ALEX SONG PROFILE

Alexandre Dimitri Song Billong born 9 September 1987, more commonly known as Alex Song, is a Cameroonian footballer who plays for Premier League side Arsenal and the Cameroon national team as a midfielder. He is the cousin of The Panthers central defender Rigobert Song (though he refers to him as uncle). He plays as a defensive midfielder in front of the back four and has also played as a stand-in centre back and right back. Originally a utility player on the fringes of the first team, he quickly became an integral part of the first team during the preseason to the 2008�09 campaign. He played for the Cameroon national football team in 2010 FIFA World Cup. Song also possesses a French passport.

Song was born in Douala, Cameroon and lost his father at the age of three. Since then, his cousin Rigobert Song has been like a second father and was a major influence in choosing football as a career. Unable to find a club or academy where he could hone his skills, Petit Song, as he is known in the Cameroon side, opted to move to France, joining SC Bastia at the age of 16. One of the players who inspired Song the most when he was young was Michael Essien. Alex Song wanted to give his children a good upbringing in life, which he claims eluded him; he married at the age of 18 and is now father to two children, the oldest being two-year-old Nolan.Song is one of 28 children in his family; he has 17 sisters and 10 brothers.

Song was first capped by Cameroon in 2005.He was named in the Cameroon squad for the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations. He played for Cameroon in their first group match, a 4�2 defeat against holders Egypt; he replaced St�phane Mbia at half time, joining his cousin Rigobert on the pitch. For the duration of the tournament he was a revelation in defence for Cameroon, earning a Man of the Match award in Cameroon's semi final, but then going off injured in the final against Egypt. He was nonetheless named in the Tournament Best XI, alongside Newcastle midfielder and compatriot Geremi.

Song was called-up for the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations and was the only Cameroonian named in the Team of the Tournament

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ABOUT ALEX SONG
Full name: Alexandre Dimitri Song Billong
Date of birth: 9 September 1987
Place of birth: Douala, Cameroon
Height: 1.84 m (6 ft 0 in)
Playing position: Defensive midfielder, Centre back

Club information
Current club: Arsenal
Number: 17

Youth career
2003�2004 Bastia

Senior career
2003�2004 Bastia B 24 (0)
2004�2006 Bastia 32 (0)
2005�2006 ? Arsenal (loan) 5 (0)
2006� Arsenal 99 (6)
2007 ? Charlton Athletic (loan) 12 (0)

National team
2002�2003 France U16 6 (0)
2003�2004 Cameroon U17 3 (0)
2008 Cameroon U23 3 (0)
2005- Cameroon 24 (0)

source:wikipedia