Bakary Sako

Bakary Sako (born 26 April 1988) is a professional footballer who plays as a midfielder. Sako has previously played for English League clubs Crystal Palace, Wolverhampton Wanderers and West Bromwich Albion as well as the Mali national team.

Bakary Sako
Sako with Saint-Étienne in 2011
Personal information
Full name Bakary Sako[1]
Date of birth (1988-04-26) 26 April 1988[2]
Place of birth Ivry-sur-Seine, France
Height 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)[3]
Position(s) Attacking midfielder, winger
Youth career
1996–2000 Vitry CA
2000–2002 US Ivry
2002–2006 Châteauroux
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2006–2009 Châteauroux 68 (9)
2009–2012 Saint-Étienne 106 (12)
2012–2015 Wolverhampton Wanderers 118 (36)
2015–2018 Crystal Palace 43 (5)
2018–2019 West Bromwich Albion 5 (0)
2019 Crystal Palace 4 (0)
2019–2020 Pafos 6 (1)
National team‡
2005 Mali U17 1 (0)
2009–2010 France U21 11 (2)
2014– Mali 21 (9)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 22:31, 10 November 2019 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 08:47, 17 June 2019 (UTC)

Club career

Early years

Sako had been with Châteauroux since 2001, joining the club as an academy player. He made his league debut on the final matchday of the 2005–06 Ligue 2 season coming on as a half-time substitute in a 4–1 victory over Bastia.[4] Following the season, he signed his first professional contract after agreeing to a three-year deal.[5] He was promoted to the senior squad and assigned the number 26 shirt.

During the next two seasons, Sako was limited to mostly substitute appearances. He did score his first league goal, during the 2007–08 season, in a 1–2 defeat against Brest.[6] During the 2008–09 season Sako became an integral part of the team, helping the club narrowly avoid relegation on the final day.

Saint-Étienne

On 9 July 2009, Sako departed Châteauroux for Ligue 1 club AS Saint-Étienne, where he signed a four-year deal for an undisclosed fee.

Wolverhampton Wanderers
Sako playing for Wolverhampton Wanderers in 2014

On 29 August 2012, Sako signed for Championship club Wolverhampton Wanderers on a three-year contract for an undisclosed fee that was reported to be £2.2 million.[7][8] He scored on his Wolves debut in a League Cup tie against Northampton Town on 30 August 2012,[9] and again on his league debut in the following match, a 3–1 defeat at Cardiff.[10]

The winger adapted well to English football, scoring ten times in total and contributing eleven assists.[11] However, his season was halted early when he tore his hamstring in March 2013 in a match against Bristol City,[12] which ruled him out for much of the season's final games, during which the team were relegated to League One.[13]

Sako was the subject of transfer speculation during Summer 2013 with interest from Fulham in June 2013 but the London club did not meet a reported £4 million asking price.[8] Owing to his uncertain future, the player did not play in Wolves' final match of the transfer window as he "didn't feel he was in the right frame of mind".[14] Several reported bids from Nottingham Forest were rejected by the club.[14][15] In October 2013, Forest again attempted to set up a deal but Wolves pulled out of negotiations citing that "the terms surrounding the offer were unrealistic".[16]

Despite the initial speculation surrounding his future and the breakdown of his proposed move to Forest, Sako went on to have a productive season for Wolves, finishing as joint top-scorer alongside the departed Leigh Griffiths as Wolves won the League One title with a record points haul for the third tier. Sako was also named in the League One PFA Team of the Year for the 2013–14 season alongside four of his teammates.[17]

Back at Championship level, Sako continued to score regularly for Wolves and was named in the Championship PFA Team of the Year for the 2014–15 season.[18] He finished the season as the club's (joint) top goalscorer as the team missed out on the play-offs on goal difference. Out of contract with the club, he voiced his desire to play in the Premier League,[19] while head coach Kenny Jackett stated that he expected Sako to depart.[20]

Crystal Palace

On 5 August 2015, Sako joined Premier League side Crystal Palace on a three-year contract following his release from Wolves.[21] He scored his first goal for the club on his full debut against Aston Villa on 22 August 2015.[22] Sako then scored again the following week away to Chelsea, in a 2–1 win, which was José Mourinho's second ever loss at Stamford Bridge. Sako also assisted the second goal scored by Joel Ward.[23]

In the 2017–18 season, Sako's form started to pick up under the management of Roy Hodgson scoring his first goal of the season against Huddersfield in the EFL Cup. He later scored against Bristol City in the same competition. Sako was also back scoring in the league as well, netting against Watford, Burnley and Leicester. He also added a goal in the FA Cup in an away loss to Brighton & Hove Albion.[24][25][26]

