James Debbah
Liberian footballer
Liberia
Forward
James Debbah: profile
James Debbah (born 14 December 1969 in Monrovia, Liberia) is a retired Liberian footballer who played as a forward.
Debbah's senior club career began in 1984 at Mighty Barrolle. He played for 14 clubs in 10 countries between 1984 and 2010. His most appearances came at Olympique Lyonnais (1992–1995), where he made 80 appearances and scored 18 goals. Across all recorded club spells he totals 345 appearances and 120 goals.
At international level, Debbah represented Liberia (1988–2004), earning 72 caps and scoring 42 goals. Our match database lists 4 of his international goals; the first came against Ghana on 21 August 1988 (World Cup Qualification).
Monrovia has produced 112 footballers in our database, including George Weah, Darlington Nagbe and Alex Nimely.
Key facts
- Senior international debut
- 1988 (aged about 19)
- First international goal
- 1988 – aged 18 (match)
- Club career
- 1984–2010 (27 seasons)
- Countries played in
- 10: Liberia, Cameroon, France, Monaco, Belgium, Turkey, Greece, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Indonesia
- Club goals per game
- 0.35 (120 in 345)
- Height
- 184 cm — taller than 75% of Liberian internationals on record
- Latest move
- Persiram Raja Ampat (2009)
- Shares a birthday with
- Didier Zokora, Samuel Oum Gouet and Christopher Bonsu Baah (more)
Club career
| Years | Club | League | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1984–1989 | Mighty Barrolle |
Liberian Premier League | – | – |
| 1989–1990 |  Union Douala |
Elite One | – | – |
| 1990–1991 |  Olympique Alès |
Championnat National 3 | 21 | 6 |
| 1991–1992 |  AS Monaco FC |
Ligue 1 | 12 | 2 |
| 1992–1995 | Olympique Lyonnais |
Ligue 1 | 80 | 18 |
| 1995–1997 | OGC Nice |
Ligue 1 | 57 | 22 |
| 1997 |  R.S.C. Anderlecht |
Belgian Pro League | 7 | 2 |
| 1998 | Paris Saint-Germain FC |
Ligue 1 | 12 | 0 |
| 1998–1999 |  MKE Ankaragücü |
TFF Third League | 2 | 0 |
| 1999–2001 |  G.S. Iraklis Thessalonikis (men's association football) |
Super League Greece | 45 | 17 |
| 2001–2003 |  Al Jazira Club |
UAE Pro League | 61 | 34 |
| 2003–2004 |  Al-Muharraq SC |
Bahraini Premier League | – | – |
| 2008–2009 |  Bontang FC |
Indonesian Premier League | 32 | 14 |
| 2009–2010 | Persiram Raja Ampat |
Super League | 16 | 5 |
| Total | 345 | 120 |
Appearances and goals are league figures where recorded on Wikidata; “–” means not recorded.
International career
| Years | Team | Level | Caps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1988–2004 | Liberia |
Senior | 72 | 42 |
International goals (4)
| # | Date | Match | Min | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 21 Aug 1988 | Liberia 2–0 Ghana | 88 | World Cup Qualification |
| 2 | 25 Jun 1989 | Liberia 1–0 Egypt | 45 | World Cup Qualification |
| 3 | 1 Jun 1996 | Gambia 2–1 Liberia | 35 (pen) | World Cup Qualification |
| 4 | 23 Jun 1996 | Liberia 4–0 Gambia | 90 | World Cup Qualification |
*Goals listed are those present in our match-by-match goal database, which is most complete for tournament matches.
Frequently asked questions
How old is James Debbah?
James Debbah was born on 14 December 1969, which makes him 56 years old.
Where was James Debbah born?
James Debbah was born in Monrovia, Liberia.
Which national team does James Debbah play for?
James Debbah played international football for Liberia. He has 72 caps and 42 goals on record.
Which clubs has James Debbah played for?
James Debbah's recorded clubs are Mighty Barrolle, Union Douala, Olympique Alès, AS Monaco FC, Olympique Lyonnais, OGC Nice, R.S.C. Anderlecht, Paris Saint-Germain FC, MKE Ankaragücü, G.S. Iraklis Thessalonikis (men's association football), Al Jazira Club and Al-Muharraq SC among others.
How tall is James Debbah?
James Debbah is 184 cm (6 ft 0 in) tall.
What position does James Debbah play?
James Debbah played as a forward.
