Bakary Sako
Encyclopedia
Bakary Sako is a French footballer of Mali
an descent who currently plays for Ligue 1
club AS Saint-Étienne
. He can play as a midfielder
, but can be also utilized as a striker
.
since 2001, joining the club as an academy player. He made his league debut on the final match day of the Ligue 2 2005–06 season
coming on as a half-time substitute in a 4–1 victory over SC Bastia
. Following the season, he signed his first professional contract agreeing to a three-year deal. He was promoted to the senior squad and assigned the number 26 shirt.
The next two seasons, Bakary was limited to mostly substitute appearances. He did score his first league goal, during the 2007–08 season
, in a 1–2 defeat against Brest. The 2008–09 season was Bakary's best season so far. He was, by far, one of Châteauroux's best players appearing in 41 total matches and scoring 9 goals, second-best on the team. He formed solid partnerships with fellow Frenchman Mathieu Scarpelli
and the Zambia
n Jacob Mulenga
. However, despite the three playing well, Châteauroux finished 15th with their faith in the league being decided on the last day. On 9 July 2009, Sako departed Châteauroux and signed a four-year deal with Ligue 1
club AS Saint-Étienne
with the transfer fee being undisclosed.
in one friendly match in 2005, while the team was preparing for the 2005 African Under-17 Championship
. The following year, he returned to the French team
playing with the under-18 squad. He was a member of the French squad that participated in the 2007 UEFA European Under-19 Football Championship
reaching the semi-finals before being eliminated by Spain
. He made his France under-21
debut on 11 February 2009 in a friendly match against Tunisia
. He scored his first under-21 goal in the 2009 Toulon Tournament
against Qatar
.
Mali
Mali , officially the Republic of Mali , is a landlocked country in Western Africa. Mali borders Algeria on the north, Niger on the east, Burkina Faso and the Côte d'Ivoire on the south, Guinea on the south-west, and Senegal and Mauritania on the west. Its size is just over 1,240,000 km² with...
an descent who currently plays for Ligue 1
Ligue 1
Ligue 1 , is the French professional league for association football clubs. It is the country's primary football competition and serves as the top division of the French football league system. Ligue 1 is one of two divisions making up the Ligue de Football Professionnel, the other being Ligue 2....
club AS Saint-Étienne
AS Saint-Étienne
Association Sportive de Saint-Étienne Loire is a French association football club based in Saint-Étienne. The club was founded in 1919 and currently play in Ligue 1, the top division of French football. Saint-Étienne plays its home matches at the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard located within the city...
. He can play as a midfielder
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
, but can be also utilized as a striker
Striker
Forwards, also known as strikers, are the players on a team in association football who play nearest to the opposing team's goal, and are therefore principally responsible for scoring goals...
.
Football career
Bakary has been with LB ChâteaurouxLB Châteauroux
La Berrichonne de Châteauroux is a French association football club based in Châteauroux. The football team is a part of a sports club that consists of several other sports and was founded in 1883. The team currently plays in Ligue 2, the second division of French football, having finished 16th in...
since 2001, joining the club as an academy player. He made his league debut on the final match day of the Ligue 2 2005–06 season
Ligue 2 season 2005-06
The Ligue 2 season 2005/2006, organised by the LFP was won by Valenciennes FC and saw the promotions of Valenciennes FC, CS Sedan Ardennes and FC Lorient, whereas AC Ajaccio, RC Strasbourg and FC Metz were relegated from Ligue 1.-20 participating teams:...
coming on as a half-time substitute in a 4–1 victory over SC Bastia
SC Bastia
Sporting Club de Bastia is a French association football club based in Bastia on the island of Corsica. The club currently plays in the Championnat National, the third division of French football. Bastia previously had stints in both Ligue 1 and Ligue 2...
. Following the season, he signed his first professional contract agreeing to a three-year deal. He was promoted to the senior squad and assigned the number 26 shirt.
The next two seasons, Bakary was limited to mostly substitute appearances. He did score his first league goal, during the 2007–08 season
Ligue 2 2007-08
The Ligue 2 season 2007–08 was the sixty-sixth since its establishment, and started in August 2007. The fixtures were announced in June 2007....