West Bromwich Albion

On 2 October 2018, West Bromwich Albion signed free agent Sako until the end of the season.[27]

Return to Crystal Palace

On 27 January 2019, Sako rejoined Crystal Palace on a short-term contract until the end of the 2018–19 season.[28] He was released on expiry of his contract at the end of June.[29][30]

Denizlispor

On 28 July 2019, Denizlispor announced the signing of free agent Sako via Twitter.[31] But later, the club gave up the transfer due to his ankle injury history.[32]

Pafos

On 6 September 2019, Pafos announced the signing of Sako via Facebook.[33]

International career

Youth

Sako played for the Malian U17 team in one friendly match in 2005, while the team was preparing for the 2005 African Under-17 Championship. The following year, he returned to the French team playing with the under-18 squad. He was a member of the French squad that participated in the 2007 European Under-19 Championship reaching the semi-finals before being eliminated by Spain. He made his French under-21 debut on 11 February 2009 in a friendly match against Tunisia. He scored his first under-21 goal in the 2009 Toulon Tournament against Qatar.

Senior
Sako playing for Mali in 2015

Sako was called up by the Malian national team for the first time for a friendly against Senegal on 5 March 2014.[34] He scored his first international goal against Guinea in a friendly match played in Colombes, France, on 25 May 2014.[35] His first goal in competitive internationals came when he scored the opener in a 2–0 win over Malawi in an Africa Cup of Nations qualification match played in Bamako on 7 September 2014.[36][37] In December 2014 Sako was called up to the Mali squad for the finals of the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations to be held in Equatorial Guinea in January 2015. This was to be his first taste of a senior international tournament.

Sako started Mali's first two matches in group D of the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations. These both finished in 1–1 draws, against Cameroon on 20 January and against Ivory Coast on 24 January. Sako scored a left-foot half-volley against Ivory Coast that the BBC hailed as the goal of the tournament at that point. Sako was unable to start the final and decisive group game against Guinea due to an illness though he did appear from the bench for the final 15 minutes of the game. This too ended in a 1–1 stalemate, meaning that five of the six games in group D finished 1–1 and this led to the drawing of lots between Mali and Guinea to decide who qualified for the quarter finals and who went home. It was Guinea who emerged from the hat, meaning the Eagles exited the tournament unbeaten.

Career statistics

Club
As of match played 28 May 2020[38][39]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Cup League Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Châteauroux 2005–06 Ligue 2 100000—10
2006–07 1700000—170
2007–08 1510000—151
2008–09 3590000—359
Total 68100000—6810
Saint-Étienne 2009–10 Ligue 1 3012110—332
2010–11 3871030—427
2011–12 3641021—395
2012–13 200000—20
Total 106124061—11613
Wolverhampton Wanderers 2012–13 Championship 3791011—3910
2013–14 League One 40121000114213
2014–15 Championship 41151010—4315
Total 1183630211112438
Crystal Palace 2015–16 Premier League 2023000—232
2016–17 700010—80
2017–18 1631122—196
Total 4354132—508
West Bromwich Albion 2018–19 Championship 501100—61
Crystal Palace 2018–19 Premier League 4000000040
Pafos 2019–20 Cypriot First Division 6100——61
Career total 350641231131137471

International goals
Scores and results list Mali's goal tally first.
Goal Date Venue Opponent Score Result CompetitionRef
1.25 May 2014Stade Olympique Yves-du-Manoir, Colombes, France Guinea1–01–2Friendly
2.7 September 2014Stade du 26 Mars, Bamako, Mali Malawi1–02–02015 Africa Cup of Nations qualification
3.15 October 2014Stade du 26 Mars, Bamako, Mali Ethiopia1–02–32015 Africa Cup of Nations qualification
4.24 January 2015Nuevo Estadio de Malabo, Malabo, Equatorial Guinea Ivory Coast1–01–12015 Africa Cup of Nations
5.25 March 2015Stade Pierre Brisson, Beauvais, France Gabon3–33–4Friendly
6.31 March 2015Stade Sébastien Charléty, Paris, France Ghana1–11–1Friendly
7.9 October 2015Stade de l'Aube, Troyes, France Burkina Faso1–04–1Friendly
8.2–0
9.17 November 2015Stade du 26 Mars, Bamako, Mali Botswana2–02–02018 FIFA World Cup qualification

