Charles Itandje

Lens

Born in Bobigny (a suburb of Paris) of Cameroonian descent, Itandje began his professional career at French club RC Lens in 2001, for whom he made 170 league appearances and 21 appearances in European games. Lens were prepared to allow Itandje to leave for Liverpool after they signed two goalkeepers in the summer of 2007, saying: "The directors of Lens have concluded the definitive sale of Charles Itandje to Liverpool Football Club. The Lens goalkeeper leaves Lens after six years of good and loyal service."

Liverpool

Itandje signed for Liverpool in August 2007, as cover for Pepe Reina, thus allowing Scott Carson to join Aston Villa on a season-long loan to play regularly. Itandje said of his move: "At Liverpool there is a very good keeper who has been there three years. I am clearly going to be number 2. But, there are 60 matches a season and it is planned that I will play the League Cup and FA Cup." He made his first team debut for Liverpool in a League Cup match against Reading on 25 September, which Liverpool won 4–2, and in total, made three League Cup appearances and four FA Cup appearances for Liverpool in the 2007–08 season. He was made available for transfer in the summer of 2008 after Liverpool signed Diego Cavalieri but turned down a move to Galatasaray. He made no further appearances for Liverpool and by January 2009 was seeking to leave the club. On 30 June 2010, Itandje returned to Liverpool. His contract with Liverpool was due to expire…

Itandje has represented France on several occasions, making his debut against Yugoslavia in November 2002. In 2006, he was called up for pre-selection for the French squad after a fine season at RC Lens. He was selected for the équipe de France espoirs (the under-21 team), and became known for his dance to destabilize opponents during the penalty shootout. In October 2010 he was cleared by FIFA to represent Cameroon after expressing his desire to play for the Cameroon national team. Itandje made his international debut in the World Cup Qualifier against Togo and soon made himself the number 1 choice. He then went on to play in Cameroon's opening game in the World Cup against Mexico. He then continued in their following two games against Croatia and Brazil. Cameroon lost all of these games, resulting in them being knocked out of the World Cup at the group stage.

As of 1 July 2017

UEFA Intertoto Cup: 2005