View source for James Debbah

{{short description|Liberian footballer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2021}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = James Debbah
| image = 
| fullname = James Salinsa Debbah
| birth_date  = {{birth date and age|1969|12|14|df=yes}}
| birth_place = [[Monrovia]], Liberia
| height = 1.80 m
| position = [[Forward (association football)|Forward]]
| currentclub = 
| years1  = 1984–1989
| years2  = 1989–1990
| years3  = 1990–1991
| years4  = 1991–1992
| years5  = 1992–1995
| years6  = 1995–1997
| years7  = 1997
| years8  = 1998
| years9  = 1998–1999
| years10 = 1999–2001
| years11 = 2001–2003
| years12 = 2003–2004
| years13 = 2008–2009
| years14 = 2009–2011
| clubs1  = [[Mighty Barrolle]]
| clubs2  = [[Union Douala]]
| clubs3  = [[Olympique Alès]]
| clubs4  = [[AS Monaco FC|Monaco]]
| clubs5  = [[Olympique Lyonnais|Lyon]]
| clubs6  = [[OGC Nice|Nice]]
| clubs7  = [[R.S.C. Anderlecht|Anderlecht]]
| clubs8  = [[Paris Saint-Germain]]
| clubs9  = [[Ankaragücü]]
| clubs10 = [[Iraklis Thessaloniki F.C.|Iraklis]]
| clubs11 = [[Al Jazira Club|Al-Jazira]]
| clubs12 = [[Al-Muharraq SC]]
| clubs13 = [[Bontang F.C.|PKT Bontang]]
| clubs14 = [[Persiram Raja Ampat]]
| caps1 = ??
| caps2 = ??
| caps3 = 21
| caps4 = 12
| caps5 = 80
| caps6 = 57
| caps7 = 7
| caps8 = 12
| caps9 = 2
| caps10 = 45
| caps11 = 61
| caps12 = ??
| caps13 = 32
| caps14 = 16
| goals1 = ??
| goals2 = ??
| goals3 = 6
| goals4 = 2
| goals5 = 18
| goals6 = 22
| goals7 = 2
| goals8 = 0
| goals9 = 0
| goals10 = 17
| goals11 = 34
| goals12 = ??
| goals13 = 14
| goals14 = 5
| nationalyears1 = 1988–2018
| nationalteam1 = [[Liberia national football team|Liberia]]
| nationalcaps1 = 73
| nationalgoals1 = 42
| manageryears1  = 2013–2017
| managerclubs1 = [[Liberia national football team|Liberia]]
}}
'''James Salinsa Debbah''' (born 14 December 1969) is a Liberian professional [[association football|football]] manager and former player who played as a [[Forward (association football)|forward]]. He was the manager of the [[Liberia national football team|Liberia national team]] from 2013 to 2017.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.tff.org/Default.aspx?pageId=526&kisiID=29545|title=JAMES DEBBAH - Player Details TFF|website=www.tff.org|access-date=3 May 2018}}</ref>

== Club career ==
Born in [[Monrovia]], Debbah began his professional football career with the Liberian squad [[Mighty Barrolle]] in 1984. In 1989, he left Liberia for [[Union Douala]] off-season. In 1990, Debbah moved 1991, Debbah moved up to the [[Ligue 1]] squad [[AS Monaco FC|Monaco]] and played the [[UEFA Cup Winners' Cup]] finals, then the year later he moved to [[Olympique Lyonnais]]. In 1995, moved across Ligue 1 to [[OGC Nice]], where he played until 1997, during which time he helped them win the [[1996–97 Coupe de France]]. In that year, Debbah moved to [[Belgian League]] side [[R.S.C. Anderlecht|Anderlecht]]. He moved back to Ligue 1 for one season with [[Paris Saint-Germain]] in 1998. After leaving Paris Saint-Germain, Debbah moved to [[Süper Lig]] side [[Ankaragücü]] for the 1998 and 1999 seasons then to Greek side [[Iraklis Thessaloniki F.C.|Iraklis]]. Debbah moved to [[Al-Jazeera Club]] in [[Abu Dhabi]], United Arab Emirates, in 2001 and then to [[Muharraq Club]] in [[Muharraq]], Bahrain, in 2003. In 2008, four years after leaving Muharraq Club, he moved to the [[Indonesia Super League]] with [[PKT Bontang]] for one season.

