Garra Dembélé
Encyclopedia
Garra Dembélé is a French
-born Mali
an footballer. He currently plays as a forward for SC Freiburg
. He signed a four-year contract, beginning with the 2011–12 season.
. On 1 June 2006, he was released from the club for disciplinary reasons. In January 2007, he joined Istres
. After six months there, Dembélé moved to AGF Århus. In July 2008, he signed with Pierikos
in Greece.
to sign with Bulgaria
n club Lokomotiv Plovdiv
in January 2010. He appeared in 14 games for the Smurfs and scored five goals.
. On 9 June 2010, Dembélé was officially presented as a Levski Sofia player. The transfer fee was around €200,000 on a three year contract. He made his unofficial debut against Metalist Kharkiv on 1 July 2010 and scored in a 3–2 win.
His official debut for Levski was in a match against Dundalk F.C.
, in the second qualifying round for Europa League. Levski had won the first match 6–0, with Dembélé scoring once. In the return match Levski won 0–2, with Dembele scoring both goals. In the first round of the A PFG Dembélé scored the winning goal for Levski in the Eternal Derby against CSKA Sofia.
He scored a further two goals in the next Europa League qualification round against Swedish Kalmar FF
. The play-off against AIK Fotboll
saw Dembélé scoring another decisive goal for his new club, ensuring Levski's qualification to the Group stages of the Europa League. They were drawn in Group C alongside Gent, Lille
and Sporting CP. With his six goals in six games Dembélé was the leading goalscorer in the Europa League qualification matches.
On 9 August 2010, Dembélé scored his first hat-trick for Levski against Lokomotiv Sofia. The result of the match was 3–1 with a home win for Levski Sofia. He further added to his tally in the competition by scoring in the 3–2 home win against Gent in UEFA Europa League, scoring his seventh goal in the competition. With this win Levski recorded an eight-match unbeaten run in European competitions, a run which was Levski after suffered a heavy 5–0 defeat against Sporting CP. Followed by another loss against Lille
. In Sofia, Levski played very well against Lille
, with Dembélé scoring the opening goal in the match. The Blues were leading 2–1 until Ivo Ivanov scored an own goal to make it 2–2. In the last match of Group C, Levski won against Sporting CP 1–0, the winning goal was scored by Daniel Mladenov
, which was assisted by Dembélé.
However Dembélé continued his goal-scoring spree in the Bulgarian A Professional Football Group
. By September 17, 2010 he had already scored two hat-tricks in the competition against Lokomotiv Sofia and Minyor Pernik respectively. He also scored the winning penalties in the victories against Vidima-Rakovski and Cherno More
. He continued his good games after scoring the first goal against Beroe
in a 2–1 win for Levski.
He scored his third hat-trick in the A PFG against Pirin Blagoevgrad
in Levski's 4–1 win at Georgi Asparuhov
, helping his team come back from being 1–0 down. After this, he scored a goal against Litex, but Levski lost the game and suffered a run of three straight defeats.
In February 2011, during the preparation for the second part of the season, it was announced that Dembélé would wear the number nine jersey, following his decision to stay during the 2010–11 winter transfer window.
He was rated among the most efficient attacking players of the 2010–11 season in Europe, with a goal at every 76.89 minutes.
Dembélé has expressed his satisfaction with the way he was received by Levski supporters, but has been less magnanimous in his assessments regarding the quality of the training sessions during his time in Bulgaria.
for 2.5 million euros. It was the first time in the club's history that it paid over two million euros for a transfer, making it the largest transfer fee Freiburg has ever paid. On 28 June 2011, Dembélé made his unofficial debut for the team and netted a goal in the 4–1 win over TSG Balingen
in a friendly match. On 6 August 2011, he made his first official appearance, coming on as a late substitute in the 2–2 away draw with FC Augsburg
in a Fußball-Bundesliga
match. Dembélé's first Bundesliga
start came on 28 October 2011, in the 0:1 home loss against Bayer Leverkusen
. After making nine appearances for the club without a goal, Dembélé netted for the first time in the Bundesliga
on 26 November 2011, scoring a last-minute goal
to secure a 1:1 away draw with TSG 1899 Hoffenheim.
or Mali
at senior international level, but in November 2010, he chose to play for Mali
. Dembélé earned his first call-up to the national side of Mali
, the country of his parents, for the friendly match against Congo DR
, but did not feature in the game.
