Younousse Sankharé
Encyclopedia
Younousse Sankharé is a French
football
player of Mauritania
n descent who plays for French club Dijon
in Ligue 1
. He plays as a left-sided midfielder
, but also operates as a left back
.
in Val-d'Oise
and joined his hometown club in 2001 arriving at the Camp des Loges as a youth player. After spending nearly six years in the club's youth system
and the reserves, Younousse signed his first professional contract, in June 2007, agreeing to a three-year deal. He was promoted to the senior squad and assigned the number 27 shirt.
Younousse participated in the club's pre-season earning appearances in the 2007 edition of the Emirates Cup where Paris Saint-Germain finished second. He made his league debut on 6 October 2007 in a match against Rennes appearing as a substitute in a 1–3 defeat. He earned consecutive starts the following match days playing the full 90 minutes in both a 0–0 draw against Valenciennes
and a 2–3 loss to Olympique Lyonnais
. After those appearances, he regularly appeared as a substitute throughout the league season, but made impressive starts in the 2007–08 edition of the Coupe de France
. In the Round of 16, he assisted on the opening goal scored by Loris Arnaud
in a 2–1 victory over SC Bastia
. He also played the full 90 minutes in 1–0 victories over amateur side Carquefou
and Amiens SC
in the quarterfinals and semi-finals, respectively. In total, Younousse made 13 appearances scoring no goals.
The next season, Younousse's play was limited appearing in only two league matches. This was primarily due to the club's impressive start in league play, where they reached as high as 2nd position. He did make four appearances in the UEFA Cup
earning starts against Turkish
club Kayserispor
, German
club FC Schalke
, and Spanish
club Racing Santander.
, on 26 January 2009, Sankharé was sent on loan by manager Paul Le Guen
to Ligue 2
club Stade Reims
in order to increase the player's playing time. He made his debut just four days later playing 90 minutes in a 0–0 draw with Guingamp. He appeared in every following league match scoring no goals gaining experience in the process, despite Reims suffering relegation to the third-tier National
. He returned to Paris on 1 July.
during the competition. He made his U-21
debut on 19 November 2008 against Denmark
in a 1–0 victory. He has become a regular in the U-21 squad, often wearing the number 10 shirt.
French people
The French are a nation that share a common French culture and speak the French language as a mother tongue. Historically, the French population are descended from peoples of Celtic, Latin and Germanic origin, and are today a mixture of several ethnic groups...
football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
player of Mauritania
Mauritania
Mauritania is a country in the Maghreb and West Africa. It is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean in the west, by Western Sahara in the north, by Algeria in the northeast, by Mali in the east and southeast, and by Senegal in the southwest...
n descent who plays for French club Dijon
Dijon FCO
Dijon Football Côte d'Or is a French association football club based in Dijon. The club was founded in 1998 as a result of a merger between two local clubs in the city and currently competes in Ligue 1 after gaining promotion for the first time ever in the 2010-11 season.The club president is...
in 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....
. He plays as a left-sided 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 also operates as a left back
Defender (football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
.
Career
Sankharé grew up in the northern suburbs of ParisParis
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
in Val-d'Oise
Val-d'Oise
Val-d'Oise is a French department, created in 1968 after the split of the Seine-et-Oise department and located in the Île-de-France region. In local slang, it is known as "quatre-vingt quinze" or "neuf cinq"...
and joined his hometown club in 2001 arriving at the Camp des Loges as a youth player. After spending nearly six years in the club's youth system
Youth system
Youth system is a sporting terminology used to refer to a youth investment program within a particular team or league, which develops and nurtures young talent in farm teams, with the vision of using them in the first team if they show enough promise, and to fill up squads numbers in some teams...
and the reserves, Younousse signed his first professional contract, in June 2007, agreeing to a three-year deal. He was promoted to the senior squad and assigned the number 27 shirt.
Younousse participated in the club's pre-season earning appearances in the 2007 edition of the Emirates Cup where Paris Saint-Germain finished second. He made his league debut on 6 October 2007 in a match against Rennes appearing as a substitute in a 1–3 defeat. He earned consecutive starts the following match days playing the full 90 minutes in both a 0–0 draw against Valenciennes
Valenciennes FC
Valenciennes Football Club is a French association football club based in Valenciennes. The club was founded in 1913 and currently play in Ligue 1, the top level of French football. Valenciennes plays its home matches at the recently-built Stade du Hainaut located within the city...
and a 2–3 loss to Olympique Lyonnais
Olympique Lyonnais
Olympique Lyonnais is a French association football club based in Lyon. They play in France's highest football division, Ligue 1. The club was formed as Lyon Olympique Universitaire in 1899, according to many supporters and sport historians, but was nationally established as a club in 1950. The...
