, he says he was "born" with his heading ability.[3]

Managerial career

Following his retirement Omam-Biyik moved to Colima, Mexico, where he was the head coach of the city's Second Division professional soccer team.

Omam-Biyik was appointed assistant coach of the Indomitable Lions (Cameroon football team) for a two-year tenure, with Spaniard Javier Clemente as head coach.

Omam-Biyik became the head coach of Togolese side Gomido FC in May 2013.[13] He pledged to help rebuild the first team but worked with the club for just two months.

On 20 July 2013, Omam-Biyik was signed to coach Gabonese champions Union Sportive de Bitam, replacing his compatriot Thomas Libiih.[14]

At the end of September 2019, Omam-Biyik was appointed assistant manager under newly hired manager Toni Conceição for Cameroon.[15]

Personal life

He is the father of Emilio Omam-Biyik and cousin of Francis Eliezer Omam, both of whom are footballers. François' older brother, André,[9][16] and André's son, Jean-Armel,[17] are also footballers.

Honours

Lens

Cameroon

References
  1. François Omam-Biyik at FootballDatabase.eu
  2. François Omam – FIFA competition record (archived)
  3. Diallo, Raf (15 June 2020). "Omam-Biyik: The man who stunned Argentina at Italia 90". RTE. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
  4. François Omam-Biyik – French league stats at LFP – also available in French (archived)
  5. François Omam Biyik – Liga MX stats at MedioTiempo.com (archive) (in Spanish)
  6. "Cameroon legend Omam-Biyik launches a book". African Football. 1 December 2016. Retrieved 9 January 2018.
  7. Burnton, Simon (12 February 2014). "World Cup: 25 stunning moments … No1: Cameroon stun Argentina in 1990". The Guardian. Retrieved 9 January 2018.
  8. Janofsky, Michael (9 June 1990). "On World Soccer Stage, a Stunning First Act". New York Times. Retrieved 9 January 2018.
  9. "24". FIFA.com. 24 May 2005. Archived from the original on 4 June 2017. Retrieved 9 January 2018.
  10. "1994 FIFA World Cup USA ™ - Matches - Cameroon-Sweden". FIFA.com. Archived from the original on 23 February 2015. Retrieved 9 January 2018.
  11. Longmore, Andrew (10 June 1998). "Football: Cameroon seeking unity". The Independent. Retrieved 9 January 2018.
  12. Mamrud, Roberto. "François Omam-Biyik - Goals in International Matches". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 9 January 2018.
  13. "Togo: Oman Biyik, New Coach of 'Gomido'". Télégramme228. AllAfrica.com. 4 May 2013.
  14. "Omam Biyik entraîneur de l'US Bitam" (in French). Starafrica.com. 2 August 2013. Archived from the original on 23 April 2014.
  15. Cameroun le nouveau selectionneur et ses adjoints ont officiellement signe, mondialsport.net, 6 October 2019
  16. Leme de Arruda, Marcelo. "World Cup Trivia - Fathers, Sons and Brothers, Uncles and Nephews". RSSSF. Retrieved 9 January 2018.
  17. Kobo, Kingsley (4 January 2012). "Fifa clears Jean-Armel Kana-Biyik to play for Cameroon". Goal.com.
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