Kalidou Koulibaly

Kalidou Koulibaly
Koulibaly playing for Napoli in 2015
Personal information
Date of birth (1991-06-20) 20 June 1991
Place of birth Saint-Dié-des-Vosges, France
Height 1.95 m (6 ft 5 in)[1][2]
Playing position Centre back
Club information
Current team
 Napoli
Number 26
Youth career
1999–2003 Saint-Dié
2003–2006 Metz
2006–2009 Saint-Dié
2009–2010 Metz
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2010–2011 Metz II 15 (2)
2010–2012 Metz 42 (1)
2012–2014 Genk 64 (3)
2014– Napoli 124 (8)
National team‡
2011–2012 France U20 11 (0)
2015– Senegal 28 (1)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 23 August 2018
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 24 June 2018

Kalidou Koulibaly (born 20 June 1991) is a Senegalese footballer who plays as defender for Napoli and the Senegal national football team, usually as a centre-back.[3]

Koulibaly began his professional club career with French side Metz in 2010, before moving to Belgian club Genk in 2012. He joined Italian side Napoli in 2014.[4]

As Koulibaly was born in France to Senegalese parents, he was eligible to represent both nations at international level, and initially played for the France national under-20 football team. He later made his senior debut with Senegal in 2015 and was a member of the Senegal squad that took part at the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations. He was named to the side that represented Senegal at the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

Early life

Koulibaly was born on 20 June 1991, to Senegalese parents in Saint-Dié-des-Vosges, France. His footballing career began with local club SR Saint-Dié.

Club career

Early career

Koulibaly began his career playing for his hometown club SR Saint-Dié's youth team, and spent two seasons playing on the club's senior team in the Championnat de France amateur 2, before joining the youth academy of professional club Metz on 1 July 2009.[5] While at Metz, Koulibaly helped the club's under-19 team win the 2009–10 Coupe Gambardella after the team defeated Sochaux 5–4 on penalties in the final.[6] He also played on the club's amateur team in the Championnat de France amateur appearing in 15 matches as Metz were crowned champions of the league finishing with 107 points.

Metz

Prior to the start of the 2010–11 season, Koulibaly signed his first professional contract agreeing to a one-year deal. He was, subsequently, promoted to the senior team by new manager Dominique Bijotat. Koulibaly made his professional debut on 20 August 2010 in a league match against Vannes. He appeared as a substitute in a 1–0 victory.[7]

K.R.C. Genk

On 29 June 2012, Koulibaly joined Belgian club Racing Genk after agreeing to a four-year deal.[8] On 23 August 2012, Koulibaly made his Racing Genk debut in a UEFA Europa League play-off qualifying round, in which they were defeated by Swiss side Luzern 2–1 in the first leg of two.[9] On 23 December 2012, Koulibaly scored his first Racing Genk goal in a 4–2 home defeat to Anderlecht, in which he scored a free header from a corner.[10]

Napoli

On 2 July 2014, Koulibaly joined Serie A side S.S.C. Napoli on a five-year deal, for a fee around the margin of £6.5 million. Koulibaly was given the number 26 upon arrival.

On 19 August 2014, Koulibaly made his debut in a UEFA Champions League play-off round qualifier, in which Napoli drew 1–1 with Athletic Bilbao.[11] Napoli went on to lose the second leg 3–1, therefore sending them out of the competition.[12] On 24 September 2014, almost a month later after making his Napoli debut, Koulibaly scored his first goal for the Italian side in a 3–3 draw with Palermo, in which he nodded home a header from an inviting ball in.[13]

International career

Kalidou Koulibaly was born and raised in France by Senegalese parents, and was therefore eligible for both nations. He played for the U-20 French side starting in 2011. However, in early September 2015, Koulibaly changed federations and joined the Senegal national football team, despite the interest to call him for Les Bleus from Didier Deschamps.[14][15] He made his debut on 5 September 2015 in an AFCON qualifier against Namibia in a 2–0 victory. He was a member of the Senegal squad that took part at the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations.[16]

In May 2018 he was named in Senegal’s 23 man squad for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.[17]

Style of play

Koulibaly playing for Genk in 2014

A large, quick and physically strong yet elegant player, he is recognised for his aerial prowess, anticipation, passing ability and versatility, as he can play both as a central defender, or as a full-back on either the right or left flank, in both a three or four-man defence; he has even been deployed as a defensive midfielder.[18][19][4][20] His playing style has earned him the nicknames K2[4][14] and The Wall from his fans.[21]