, in a 1–2 defeat against Brest. The 2008–09 season was Bakary's best season so far. He was, by far, one of Châteauroux's best players appearing in 41 total matches and scoring 9 goals, second-best on the team. He formed solid partnerships with fellow Frenchman Mathieu Scarpelli
Mathieu Scarpelli
Mathieu Scarpelli is a French football striker currently playing for EA Guingamp in the French Ligue 2.- External links :**...
and the Zambia
Zambia
Zambia , officially the Republic of Zambia, is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. The neighbouring countries are the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the north, Tanzania to the north-east, Malawi to the east, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia to the south, and Angola to the west....
n Jacob Mulenga
Jacob Mulenga
Jacob Mulenga is a Zambian football striker. He currently plays for FC Utrecht.- External links:**...
. However, despite the three playing well, Châteauroux finished 15th with their faith in the league being decided on the last day. On 9 July 2009, Sako departed Châteauroux and signed a four-year deal with Ligue 1
Ligue 1
Ligue 1 , is the French professional league for association football clubs. It is the country's primary football competition and serves as the top division of the French football league system. Ligue 1 is one of two divisions making up the Ligue de Football Professionnel, the other being Ligue 2....
club AS Saint-Étienne
AS Saint-Étienne
Association Sportive de Saint-Étienne Loire is a French association football club based in Saint-Étienne. The club was founded in 1919 and currently play in Ligue 1, the top division of French football. Saint-Étienne plays its home matches at the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard located within the city...
with the transfer fee being undisclosed.
International career
Bakary played with the Malian U-17 teamMali national football team
The Mali national football team, nicknamed Les Aigles , is the national team of Mali and is controlled by the Fédération Malienne de Football. They have never qualified for the World Cup finals.-History:...
in one friendly match in 2005, while the team was preparing for the 2005 African Under-17 Championship
2005 African Under-17 Championship
-Group A:---------------------Group B:---------------------Semifinals:-----Third place playoff:-Final:-Goalscorers:4 goals Opoku Agyemang...
. The following year, he returned to the French team
France national youth football team
The France national youth football team are the national under-20, under-19, under-18, under-17 and under-16 football teams of France and are controlled by the Fédération Française de Football. The youth teams of France participate in tournaments sanctioned by both FIFA and UEFA and also...
playing with the under-18 squad. He was a member of the French squad that participated in the 2007 UEFA European Under-19 Football Championship
2007 UEFA European Under-19 Football Championship
-Group B:-------------------------Knockout stage:-Semi-finals:---------Final:-----Teams:-Top goalscorers:-External links:* at uefa.com...
reaching the semi-finals before being eliminated by Spain
Spain national football team
The Spain national football team represents Spain in international association football and is controlled by the Royal Spanish Football Federation, the governing body for football in Spain. The current head coach is Vicente del Bosque...
. He made his France under-21
France national under-21 football team
The France national under-21 football team , known in France as Les Espoirs , is the national under-21 football team of France and is controlled by the French Football Federation. The team competes in the UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship, held every two years...
debut on 11 February 2009 in a friendly match against Tunisia
Tunisia national football team
The Tunisia national football team , nicknamed Les Aigles de Carthage , is the national team of Tunisia and is controlled by the Fédération Tunisienne de Football. They have qualified for four FIFA World Cups, the first one in 1978, but have yet to make it out of the first round...
. He scored his first under-21 goal in the 2009 Toulon Tournament
2009 Toulon Tournament
The 2009 Toulon Tournament was the 37th edition of the Toulon Tournament, and was held from 3 June to 12 June 2009. The tournament concluded with the final between France and Chile at Stade Mayol in Toulon as Chile won their first title after the final score of 1–0, scored by Gerson Martínez...
against Qatar
Qatar national football team
The Qatar national football team is the national team of Qatar and is controlled by the Qatar Football Association. They have never qualified for a FIFA World Cup but are hosting the 2022 FIFA World Cup. The team has also appeared in seven AFC Asian Cup tournaments and hosted the 2011 AFC Asian...
.