Gilles Augustin Binya (born 29 August 1984) is a Cameroonian retired footballer who played as a defensive midfielder.

Gilles Binya
Binya with Gaziantepspor in 2011
Personal information
Full name Gilles Augustin Binya
Date of birth (1984-08-29) 29 August 1984 (age 40)
Place of birth Yaoundé, Cameroon
Height 1.76 m (5 ft 9 in)
Position(s) Midfielder
Youth career
2001 Nassara Yaoundé
2002 Constellacio Yaoundé
2003 Cotonsport Garoua
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2003–2004 Tonnerre Yaoundé
2004–2007 MC Oran 59 (2)
2007–2010 Benfica 23 (0)
2009–2010Neuchâtel Xamax (loan) 19 (1)
2010–2012 Neuchâtel Xamax 32 (0)
2011–2012Gaziantepspor (loan) 23 (0)
2012–2015 Gaziantepspor 64 (0)
2015–2017 Elazığspor 35 (0)
2017–2018 Alsancak Yeşilova 26 (0)
Total 281 (3)
International career
2007–2010 Cameroon 17 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

He spent most of his career in Turkey, representing Gaziantepspor and Elazığspor and appearing in 87 Süper Lig matches for the former club. He also competed professionally, other than in his own country, in Algeria, Portugal and Switzerland.

Binya won 17 caps for Cameroon, representing the country in two Africa Cup of Nations.

Club career

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Born in Yaoundé, Binya signed with S.L. Benfica for 2007–08 after spending three years at Algerian club MC Oran. At the beginning of the season the Portuguese planned to loan him to fellow Primeira Liga side C.F. Estrela da Amadora for a year,[1][2] but with the substitution of manager Fernando Santos for José Antonio Camacho the deal was cancelled, and the player remained with Benfica.[3]

While playing for the latter team in the UEFA Champions League in November 2007, Binya was shown a straight red card by referee Martin Hansson following a dangerous challenge on Celtic's Scott Brown.[4][5] On 16 November 2007 UEFA gave him a six-match ban, meaning that he would play no further part in the remaining two Champions League group fixtures against A.C. Milan and FC Shakhtar Donetsk as well as the four following European matches.[6]

Domestically, Binya finished the campaign with 16 league appearances, profiting from forced absences to first-choice holding midfielder, Portuguese international Petit.[7] In 2008–09 he was used rarely,[8] but still collected four yellow cards in only seven games (including two in a 0–2 loss at C.D. Trofense);[9] at the season's closure he was deemed surplus to requirements, going on to serve a loan at Switzerland's Neuchâtel Xamax.[10]

On 16 June 2010, Binya was signed by Neuchâtel on a three-year contract.[11] In August of the following year, he was loaned to Gaziantepspor in the Süper Lig, with the move being made permanent subsequently.

International career

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Binya was first called up to the Cameroon national team in October 2007, by national manager Otto Pfister.[12] Subsequently, he went on to represent his country at the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations, where Cameroon finished second to Egypt – Pfister was also the team's coach.[13][14]

References

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  1. ^ Médio Gilles contratado (Midfielder Gilles signed for one year); Record, 10 August 2007 (in Portuguese)
  2. ^ Gilles confirmado no Estrela (Gilles confirmed at Estrela); Record, 23 August 2007 (in Portuguese)
  3. ^ "Borja Oubiña separado por detalhes" [Only details in Borja Oubiña's way] (in Portuguese). Correio da Manhã. 24 August 2007. Retrieved 13 November 2017.
  4. ^ McGeady's Celtic art baffles Benfica; UEFA, 6 November 2007
  5. ^ "Scott Brown: "Binya tentou partir-me a perna"" [Scott Brown: "Binya tried to break my leg"] (in Portuguese). Público. 7 November 2007. Retrieved 18 January 2019.
  6. ^ Six-game ban for Binya; Sky Sports, 16 November 2007
  7. ^ Benfica big on Binya staying power; UEFA, 5 November 2007
  8. ^ Moreira perdeu a moral (Moreira's morale is low)[permanent dead link]; Record, 5 January 2009 (in Portuguese)
  9. ^ Binya volta ao onze após expulsão na Trofa (Binya returns to starting XI after being sent off in Trofa); Record, 30 January 2009 (in Portuguese)
  10. ^ Binya emprestado ao Neuchatel Xamax (Binya loaned to Neuchatel Xamax); Record, 31 July 2009 (in Portuguese)
  11. ^ Binya verlängerte bei Xamax (Binya extends at Xamax); NZZ Online, 16 June 2010 (in German)
  12. ^ Binya: "Vamos recuperar os pontos perdidos" (Binya: "We will recover lost points"); Record, 29 December 2007 (in Portuguese)
  13. ^ Binya confirmado na CAN (Binya confirmed at the CAN); Record, 10 January 2008 (in Portuguese)
  14. ^ Final and third place; BBC Sport, 10 February 2008
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