Cameroonian Henri Bedimo retires

Text by: David Kalfa Follow

The Cameroonian Henri Bedimo announced his retirement on June 16, 2020, at the age of 36. The left side carried the colors of eight French clubs, between 1999 and 2018, including Lyon and Marseille.

Publicity

It is a figure of the French Championship (Ligue 1) and Cameroonian football who announced his retirement, this June 16, 2020. Henri Bedimo, 36, posted on social networks: “  I close my chapter of professional footballer. I cannot leave without thanking coaches, volunteers, staff and without forgetting my dear supporters. Without you, I would not have been at this level. I was proud to defend the colors of my country. It was with joy and honor. I have 15 years of wonderful memories left.  "

Two decades in France

Born in Douala in 1984, Henri Bedimo left Cameroon in 1999 to complete his training in Grenoble (GF 38). After four years at the GF38, the left side signed up with Toulouse (Téfécé) where he signed his first professional contract. With Téfécé, the young defender discovers Ligue 1.

But in 2006, he moved to the second division (Ligue 2), in Le Havre. An experience in Ligue 2 which then continues with Châteauroux (2007-2010).

The turning point of 2010

In 2010, Henri Bedimo joined RC Lens, just before his first African Cup of Nations with the "Indomitable Lions". For the World Cup in South Africa, the Lensois is not however retained by the coach Paul Le Guen, despite convincing performances during the CAN 2010.

Henri Bedimo will suffer another disillusionment at the 2014 World Cup. In Brazil, he will be relegated to the rank of understudy of a Benoît Assou-Ekotto yet little involved in the den, despite a sparkling season with Lyon.

The title of 2012

In the meantime, Henri Bedimo is living better hours in clubs, even if the relegation of Lens in 2011 is a big failure. A failure which however allows him to go to Montpellier (MHSC). A more choice that turns out to be more than judicious. In 2012, the MHSC won its first title of champion of France. The left-hander is one of the great craftsmen of this coronation surprise.

The 2012-2013 season was less brilliant, however, and the then-President of Montpellier, Louis Nicollin, tackled his protégé, at the start: “  Bedimo ? It is not what I call a loss.  The Cameroonian, not resentful, will pay tribute to his ex-boss, when he died in June 2017.

The Olympics

Henri Bedimo is now popular, whatever happens. In 2013, he signed at Olympique Lyonnais, where he stayed for three seasons. He finds there the Champions League, already disputed with Montpellier. With the arrival of Franco-Malagasy Jérémy Morel, the left-back nevertheless lost ground.

In 2016, Henri Bedimo then left Lyon for another Olympic, that of Marseille (OM). At OM, the adventure turns to disaster. After a lackluster season, the Cameroonian finds himself forgotten. The Marseille club even begins legal proceedings against him. He accuses him of having set up an academy in Cameroon with the help of Montpellier, his former employer. The case will continue with a dismissal for serious misconduct, in August 2018.

Two years in brackets

Since then, Henri Bedimo's career has been on hold. At the end of May, the French media announced his arrival in the management of the MHSC training center. A retraining for a player whose international career ended during the CAN 2017 qualifiers.

In total, the interested party will have played fifty matches with Cameroon between 2009 and 2016, scoring once in a friendly match against DR Congo (2015).

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