Career statistics

Club

As of 23 August 2018[22]
Club Season League National Cup League Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Metz 2010–11 Ligue 2 1911000—201
2011–12 Ligue 2 2202000—240
Total 4113000—441
Racing Genk 2012–13 Belgian Pro League 31160—9[lower-alpha 1]0461
2013–14 Belgian Pro League 33230—10[lower-alpha 2][lower-alpha 1]0462
Total 64390—190923
Napoli 2014–15 Serie A 27120—10[lower-alpha 3][lower-alpha 1][lower-alpha 4]0391
2015–16 Serie A 33020—7[lower-alpha 1]0420
2016–17 Serie A 28220—8[lower-alpha 1]0382
2017–18 Serie A 35520—8[lower-alpha 3]0455
2018–19 Serie A 1000—0[lower-alpha 3]010
Total 124880—3301658
Career total 229122000052030112
  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Appearance(s) in UEFA Europa League
  2. ↑ Appearance(s) in Belgian Super Cup
  3. 1 2 3 Appearance(s) in UEFA Champions League
  4. ↑ Appearance(s) in Supercoppa Italiana

International

As of 28 June 2018[23]
Senegal
YearAppsGoals
201550
201670
201790
201870
Total280

Honours

Club

K.R.C. Genk[22]

Napoli[22]

Individual

References

  1. ↑ "Kalidou Koulibaly". ESPN. Retrieved 31 May 2018.
  2. ↑ "Kalidou Koulibaly". The Daily Telegraph. 9 May 2017. Retrieved 31 May 2018.
  3. ↑ "Mercato, Napoli: ufficiale Koulibaly. Visite, firma: è il primo colpo azzurro" (in Italian). La Gazzetta dello Sport. 19 May 2014. Retrieved 19 May 2014.
  4. 1 2 3 Davide Palliggiano (4 February 2016). "K2 Koulibaly, l'oro del Napoli in vetta. Più forte di ogni razzismo" (in Italian). Il Corriere dello Sport. Retrieved 31 January 2017.
  5. ↑ "Koulibaly, le jour d'après" (in French). Le Républicain Lorrain. 2 November 2010. Archived from the original on 30 December 2010. Retrieved 15 December 2010.
  6. ↑ "Sochaux v. Metz Match Report" (in French). French Football Federation. Archived from the original on 6 July 2010. Retrieved 20 August 2010.
  7. ↑ "Metz v. Vannes Match Report" (in French). L'Equipe. 20 August 2010. Retrieved 20 August 2010.
  8. ↑ "Kalidou Koulibaly is van Genk" (in Dutch). Gazet van Antwerpen. 29 June 2012. Retrieved 29 June 2012.
  9. ↑ "Luzern vs. Genk". Soccerway. 23 August 2012.
  10. ↑ "Genk vs. Anderlecht". Soccerway. 23 December 2012.
  11. ↑ "Napoli vs. Athletic Club". Soccerway. 19 August 2014.
  12. ↑ "Athletic Club vs. Napoli". Soccerway. 27 August 2014.
  13. ↑ "Napoli vs. Palermo". Soccerway. 24 September 2014.
  14. 1 2 "Francia, gaffe Deschamps: "Convoco Koulibaly". Ma è del Senegal..." (in Italian). Tutto Sport. 22 February 2016. Retrieved 31 January 2017.
  15. ↑ "France news: Deschamps must have missed something – Koulibaly | Goal.com". m.goal.com. Retrieved 6 April 2018.
  16. ↑ "Tunisia Senegal 0-2". BBC.com. 15 January 2017. Retrieved 31 January 2017.
  17. ↑ "Revealed: Every World Cup 2018 squad - 23-man & preliminary lists & when will they be announced?". Goal. Retrieved 18 May 2018.
  18. ↑ Jason Burt (17 August 2016). "Chelsea swoop for Napoli defender Kalidou Koulibaly in club-record £60 million deal" (in Italian). The Telegraph. Retrieved 31 January 2017.
  19. ↑ Alessio D'Urso (19 July 2014). "Napoli, Koulibaly: "Mi rimetto a Benitez, la mia altezza è l'arma in più"" (in Italian). La Gazzetta dello Sport. Retrieved 31 January 2017.
  20. ↑ Davide Palliggiano (19 October 2015). "Il bunker del Napoli? In difesa c'è un K2" (in Italian). Il Corriere dello Sport. Retrieved 31 January 2017.
  21. ↑ Pasquale Tina (3 March 2016). "Napoli, Koulibaly: Scudetto? Non molliamo, ma ora blindiamo la Champions" (in Italian). La Repubblica. Retrieved 31 January 2017.
  22. 1 2 3 Kalidou Koulibaly at Soccerway
  23. ↑ "Kalidou Koulibaly". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmerman. Retrieved 15 July 2018.
  24. ↑ "CAF – CAF Awards – Previous Editions – 2016". CAFOnline. Retrieved 7 January 2017.
  25. ↑ "Gran Galà del calcio, la Juventus fa incetta di premi" (in Italian). Il Corriere della Sera. 31 January 2017. Retrieved 31 January 2017.
  26. ↑ "Buffon named best player". Football Italia. 27 November 2017.
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