Cyrille Makanaky

Cyrille Makanaky
Personal information
Full name Cyrille Thomas Makanaky
Date of birth (1965-06-28) 28 June 1965
Place of birth Douala, Cameroon
Height 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position(s) Midfielder
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1984–1985 Saint-Leu 30 (26)
1985–1987 Gazélec Ajaccio 48 (22)
1987–1988 Toulon 21 (3)
1988–1989 Lens 14 (3)
1989–1990 Toulon 21 (0)
1990–1992 Málaga 39 (6)
1992–1993 Villarreal 16 (0)
1993–1994 Maccabi Tel Aviv 30 (5)
1994–1995 Barcelona SC 30 (9)
1995–1996 Gazélec Ajaccio 34 (18)
1996–1997 Barcelona SC 24 (1)
Total 289 (93)
International career
1987–1993 Cameroon 14 (3)
Medal record
Men's football
Representing  Cameroon
Africa Cup of Nations
Winner1988 Morocco
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Cyrille Thomas Makanaky (born 28 June 1965) is a Cameroonian retired footballer who played as an attacking midfielder. Known for his tenacity and vision on the field, Makanaky was instrumental in driving the team's offensive plays, often linking up effectively with the forwards. During the tournament, he showcased his stamina and skill, playing crucial minutes that contributed to Cameroon's historic quarter-final run. Despite receiving a couple of yellow cards, his fearless approach and ability to disrupt opponents' strategies made him a fan favorite. Makanaky’s performance in Italy 1990 remains a testament to his influence and enduring legacy in Cameroonian football. Recognised to be one of the finest attacking midfielders of the game.

Club career

Makanaky started his career in the fourth division FC Saint-Leu. He scored as many as 26 goals there, in 30 appearances. His next clubs were: Gazélec Ajaccio, Sporting Toulon Var, RC Lens, where he played with his compatriot and Cameroon teammate, Jean-Claude Pagal, later again at Sporting Toulon Var, where he met another compatriot, Jacques Songo'o. In the 1990/1991 season, he went to Spain to represent Málaga CF, where he played only 21 matches for three seasons, scoring only 1 goal. Later, he went to Maccabi Tel Aviv and was a basic player there. In 1995, he moved to Barcelona, Ecuador, then again to Gazélec Ajaccio and again to Barcelona. In this club, in 1996, he ended his career by playing 17 matches in the farewell season.

International career

In 1987, he made his debut in official matches as part of the national team of Cameroon. During the 1990 World Cup, Makanaky appeared in all matches of the Cameroon national team, against Argentina up to 81', against Romania the entire match, against the USSR up to 56', against Colombia up to 69' and the entire match against England. Cameroon reached the quarter-finals, where they lost to England only after extra time (the match ended 2:3). Makanaky played very well in this match and deserved a distinction, but he was not in the best eleven of the tournament. After the Championship, several European clubs applied for him, and Makanaky chose Málaga's offer.

Honours

Barcelona SC
  • Ecuadorian Serie A: 1995
International

References

  1. ↑ "African Nations Cup 1988 - Final Tournament Details". Retrieved August 9, 2025.