Bakari Koné

Bakari Koné (born 17 September 1981) is an Ivorian former professional footballer who played as a winger.[2]

For the Burkinabé footballer, see Bakary Koné.

Bakari Koné
Koné in 2005
Personal information
Full name Bakari Koné[1]
Date of birth (1981-09-17) 17 September 1981
Place of birth Abidjan, Ivory Coast
Height 1.67 m (5 ft 6 in)
Position(s) Winger
Youth career
1994–1999 ASEC Mimosas
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1999–2002 ASEC Mimosas 84 (29)
2002–2003 Al-Ittihad 28 (11)
2003–2005 Lorient 68 (34)
2005–2008 Nice 95 (29)
2008–2010 Marseille 55 (13)
2010–2012 Lekhwiya 37 (14)
2012–2013 Qatar SC 21 (5)
2013–2014 Umm Salal 13 (3)
2014–2016 Ajman 13 (7)
2016 Paris FC 7 (0)
Total 421 (145)
National team
2003–2010 Ivory Coast 42 (9)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Club career

Early career

Koné was born in Abidjan. Like many other Ivorian stars, he began his career at the famed youth academy at ASEC Mimosas, run by Frenchman Jean-Marc Guillou in his home country. Guillou recalls: "One day, when I was passing through his district, some kids stopped me. They kept saying, 'We've got Pelé living here, you've got to take a look at him'. Then, Koné came along. He was slightly built but I never doubted for one moment that he was a real find. I took him into the academy after a trial of just ten minutes, but I did tell him that the Pelé nickname would have to go. That's when he became Baky, and I think it's better that way."[3]

Koné stayed at the academy for five years, before joining the first team and turning professional in 1999. During his time with the ASEC's first team, he won the Ivorian League three times, and also the African Supercup before moving on.

In 2002, he joined Qatari club Al-Ittihad, staying in the Persian Gulf region for just six months, before moving to France, where he joined the then Ligue 2 outfit FC Lorient, following a successful trial. It was here that Koné rose to fame. In his first season at the club, he scored 10 respectable goals, but then bagged an impressive 24 in 35 appearances in the 2004–05 season, earning him the Player of the Year and Top Scorer titles in the Ligue 2. At the end of the season, Lorient narrowly missed out on promotion to Ligue 1, and with speculation mounting linking the Ivorian to top flight sides such as OSC Lille, RC Strasbourg and AJ Auxerre, Koné received a standing ovation in his final appearance for his club. In the summer, Koné finally made his move, relocating to the French Riviera at top flight side OGC Nice, where he signed a four-year contract.

Nice

Koné made his debut with Nice against Troyes on 30 July 2005. In his first season at the club, he made 32 appearances, scoring seven times, and eight goals in 33 appearances in his second. In his second season at the club, English side Arsenal's manager Arsène Wenger labelled him a 'phenomenon'[4] and one of the hottest prospects in French football, leading to speculation that the forward would be playing in the English Premiership.[5]

Koné made an impressive start to the 2007–08 season for Nice. After signing a contract extension to 2009 with the Côte d'Azur side, he went on to score four times in his first eight appearances for the club. He won the Ligue 1 player of the month award for both September and October 2007,[5] and finished the 2007–08 Ligue 1 season as top scorer for his club, after netting 14 goals in 30 appearances for the Côte d'Azur outfit.[6]

In June 2008, Koné began talks with French giants Olympique de Marseille, with a view to move to the club. The proposed transfer was held up however, with a disagreement over the fee, a situation which caused Koné to miss pre-season training at OGC Nice, apparently as a protest. The striker spoke out to state that he had been carrying an injury.[7]

The saga went further, with Nice's president, Maurice Cohen, stating that their south-coast rivals had till 15 July to sign the striker, otherwise the club would speak to other interested parties. One reportedly interested club was capital club Paris Saint-Germain.[8]

The striker was quoted as saying: "I know that this is going to get sorted out but I can't tell you when. If we talk about (the) 15 July (deadline)...I'm not worried about that."[9]

Marseille's president, Pape Diouf, echoed Koné's comments, stating: "Ultimatums not only fail to impress me, but they also never provide a solution. Now, concerning Baki, it doesn't just depend on us but on the wishes of the two clubs and, in particular, the two presidents. Personally I think that good sense can do a lot in this case. I remain calm."[10]

On Thursday, 17 July, Koné spoke to the media once again, regarding his drawn-out transfer saga. He stated: "It's heading down a good road, I hope that it is all going to be done quickly. The important thing is that the two clubs reach an understanding."

Marseille

In July 2008, Olympique de Marseille announced the signing of Koné.[11][12][13]

In March 2009, Koné was named Ivorian Player of the Year, ahead of FC Barcelona midfielder Yaya Touré.[14]

Lekhwiya

On 26 May 2010, Koné signed for Qatar League side Lekhwiya along with his Ivorian teammate Aruna Dindane.[15]

In the 2010–11 Qatar Stars League season, Koné led Lekhwiya to their first ever league championship. He was also named the best player of the season by QFA.[16]

Qatar SC

On 18 May 2012, Koné signed a one-year contract with Qatar SC.[17]

Ajman

Koné signed for Ajman Club of UAE at the start of the 2013–14 season, signing a two-year contract worth $2 million net per season.

International career

Koné made his international debut for the Ivorian national team against Sudan on 5 September 2004.

