Lauren Bisan

Laureano Bisan Etame-Mayer (born 19 January 1977 in Londi Kribi, Cameroon), more commonly known as Lauren, is a Cameroonian football (soccer) of Equatorial Guinea origin, who currently plays for English FA Premier League team Portsmouth F.C..

Career

Early career

Lauren was born in Cameroon as his parents fled Equatorial Guinea due to the political persecution during the dictatorship of Francisco Macías Nguema. Then the family moved to Seville, where he was raised. He started his career in Spain, playing for Utrera (on loan from Sevilla FC), Sevilla FC, Levante UD, and RCD Mallorca. He qualified for dual nationality through residency and as a Spaniard he is exempt from the post-Bosman ruling regulation that restricts the number of non-EU players to three per team in UEFA competition matches even though he is a Cameroon national football team international.

Arsenal

Lauren was transferred to Arsenal in the summer of 2000 for a fee of £7,200,000. Lauren provided cover for both midfield or defence (sport). He made his Arsenal debut against Sunderland A.F.C. on August 19 2000. However his first season in English football season was blighted by injuries. Although at first Lauren was unable to gain a regular place in the Arsenal side, he eventually ended up becoming the club's first-choice full back (football), replacing veteran Lee Dixon (and leapfrogging Ukraine national football team Oleh Luzhny in the process). By the time Arsenal had won the Double in 2001-02 in English football, Lauren was an integral part of the Arsenal defence.

In 2002-03 in English football, Lauren suffered a calf injury and again missed part of the season, but nevertheless recovered in time and won an FA Cup winners medal that season, as Arsenal beat Southampton F.C. 1-0.

Lauren was a consistent member of the Arsenal first team during 2003-04 in English football, but his season was marred by his verbal abuse towards Manchester United F.C.'s Ruud van Nistelrooy after van Nistelrooy had missed a penalty late on in the match between the two sides at Old Trafford (football ground). Lauren was banned by the Football Association for four matches and fined £40,000. Nevertheless, he made his 150th appearance for Arsenal during that season, as Arsenal won the Premier League title unbeaten, giving Lauren his second League winners' medal.

Lauren won a third FA Cup winners' medal in 2005, as Arsenal beat Manchester United on penalties after a 0-0 draw in the final; Lauren scored the first of Arsenal's spot-kicks. However, during 2005-06 in English football, Lauren suffered a knee injury against Wigan Athletic F.C. in a League Cup semi-final match on January 21 2006. He spent nearly a year out of the game as a result, and it wasn't until December 19 that Lauren was included in a playing squad, for Arsenal's match against Liverpool in the League Cup quarter-finals; this match was later postponed due to heavy fog. Lauren was not called up for Arsenal again.

During his absence Lauren's position had been covered by, amongst others, Emmanuel Eboué and Justin Hoyte, leading to media speculation that Lauren would leave Arsenal for another club, possibly West Ham United F.C.. On January 12 2007 Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger confirmed Arsenal would allow Lauren to leave, if he chose to do so. On January 18 2007, Lauren completed a move to Portsmouth for an undisclosed fee.

Portsmouth

On January 18 2007, Lauren completed a transfer to Premier League side, Portsmouth F.C. from fellow FA Premier League side Arsenal F.C., on a two and a half year contract. On 22 January Harry Redknapp said the transfer fee was £500,000.

On January 20, 2007 he played his first Premiership game for Portsmouth in midfield against Charlton Athletic F.C. and was a regular at right back for the remainder of the 2006/07 season. In his second season at the club he dropped to second choice right back due to Glen Johnson's impressive form. However Lauren found first team opportunities due to his versatility, he has filled in at left back on many occasions and played regularly on the right of midfield during January 2008 while John Utaka was away at the African Cup of Nations.

International career

During the 1997-98 season, whilst he was playing at Levante UD, Cameroonian goalkeeping legend Thomas N'Kono learnt of his selectability by Cameroon due to his birth. He was invited to join the squad that played in the 1998 FIFA World Cup and rose to the challenge. Lauren earned his first full international cap for Cameroon national football team in May 1998 against Luxembourg national football team. Unfortunately his debut in the tournament as a substitute was blighted by one of the fastest sending offs in the history of the World Cup, when in his first challenge for the ball he was shown a red card, thus ending his World Cup campaign.

Better times were ahead though, playing in the Cameroon team that won the 2000 African Nations Cup. He also played in the gold medal winning team at the Football at the 2000 Summer Olympics, ironically against Spain national football team who could have selected him were it not for his choice of Cameroon.

This success was repeated when the team won the 2002 African Nations Cup; Cameroon beat Senegal national football team on penalty shoot-out after a 0-0 draw. Lauren scored in the penalty shootout. He also played in the 2002 FIFA World Cup group stages, featuring in all three of Cameroon's group matches, but his side failed to qualify for the knockout stage. He retired from international football in 2002, having won 25 caps for his country. Cameroon's new trainer, German-born Otto Pfister announced that Lauren will be joining the squad for training camp in Germany on November 15.

Personal life

Lauren is a regular pundit alongside Guillem Balague and Roberto Martínez on Sky Sports' La Liga programme, Revista de la Liga.

He is also an avid boxing and enjoys sparring in his spare time.

Arsenal Career Stats

(correct as of 13 July 2006)

Honours

Cameroon

- Association Football Olympic Gold Medal 2000
- African Nations Cup Winner 2000, 2002
- African Nations Cup Player of the Tournament 2000

RCD Mallorca

- Spanish Supercup Winner 1998

Arsenal

- FA Cup: 2002, 2003, 2005
- FA Premier League Winner: 2001-02, 2003-04

Portsmouth

- Premier League Asia Trophy winner – 2007
FA CUP winner 2008