Aly Cissokho

Cissokho was born and raised in Blois, the capital city of the Loir-et-Cher département, to Senegalese parents. He grew up learning the sport of football from his three older brothers who are also football players. Mamadou, the eldest, and Demba remain in Blois playing for local amateur clubs AFM Blois and Blois Foot 41, respectively, while Issa plays for professional club Nantes in Ligue 1.[6][7]

Cissokho began his football career at the age of eight playing for AMJ Blois. He spent four years in the club's benjamins section and, in 1999, joined the biggest club in the city, Blois Foot 41. While at the club, Cissokho settled into his role as a left back with his coaches describing him as a player with great potential.[6] Following his move from Porto to Lyon, Blois were compensated €162,500 due to an agreement Blois reached with both Gueugnon and Porto. The payment helped the club achieve some stability after a few years of financial difficulties.[8] After four years at Blois, Cissokho had a year's stint at FCO Saint-Jean-de-la-Ruelle. In 2004, while playing with Saint-Jean-de-la-Ruelle, Cissokho was spotted by the assistant manager of professional club FC Gueugnon Jean Acédo who recommended the player join his club, who were playing in the second division of French football, Ligue 2.[6] In July 2004, he signed with the club and was inserted into the club's youth academy.

After two years in the club's academy and another two years in the reserves, Cissokho made his professional debut on 25 May 2007 in a league match against Metz. He started and played the entire match in a 2–1 victory.[9] Following the season, Cissokho signed his first professional contract agreeing to a three-year deal until June 2010. He was, subsequently, promoted to the senior team for the 2007–08 season and assigned the number 3 shirt by manager Alain Ravera. Under Ravera, Cissokho struggled for playing time often being utilized as a substitute, however, after the sacking of Ravera in October 2007, he was inserted into the starting lineup by new manager Alex Dupont. He appeared in 22 league matches during the campaign, starting in 15, but could not prevent Gueugnon from finishing dead last in the league, which meant relegation to the Championnat National.

On 2 June 2008, Portuguese first division club Vitória de Setúbal confirmed on its website that the club had signed Cissokho to a three-year contract until 2011.[10] He made his debut for the club on 22 August 2008 in a derby match against Vitória de Guimarães playing the entire match in a 1–1 draw.[11] Cissokho appeared in 15 league matches for the club and, also, made his European debut in a UEFA Cup match against Dutch club SC Heerenveen.

After positive displays for Vitória de Setúbal, on 9 January 2009, the defending champions Porto announced the club had acquired 60% of Cissokho's rights for a modest fee of €300,000.[12] Upon his arrival, Cissokho was given the number 28 shirt and immediately inserted into the starting lineup by manager Jesualdo Ferreira making his debut 17 January in a Taça da Liga match against Académica de Coimbra.[13] In the league, Cissokho appeared in 15 matches with the club going undefeated in that span.[3] The unbeaten streak led to the club winning its fourth consecutive league title and giving Cissokho his first major honour.

In the UEFA Champions League, Cissokho made his debut on 24 February 2009 in the opening leg of the team's first knockout round tie against Spanish club Atlético Madrid. The match finished 2–2 and Porto won the tie by the same scoreline via the away goals rule.[14][15][16] In the quarter-finals, Porto faced English club Manchester United and Cissokho was tasked with the objective of containing the 2008 FIFA World Player of the Year Cristiano Ronaldo.[17] Despite putting up a strong effort in the first leg, which ended 2–2 at Old Trafford, Porto were defeated 3–2 on aggregate after losing 1–0 at the Estádio do Dragão.[18][19] On 31 May, Porto completed the league and cup double after defeating Paços de Ferreira 1–0 in the 2009 final of the Taça de Portugal. Cissokho played the entire match.[20]

On 14 June 2009, Italian club A.C. Milan announced the club had signed Cissokho, subject to medical, with a reported deal of €15 million.[21][22] Cissokho underwent his medical on 16 June, but the next day, it was revealed he had failed it due to a problem with his teeth that could indicate potential spinal problems, and that the move was in jeopardy of collapse.[23] Later that day, Cissokho declared he had passed a second medical he undertook, and that he had subsequently signed a pre-contract. In the meantime, Milan tried to re-negotiate the bid on a loan basis due to Cissokho's health concerns. As the parties failed to reach an agreement, Milan general manager Adriano Galliani announced the deal was cancelled.[24]

On 18 July, French club Olympique Lyonnais announced the club had reached an agreement with Porto for the transfer of Cissokho, in a deal which equaled Milan's €15 million bid.[25] However, Porto remain eligible to receive 20% of the added value/differential value if Lyon sold him for a higher price.[26] Cissokho successfully passed his medical and agreed to a five-year contract. He was presented to the media, along with fellow new signing Michel Bastos, on 20 July and was assigned the number 20 shirt.[27]

Cissokho at his presentation at the Mestalla Stadium as a Valencia player.

