Modeste M'bami

Modeste Mbami (9 October 1982 – 7 January 2023) was a Cameroonian professional footballer who played as a midfielder. Mbami played for clubs in France, Saudi Arabia, and Cameroon, most notably Paris Saint-Germain and Marseille, both of which in Ligue 1.

Club career
Born in Yaoundé, Mbami started his career in his home country playing for Dynamo Douala but was quickly spotted by foreign clubs.

Mbami joined Sedan during the summer of 2000. Despite his young age, Mbami played ten matches in his first season in Division 1 and helped his club to finish fifth. He rapidly became a team regular and played 60 matches in the two following seasons. In 2003, the club was relegated to Ligue 2 and Mbami decided to sign a five-year contract with Paris Saint-Germain for €5 million after his agent Willie McKay halted advanced discussions with Wolverhampton Wanderers.

During his first season with Paris Saint-Germain, Mbami was associated with another young defensive midfielder, Lorik Cana. Despite their lack of experience, they played a big part in the club's good season, where Paris Saint-Germain finished second in Ligue 1 and won the Coupe de France. The club's 2004–05 season was less successful, in which Mbami bami was struggling with an injury. The 2005–06 season saw Mbami help Paris Saint-Germain to another Coupe de France title, while the club finished 9th in the league.

In August 2006, after three years at Paris Saint-Germain, Mbami was transferred to arch-rivals Marseille, signing a three-year contract, and thus renewing his midfield partnership with Lorik Cana, who had signed for Marseille the season before.

Mbami left Marseille after his contract expired in the summer of 2009 and has since had trials at English Premier League clubs Portsmouth, Bolton Wanderers, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Wigan Athletic. After his contract ended with Marseille he moved on 30 September 2009 for a trial with the Spanish club UD Almería, later Almería completed the purchase of the midfielder, the Cameroon player signed a contract with the Spanish club.

In July 2011, Mbami and Juanito were released by Almería. Then he joined China League One club Dalian Aerbin and was loaned to Chinese Super League side Changchun Yatai immediately. Mbami returned to Dalian Aerbin in 2012. However, he could not play for Dalian Aerbin in the 2012 league season due to the foreign players restricted rule. Mbami transferred to Saudi Premier League side Al-Ittihad in July 2012.

In 2014 he moved to Colombia joining Millonarios, from the capital city Bogotá. Mbami was hired to play as a defensive midfielder and signed a contract for the 2014–15 season.

International career
Mbami won the Olympic football games with his country in 2000 in Sydney, also scoring the golden goal against Brazil during the quarter-finals. He was also in the team when Cameroon reached the finals of the FIFA Confederations Cup in 2003 and was part of the 2004 African Cup of Nations team which finished top of its group in the first round of competition, before failing to secure qualification for the semi-finals.

Mbami was also in the Cameroon national team that failed to qualify for the 2006 FIFA World Cup as it finished second in its qualification group behind the Ivory Coast.

Personal life
Mbami acquired French nationality by naturalization on 26 December 2005.

Coaching career
In November 2019 he turned down a coaching job with the Cameroon national team.

Death
On 7 January 2023, Paris Saint-Germain announced that Mbami had died of a heart attack, at the age of 40.

Career statistics

 * Scores and results list Cameroon's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Mbami goal.

Honours
Paris Saint-Germain
 * Coupe de France: 2004, 2006

Ittihad FC
 * Kings Cup (Saudi Arabia): 2013

Cameroon
 * Olympic Games: 2000
 * Confederations Cup: runner-up 2003