Souleymane Coulibaly

Souleymane Coulibaly (born 26 December 1994) is an Ivorian professional footballer who plays as a striker for Étoile Sahel.[1]

For the Malian footballer, see Souleymane Coulibaly (footballer, born 1996).

Souleymane Coulibaly
Personal information
Full name Souleymane Coulibaly
Date of birth (1994-12-26) 26 December 1994
Place of birth Anguededou Songon, Ivory Coast
Height 1.72 m (5 ft 8 in)
Position(s) Striker
Club information
Current team
 Étoile Sahel
Number 11
Youth career
2009–2011 Siena
2011–2013 Tottenham Hotspur
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2013–2014 Tottenham Hotspur 0 (0)
2013 → Grosseto (loan) 12 (2)
2014–2015 Bari 0 (0)
2014–2015 → Pistoiese (loan) 25 (6)
2015–2016 Peterborough United 27 (5)
2016 → Newport County (loan) 6 (1)
2016–2017 Kilmarnock 21 (8)
2017 Al Ahly 9 (6)
2018–2019 Partick Thistle 3 (0)
2019– Étoile Sahel 14 (7)
National team
2011 Ivory Coast U-17 9 (14)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 13:17, 3 January 2021 (UTC)

Early life

As a 13-year-old Coulibaly emigrated to Italy to avoid conflict in Ivory Coast.[2] He joined his father who had married an Italian woman.[3][4]

Club career

Siena

Soon after arriving in Italy, Coulibaly signed for Junior Camp Arezzo Football Academy, one of the best academies in Tuscany. He played in the Allievi Regionali team and after a few months President Umberto Zerbini suggested his name to Siena.[5] In 2010–11 he played 10 games for the Siena under-19s, scoring once.

Tottenham Hotspur

On 18 July 2011, Tottenham Hotspur confirmed they had signed Coulibaly beating off the advances of a host of leading European clubs including Real Madrid and Manchester United following his golden boot-winning performance at the FIFA Under-17 World Cup.[6] He scored for the Tottenham Hotspur XI on his debut against Brighton and Hove Albion in Algarve.

He scored twice in a 7–1 win for Spurs youth over Inter Milan in their second group game of the NextGen Tournament on 31 August 2011. He also opened the scoring in their third group game away at PSV Eindhoven, where they won 2–1. On 22 December 2011, Coulibaly scored an injury-time winner against Stevenage in the FA Youth Cup, followed by a goal in a 2–1 victory over Cardiff City in the fourth round on 11 January 2012. He made his first team debut as a 65th-minute substitute in a pre-season friendly against Stevenage on 18 July 2012 and netted the winner.

Grosseto (loan)

On 25 January 2013, Coulibaly joined Italian Serie B club Grosseto on loan until the end of the season where he scored two goals from 12 appearances.[7]

Bari

In September 2014, Coulibaly was sold to Bari and was immediately loaned to Pistoiese.[8]

Peterborough United

Coulibaly was revealed as a Peterborough United player after his trial at the club on 20 July 2015 along with Andrew Fox and Kieran Sadlier. He started in five games for Peterborough, came on nine times as a substitute, and scored a total of eight goals.[9] On 24 March 2016, he joined Newport County on loan until the end of the 2015–16 season. He made his Newport debut on 2 April 2016, starting in a win 1–0 defeat versus Yeovil Town. He scored his first goal for the club on 23 April 2016 against Luton Town.

Kilmarnock

After leaving Peterborough United it was confirmed in June 2016 that Coulibaly had signed for Scottish Premiership side Kilmarnock.[10] He scored on his debut as Kilmarnock beat Clyde 2–1 in the League Cup.[11] Coulibaly scored 11 goals in 26 appearances for Kilmarnock.[12]

Al Ahly

After being in talks with two clubs based in Cairo, Egypt, Al Ahly and Zamalek,[13] Coulibaly chose to sign with reigning champions Al Ahly on a three and a half year contract on 24 January 2017. A transfer fee of £800,000 was paid to Kilmarnock.[12] On 25 May 2017, Coulibaly left Egypt and returned to the UK without telling anyone.[14] On 4 June 2017, Coulibaly posted on Twitter, saying that he had felt oppressed at Al Ahly and had left Egypt because he did not feel safe.[15] After the tweet other African players that played for Al Ahly said that they felt safe and happy, such as Flávio Amado who said "what Coulibaly said made him laugh".[16] Al-Ahly submitted a complaint to FIFA after Coulibaly left the club and requested compensation.[17][18] On 25 April 2018, a FIFA commission found against Coulibaly, ruling that a fine of $1,436,000 be awarded to Al Ahly.[19]

