Djiman Koukou

Djiman Waidi Koukou (born 14 November 1990) is a Beninese professional footballer who plays for French club Red Star F.C. as a midfielder.

Djiman Koukou
Koukou in January 2017
Personal information
Full name Djiman Waidi Koukou
Date of birth (1990-11-14) 14 November 1990
Place of birth Porto-Novo, Benin
Height 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Position(s) Midfielder
Club information
Current team
 Red Star
Number 24
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2004–2007 Requins 50 (7)
2007–2009 Soleil 37 (5)
2009–2010 Évian 15 (0)
2010–2011 Créteil 33 (1)
2011–2013 Beira-Mar 0 (0)
2011–2012 → Belenenses (loan) 18 (0)
2012–2013 Montélimar 6 (0)
2013–2016 Niort 117 (3)
2016–2018 Lens 37 (1)
2018 Astra Giurgiu 4 (0)
2019– Red Star 13 (0)
National team‡
2008– Benin 39 (1)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 11:46, 21 July 2020 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 17 November 2018

Club career

Born in Porto-Novo, Koukou played for Requins de l'Atlantique FC and Soleil FC in his country. On 5 July 2009, he signed with Thonon Évian F.C. in France,[1] going on to play two seasons in the third division.

After a successful year with US Créteil-Lusitanos, Koukou joined Portuguese club S.C. Beira-Mar in late June 2011, on a free transfer.[2] He was immediately loaned to Segunda Liga team C.F. Os Belenenses, appearing in slightly more than half of the games during his only campaign.[3]

Koukou failed to break into the first team with the Aveiro side, and returned to France in the summer of 2012. He trained with amateurs UMS Montélimar for several months, and eventually signed in February 2013.[4]

In January 2013, Koukou went on trial with Chamois Niortais F.C. from Ligue 2. After training for 15 days, he was offered a contract until the end of the season by manager Pascal Gastien,[5] and went on to compete with the team in three and a half second level seasons whilst playing 125 matches across all competitions.

In early July 2016, Koukou joined RC Lens – also of the French division two – on a two-year deal.[6] He scored his first and only league goal for them on 28 November 2017, helping the hosts defeat AC Ajaccio 2–0.[7]

Koukou moved to the Romanian Liga I on 28 September 2018, agreeing to a two-year contract at FC Astra Giurgiu.[8][9] One year later, he returned to France and its third tier by signing with recently relegated Red Star FC.[10]

International career

Koukou made his debut for Benin in 2008, being selected for that year's Africa Cup of Nations. He earned his first cap on 7 September, in a 3–2 home win against Angola for the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.[11]

Career statistics

Club
As of 21 July 2020[12]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Cup League Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Évian 2009–10 National 150000000150
Créteil 2010–11 National 331200000351
Belenenses (loan) 2011–12 Segunda Liga 180102000210
Niort 2012–13 Ligue 2 9000000090
2013–14 Ligue 2 361201000391
2014–15 Ligue 2 340111000361
2015–16 Ligue 2 382201000412
Total 11735130001254
Lens 2016–17 Ligue 2 200302000250
2017–18 Ligue 2 171402100232
Total 371704100482
Astra Giurgiu 2018–19 Liga I 4010—0050
Red Star 2019–20 National 130200000150
Career total 237518191002647

    References
    1. Evian TGFc: Avec Djiman Koukou, Aussems va-t-il partir de la tête de la DTN? (Evian TGFc: With Djiman Koukou, will Aussems lead the way in DTN?); Sky Rock, 5 July 2009 (in French)
    2. "Koukou na rampa de lançamento" [Koukou poised for move]. A Bola (in Portuguese). 30 June 2011. Archived from the original on 2 July 2011. Retrieved 13 November 2011.
    3. "Koukou encerra plantel" [Koukou completes squad]. Record (in Portuguese). 1 September 2011. Retrieved 17 December 2018.
    4. "Koukou, le revoilou". La Nouvelle République du Centre-Ouest (in French). 5 February 2013. Retrieved 27 December 2015.
    5. Chochois, Alexandre (31 January 2013). "Niort: Djiman Koukou de retour en France" [Niort: Djiman Koukou returns to France] (in French). Foot National. Retrieved 31 January 2013.
    6. Affanou, Roland (6 July 2016). "Racing club [sic] de Lens: Djiman Koukou présenté à la presse samedi dernier" [Racing Club de Lens: Djiman Koukou presented to the press last Saturday]. La Nouvelle Tribune (in French). Retrieved 17 December 2018.
    7. "Football – Ligue 2: Lens réagit contre l'AC Ajaccio: revivez le match" [Football – Ligue 2: Lens react against AC Ajaccio: relive the match]. La Voix du Nord (in French). 28 November 2017. Retrieved 17 December 2018.
    8. "Mengolo– 3 ani, Koukou – 2!" [Mengolo– 3 years, Koukou – 2!] (in Romanian). FC Astra Giurgiu. 28 September 2018. Retrieved 1 October 2018.
    9. "EXCLUSIV Mutări pentru titlu. O forţă a Ligii 1 a transferat azi, gratis, doi jucători importanţi" [EXCLUSIVE Title moves. Liga 1 powerhouse have acquired today, for free, two important players] (in Romanian). Digi Sport. 28 September 2018. Retrieved 28 September 2018.
    10. Ducassou, Paul (11 September 2019). "Koukou signe" [Koukou signs] (in French). Red Star F.C. Retrieved 8 October 2019.
    11. Benin – Angola 3:2 (1:1); FIFA, 7 September 2008
    12. Djiman Koukou at Soccerway
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