== International career ==
Debbah was part of both the [[1996 African Cup of Nations (squads)|1996]] and [[2002 African Cup of Nations (squads)|2002]] Liberian national football squads in the [[African Cup of Nations]]. During a July 2004 [[2006 FIFA World Cup qualification (CAF)|FIFA World Cup qualifying match]] against [[Togo national football team|Togo]] in Monrovia, Debbah, as captain, refused to be substituted in the 53rd minute, instead waiting until the 68th minute to leave the pitch. The match resulted in a 0–0 draw, causing the team to leave the stadium under the protection of an armored personnel carrier.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/africa/3866647.stm Liberia stoned by fans] BBC Sport, 5 July 2004</ref>

He made a final appearance for the national team in September 2018, at the age of 48, making him the third oldest international player on record.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Weah is 'oldest international' ever|language=en-GB|work=BBC Sport|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/45511502|access-date=25 August 2021}}</ref>

== Personal life ==
Debbah is the cousin of Liberian footballer [[George Weah]].<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/africa/4138198.stm Debbah slams Weah's Liberia bid] BBC Sport, 10 August 2005</ref>

==Career Statistics==
===International=== 
:''Scores and results list Liberia's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Debbah goal.''
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ List of international goals scored by James Debbah
|-
!scope="col"|No.
!scope="col"|Date
!scope="col"|Venue
!scope="col"|Opponent
!scope="col"|Score
!scope="col"|Result
!scope="col"|Competition
!scope="col" class="unsortable"|{{Abbr|Ref.|Reference}}
|-
|style="text-align:center"|1
|{{dts|11 July 1987}}
|[[National Stadium, Lagos|National Stadium]], [[Lagos]], Nigeria
|{{fb|Nigeria}}
|style="text-align:center"|–
|style="text-align:center"|1–4
|[[Football at the 1988 Summer Olympics – Men's African Qualifiers|1988 Summer Olympics qualification]]
|<ref>{{cite web|title=Nigeria vs. Liberia|url=https://www.national-football-teams.com/matches/report/34485/Nigeria_Liberia.html|website=National Football Teams|access-date=30 August 2024}}</ref>
|-
|style="text-align:center"|2
|{{dts|21 August 1988}}
|[[Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex]], [[Paynesville, Liberia|Paynesville]], Liberia
|{{fb|Ghana}}
|style="text-align:center"|2–0
|style="text-align:center"|2–0
|[[1990 FIFA World Cup qualification (CAF)|1990 FIFA World Cup qualification]]
|<ref>{{cite web|title=Liberia vs. Ghana|url=https://www.national-football-teams.com/matches/report/33763/Liberia_Ghana.html|website=National Football Teams|access-date=30 August 2024}}</ref>
|-
|style="text-align:center"|3
|{{dts|25 June 1989}}
|Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex, Paynesville, Liberia	
|{{fb|Egypt}}
|style="text-align:center"|1–0
|style="text-align:center"|1–0
|1990 FIFA World Cup qualification	
|<ref>{{cite web|title=Liberia vs. Egypt|url=https://www.national-football-teams.com/matches/report/32260/Liberia_Egypt.html|website=National Football Teams|access-date=30 August 2024}}</ref>
|-
|style="text-align:center"|4
|{{dts|22 October 1989}}
|[[Monrovia]], Liberia
|{{fb|Guinea}}
|style="text-align:center"|–
|style="text-align:center"|2–0
|[[Friendly (association football)|Friendly]]
|<ref>{{cite web|title=Liberia vs. Guinea|url=https://www.national-football-teams.com/matches/report/32987/Liberia_Guinea.html|website=National Football Teams|access-date=30 August 2024}}</ref>
|-
|style="text-align:center"|5
|rowspan="2"|{{dts|4 June 1995}}
|rowspan="2"|Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex, Paynesville, Liberia	
|rowspan="2"|{{fb|Mauritania}}
|style="text-align:center"|1–0
|rowspan="2" style="text-align:center"|2–0
|rowspan="2"|[[1996 African Cup of Nations qualification]]
|rowspan="2"|<ref>{{cite web|title=Liberia vs. Mauritania|url=https://www.national-football-teams.com/matches/report/27757/Liberia_Mauritania.html|website=National Football Teams|access-date=30 August 2024}}</ref>
|-
|style="text-align:center"|6
|style="text-align:center"|2–0
|-
|style="text-align:center"|7
|{{dts|1 June 1996}}
|[[Independence Stadium (Bakau)|Independence Stadium]], [[Bakau]], The Gambia
|{{fb|Gambia}}
|style="text-align:center"|1–1
|style="text-align:center"|1–2
|[[1998 FIFA World Cup qualification (CAF)|1998 FIFA World Cup qualification]]
|<ref>{{cite web|title=Gambia vs. Liberia|url=https://www.national-football-teams.com/matches/report/27012/Gambia_Liberia.html|website=National Football Teams|access-date=30 August 2024}}</ref>
|-
|style="text-align:center"|8
|{{dts|23 June 1996}}
|[[Accra Sports Stadium]], [[Accra]], Ghana
|{{fb|Gambia}}
|style="text-align:center"|4–0
|style="text-align:center"|4–0
|1998 FIFA World Cup qualification	
|<ref>{{cite web|title=Liberia vs. Ghana|url=https://www.national-football-teams.com/matches/report/27015/Liberia_Gambia.html|website=National Football Teams|access-date=30 August 2024}}</ref>
|-
|style="text-align:center"|9
|rowspan="2"|{{dts|3 September 2000}}
|rowspan="2"|Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex, Paynesville, Liberia	
|rowspan="2"|{{fb|Mauritius}}
|style="text-align:center"|2–0
|rowspan="2" style="text-align:center"|4–0
|rowspan="2"|[[2002 African Cup of Nations qualification]]
|rowspan="2"|<ref>{{cite web|title=Liberia vs. Mauritius|url=https://www.national-football-teams.com/matches/report/22956/Liberia_Mauritius.html|website=National Football Teams|access-date=30 August 2024}}</ref>
|-
|style="text-align:center"|10
|style="text-align:center"|3–0
|-
|style="text-align:center"|11
|rowspan="2"|{{dts|14 January 2001}}
|rowspan="2"|Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex, Paynesville, Liberia	
|rowspan="2"|{{fb|Congo}}
|style="text-align:center"|1–1
|rowspan="2" style="text-align:center"|5–1
|rowspan="2"|2002 African Cup of Nations qualification	
|rowspan="2"|<ref>{{cite web|title=Liberia vs. Congo|url=https://www.national-football-teams.com/matches/report/21734/Liberia_Congo.html|website=National Football Teams|access-date=30 August 2024}}</ref>
|-
|style="text-align:center"|12
|style="text-align:center"|4–1
|-
|style="text-align:center"|13
|{{dts|4 August 2001}}
|[[Giants Stadium]], [[East Rutherford, New Jersey|East Rutherford]], USA
|{{fb|Colombia}}
|style="text-align:center"|1–2
|style="text-align:center"|1–2
|Friendly
|<ref>{{cite web|title=Colombia vs. Liberia|url=https://www.national-football-teams.com/matches/report/20986/Colombia_Liberia.html|website=National Football Teams|access-date=30 August 2024}}</ref>
|}