On 8 February 2011, he finally made his debut for Mali, playing the first 45 minutes of the 0–1 loss against Ivory Coast in a friendly match.
In October 2006, he was accused of rape by a 22-year old American student while in Rome, but was later released and allowed to return to France.
On 2 December 2010, he was arrested in Sofia for drunk driving and producing a fake driving license. On 2 February 2011, Dembélé was handed an eight-month suspended sentence for drink-driving offence. He was handed the suspended sentence with a three-year probation period after being caught
drink-driving in December and presenting police with a forged driving licence.
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
-born Mali
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 footballer. He currently plays as a forward for SC Freiburg
SC Freiburg
Sport-Club Freiburg, commonly known as SC Freiburg, is a German association football club, based in the city of Freiburg im Breisgau, Baden-Württemberg. SC Freiburg has played in the Bundesliga, the top tier of German football, since their promotion in 2009...
. He signed a four-year contract, beginning with the 2011–12 season.
Career
Dembélé began his career in INF Clairefontaine, before being transferred to AuxerreAJ Auxerre
Association de la Jeunesse Auxerroise is a French association football club based in the commune of Auxerre in Burgundy. The club was founded in 1905 and currently play in Ligue 1, the top division of French football. Auxerre plays its home matches at the Stade l'Abbé-Deschamps on the banks of the...
. On 1 June 2006, he was released from the club for disciplinary reasons. In January 2007, he joined Istres
FC Istres
Football Club Istres Ouest Provence is a French association football club based in Istres. The club was formed in 1920 and currently play in Ligue 2, the second level of French football having achieved promotion to the league following the 2008–09 season. Istres plays its home matches at the...
. After six months there, Dembélé moved to AGF Århus. In July 2008, he signed with Pierikos
Pierikos F.C.
Pierikos or P.S.F.K. is a football club based in Katerini, Greece.- The foundation :The club was founded on the 11th of April, 1961 from the merger between Megas Alexandros Katerinis and Olympos Katerinis...
in Greece.
Lokomotiv Plovdiv
After an year and a half, in which he played 32 games and scored six goals, Dembélé left PierikosPierikos F.C.
Pierikos or P.S.F.K. is a football club based in Katerini, Greece.- The foundation :The club was founded on the 11th of April, 1961 from the merger between Megas Alexandros Katerinis and Olympos Katerinis...
to sign with Bulgaria
Bulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
n club Lokomotiv Plovdiv
PFC Lokomotiv Plovdiv
PFC Lokomotiv Plovdiv is a Bulgarian football club from the city of Plovdiv, which competes in Bulgaria's top football league, the A PFG. The club was founded on July 25, 1926 when two of the oldest Plovdiv clubs - Atletic and Karadzha united into a new club named Sports Club Plovdiv...
in January 2010. He appeared in 14 games for the Smurfs and scored five goals.
Levski Sofia
On 5 June 2010, it was announced that Dembélé had signed for Levski SofiaPFC Levski Sofia
"Levski Sofia" redirects here. For the sports club, see Levski Sofia .PFC Levski Sofia, otherwise simply known as Levski or Levski Sofia, is a professional football club based in Sofia, Bulgaria...
. On 9 June 2010, Dembélé was officially presented as a Levski Sofia player. The transfer fee was around €200,000 on a three year contract. He made his unofficial debut against Metalist Kharkiv on 1 July 2010 and scored in a 3–2 win.
His official debut for Levski was in a match against Dundalk F.C.
Dundalk F.C.
Dundalk Football Club is a professional Irish football club based in Dundalk, County Louth. The club currently play in the Premier Division of the League of Ireland. Founded in 1903, they are the second most successful team, in terms of trophies won, in the history of the League of Ireland. The...
, in the second qualifying round for Europa League. Levski had won the first match 6–0, with Dembélé scoring once. In the return match Levski won 0–2, with Dembele scoring both goals. In the first round of the A PFG Dembélé scored the winning goal for Levski in the Eternal Derby against CSKA Sofia.