Partick Thistle

In August 2018, Coulibaly joined Scottish Championship side Partick Thistle on a deal that is subject to international clearance.[20] The Egyptian Football Association rejected a request for clearance,[21] but FIFA granted a temporary certificate instead in early October.[22] He was released by Partick Thistle in May 2019.[23]

Étoile Sportive du Sahel

In May 2019 he signed for Tunisian club Étoile Sportive du Sahel.[24]

International career

Souleymane Coulibaly began his international career with Ivory Coast national under-17 football team at the 2011 FIFA U-17 World Cup where he scored nine goals in four matches: one goal against Australia, a poker against Denmark, and a hat-trick in a draw against Brazil.[25][26][27] Coulibaly also scored a goal in a 2–3 loss to France in the Round of 16. He held the competition record for most goals scored in one tournament along with French striker Florent Sinama Pongolle (at the earlier held 2001 FIFA U-17 World Championship), who did it in six matches rather than Coulibaly's four.[28] He scored nine of his side's ten goals overall, which meant that he scored every 40 minutes of match time, or slightly more than once per half played.[29][30][31][32] The record has since been broken by Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen, who scored 10 goals in 7 games at the 2015 World Cup.

As a result of his performances, Coulibaly was linked in the media to moves to Manchester United and Real Madrid, before finally moving to Tottenham.[33][34][35] He has been labelled the "New Drogba" by the media, in reference to fellow Ivorian footballer Didier Drogba.[36][37][38][39]

Career statistics
As of match played 13 July 2019[40][41]
Club Season League Cup League Cup Other[42] Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Grosseto (loan) 2012–13 Serie B 122000000122
Pistoiese (loan) 2014–15 Lega Pro 253000000253
Peterborough United 2015–16 League One 275202010325
Newport County (loan) 2015–16 League Two 6100000061
Kilmarnock 2016–17 Scottish Premiership 2181043002611
Al Ahly 2016–17 Egyptian Premier League 96000020116
Partick Thistle 2018–19 Scottish Championship 3010000040
Career total 1032540633011628

