Paul-Georges Ntep announces his retirement at 32 from France Bleu. The winger played two friendly matches with the Blues in June 2015 after the best season of his career at Rennes
“My career, for me, it’s over.” Without a club since an experience in Vietnam which ended last March, Paul-Georges Ntep confirmed this Thursday to France Bleu Armorique that he had hung up his crampons at the age of 32. Trained by Auxerre, the winger experienced the best years of his career in Rennes.
Paul-Georges Ntep wore the Stade Rennais jersey 81 times, scoring 18 goals. “I am often told that I left good memories, at a time when it was a little complicated for the Stadium,” confided the man who could see himself having entrepreneurial projects in Rennes.
On May 17, 2014, against Reims, Paul-Georges Ntep made an impression with a provocative goal. Alone facing the cages, the man who was only 21 at the time allowed himself to finish the job with his head. Ntep had to justify himself subsequently, indicating that it was not a question of lack of respect towards the opponent. “Football is a pleasure for me, the day I stop playing it, I will stop,” he promised.
French international then Cameroonian
Following his great 2014-2015 season with Rennes, Paul-Georges Ntep played two friendly matches with the France team. But if the beginnings were promising, the rest was more complicated, mainly due to injuries. Left for Wolfsburg in January 2017, he played six months at Saint-Étienne in 2018. Ntep also had a season in Ligue 2 with Guingamp in 2020-2021.
Looking back, Paul-Georges Ntep would have liked to have had a happier period with Rennes. “Seeing the development of the club afterwards, at a certain point, there is a bit of nostalgia because I would have liked to experience certain emotions, the Coupe de France, the European Cup, etc. But I do not regret” , confessed the newly retired. “I was there at a difficult time, but I really enjoyed it.”
Paul-Georges Ntep also had adventures at Kayserispor (Türkiye) and Boavista (Portugal), without however managing to get back on track. In 2018, he changed selection, playing for Cameroon, for four caps and one goal.