He scored a further two goals in the next Europa League qualification round against Swedish Kalmar FF
Kalmar FF
Kalmar FF is a Swedish football club located in Kalmar. Formed 10 January 1910, the club has won three national cup titles and 1 league title. Kalmar FF currently play in the highest Swedish league, Allsvenskan....
. The play-off against AIK Fotboll
AIK Fotboll
AIK, , an abbreviation for Allmänna Idrottsklubben, , when needed internationally AIK Stockholm, is a Swedish football club based at Råsunda stadium in Solna, a municipality in Stockholm County bordering to Stockholm City Centre...
saw Dembélé scoring another decisive goal for his new club, ensuring Levski's qualification to the Group stages of the Europa League. They were drawn in Group C alongside Gent, Lille
Lille OSC
LOSC Lille Métropole is a French association football club based in Lille. The club was founded in 1944 as a result of a merger and currently play in Ligue 1, the first division of French football. Lille plays its home matches at the Stade Lille-Metropole in nearby Villeneuve-d'Ascq. In 2012, the...
and Sporting CP. With his six goals in six games Dembélé was the leading goalscorer in the Europa League qualification matches.
On 9 August 2010, Dembélé scored his first hat-trick for Levski against Lokomotiv Sofia. The result of the match was 3–1 with a home win for Levski Sofia. He further added to his tally in the competition by scoring in the 3–2 home win against Gent in UEFA Europa League, scoring his seventh goal in the competition. With this win Levski recorded an eight-match unbeaten run in European competitions, a run which was Levski after suffered a heavy 5–0 defeat against Sporting CP. Followed by another loss against Lille
Lille OSC
LOSC Lille Métropole is a French association football club based in Lille. The club was founded in 1944 as a result of a merger and currently play in Ligue 1, the first division of French football. Lille plays its home matches at the Stade Lille-Metropole in nearby Villeneuve-d'Ascq. In 2012, the...
. In Sofia, Levski played very well against Lille
Lille OSC
LOSC Lille Métropole is a French association football club based in Lille. The club was founded in 1944 as a result of a merger and currently play in Ligue 1, the first division of French football. Lille plays its home matches at the Stade Lille-Metropole in nearby Villeneuve-d'Ascq. In 2012, the...
, with Dembélé scoring the opening goal in the match. The Blues were leading 2–1 until Ivo Ivanov scored an own goal to make it 2–2. In the last match of Group C, Levski won against Sporting CP 1–0, the winning goal was scored by Daniel Mladenov
Daniel Mladenov
Daniel Mladenov is a Bulgarian footballer, currently playing for PFC Levski Sofia as a striker. He can also play as a left and right winger.-Youth career:Mladenov started his career in home town Kyustendil in local team – Velbazhd....
, which was assisted by Dembélé.
However Dembélé continued his goal-scoring spree in the Bulgarian A Professional Football Group
Bulgarian A Professional Football Group
The Bulgarian A Professional Football Group commonly known as A PFG is the top division of the Bulgarian football league system. The league is sponsored by Victoria FATA Insurance and therefore is officially known as Victoria A Football Group since 2011...
. By September 17, 2010 he had already scored two hat-tricks in the competition against Lokomotiv Sofia and Minyor Pernik respectively. He also scored the winning penalties in the victories against Vidima-Rakovski and Cherno More
Cherno more
Cherno More is the Bulgarian name of the Black Sea Cherno more may also refer to:* Cherno more — a village in the Burgas municipality, Burgas Province, Bulgaria...
. He continued his good games after scoring the first goal against Beroe
Beroe
Beroe is a Procurement intelligence company which works for fortune 500 companies.Positioned at the forefront of procurement intelligence operations and customized market research, Beroe is unique in its 100% exclusive focus on procurement....
in a 2–1 win for Levski.
He scored his third hat-trick in the A PFG against Pirin Blagoevgrad
PFC Pirin Blagoevgrad
PFC Pirin Blagoevgrad was a Bulgarian professional football club based in Blagoevgrad.Club was founded in 1931 as Makedonska Slava . In 1948 the club joined the newly established FD Julius Dermendzhiev and cease its independent existence...
in Levski's 4–1 win at Georgi Asparuhov
Georgi Asparuhov Stadium
Georgi Asparuhov Stadium , also known as Gerena , is a football stadium situated in the Suhata reka neighbourhood of the Bulgarian capital Sofia. It has been the home of PFC Levski Sofia since 1963....
