Jacques Elong Elong

Jacques Aurelien Elong Elong (20 February 1985 – 31 March 2025) was a Cameroonian professional football player who played as a defensive midfielder.

Jacques Elong Elong

Personal information
Full name	Jacques Aurelien Elong Elong
Date of birth	(1985-02-20)20 February 1985
Place of birth	Douala, Cameroon
Date of death	31 March 2025(2025-03-31) (aged 40)
Height	1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)[1]
Position(s)	Defensive midfielder
Youth career
2000–2001[citation needed]	Caïman de Douala
2006	Persepolis[2]
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2001–2003	Caïman de Douala
2003–2005	Mount Cameroon
2005–2008	Persepolis	30	(0)
2008–2009	Sepahan	5	(0)
2009–2011	DAC Dunajská Streda	12	(0)
2010–2011	→ Paykan (loan)	14	(2)
2012	Esteghlal	4	(0)
2012–2014	Natf Maysan	34	(6)
International career
2006	Cameroon	1	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Club career

Elong Elong was a versatile player, able to serve in defence but also assist in goal scoring. His brilliant passing abilities made him a regular in Persepolis, playing in the defensive midfield position. He also shot well, especially from outside the penalty spot, though he never scored for Persepolis.

In 2006 Elong received an offer from Qatari club Al-Sadd, but he rejected it since he had just got a permanent place on the Persepolis team and was enjoying his life in Iran. Afshin Ghotbi, then manager of the club, also confirmed that none of his players were for sale.

Despite rumours of Elong leaving for either Spartak Moscow or Esteghlal in the summer of 2007 Elong remained at Persepolis for the 2007–08 season and emerged as a crucial player for the team and told IRIB television that he has no willingness to play abroad. His speech saying "I am loving Tehran, and I can not see myself anywhere else within the next six years at least."

Elong Elong joined Esteghlal in 2012.^[3]

International career

Elong Elong debuted for the Cameroon national team in an African Nations Cup qualifier against Equatorial Guinea on 7 October in Yaoundé, he appeared as a substitute replacing AS Nancy's Landry N'Guémo in the 90th minute in the 3–0 victory. Arie Haan, his former coach at Persepolis F.C., gave him a spot in the national team. He was capped once for Cameroon national football team.^[1][4]

Personal life and death

Elong Elong was born on 20 February 1985.^[5] He died as the result of a traffic collision on 31 March 2025, at the age of 40.^[6]

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			Cup[a]		Continental		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Persepolis	2005–06	Persian Gulf Cup	2	0	3	0	–		5	0
	2006–07		18	0	2	0	–		20	0
	2007–08		10	0	3	0	–		13	0
	2008–09		0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	Total		30	0	8	0	0	0	38	0
Sepahan	2008–09	Persian Gulf Cup	5	0	0	0	2	0	7	0
Dunajská Streda	2009–10	Slovak Superliga	12	0			–
	2010–11		0	0			–
	Total		12	0			0	0
Paykan	2010–11	Persian Gulf Cup	13	2	0	0	–		13	2
Esteghlal	2011–12	Persian Gulf Cup	4	0	0	0	0	0	4	0
Career total

1. Includes Hazfi Cup, Slovak Cup.

Honours

Persepolis

• Iran's Premier Football League: 2007–08

Esteghlal

• Hazfi Cup: 2011–12