He was part of the Ivorian team for the 2006 African Cup of Nations in Egypt. He scored a vital equaliser against Cameroon in the quarter-final. His team won the penalty shootout 12–11. However, in the final, he was one of two Ivorian players to have his penalty saved as the Ivorians lost to hosts Egypt.

The forward was selected as part of the Ivorian side for the 2006 World Cup in Germany. He was given the number 14 shirt, and played his first match for Ivory Coast against the Netherlands on 16 June 2006. He scored his first World Cup goal in that match, where the Ivory Coast lost 2–1.

Koné was also selected as part of the Ivorian squad for the 2008 African Cup of Nations in Ghana. He made four substitute appearances for the Elephants, and scored once against West African rivals Guinea in the quarter final stage, where the Ivorians ran out 5–1 winners.

He was also selected in the preliminary Ivory Coast squad for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, but was eventually dropped along with Gilles Yapi Yapo and Emerse Faé, who played with him in the 2006 World Cup.[18][19]

Personal life

Koné is the older brother of fellow Ivorian international Arouna Koné, who is a striker.[20][21]

Career statistics

Club
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition[22][23][24]
Club Season League National Cup League Cup Continental Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Al-Ittihad 2002–03 Q-League 28112811
Lorient 2003–04 Ligue 2 331032103712
2004–05 35243524
Total 683432107236
Nice 2005–06 Ligue 1 3270010337
2006–07 3382010368
2007–08 301410103214
Total 9529303010129
Marseille 2008–09 Ligue 1 28920001414410
2009–10 274101072366
Total 551330102138016
Lekhwiya 2010–11 Q-League 21112111
2011–12 16361224
Total 3714614315
Qatar SC 2012–13 Q-League 215215
UMM Salal 2013–14 Q-League 13323156
Ajman 2013–14 UAE Pro-League 9540135
2014–15 9393
Total 18840228
Paris FC 2015–16 Ligue 2 70000070
Career total 34211711590274389126

International goals
#DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1.4 February 2006Cairo Military Academy Stadium, Cairo, Egypt Cameroon1–1 (11–12 pen.)Won2006 African Nations Cup
2.16 June 2006Stuttgart, Germany Netherlands1–2Lost2006 FIFA World Cup
3.3 February 2008Sekondi-Takoradi Stadium, Sekondi, Ghana Guinea5–0Won2008 African Nations Cup
4.20 August 2008Chantilly, France Guinea2–1WonFriendly
5.7 September 2008Estádio da Machava, Maputo, Mozambique Mozambique1–1Draw2010 FIFA World Cup Qualification
6.29 March 2009Stade Félix Houphouët-Boigny, Abidjan, Ivory Coast Malawi5–0Won2010 FIFA World Cup Qualification
7.7 June 2009Stade du 28 Septembre, Conakry, Guinea Guinea1–2Won2010 FIFA World Cup Qualification

Honours

Club

ASEC Mimosas

Nice

Marseille

Lekhwiya

International

Ivory Coast

Individual

References
  1. "FIFA World Cup Germany 2006 – List of Players" (PDF). Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA). Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 June 2019. Retrieved 6 June 2019.
  2. رسميًا | باكاري كوني لاعبًا لأم صلال القطري
  3. Bakari Koné – the small man of Ivorian football Archived 8 January 2008 at the Wayback Machine
  4. Arsenal Boss Following Ivorian Striker Koné Archived 10 February 2009 at the Wayback Machine
  5. Koné dreams of English move
  6. "Kone wins French Ligue One award". 9 November 2007. Retrieved 12 June 2018.
  7. "Koné denies any wrong-doing". Archived from the original on 18 July 2008. Retrieved 18 July 2008.
  8. "Koné not bound for Marseille". Archived from the original on 24 September 2008. Retrieved 18 July 2008.
  9. "Koné confident of Marseille deal". Archived from the original on 18 July 2008. Retrieved 17 July 2008.
  10. "OM unfazed by Koné ultimatum". Archived from the original on 20 July 2008. Retrieved 15 July 2008.
  11. "Gerets delighted with Koné deal". Archived from the original on 20 July 2008. Retrieved 18 July 2008.
  12. "Kone completes Marseille move". BBC Sport. 21 July 2008. Retrieved 6 February 2018.
  13. Koné finally arrives at Marseille
  14. Koné named Ivorian player of the year
  15. Koné au Qatar (officiel) Archived 29 June 2010 at the Wayback Machine
  16. http://www.qfa.com.qa/bakari-adjudged-best-player.aspx
  17. كونيه: أحلم بتحقيق البطولات مع نادي قطر (in Arabic). Al Kass. 17 May 2012. Archived from the original on 31 August 2012. Retrieved 18 May 2012.
  18. http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/world-cup-2010/sven-goran-eriksson-settles-on-his-ivory-warriors/story-fn5c8hri-1225874238346
  19. https://www.fifa.com/worldcup/news/newsid=1222500/index.html
  20. Somoni, M.J. "Kolo & Yaya Toure, the Ayew brothers and the top 10 African football siblings". Goal. Retrieved 6 February 2018.
  21. Leme de Arruda, Marcelo. "World Cup Trivia - Fathers, Sons and Brothers, Uncles and Nephews". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 6 February 2018.
  22. "Bakari Koné » Club matches". worldfootball.net. Retrieved 6 February 2018.
  23. "B. Koné". Soccerway. Retrieved 6 February 2018.
  24. "Bakari KONé - Football : la fiche de Bakari KONé - lequipe.fr". L'Équipe (in French). Retrieved 6 February 2018.
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