Mamady Sidibé

Mamady Sidibé (born 18 December 1979) is a Malian former professional footballer who played as a forward.

Mamady Sidibé
Sidibé playing for Sheffield Wednesday in 2012
Personal information
Full name Mamady Sidibé[1]
Date of birth (1979-12-18) 18 December 1979
Place of birth Kremis, Mali
Height 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in)[2]
Position(s) Forward
Youth career
1995–1997 Bagneux
1997–1998 Massy Palaiseau
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1998–2000 Red Star 93
2000–2001 CA Paris-Charenton
2001–2002 Swansea City 31 (7)
2002–2005 Gillingham 106 (10)
2005–2013 Stoke City 168 (24)
2012–2013 → Sheffield Wednesday (loan) 9 (1)
2013 → Tranmere Rovers (loan) 10 (0)
2013 CSKA Sofia 11 (1)
Total 335 (43)
National team
2002–2008 Mali 14 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Sidibé moved from his native Mali to France when he was two years old. After playing football for a number of lower French league sides he joined Swansea City in 2001. He spent a single season at the Welsh club before signing for Gillingham. After three and a half years in Kent Sidibé rejected an offer of a new contract and joined Stoke City in July 2005 on a free transfer.

He went on to become a key member of Tony Pulis's first team and helped the club gain promotion to the Premier League in 2008. His career at Stoke was disrupted from 2010 by a serious Achilles tendon injury, which recurred after his return and was then compounded by a knee dislocation, in total keeping him out of first-team football for more than two years. After his return, Sidibé spent time out on loan at Sheffield Wednesday and Tranmere Rovers before his contract at Stoke ended in May 2013. He then briefly joined Bulgarian side CSKA Sofia, before retiring from professional football in 2015.

Club career

Early life in France

Sidibé was born in Kremis, Kayes Region in Mali before his family migrated to France when he was two years old. He lived in Pantin before moving to Bagneux, Hauts-de-Seine where he joined the local under thirteen football team. At the age of 15 he joined Massy Palaiseau, a youth team in the 91st district where he played for a whole season as a defender. He impressed watching scouts and was signed by local team Red Star 93 where he played along with Fousseni Diawara, Samba Diawara, Diomansy Kamara and Abdoulaye Méïté. On the last day of the 1999–2000 season, the coach decided to play him as a striker and he scored his first goal of the season while playing what was his last game for Red Star. The following season, he joined CA Paris-Charenton as a result of Red Star's financial demise which led to the club almost filing for bankruptcy.[3] He left for the United Kingdom when he was 21 years old to join Swansea City.

Swansea City

Sidibé was signed by Swansea City on 25 August 2001 after a successful trial.[4] He scored on his League debut for The Swans in a 3–1 win over Macclesfield Town on the opening day of the 2001–02 season.[5] He continued his impressive form and produced a man of the match display against Queens Park Rangers in the FA Cup.[6][7] This prompted interest from other clubs.[8] He held talks with Barnsley over a £200,000 transfer in December.[9] However, he could not agree personal terms.[10]

After picking up an ankle injury in December Sidibé returned to France however he failed to return on the agreed date and was disciplined by the club.[11] He returned to the club in February 2002 and was offered a new contract which Sidibé rejected.[12]

Gillingham

In August 2002 he joined Gillingham,[13] for whom he scored 13 goals in 115 matches. When Gillingham were relegated at the end of the 2004–05 season, Sidibé declined the offer of a new contract.[14]

Stoke City

Sidibé joined Stoke City on a two-year contract on a free transfer in June 2005.[15] Tony Pulis, who brought Sidibé to Stoke, was sacked just four days later.[16][17] He performed as a lone striker for the early stages of the 2005–06 season, keeping Bruce Dyer on the bench. Eventually, new Stoke manager Johan Boskamp signed Sambégou Bangoura to play alongside him in attack. He scored his first goal for City in a 3–1 win against Norwich City in August 2005.[18] However, he did not score again for another 15 games.[19]

Sidibé in action at the Britannia Stadium for Stoke City.