==Honors==
===Club===
'''[[OGC Nice]]'''
* [[Coupe de France]]: [[1997 Coupe de France Final|1997]]<ref>{{cite news 
|url=https://www.deux-zero.com/coupe-de-france/fiche/edition/1996-1997/match/10021
|title=COUPE DE FRANCE 1996-1997 Finale
|publisher=deux-zero.com
|access-date=15 September 2022}}</ref>

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070928122715/http://www.liberiansoccer.com/Debbeh20051.htm Interview with James Salinsa Debbah] LiberianSoccer.com
* [http://www.zanziball.it/en/4/1b46.html James Debbah] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927035304/http://www.zanziball.it/en/4/1b46.html |date=27 September 2007 }} Zanziball.it
* [http://psg70.free.fr/DEBBAH.htm James Debbah] psg70.free.fr

{{Navboxes colour
|title = Liberia squads
|bg = white
|fg = #D40000
|list1 =
{{Liberia squad 1996 Africa Cup of Nations}}
{{Liberia squad 2002 Africa Cup of Nations}}
}}
{{Liberia national football team managers}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Debbah, James}}
[[Category:1969 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Footballers from Monrovia]]
[[Category:Men's association football forwards]]
[[Category:Liberian men's footballers]]
[[Category:Liberian expatriate men's footballers]]
[[Category:Liberia men's international footballers]]
[[Category:Mighty Barrolle players]]
[[Category:Al-Muharraq SC players]]
[[Category:Olympique Alès players]]
[[Category:Bontang F.C. players]]
[[Category:AS Monaco FC players]]
[[Category:Olympique Lyonnais players]]
[[Category:OGC Nice players]]
[[Category:R.S.C. Anderlecht players]]
[[Category:Paris Saint-Germain FC players]]
[[Category:MKE Ankaragücü footballers]]
[[Category:Iraklis F.C. (Thessaloniki) players]]
[[Category:Al Jazira Club players]]
[[Category:Persiram Raja Ampat players]]
[[Category:Ligue 1 players]]
[[Category:Belgian Pro League players]]
[[Category:Süper Lig players]]
[[Category:Super League Greece players]]
[[Category:UAE Pro League players]]
[[Category:Bahraini Premier League players]]
[[Category:Indonesian Premier Division players]]
[[Category:Liga 1 (Indonesia) players]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Belgium]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Turkey]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Greece]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Indonesia]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in France]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Monaco]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in the United Arab Emirates]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Bahrain]]
[[Category:1996 African Cup of Nations players]]
[[Category:2002 African Cup of Nations players]]
[[Category:Liberian expatriate sportspeople in Belgium]]
[[Category:Liberian expatriate sportspeople in Turkey]]
[[Category:Liberian expatriate sportspeople in Greece]]
[[Category:Liberian expatriate sportspeople in Indonesia]]
[[Category:Liberian expatriate sportspeople in France]]
[[Category:Liberian expatriate sportspeople in Monaco]]
[[Category:Liberian expatriate sportspeople in the United Arab Emirates]]