Henri Camara (born 10 May 1977) is a Senegalese footballer who plays as a striker for Sheffield United.

[edit] Club career

[edit] Early career

Camara was born in Dakar to Guinean parents who migrated to Senegal,^{[citation needed]} and began his career in France with RC Strasbourg (1998-1999), before playing for Swiss clubs Neuchâtel Xamax (1999-2000), and Grasshopper-Club Zürich, where he won the Swiss Championship in 2001. He then returned to France with Sedan but sought a new move when they were relegated in 2003.

[edit] Wolverhampton Wanderers

Camara joined newly promoted English Premier League club Wolverhampton Wanderers in August 2003 for £1.5million. He was a regular first-choice player, capable of creating goalscoring opportunities, but often guilty of erratic finishing that left him with just one goal from 23 games, this goal being the crucial winner as Wolves came back from 3-0 down at half time to beat relegation rivals Leicester City 4-3.^[1] Towards the end of the season, he found his scoring touch and struck 6 times in the final 9 games. While this could not prevent relegation, he was named the fans' Player of the Year.

However, Camara was unwilling to play at a lower level and did not turn up for pre-season training.^[2] His future was further unsettled by a bid from Phil Gartside, Bolton Wanderers' chairman, which Wolves chief executive Jez Moxey rejected.^[3] He eventually returned to the club but only to negotiate a loan move away, thus earning the nickname of "Le Rat".

[edit] Celtic

Camara's route out of Wolves came in the form of Celtic, who paid £1.5million to take him on loan for the 2004–05 season.^[4] His time in Scotland was disappointing, though, as he scored eight goals from twelve starts and six substitute appearances. Camara claimed in the press that he would replace Henrik Larsson, who had just left the club. He also requested Larsson's squad number (7) which he had had at a previous club as well, but was instead given number 27.^[5]

The loan deal was terminated during the January 2005 transfer window despite being contracted for longer, as he moved back to England with Southampton.^[6] Here, he suffered relegation again as the Saints made the drop on the final day of the season.

[edit] Wigan Athletic

Camara finally found a new permanent club when he was signed by Premiership newcomers Wigan Athletic in August 2005 in a three year deal for £3million.^[7] In 2006, his contract was extended to 2009. He again found himself in a Premier League relegation battle, but it ended third time lucky for him as Wigan made a last day escape at the expense of Sheffield United.

After Wigan manager Paul Jewell's resignation, Camara found himself out of favour at Wigan and he was loaned out to West Ham United, for the duration of the 2007-08 season, at the end of the Summer transfer window.^[8] By his own admission, he has had a torrid time at West Ham and wants to preferably find another club in England. Despite allowing him to leave on loan Steve Bruce suggested that if Camara wanted to stay at Wigan he was more than welcome to. ^[9]

Camara scored a brace in his first game back for Wigan under Bruce in the 4-0 win in the Carling Cup over Notts County.^[10] He then scored the match winner against Everton in a 1-0 victory for Wigan at the JJB Stadium on 24 November 2008, their first win against Everton on home soil. He scored again against West Bromwich Albion the following match. Whilst at Wigan he started in the 2006 Football League Cup Final.

On 2 February 2009, Camara joined Stoke City on loan until the end of the season in search of regular first-team football. He missed a glaring opportunity straight after coming off the bench for his debut at Sunderland, smashing a volley from 6 yards against the bar with the entire goal to aim for.^{[citation needed]} He was released by Wigan at the end of the 2008–09 season, after not being offered a new contract.^[11].

Camara spent much of the 2009 close-season on trial at Premier League club Hull City but was not offered a contract,^[12].

[edit] Sheffield United

After initially rejecting a deal with the Blades, Camara signed a short term agreement with the Sheffield club until the end of the season.^[13] Camara made his debut in a 4-3 loss to Cardiff City at the end of October and scored his first goal for the club in a 1-0 win over Peterborough United a month later.^[14]

[edit] International career

Camara made his international debut for Senegal in a 1-1 African Cup of Nations qualifier against Nigeria on 28 February 1999. He went on to play in their surprising run at the 2002 World Cup, scoring two goals - one a golden goal - in the Round of 16 against Sweden, which took them to the quarter finals for the only time in their history. He was also part of the 2004, 2006 and 2008 African Nations Cup squads.

Henri Camara also featured in Ronaldinho's squad for a charity football match. The match was between Europe and the rest of the world. Henri Camara came on as a substitute and scored 2 goals in the second half of the game to help his team take the victory.

Internationally, Henri Camara could have played for Guinea as his father was born in Guinea but chose Senegal, explaining, "I was born in Senegal but my father is from Guinea, so, yes, I could have played with Momo [Sylla in the Guinea national team]. When I was young, I received an invitation from the Senegal youth team and my dad didn't want me to play. His dream was for me to play for Guinea. But I didn't know Guinea very well. Senegal was my country, so it was an easy decision for me to make."^[15]

[edit] Personal life

Henri has a son, also named Henri (born 11 November 2006 in Paris), with his wife.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Henri Camara career stats at Soccerbase
• Sporting-heroes Photos & stats

v • d • e Senegal squad – 2002 FIFA World Cup 1 Sylva • 2 Daf • 3 Sarr • 4 Malick Diop • 5 N'Dour • 6 Cissé • 7 H. Camara • 8 Traoré • 9 S. Camara • 10 Fadiga • 11 Diouf • 12 Faye • 13 Diatta • 14 Moussa N'Diaye • 15 Diao • 16 Diallo • 17 Coly • 18 Thiaw • 19 Bouba Diop • 20 S. N'Diaye • 21 Beye • 22 Cissokho • 23 Makhtar N'Diaye • Coach: Metsu

v • d • e Senegal squad – 2004 Africa Cup of Nations 1 Sylva • 2 Daf • 3 Faye • 4 Malick Diop • 5 Diawara • 6 Cissé • 7 Camara • 8 N'Diaye • 9 Kamara • 10 Sakho • 11 Diouf • 12 Mendy • 13 Diatta • 14 N'Doye • 15 Diao • 16 Diallo • 17 Coly • 18 Niang • 19 Bouba Diop • 20 Diagne-Faye • 21 Beye • 22 Cissokho • Coach: Stéphan

v • d • e Senegal squad – 2006 Africa Cup of Nations 1 Sylva • 2 Daf • 3 N'Daw • 4 Diakhaté • 5 Diawara • 6 Barry • 7 H. Camara • 8 Niang • 9 S. Camara • 10 Ba • 11 E. Diouf • 12 A. Faye • 13 Diatta • 14 Mendy • 15 Kamara • 16 M. Diouf • 17 Coly • 18 Dramé • 19 Bouba Diop • 20 Diagne-Faye • 21 Beye • 22 N'Diaye • 23 Djiba • Coach: Sarr

v • d • e Senegal squad – 2008 Africa Cup of Nations 1 Sylva • 2 Sonko • 3 N'Daw • 4 Sarr • 5 Diawara • 6 Faye • 7 Camara • 8 Niang • 9 Gueye • 10 N'Doye • 11 Diouf • 12 Bayal Sall • 13 Diatta • 14 Papa Waigo • 15 Kamara • 16 C. N'Diaye • 17 Sougou • 18 Mendy • 19 Bouba Diop • 20 Faye • 21 Beye • 22 Ba • 23 Coundoul • Coach: L. N'Diaye