Japhet N'Doram

Japhet N'Doram (Arabic: يافث ندورام; born 27 February 1966) is a Chadian former professional footballer who played as a striker.

Japhet N'Doram
Personal information
Date of birth (1966-02-27) 27 February 1966 (age 58)
Place of birthN'Djamena, Chad
Height1.82 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position(s)Striker
Youth career
Tourbillon
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
1984–1988Tourbillon
1988–1990Tonnerre Yaoundé?(33)
1990–1997Nantes192(72)
1997–1998Monaco13(1)
International career
1989–1997Chad36(13)
Managerial career
2007Nantes
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

His 14-year senior career was mainly spent with Nantes, which he represented in several capacities. He was nicknamed The Wizard.[1]

Club career

Born in N'Djamena, N'Doram begun his career with local Tourbillon FC, then spent three seasons in Cameroon with Tonnerre Yaoundé, one of the biggest clubs in Sub-Saharan Africa. In 1990 the 24-year-old signed for FC Nantes in France, scoring two goals in 19 games in his first season in Ligue 1; his first professional contract arrived as Argentine Jorge Burruchaga was recovering from injury and accepted to be given an amateur licence on behalf of his teammate.[2]

N'Doram became something of a cult hero at Stade de la Beaujoire, scoring important goals as the club's 2000th in the top division, through a penalty against Lille OSC (1–0 win) or the second in a 3–2 home triumph against Juventus FC in the 1995–96 UEFA Champions League semi-finals (3–4 aggregate loss).[3] In 1994–95, he netted 12 goals as Les Canaris won their seventh national championship – the first in 12 years – bettering to a career-best 21 in the 1996–97 campaign (second-best in the competition).

Aged 31, N'Doram left Nantes and signed for fellow league side AS Monaco FC, winning the 1997 Trophée des Champions,[4] but retired at the end of the season following a persistent injury sustained during a match against his former team.[3] He then joined his last club's technical staff, working as a scout.[2]

N'Doram returned to Nantes on 28 June 2005, replacing Robert Budzynski as director of football. In February 2007 he was appointed team manager, leaving his post in July as the season ended in relegation.[5][6]

Personal life

N'Doram holds Chadian and French nationalities.[7] His son, Kévin, is also a footballer. He played for Monaco.[8]

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition[9][10]
ClubSeasonLeagueCupContinentalTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Tourbillon1984Chad Premier League
1985
1986
1987
1988
Tonnerre1988Elite One
19891515
199032183218
Nantes Atlantique1990–91French Division 11923100223
1991–922541000264
1992–93311050003610
1993–942684010318
1994–95321211834116
1995–96241521733319
1996–97352100003521
Total1927217316622581
Monaco1997–98French Division 11311220163
Career total23791185186273102


Honours

Nantes Atlantique

AS Monaco

Individual

References