. After those appearances, he regularly appeared as a substitute throughout the league season, but made impressive starts in the 2007–08 edition of the Coupe de France
Coupe de France 2007-08
The 2007/2008 Coupe de France was the 91st edition of the prestigious tournament and is open to all clubs in French football, as well as the 4 overseas departments if they qualify. The defending champions were FC Sochaux-Montbéliard who defeated Olympique Marseille 5-4 on penalties to claim their...
. In the Round of 16, he assisted on the opening goal scored by Loris Arnaud
Loris Arnaud
Loris Arnaud is a French footballer, who currently plays for Paris Saint-Germain.-References:...
in a 2–1 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...
. He also played the full 90 minutes in 1–0 victories over amateur side Carquefou
USJA Carquefou
USJA Carquefou are a French football team currently playing in the Group D of Championnat de France amateur based in Carquefou, Loire-Atlantique.-History:...
and Amiens SC
Amiens SC
Amiens Sporting Club is a French association football club based in Amiens. The club was formed in 1901 and currently play in Ligue 2, the second level of French football. The club plays its home matches at the Stade de la Licorne located within the city...
in the quarterfinals and semi-finals, respectively. In total, Younousse made 13 appearances scoring no goals.
The next season, Younousse's play was limited appearing in only two league matches. This was primarily due to the club's impressive start in league play, where they reached as high as 2nd position. He did make four appearances in the UEFA Cup
UEFA Cup
The UEFA Europa League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1971 for eligible European football clubs. It is the second most prestigious European club football contest after the UEFA Champions League...
earning starts against Turkish
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
club Kayserispor
Kayserispor
Kayserispor is a professional Turkish football club located in the city of Kayseri. Formed in 1966, Kayserispor are nicknamed Anadolu Yıldızı . The club colours are red and yellow, and the club play their home matches at Kadir Has Stadium.The club have won one Türkiye Kupası, in 2008...
, German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
club FC Schalke
FC Schalke 04
Fußball-Club Gelsenkirchen-Schalke 04, commonly known as simply FC Schalke 04 or Schalke , is a German, association-football club originally from the Schalke district of Gelsenkirchen, North Rhine-Westphalia. Schalke has long been one of the most popular football teams in Germany, even though major...
, and Spanish
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
club Racing Santander.
Loan to Reims
Due to the club's positive form in league play and also playing well in EuropeUEFA
The Union of European Football Associations , almost always referred to by its acronym UEFA is the administrative and controlling body for European association football, futsal and beach soccer....
, on 26 January 2009, Sankharé was sent on loan by manager Paul Le Guen
Paul Le Guen
Paul Le Guen is a French football manager and former player. He was recently confirmed as new manager of the Oman national football team.Le Guen had a successful managerial career in France, most notably leading Olympique Lyonnais to three consecutive Ligue 1 titles. He has also managed Stade...
to 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...
club Stade Reims
Stade Reims
Stade de Reims is a French association football club based in Reims. The club was formed in 1911 under the name Société Sportive du Parc Pommery and currently play in Ligue 2, the second level of French football having achieved promotion to the league following the 2009–10 season...
in order to increase the player's playing time. He made his debut just four days later playing 90 minutes in a 0–0 draw with Guingamp. He appeared in every following league match scoring no goals gaining experience in the process, despite Reims suffering relegation to the third-tier National
Championnat National
The Championnat de France National, commonly referred to as simply National or Division 3, serves as the third division of the French football league system behind Ligue 1 and Ligue 2...
. He returned to Paris on 1 July.
International career
Sankharé earned his first youth caps with the France U-19 squad, receiving a call up to the squad that won the Sendaï Cup, scoring a goal against BrazilBrazil national football team
The Brazil national football team represents Brazil in international men's football and is controlled by the Brazilian Football Confederation , the governing body for football in Brazil. They are a member of the International Federation of Association Football since 1923 and also a member of the...
during the competition. He made his U-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 19 November 2008 against Denmark
Denmark national under-21 football team
The Denmark national under-21 football team has played since 1976 and is controlled by the Danish Football Association. Before 1976, the age limit was 23 years.-U-21 European Championship:*1978 – Quarterfinals*1980 to 1984 – Did not qualify...
in a 1–0 victory. He has become a regular in the U-21 squad, often wearing the number 10 shirt.