He went on to make 47 appearances during the 2005–06 season scoring seven goals. Sidibé was more prolific during the 2006–07 season scoring nine goals as Stoke narrowly missed out on a play-off place.

Sidibé made 33 appearances for Stoke City in the 2007–08 season, scoring four goals including a vital brace against Bristol City as Stoke were promoted to the Premier League.[20] On 23 August 2008, Sidibé scored the third goal in Stoke City's 3–2 home win against Aston Villa, when Rory Delap's long throw was headed home by Sidibé. This was Stoke's first ever win in the Premier League. Sidibé has since gone on to score his second Premier League goal of his career and season against West Bromwich Albion in a 1–0 win against their fellow newly promoted rivals. On 6 December, Sidibé netted his third goal at Newcastle United, to start the fightback from Stoke losing 2–0 to eventually draw 2–2, putting them 13th place in the league. On 12 December, Sidibé suffered a knee injury whilst playing for Stoke City against Fulham at the Britannia Stadium.[21] The injury kept Sidibé out for two months but he injured the same knee again during the warm up for a reserve game against Aston Villa Reserves.[22] It was revealed that he needed surgery.[23]

Sidibé made his return from injury coming on as a second-half substitute in a 2–2 draw with Wolverhampton Wanderers. The decision by the management to rush Sidibé back from injury has come under heavy criticism from supporters. Sidibé thought he scored in a 1–0 defeat at Aston Villa however referee Lee Probert deemed it to be a foul on Stephen Warnock. He made his 150th appearance for City against Fulham on 6 January 2010 when he scored the third goal in a 3–2 win for Stoke.[24] Sidibé signed a new contract at Stoke in February 2010, extending his stay at the Britannia Stadium until June 2012.[25]

Sidibé playing on loan for Tranmere Rovers.

Sidibé snapped his achilles tendon against Tottenham Hotspur which ruled him out the rest of 2010.[26][27] He returned to first team training in January 2011.[28] He marked his return to the side by scoring in a reserve game against Burton Albion on 8 February.[29] However two days later in a training session Sidibé again snapped his Achilles tendon ending his season.[30] Sidibé admitted he broke down in tears when he snapped his right Achilles tendon for a second time in six months.[31]

After 14 months out Sidibé made his comeback from his injury in a reserve match against Nottingham Forest.[32][33] However, in his next reserve match against Port Vale Sidibé suffered more injury woe as he was carried off in the second half with a dislocated knee.[34] After suffering his third serious injury in two years Sidibé admitted that he had considered retiring from football.[35][36] On 22 November 2012 Sidibé joined Sheffield Wednesday on a months loan.[37] His loan spell at Hillsborough was extended until 19 January 2013.[38] He scored his first goal for the "Owls" in a 1–0 win away at Bolton Wanderers.[39] In February 2013 Sidibé joined League One side Tranmere Rovers on loan until the end of the 2012–13 season.[40] His loan spell at Prenton Park was cut short due to an abductor injury.[41] He left Stoke at the end of the 2012–13 season after scoring 26 goals in 186 appearances for the club in an eight-year spell.[42]

CSKA Sofia

On 29 July 2013 Sidibé joined Scottish League One side Rangers on trial.[43] He then joined Bulgarian side CSKA Sofia on trial.[44] On 28 August 2013, Sidibé signed a one-year contract with CSKA Sofia.[45] He made his league debut on 13 September, in a 1–0 away win against Pirin Gotse Delchev, playing the full 90 minutes. Four days later, Sidibé scored his first goal in Bulgaria, netting fifth in a 6–2 home win over Haskovo in the Bulgarian Cup. Sidibé had a difficult time settling in Bulgaria and was released from the club in December 2013.[46]

Later career

Sidibe had a trial at Southend United in October 2014.[47][48] He retired from professional football in February 2015 due to family and business commitments, and began playing Sunday League football.[49]

International career

Sidibé played at international level for Mali. He was first called up to the national team shortly after his debut for Gillingham, featuring in two unofficial friendlies in the south of France against Istres and Monaco, scoring against the latter.[50]

