The invention relates to an orthopaedic implant made of a ceramic metal composite.The composite (28, 48, 54) includes one phase that is a biocompatible metal ormetal alloy and a second phase of ceramic particles examples of which includecarbides, nitrides and/or oxides. In some embodiments, the implant comprisesa homogeneous ceramic layer (24) as part of a multilayered composition. In someembodiments, the multilayered composition comprises a homogeneous metal layer(32).