, helping his team come back from being 1–0 down. After this, he scored a goal against Litex, but Levski lost the game and suffered a run of three straight defeats.
In February 2011, during the preparation for the second part of the season, it was announced that Dembélé would wear the number nine jersey, following his decision to stay during the 2010–11 winter transfer window.
He was rated among the most efficient attacking players of the 2010–11 season in Europe, with a goal at every 76.89 minutes.
Dembélé has expressed his satisfaction with the way he was received by Levski supporters, but has been less magnanimous in his assessments regarding the quality of the training sessions during his time in Bulgaria.
SC Freiburg
On 3 June 2011, it was officially announced that Dembélé had been bought by SC FreiburgSC Freiburg
Sport-Club Freiburg, commonly known as SC Freiburg, is a German association football club, based in the city of Freiburg im Breisgau, Baden-Württemberg. SC Freiburg has played in the Bundesliga, the top tier of German football, since their promotion in 2009...
for 2.5 million euros. It was the first time in the club's history that it paid over two million euros for a transfer, making it the largest transfer fee Freiburg has ever paid. On 28 June 2011, Dembélé made his unofficial debut for the team and netted a goal in the 4–1 win over TSG Balingen
TSG Balingen
TSG Balingen is a German football club from the city of Balingen, Baden-Württemberg. With over 1,800 members, it is the largest sports club in the city and has departments for athletics, basketball, fencing, fistball, gymnastics, handball, judo, and karate, as well as various personal health...
in a friendly match. On 6 August 2011, he made his first official appearance, coming on as a late substitute in the 2–2 away draw with FC Augsburg
FC Augsburg
FC Augsburg is a German football club based in Augsburg, Bavaria. The team was founded as Fußball-Klub Alemania Augsburg in 1907 and played as BC Augsburg from 1921 to 1969....
in a Fußball-Bundesliga
Fußball-Bundesliga
The Fußball-Bundesliga is a professional association football league in Germany. At the top of Germany's football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. It is contested by 18 teams and operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the 2. Bundesliga...
match. Dembélé's first Bundesliga
Bundesliga
The Bundesliga is the name for the premier league of any sport in Germany or Austria...
start came on 28 October 2011, in the 0:1 home loss against Bayer Leverkusen
Bayer Leverkusen
Bayer 04 Leverkusen is a German football club based in Leverkusen, North Rhine-Westphalia. It is the most well-known department of TSV Bayer 04 Leverkusen, a sports club whose members also participate in athletics, gymnastics, basketball and other sports.-Origins and early years:On 27 November...
. After making nine appearances for the club without a goal, Dembélé netted for the first time in the Bundesliga
Bundesliga
The Bundesliga is the name for the premier league of any sport in Germany or Austria...
on 26 November 2011, scoring a last-minute goal
Last-minute goal
The term "last-minute goal" is used in sport, primarily association football, to describe a goal scored very late in a game. It may not necessarily refer to a goal scored in the actual final minute...
to secure a 1:1 away draw with TSG 1899 Hoffenheim.
