Jean-Paul Akono
{{short description|Cameroonian footballer and coach}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2024}}
{{Infobox football biography
|name = Jean-Paul Akono
|image =
|image_size =
|caption =
|fullname =
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1952|1|1|df=y}}
|birth_place = Yaoundé, Cameroon
|currentclub =
|height =
|position = Midfielder
|years1 = 1979–1980
|clubs1 = Canon Yaoundé
|caps1 =
|goals1 =
|totalcaps =
|totalgoals =
|nationalyears1 = 1972–1973
|nationalteam1 = Cameroon
|nationalcaps1 =
|nationalgoals1 =
|manageryears1 = 2000
|managerclubs1 = Cameroon Olympics
|manageryears2 = 2001
|managerclubs2 = Cameroon
|manageryears3 = 2002–2003
|managerclubs3 = Chad
|manageryears4 = 2012–2013
|managerclubs4 = Cameroon
}}
Jean-Paul Akono (born 1 January 1952) is a Cameroonian football coach and former player.
Early and personal life
Akono was born on 1 January 1952 in Yaoundé.
Playing career
Akono played for Cameroon at international level, participating in the 1972 African Cup of Nations,{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tables/72a-det.html|title=African Nations Cup 1972 - Final Tournament Details|website=RSSSF|access-date=24 March 2015}} and appearing in one FIFA World Cup qualifying match in 1973.{{FIFA player|174922}} He played club football for Canon Yaoundé between 1979 and 1980.{{NFT player|pid=52252|accessdate=23 March 2015}}
Coaching career
Akono was in charge of Cameroon at the 2000 Summer Olympics.{{cite web|url=https://www.fifa.com/tournaments/archive/tournament=512/edition=3945/teams/team=1889733.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121101201944/http://www.fifa.com/tournaments/archive/tournament%3D512/edition%3D3945/teams/team%3D1889733.html |title=Cameroon squad - 2000 Summer Olympics |archive-date= 1 November 2012 |access-date=23 March 2015 |publisher=FIFA |url-status=dead }}
He was appointed to manage the Cameroon national team on an interim basis in September 2012.{{cite web|url=https://www.fifa.com/worldcup/news/y=2012/m=9/news=lavagne-sacked-akono-recruited-1701051.html |title=Lavagne sacked, Akono recruited |date=13 September 2012 |access-date=23 March 2015 |publisher=FIFA |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141025034243/http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/news/y%3D2012/m%3D9/news%3Dlavagne-sacked-akono-recruited-1701051.html |archive-date=25 October 2014 }}{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/19610549|title=New Cameroon coach seeks Eto'o return|date=15 September 2012|access-date=23 March 2015|publisher=BBC Sport}} In April 2013 it was announced that the Cameroonian Football Association had begun the process of finding a permanent replacement for Akono.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/22264340|title=Cameroon to start recruitment process to replace Akono|date=23 April 2013|access-date=23 March 2015|author=Leocadia Bongben|publisher=BBC Sport}} Akono later stated he was "shocked and embarrassed" that they were replacing him, and that he would not be applying for the job on a permanent basis.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/22280061|title=Akono will not apply to be permanent Cameroon coach|date=25 April 2013|access-date=23 March 2015|publisher=BBC Sport}} The Cameroonian Football Association later announced that Akono would remain in charge for forthcoming World Cup qualifying matches in June 2013, although they would continue their search for a replacement due to Akono's illness; he was replaced by German Volker Finke a few days later.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/22566965|title=Cameroon appoint German Volker Finke as coach|date=22 May 2013|access-date=23 March 2015|author=Leocadia Bongben|publisher=BBC Sport}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{Summer Olympics football tournament winning managers}}
{{Cameroon Squad 2000 Summer Olympics}}
{{Cameroon national football team managers}}
{{Chad national football team managers}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Akono, Jean-Paul}}
Category:Footballers from Yaoundé
Category:Cameroonian men's footballers
Category:Cameroon men's international footballers
Category:Canon Yaoundé players
Category:Men's association football midfielders
Category:Cameroonian football managers
Category:Cameroon national football team managers
Category:Chad national football team managers
Category:Cameroonian expatriate football managers
Category:Expatriate football managers in Chad
Category:1972 African Cup of Nations players
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