Thomas N'Kono

Thomas N'Kono

N'Kono training with Espanyol (GK coach)
Personal information
Date of birth	(1956-07-20) 20 July 1956 (age 60)
Place of birth	Dizangue, Cameroon
Height	1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Playing position	Goalkeeper
Youth career
	Éclair Douala
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1974–1975	Canon Yaoundé	3	(0)
1975–1976	Tonnerre Yaoundé	17	(0)
1976–1982	Canon Yaoundé	102	(0)
1982–1991	Español	241	(0)
1991–1993	Sabadell	70	(0)
1994	Hospitalet	0	(0)
1994–1997	Club Bolívar	92	(0)
Total		525	(0)
National team
1976–1994	Cameroon	112	(0)
Teams managed
2009	Cameroon
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.

Thomas 'Tommy' N'Kono (born 20 July 1956) is a Cameroonian retired footballer.

Arguably the greatest goalkeeper Africa has ever produced, he is mainly associated to Espanyol, whom he represented for almost a decade appearing in more than 300 official games.

N'Kono appeared for the Cameroon national team in three World Cups, and four Africa Cup of Nations tournaments.

N'Kono was born in Dizangue. After playing in his country with Canon Yaoundé and Tonnerre Yaoundé he moved to Spain with RCD Español in 1982, after solid performances in the FIFA World Cup played in that country. He received the France Football African Footballer of the Year award in that year, and also in 1979.

With the Catalans N'Kono hardly ever missed a game, going on to amass more than 300 official appearances. In the 1988–89 season, however, he was not able to help prevent the club's La Liga relegation and, by the time it returned to the top division, he was already second-choice to younger Vicente Biurrun.

N'Kono would play three more years in Spain, incidentally also in Catalonia, with CE Sabadell FC (second level) and CE L'Hospitalet. He retired already in his 40's with Club Bolívar from Bolivia, and subsequently returned to his main club as a goalkeeping coach, helping develop young talent and countryman Carlos Kameni.