Mathias Kouo-Doumbé

Mathias Kouo-Doumbé (born 28 October 1979), often known simply as Mat or Mathias Doumbé,[2][3] is a French former footballer.

Mathias Doumbé
Personal information
Full name Mathias Kouo-Doumbé
Date of birth (1979-10-28) 28 October 1979
Place of birth Drancy, France
Height 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Position(s) Defender
Youth career
1992–1999 A.A.S. Sarcelles
1999–2001 Paris Saint-Germain
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2001–2004 Hibernian 46 (2)
2004–2009 Plymouth Argyle 134 (4)
2009–2013 Milton Keynes Dons 121 (11)
2013–2014 Northampton Town 32 (3[1])
Total 331 (19)
National team
France U21
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

He began his career in his native France, where he was on the books of Paris Saint-Germain and was capped by the French under-21 team. He moved to Scotland in 2001 to play for Premier League club Hibernian, and went on to spend three years with the club, playing in the 2004 Scottish League Cup Final. He switched to English club Plymouth Argyle in May 2004, and spent five seasons playing in the Championship. He dropped down a division when he joined Milton Keynes Dons for a four-year spell in August 2009. After a four-year spell with the Dons, he signed with League Two side Northampton Town in September 2013.

Playing career

Doumbé, the son of a Cameroonian father, was offered a place at Clairefontaine at the age of 13 alongside his friend Philippe Christanval, but his parents turned down the offer as they wanted him to focus on his schoolwork.[4] Nevertheless, he won a contract at Paris Saint-Germain and was capped by the French under-21 team against Romania, only to be shown the door at the Parc des Princes after picking up a serious ankle injury.[4]

Hibernian

Doumbé was signed by Alex McLeish at Scottish Premier League club Hibernian in October 2001. He did not feature in the "Hibs" side in the 2001–02 season, but was still handed a new one-year deal in June 2002.[5]

He made his debut on 18 August 2002, conceding a penalty in a 4–2 defeat to Rangers at Easter Road.[4] He made a further 14 appearances in the 2002–03 season, as new boss Bobby Williamson searched for a solution to the club's poor defensive record.[6]

In August 2003, it was reported that Dundee United boss Ian McCall had offered a cash sum plus David McCracken in exchange for Doumbé.[7] He scored his first senior goal on 27 September, in a 2–1 home defeat to Celtic. He established himself at centre-back during the 2003–04 season, and played in the League Cup final defeat to Livingston at Hampden Park.[8] At the end of the campaign he rejected the offer of a new contract after being linked with a move to Rangers.[9][10]

Plymouth Argyle

Doumbé turned down a three-year deal at Hibernian when he joined his former manager Bobby Williamson at Plymouth Argyle on a free transfer in May 2004.[11] He enjoyed an impressive start to the 2004–05 season, and was soon linked with a move to Premier League side Everton.[12] Days after being linked with a move away from Home Park, he was described by Williamson as being "very committed and very brave, or foolish, whatever way you want to look at it" after he required 24 stitches in his head after challenging for the ball in a 2–1 defeat to Leicester City at the Walkers Stadium.[13]

He firmly established himself in the first team in the 2005–06 campaign, making a total of 43 Championship appearances as new boss Tony Pulis focused on shoring up the defence. He signed a new two-year contract in May 2006.[14]

He continued to be an important player after Ian Holloway replaced Pulis as manager, and he played 30 games in the 2006–07 season.

Doumbé featured just 14 times for the "Pilgrims" in the 2007–08 season, with Paul Sturrock (yet another new manager) generally preferring the central defensive partnership of Marcel Seip and Krisztián Timár. In May 2008, Doumbé signed a two-year extension to his contract, as he became Argyle's longest-serving outfield player, second only to goalkeeper Romain Larrieu.[15]

Loan signing Craig Cathcart was generally preferred to play alongside Marcel Seip in the 2008–09 season, limiting Doumbé to 24 appearances. Doumbé had a trial with Millwall in July 2009 after "Lions" boss Kenny Jackett admitted that he was short on defenders.[16] His contract with Argyle was cancelled by mutual consent the following month.[17]

Milton Keynes Dons

Doumbé signed with Milton Keynes Dons on 7 August 2009. He played his first game for The Dons the following day at Stadium mk in a 0–0 draw with Hartlepool United. He went on to play 39 games in the 2009–10 campaign as Paul Ince led the club to a 12th-place finish in League One.

He made 51 appearances in the 2010–11 campaign as new boss Karl Robinson took MK to the play-off semi-finals, where they were knocked out by Peterborough United. He signed a new two-year contract in June 2011.[18]

He missed the first six weeks of the 2011–12 season with an ankle injury picked up in a friendly defeat to Oxford United.[19] He went on to score five goals despite featuring in just 23 games, and was absent from the end-of-season run-in that ended with a play-off semi-final defeat to Huddersfield Town.

Doumbé featured 28 times in the 2012–13 campaign and was released in May 2013.[20]

He went on trial at Port Vale in July 2013, but did not sign a contract; manager Micky Adams said that "It's well documented that I would have liked to have brought in Matt Doumbe, but that's not been possible."[21]

Northampton Town

In September 2013, Doumbé joined League Two side Northampton Town until the end of the 2013–14 season.[22] Manager Aidy Boothroyd said that "He's got more cuts and bruises on his head than I've ever seen in a centre-half, which is a good sign. He's brave, he's calm under pressure and he'll get his share of goals."[23]

On 21 September 2013, Doumbé made his debut for Northampton in a 3–0 defeat at Mansfield Town, with the third of Mansfield's goals being an own-goal by Doumbé.[24] Doumbé was used regularly in central defence as Northampton's form improved after new manager Chris Wilder arrived at Sixfields in January. However, despite chipping in with three goals in the second half of the season, including the winner in the final game against Oxford - a win which ultimately secured Northampton's safety in League Two, Doumbé was not offered a new contract for the 2014–15 season.[25]