His first official cap came in a qualifier for the African Cup of Nations against the Seychelles in 2002.[51] He was part of Mali's squads for the 2004 and 2008 African Cup of Nations, but made only one substitute appearance in each tournament.[52][53]

In October 2007 he was stabbed by a spectator during an international match with Togo and suffered what was described as a "horrific injury".[54]

Personal life

Sidibé has a younger brother, Lassana, who in 2009 signed for Dover Athletic, who were managed by the elder Sidibé's former Gillingham teammate Andy Hessenthaler. In July 2009, Lassana played a pre-season friendly for Stoke's rivals Port Vale, in an attempt to follow Mamady into the Football League.[55] However Lassana was not offered a contract and returned to Dover. His cousin Moussa Sidibé is also a footballer.[56]

Despite growing up in Paris Sidibé supported their great rivals Marseille.[57] He released his autobiography in 2013 entitled The Luckiest Man in Football.[58] On 12 July 2014, Sidibe and his wife, Bineta, opened a pâtisserie in the Potteries Shopping Centre called Melice.[59]

Career statistics

Club
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition[60]
Club Season League Cup League Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Swansea City 2001–02[61] Third Division 31721101[lower-alpha 1]0358
Gillingham 2002–03[62] First Division 3033110—344
2003–04[63] First Division 4151130—456
2004–05[64] Championship 3520011—363
Total 1061042510011513
Stoke City 2005–06[65] Championship 4264110—477
2006–07[66] Championship 4392010—469
2007–08[67] Championship 3541010—374
2008–09[68] Premier League 2230021—244
2009–10[69] Premier League 2425010—302
2010–11[70] Premier League 200000—20
2011–12[71] Premier League 000000—00
2012–13[72] Premier League 000000—00
Total 16824121610018626
Sheffield Wednesday (loan) 2012–13[72] Championship 910000—91
Tranmere Rovers (loan) 2012–13[72] League One 1000000—100
CSKA Sofia 2013–14 A PFG 11141——152
Career total 335432251221037050
  1. Appearances in Football League Trophy

International
Appearances and goals by national team and year[73]
National teamYearAppsGoals
Mali 200210
200340
200420
200510
200620
200710
200830
Total140

Honours

Stoke City

References
  1. Hugman, Barry J. (2005). The PFA Premier & Football League Players' Records 1946–2005. Queen Anne Press. p. 56. ISBN 1-85291-665-6.
  2. "Premier League Player Profile". Premier League. Retrieved 24 April 2011.
  3. "All on Mamady Biography – Early years". mamadysidibe.com. 15 March 2011. Archived from the original on 7 February 2011. Retrieved 2 November 2010.
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  5. "Macclesfield vs Swansea City". swanseacity.net. 15 March 2011.
  6. "Swansea City vs QPR". swanseacity.net. 15 March 2011.
  7. "Swansea 4–0 QPR". BBC Sport. 15 March 2011.
  8. "Swans reject Sidebe bids". BBC Sport. 15 March 2011.
  9. "Barnsley in talks with Sidibe". BBC Sport. 3 December 2001. Retrieved 28 February 2010.
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  11. "Sidibe faces fine". BBC Sport. 15 March 2011.
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  13. "Gills sign striker Sidibe". BBC Sport. 7 August 2002. Retrieved 7 September 2008.
  14. "Sidibe decides to quit Gillingham". BBC Sport. 25 May 2005. Retrieved 7 September 2008.
  15. "Stoke sign Gills striker Sidibe". BBC Sport. 23 June 2005.
  16. "Pulis delighted at Sidibe signing". BBC Sport. 24 June 2005. Retrieved 7 September 2008.
  17. "Manager Pulis is sacked by Stoke". BBC Sport. 2 November 2010.
  18. "Stoke 3–1 Norwich". BBC Sport. 2 November 2010.
  19. "Striker Sidibe gets Stoke support". BBC Sport. 2 November 2010.
  20. "Stoke 2–1 Bristol City". BBC Sport. 2 November 2010.
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  24. "Stoke City's Mamady Sidibe pleased to net first goal". BBC Sport. 7 January 2010. Retrieved 9 January 2010.
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