Cissokho was immediately inserted to the starting 11 by manager Claude Puel, replacing the Italian international Fabio Grosso, who departed for Juventus. He made his debut for Lyon in the team's opening league match of the season, a 2–2 draw with Le Mans in which Cissokho played the entire match.[28] On 26 September 2009, Cissokho assisted on the equalizing goal, scored by Yannis Tafer, in the 52nd minute of a league match against Toulouse. Lyon later won 2–1 with a goal from Bafétimbi Gomis.[29] On 9 December, he scored his first professional goal in Lyon's 4–0 thrashing of Hungarian club Debrecen. Two weeks later, he provided his second league assist of the season on Lyon's only goal in the team's 2–1 loss to Montpellier.[30]

On 23 August 2012, Valencia CF announced on their official website they had completed a deal to sign Cissokho for the next four seasons,[31] in exchange for a €5 million and €1 million variable and a portion of future transfer fee Valencia received.[32] He made his official debut against FC Barcelona, at an eventual 1–0 away loss. On 15 September, Cissokho's 25th birthday, he scored his first goal, which also turned out to be the winning goal, for Valencia in a 2–1 win over Celta de Vigo at the Mestalla Stadium.[33]

Cissokho challenging Cardiff City's Kenwyne Jones in 2014

On 20 August 2013, Cissokho signed for English side Liverpool on a season-long loan deal.[34] He made his Premier League debut four days later away to Aston Villa, being substituted on in the 69th minute.[35] He was ruled out for six weeks after an injury which caused him to be taken off after ten minutes in the League Cup match against Notts County. He made his first assist for Luis Suárez's second goal in a 4–1 victory over West Bromwich Albion, via an inadvertent rebound. He soon fell out of favour after making six appearances for the senior team. Cissokho returned to first-team action on 26 December against Manchester City in the absence of injured Jon Flanagan in a narrow 2–1 defeat at the City of Manchester Stadium. Cissokho made his second and final goal contribution for Liverpool at Stoke City in January, when his shot deflected off the groin of Ryan Shawcross for an own goal after five minutes to open a 5–3 win.

On 8 August 2014, Cissokho signed a four-year deal with Premier League club Aston Villa.[36] He impressed during his debut – the first match of the 2014–15 Premier League season against Stoke City, which Villa won 1–0. On 23 August 2014, in the match against Newcastle United, Cissokho suffered an ankle injury, sidelining him for one week. On 20 September 2014, he scored an own goal while attempting to clear Arsenal's Kieran Gibbs' shot.[37] On 24 February 2015, he sustained a groin/pelvis injury during training, sidelining him for two months. He made a total of 27 appearances and helped Villa reach the FA Cup final.[38]

On 5 August 2015, Cissokho returned to Portuguese club Porto on a season-long loan, rejoining the side after a short spell in 2009. However, on 18 December, after only two appearances in the Primeira Liga, he was recalled to Aston Villa by new Villa manager Rémi Garde – who had managed him at Lyon – to cover after Jordan Amavi was ruled out for the season, although Cissokho was not eligible to play until the new year.[39] He was eventually issued squad number 43 and went straight into the starting 11 against fellow relegation candidates Sunderland in a 3–1 defeat on 2 January 2016.

On 14 January 2017, Olympiacos officially announced Cissokho had joined the club on a six-month loan from Aston Villa, with the option of permanently purchasing the player during the summer 2017 transfer window, subject to satisfactory performances.[40][41] At the end of season, Cissokho returned to Aston Villa.

On 2 August 2017, Cissokho signed for Turkish Süper Lig newcomers Yeni Malatyaspor.[42]

On 27 July 2018, he signed for Antalyaspor for an undisclosed fee.[43]

Cissokho playing for Lyon in 2010

As of 29 June 2017[50]