Jean-Jacques Tizi started his career as a handball goalkeeper. But he later developed interest in football and started playing for local clubs. Among the major clubs that he played for were Lazer FC, Africa Sport and Stade d'Abidjan. In 2001, he moved to Esprance in Tunisia, and has been their goalkeeper ever since.

The 1.83 meters tall Tizie, who was born in 1972, has also been keeping the goal for his country Ivory Coast. He is considered a good shot stopper but not a complete goal keeper. The two major complaints against him are: one, he is weak against crosses; and two, he starts early in penalty kicks forcing the shot to be retaken.

But overall Tizie is considered a good goalkeeper, and has been instrumental in saving several goals for his club and country. He had a particularly good African Cup of Nations in 2005. It was these performances and the ones during the qualifying matches for World Cup 206 that won him the number one goalkeeper slot.

Tizie has had several glorious moments under the bar, but he has had one freak moment too. In this accident he lost one of his testicles.

However, Tizie is not one to be easily cowed down by reputations. He considers the goal his home, and defends it dourly against the fiercest strikers of the ball.