:Moussa Latoundji

{{Short description|Beninese footballer and manager (born 1978)}}

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Moussa Latoundji

| fullname = Moussa Latoundji

| image =

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1978|8|13|df=y}}

| birth_place = Porto-Novo, Benin

| height = 1.77 m

| currentclub =

| clubnumber =

| position = Midfielder

| youthyears1 =

| youthclubs1 =

| years1 = 1993–1997

| clubs1 = Dragons de l'Oueme

| caps1 =

| goals1 =

| years2 = 1997

| clubs2 = Julius Berger Lagos

| caps2 =

| goals2 =

| years3 = 1997–1998

| clubs3 = Metz B

| caps3 = 14

| goals3 = 7

| years4 = 1998–2005

| clubs4 = Energie Cottbus

| caps4 = 120

| goals4 = 12

| years5 = 2009–2010

| clubs5 = Dragons de l'Oueme

| caps5 = 21

| goals5 = 0

| nationalyears1 = 1993–2004

| nationalteam1 = Benin{{cite web | url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/benin-recintlp.html | title=Benin - Record International Players }}

| nationalcaps1 = 21

| nationalgoals1 = 6

| manageryears1 = 2009–2015

| managerclubs1 = Dragons de l'Oueme (assistant)

| manageryears2 = 2015–2022

| managerclubs2 = Cercle Mbéri Sportif

| manageryears3 = 2022-2023

| managerclubs3 = Benin (caretaker)

| manageryears4 = 2023-2024

| managerclubs4 = Benin (assistant)

}}

Moussa Latoundji (born 13 August 1978) is a Beninese former football player and current assistant manager side Benin national football team.

Club career

Born in Porto-Novo, Latoudji started his career in his native Benin with amateur side Dragons de l'Oueme. He earned a move to Nigerian side Julius Berger in 1997. He again impressed, and was signed by professional French team FC Metz,{{cite web|url=http://www.fcmetz.com/latoundji-moussa |title=Moussa Latoundji |date=11 January 2017 |accessdate=11 January 2017 |work=FC Metz}} where he spent one season with the club's 'B' team, amassing 14 appearances and 7 goals.

He was then signed by German side FC Energie Cottbus. After over 100 appearances for the club,{{cite web |url= http://www.fussballdaten.de/spieler/latoundjimoussa |title=Moussa Latoundji |language=German |publisher=fussballdaten.de |accessdate=11 April 2012}} Latoundji broke his kneecap in 2004, and never played for the club again.{{cite web|last1=Luisen|first1=Mario|title=Duo Latoundji - Mokhtari gesprengt|url=https://www.kicker.de/duo-latoundji---mokhtari-gesprengt-301880/artikel|publisher=Kicker Online|access-date=25 September 2015|language=German|date=19 July 2004}}{{cite web|url=http://www.lr-online.de/sport/rundschau/Rundschau-Sportberichte-Das-endgueltige-laquo-Aus-raquo-fuer-Moussa-Latoundji;art1075,1017075 |title=Das endgültige "Aus" für Moussa Latoundji |date=10 September 2005 |accessdate=11 January 2017 |work=lr-online.de |language=German}}

He returned to Benin in 2009, coming out of retirement to act as player-manager for the side where he first began his career, Dragons de l'Oueme. After six years, he left to manage Gabonese side Cercle Mbéri Sportif.

International career

Latoundji made his international debut on 17 January 1993 against Tunisia, making him the third youngest ever international male footballer.{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/oldest-youngest.html |title=Oldest and Youngest Players and Goal-scorers in International Football |date=4 February 2016 |accessdate=11 January 2017 |work=RSSSF}}{{cite web|url=http://www.whoateallthepies.tv/videos/232347/on-this-day-in-1998-michael-owen-of-england-joins-ranks-of-youngest-international-debutants-video.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160213150007/http://www.whoateallthepies.tv/videos/232347/on-this-day-in-1998-michael-owen-of-england-joins-ranks-of-youngest-international-debutants-video.html |url-status=usurped |archive-date=13 February 2016 |title=On This Day In 1998: Michael Owen Of England Joins Ranks Of Youngest International Debutants |date=11 February 2016 |accessdate=11 January 2017 |work= hoateallthepies.tv}}{{cite web|url=http://www.tv2.no/a/5950611/ |title=God Rekord-Ødegaard spilte hele kampen for Norge |date=27 August 2014 |accessdate=11 January 2017 |work= tv2.no}} He was part of the Beninese 2004 African Nations Cup team,{{cite web|publisher=FIFA|title=Three newcomers full of hope|url=https://www.fifa.com/newscentre/news/newsid=90551.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080207032650/http://www.fifa.com/newscentre/news/newsid=90551.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=7 February 2008|date=23 January 2004|accessdate=25 May 2009}} which finished bottom of its group in the first round of competition, thus failing to secure qualification for the quarter-finals. Latoundji achieved the distinction, however, of scoring Benin's only goal. He did this in the ninetieth minute of his team's final game in the competition, a 2–1 victory for Nigeria.