Style of play

Doumbé prefers to play on the right-side of central defence.[26] He is a speedy player with good heading and marking abilities.[26]

Statistics
As of 1 September 2013.
Season Club Division League FA Cup League Cup Other[27] Total
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
2001–02[28]HibernianSPL0000000000
2002–03[29]130200000150
2003–04[30]332105000392
Total 462305000542
2004–05[31]Plymouth ArgyleChampionship262101000282
2005–06[32]431102000461
2006–07[33]290001000300
2007–08[34]120200000140
2008–09[35]241000000241
Total 13444040001424
2009–10[36]Milton Keynes DonsLeague One331201030391
2010–11[37]445202030515
2011–12[38]204310000235
2012–13[39]241400000281
Total 12111111306014112
2013–14[40]Northampton TownLeague Two323200000342
Total 322200000342
Career total 333192011206037120

Honours

Club

Hibernian

Individual

References
  1. The PFA Premier & Football League Players' Records 1946-2015 Barry Hugman
  2. "Wycombe 0 – 1 MK Dons". BBC Sport. 19 September 2009. Retrieved 21 July 2013.
  3. "Doumbe departs as Argyle chase Gow". The Herald. 7 August 2009. Archived from the original on 3 October 2013. Retrieved 21 July 2013.
  4. Berry, Gavin (22 February 2004). "That Doumbe kid sure plays a mean ball". Sunday Mail. Retrieved 22 July 2013.
  5. "Caldwell loan to Coventry". BBC Sport. 15 June 2002. Retrieved 22 July 2013.
  6. "Room for improvement at Hibs". BBC Sport. 4 August 2003. Retrieved 22 July 2013.
  7. "Tannadice trial for French duo". BBC Sport. 28 August 2003. Retrieved 22 July 2013.
  8. "Livingston lift CIS Cup". BBC Sport. 14 March 2004. Retrieved 22 July 2013.
  9. "Doumbe stalling over new Hibs deal: Petrie". The Scotsman. 15 January 2004. Retrieved 21 July 2013.
  10. "Hibs bid to keep Doumbe". BBC Sport. 15 April 2004. Retrieved 22 July 2013.
  11. "Doumbe follows old boss". Daily Mirror. 21 May 2004. Retrieved 22 July 2013.
  12. "Argyle deny Doumbe Everton link". BBC Sport. 29 November 2004. Retrieved 22 July 2013.
  13. "Boss confident over Doumbe injury". BBC Sport. 30 November 2004. Retrieved 22 July 2013.
  14. "Doumbe delight at Plymouth deal". BBC Sport. 11 May 2006. Retrieved 22 July 2013.
  15. "Doumbe extends stay at Home Park". BBC Sport. 21 May 2008. Retrieved 22 July 2013.
  16. "Millwall offer trial to Doumbe". BBC Sport. 31 July 2009. Retrieved 22 July 2013.
  17. "Doumbe ends contract with Argyle". BBC Sport. 7 August 2009. Retrieved 22 July 2013.
  18. "MK Dons give deals to Doumbe, Ibehre and Flanagan". BBC Sport. 17 June 2011. Retrieved 22 July 2013.
  19. "Mathias Doumbe is out for start of MK Dons season". BBC Sport. 31 July 2011. Retrieved 22 July 2013.
  20. "MK Dons release Mathias Doumbe but two others sign on". BBC Sport. BBC. 16 May 2013. Retrieved 17 May 2013.
  21. "Defiant Adams vowing to prove doubters wrong". The Sentinel. 2 August 2013. Retrieved 2 August 2013.
  22. "Football - Cobblers capture Kouo-Doumbe". www.uk.eurosport.yahoo.com. Yahoo and Eurosport. 19 September 2013. Archived from the original on 28 September 2013. Retrieved 19 September 2013.
  23. "Mathias Kouo-Doumbe signs for Northampton Town". BBC Sport. 19 September 2013. Retrieved 22 September 2013.
  24. "Northampton Town: Doumbe's debut to forget as toothless Town beaten at Mansfield". Northampton Herald & Post. 21 September 2013. Retrieved 3 September 2014.
  25. "Northampton Chrronicle and Echo: Cobblers confirm central defender Doumbe won't get new deal". 21 May 2014.
  26. "Profile". greensonscreen.co.uk. Retrieved 22 July 2013.
  27. Includes other competitive competitions, including the Football League Trophy.
  28. "Games played by Matthias Doumbe in 2001/2002". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 September 2012.
  29. "Games played by Matthias Doumbe in 2002/2003". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 September 2012.
  30. "Games played by Matthias Doumbe in 2003/2004". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 September 2012.
  31. "Games played by Matthias Doumbe in 2004/2005". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 September 2012.
  32. "Games played by Matthias Doumbe in 2005/2006". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 September 2012.
  33. "Games played by Matthias Doumbe in 2006/2007". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 September 2012.
  34. "Games played by Matthias Doumbe in 2007/2008". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 September 2012.
  35. "Games played by Matthias Doumbe in 2008/2009". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 September 2012.
  36. "Games played by Matthias Doumbe in 2009/2010". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 September 2012.
  37. "Games played by Matthias Doumbe in 2010/2011". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 September 2012.
  38. "Games played by Matthias Doumbe in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 September 2012.
  39. "Games played by Matthias Doumbe in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 September 2012.
  40. "Games played by Matthias Doumbe in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 24 January 2016.
  41. "Kouo-Doumbe signs Dons deal". Sky Sports. 17 June 2011. Retrieved 5 September 2018.
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