Club statistics
| Club | Season | League | League | Cup | Europe | Total | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | |||
| AJ Auxerre B | 2003–04 | CFA | 2 | 0 | – | – | 2 | 0 | ||
| 2004–05 | CFA | 18 | 8 | – | – | 18 | 8 | |||
| 2005–06 | CFA | 20 | 5 | – | – | 20 | 5 | |||
| Istres FC Istres Football Club Istres Ouest Provence is a French association football club based in Istres. The club was formed in 1920 and currently play in Ligue 2, the second level of French football having achieved promotion to the league following the 2008–09 season. Istres plays its home matches at the... |
2006–07 | Ligue 2 Ligue 2 Ligue 2 , formerly known as Division 2, is a French professional football league. The league serves as the second division of French football and is one of two divisions making up the Ligue de Football Professionnel , the other being Ligue 1, the country's top football division... |
12 | 3 | 0 | 0 | – | 12 | 3 | |
| AGF | 2007–08 | Superliga Danish Superliga The Danish Superliga is the current Danish football championship tournament, and administered by the Danish Football Association. It is the highest association football league in Denmark and is currently contested by 12 teams each year, with 2 teams to be relegated, which proves to be one of the... |
3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | 3 | 0 | |
| Pierikos Pierikos F.C. Pierikos or P.S.F.K. is a football club based in Katerini, Greece.- The foundation :The club was founded on the 11th of April, 1961 from the merger between Megas Alexandros Katerinis and Olympos Katerinis... |
2008–09 | Beta Ethniki | 23 | 4 | 1 | 0 | – | 24 | 4 | |
| 2009–10 | Beta Ethniki | 9 | 2 | 2 | 0 | – | 11 | 2 | ||
| Lokomotiv Plovdiv PFC Lokomotiv Plovdiv PFC Lokomotiv Plovdiv is a Bulgarian football club from the city of Plovdiv, which competes in Bulgaria's top football league, the A PFG. The club was founded on July 25, 1926 when two of the oldest Plovdiv clubs - Atletic and Karadzha united into a new club named Sports Club Plovdiv... |
2009–10 2009–10 A PFG The 2009-10 season of the Bulgarian A PFG was the 86th season of top-tier football in Bulgaria. It began on 7 August 2009 with the game between Beroe and Lokomotiv Sofia. The last round took place on 30 May 2010... |
A PFG | 14 | 5 | 0 | 0 | – | 14 | 5 | |
| Levski Sofia PFC Levski Sofia "Levski Sofia" redirects here. For the sports club, see Levski Sofia .PFC Levski Sofia, otherwise simply known as Levski or Levski Sofia, is a professional football club based in Sofia, Bulgaria... |
2010–11 2010–11 A PFG The 2010–11 A PFG is the 87th season of the Bulgarian A Professional Football Group, Bulgaria's premier football league. The season commenced on 31 July 2010 and will end with the last games on 28 May 2011. The winter break will be in effect between weekends around 29 November 2010 and 26 February... |
A PFG | 24 | 26 | 3 | 2 | 12 | 8 | 39 | 36 |
| SC Freiburg SC Freiburg Sport-Club Freiburg, commonly known as SC Freiburg, is a German association football club, based in the city of Freiburg im Breisgau, Baden-Württemberg. SC Freiburg has played in the Bundesliga, the top tier of German football, since their promotion in 2009... |
2011–12 2011–12 Fußball-Bundesliga The 2011–12 Fußball-Bundesliga is the 49th season of the Fußball-Bundesliga, Germany's premier football league. The season started on 5 August 2011 with the season opening match involving defending champions Borussia Dortmund and will end with the last games on 5 May 2012... |
Bundesliga Fußball-Bundesliga The Fußball-Bundesliga is a professional association football league in Germany. At the top of Germany's football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. It is contested by 18 teams and operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the 2. Bundesliga... |
10 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 |
| Career total | 134 | 53 | 7 | 2 | 12 | 8 | 153 | 63 | ||
International career
He was part of the France under-18 team from 2003 to 2004. He was eligible to represent either FranceFrance national football team
The France national football team represents the nation of France in international football. It is fielded by the French Football Federation , the governing body of football in France, and competes as a member of UEFA, which encompasses the countries of Europe...
or Mali
Mali 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:...
at senior international level, but in November 2010, he chose to play for Mali
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...
. Dembélé earned his first call-up to the national side of Mali
Mali 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:...
, the country of his parents, for the friendly match against Congo DR
Congo DR national football team
The Congo DR national football team is the national team of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and is controlled by the Fédération Congolaise de Football-Association , and are nicknamed The Leopards.Congo have been ranked as high as 51 in the FIFA Rankings...
, but did not feature in the game.
On 8 February 2011, he finally made his debut for Mali, playing the first 45 minutes of the 0–1 loss against Ivory Coast in a friendly match.
Personal life
While playing in Auxerre he had been convicted of driving while intoxicated resulting in suspension of his driving licence. Later he had again been punished for driving without a license.In October 2006, he was accused of rape by a 22-year old American student while in Rome, but was later released and allowed to return to France.
On 2 December 2010, he was arrested in Sofia for drunk driving and producing a fake driving license. On 2 February 2011, Dembélé was handed an eight-month suspended sentence for drink-driving offence. He was handed the suspended sentence with a three-year probation period after being caught
drink-driving in December and presenting police with a forged driving licence.