References
  1. "Etoile sign 2011 U-17 World Cup Golden Shoe winner Souleymane Coulibaly". BBC. 27 May 2019. Retrieved 27 May 2019.
  2. Yaméogo, Guy-Florentin (28 June 2011). "Mondial Cadets 2011 au Mexique : Coulibaly Souleymane, phénoménal !". Nord-Sud (in French). Retrieved 8 July 2011.
  3. "El marfileño Coulibaly se erige como la nueva joya del fútbol africano". EFE (in Spanish). 27 June 2011. Retrieved 6 July 2011.
  4. Ouattara, Gaoussou (29 June 2011). "Coulibaly Souleymane, une étoile dans le ciel aztèque". Le Patriote (in French). Retrieved 8 July 2011.
  5. "Super Souleymane on a mission". FIFA.com. FIFA. 25 June 2011. Retrieved 6 July 2011.
  6. "Souleymane deal agreed". Tottenham Hotspur Football Club. 18 July 2011. Retrieved 19 July 2011.
  7. "Souley Loan To Grosseto". Tottenham Hotspur FC. 25 January 2013. Retrieved 25 January 2013.
  8. "FC Bari 1908 – dal Tottenham acquisiti Gomelt e Coulibaly" (in Italian). FC Bari 1908. Retrieved 3 June 2015.
  9. "First Team - Peterborough United". www.theposh.com.
  10. "Player announcements Friday 24th June". Kilmarnock FC. 24 June 2016. Retrieved 24 June 2016.
  11. Herron, Lindsay (16 July 2016). "Clyde 1 - 2 Kilmarnock: Souleymane Coulibaly makes mark". The Scotsman. Johnston Publishing. Retrieved 21 July 2016.
  12. Wilson, Richard (24 January 2017). "Souleymane Coulibaly: Kilmarnock striker completes move to Al Ahly in Egypt". BBC Sport. Retrieved 24 January 2017.
  13. Richard Wilson (23 January 2017). "Souleymane Coulibaly: Kilmarnock striker in talks with Al Ahly and Zamalek". BBC Sport. Retrieved 29 April 2017.
  14. "أنباء قنبلة هروب كوليبالي: غياب الإيفواري عن مران الأهلي". El-Ahly (in Arabic). 25 May 2017. Retrieved 2 August 2018.
  15. Wilson, Fraser (4 June 2017). "Former Killie ace Souleymane Coulibaly claims Al Ahly treated him like a slave". Daily Record. Retrieved 2 August 2018.
  16. "أزمة كوليبالي - فلافيو لـ في الجول: اتهام الأهلي بالاضطهاد الديني مضحك". FilGoal (in Arabic). 4 June 2017. Retrieved 30 July 2018.
  17. "الأهلى يعلن الحرب رسميًا على الهارب كوليبالى.. شكوى للفيفا ترتكز على 3 محاور.. المطالبة بتعويض 65 مليون جنيه.. تقديم مستندات حصول الإيفوارى على مستحقاته كاملة.. وطاهر يرفض المصالحة ويدعو للتصعيد القانونى". The Seventh Day (in Arabic). 4 June 2017. Retrieved 30 July 2018.
  18. "Former Kilmarnock ace Souleymane Coulibaly being sued by Al Ahly". Daily Record. 4 October 2017. Retrieved 2 August 2018.
  19. "أخبار | محامي الأهلي لـ في الجول: تغريم كوليبالي مليون و436 ألف دولار". FilGoal (in Arabic). 25 April 2018. Retrieved 30 July 2018.
  20. "Souleymane Coulibaly: Partick Thistle recruit former Kilmarnock forward". BBC Sport. 21 August 2018. Retrieved 21 August 2018.
  21. "Souleymane Coulibaly: Partick Thistle move blocked by Egyptian FA; SFA asks Fifa to intervene". BBC Sport. 17 September 2018. Retrieved 17 September 2018.
  22. "Souleymane Coulibaly: Partick Thistle sign striker after Fifa ruling". BBC Sport. 2 October 2018. Retrieved 2 October 2018.
  23. "Partick Thistle: Kris Doolan 'devastated' as 10-year spell at Firhill ends". BBC Sport. 9 May 2019.
  24. "Etoile sign 2011 U-17 World Cup Golden Shoe winner Souleymane Coulibaly". BBC Sport. 27 May 2019.
  25. "FIFA Player Statistics: Souleymane COULIBALY". FIFA. Retrieved 6 July 2011.
  26. "Coulibaly stars as Ivorians soar". BBC Sport. 27 June 2011. Retrieved 6 July 2011.
  27. "Côte d'Ivoire – Souleymane Coulibaly". Soccerway. Retrieved 6 July 2011.
  28. "Newcomers paying off for France, Brazil". FIFA.com. FIFA. 2 July 2011. Retrieved 6 July 2011.
  29. "Coulibaly basking in Ivorian limelight". FIFA.com. FIFA. 28 June 2011. Retrieved 6 July 2011.
  30. Amato, Carlos (7 July 2011). "Coulibaly kid's the real thing". Times Live. Johannesburg. Retrieved 8 July 2011.
  31. "Le phénomène Souleymane Coulibaly". France Football (in French). 27 June 2011. Retrieved 8 July 2011.
  32. Kobo, Kingsley (12 July 2011). "Souleymane Coulibaly grabs U17 World Cup golden boot". Goal.com. Retrieved 19 July 2011.
  33. "4 July 2011: The pick of today's football transfer rumours". International Business Times. 4 July 2011. Retrieved 6 July 2011.
  34. "'New Didier Drogba' Souleymane Coulibaly: Hearing that Real Madrid's Jose Mourinho wants you is like visiting Disneyland as a six-year-old". Goal.com. Retrieved 6 July 2011.
  35. Gourizro, Giscard (4 July 2011). "Real a dream for rising star". Sky Sports. Retrieved 6 July 2011.
  36. Landolina, Salvatore (26 June 2011). "Real Madrid chase 'new Didier Drogba' Souleymane Coulibaly – report". Goal.com. Retrieved 17 July 2011.
  37. "Real Madrid jagar "nye Drogba"". Aftonbladet (in Swedish). Stockholm. 27 June 2011. Retrieved 6 July 2011.
  38. "El Madrid quiere fichar al 'nuevo Drogba': Souleymane Coulibaly". elEconomista.es (in Spanish). Madrid. 26 July 2011. Retrieved 6 July 2011.
  39. "'Novo Drogba' iguala recorde, mas França vira sobre Costa do Marfim". Globo Esporte (in Portuguese). Rio de Janeiro. 30 June 2011. Retrieved 6 July 2011.
  40. Souleymane Coulibaly at Soccerway
  41. "Souleymane Coulibaly » Club matches". worldfootball.net. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
  42. Includes matches in the EFL Trophy, CAF Champions League
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