Place of birth Douala, Cameroon Years Team Name Roudolphe Douala Height 1.76 m Position Midfielder | Playing position 1997–1998 Saint-Etienne Role Footballer Weight 75 kg | |
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Full name Roudolphe Douala M'bela Date of birth (1978-09-25) 25 September 1978 (age 37) Number 37 (Plymouth Argyle F.C. / Midfielder) | ||
Roudolphe Douala M'bela (born 25 September 1978), known as Douala, is a Cameroonian retired footballer. Mainly a winger he could also operate as a forward, and played professionally in five countries, mainly in Portugal. He amassed Primeira Liga totals of 213 games and 34 goals over the course of nine seasons, notably representing in the competition Sporting (three years), Boavista and Uniao de Leiria (two apiece).
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Douala appeared for the Cameroonian national team at the 2006 Africa Cup of Nations.
Club career
Douala was born in Douala. He started his professional career at AS Saint-Etienne but did not make any Ligue 2 appearances for the French club, moving to Portugal when he was 20 and signing with Boavista FC.
After two loans, at Gil Vicente F.C. and U.D. Leiria (where he first made an impact in the national championship), Douala moved to Sporting Clube de Portugal, scoring five league goals in his debut season while also helping the Lions to the campaign's UEFA Cup final, notably scoring against Middlesbrough in a 3–2 away win. Never an undisputed starter, however, he would be loaned for 2006–07 to England's Portsmouth on the very last day of the summer transfer window, with a view to a permanent signing.
Speculation during the 2007 winter window had linked Douala with a move away from the club, with the player reportedly frustrated at his lack of first team opportunities at Fratton Park. A transfer never materialized, however, and he revealed that "On the last day of the transfer window two clubs were calling me all day, but I said 'I want to stay'".
Douala returned to Sporting when his loan contract ended and, on 14 July 2007, rejoined old club Saint-Etienne for an undisclosed fee. After only one season where he appeared sparingly, he left for Asteras Tripoli F.C. in Greece. A fruitless spell soon followed and, after agreeing a release from his contract, he signed with English club Plymouth Argyle on 22 March 2009, for the remainder of the 2008–09 campaign, making his debut as a substitute in the Pilgrims' 4–0 home win against Coventry City on 11 April; however, he was unsuccessful in securing a long-term contract, and was released.
On 15 March 2010, 31-year-old Douala moved teams and countries again, signing with Belgium's Lierse SK, and the club returned to the top division at the season's end, with the player contributing with one goal.
International career
Douala gained 17 caps for Cameroon, during five years. He participated at the 2006 Africa Cup of Nations, helping the national team reach the quarter-final stage.