Honours

Wolverhampton Wanderers

Crystal Palace

Individual

References
  1. "Updated squads for 2017/18 Premier League confirmed". Premier League. 2 February 2018. Retrieved 11 February 2018.
  2. "Bakary Sako: Overview". Premier League. Retrieved 1 September 2019.
  3. "Bakary Sako". Crystal Palace F.C. Archived from the original on 7 February 2019.
  4. Bastia v. Chateauroux Match Report. Lfp.fr. Retrieved on 29 September 2012.
  5. Embouteillage en équipe nationale. 24sn.com. Retrieved on 29 September 2012.
  6. Chateauroux v. Brest Match Report. Lfp.fr. Retrieved on 29 September 2012.
  7. "Wolves sign Bakary Sako from St Etienne on three-year deal". BBC Sport. 29 August 2012. Retrieved 1 October 2014.
  8. "Wolverhampton Wanderers' Bakary Sako pleads for move to Fulham". The Observer. 29 June 2013. Retrieved 1 October 2014.
  9. "Northampton 1–3 Wolves". BBC Sport. 30 August 2012.
  10. "Cardiff 3–1 Wolves". BBC Sport. 2 September 2012.
  11. "Bakary Sako". ESPN.
  12. "Bakary Sako & Dave Edwards: Wolves await injury diagnosis". BBC Sport. 18 March 2013.
  13. "Wolves trio Carl Ikeme, Bakary Sako and Dave Edwards ruled out for the season". Express & Star. 25 March 2013.
  14. "Wolves turn down Nottingham Forest Bakary Sako bid". Express & Star. 1 September 2013.
  15. "Wolves reject £3.5m bid for Bakary Sako". Shropshire Star. 3 September 2013.
  16. "Club Statement: Bakary Sako". Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. 4 October 2013. Archived from the original on 4 October 2013. Retrieved 4 October 2013.
  17. "Luis Suarez: Liverpool striker wins PFA Player of the Year award". BBC Sport. 28 April 2014. Retrieved 7 May 2018.
  18. "PFA Championship Team of the Year: Deeney only Watford player". BBC Sport. 26 April 2015. Retrieved 7 May 2018.
  19. "Sako thanks for support". Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. 4 May 2015. Archived from the original on 4 October 2013. Retrieved 4 October 2013.
  20. "Gaffer expects Sako to move on". Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. 2 May 2015. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 31 July 2015.
  21. "Sako Signs Eagles Deal". cpfc.co.uk. 5 August 2015. Retrieved 5 August 2015.
  22. "Crystal Palace 2–1 Aston Villa". BBC Sport. 22 August 2015. Retrieved 27 August 2015.
  23. Ronay, Barney (29 August 2015). "Chelsea humbled at home after Sako and Ward strike for Crystal Palace". The Guardian. Retrieved 19 January 2018.
  24. McInnes, Paul (13 January 2018). "Crystal Palace revival continues as Bakary Sako strikes against Burnley". The Guardian. Retrieved 19 January 2018.
  25. "Return of the Bak: How Bakary Sako Resurrected His Crystal Palace Career". Sports Illustrated. 15 January 2018. Retrieved 19 January 2018.
  26. Lea, Greg (16 January 2018). "How Bakary Sako Went From Bit-Part Player To Guaranteed Starter – And Top Scorer – At Crystal Palace". The Sportsman. Retrieved 19 January 2018.
  27. "Sako signs for the Baggies". West brom official site. 2 October 2018. Retrieved 2 October 2018.
  28. "Bakary Sako has rejoined Crystal Palace until the end of the season". cpfc.co.uk. 27 January 2019. Retrieved 27 January 2019.
  29. "Bakary Sako to depart Crystal Palace". cpfc.co.uk. 6 June 2019. Retrieved 6 June 2019.
  30. "Bakary Sako: Crystal Palace forward to leave Selhurst Park". BBC Sport. 6 June 2019. Retrieved 6 June 2019.
  31. "Bakary Sako: Turkish Super Lig side Denizlispor sign former Crystal Palace star". goal.com. 28 July 2019. Retrieved 28 July 2019.
  32. "Denizlispor'da Bakary Sako şoku". transfermarkt.com (in Turkish). 1 August 2019. Retrieved 25 August 2019.
  33. Taiwo, Taiye (6 September 2019). "Bakary Sako: Former Crystal Palace attacker joins Cypriot outfit Pafos". Goal.com. Retrieved 7 September 2019.
  34. "Mali call-up for Wolves winger Bakary Sako". Express and Star. 28 February 2014.
  35. Mali vs. Guinea (1:2). National Football Teams (27 April 2015). Retrieved 12 May 2015.
  36. "Ten-man Mali hold on to defeat Malawi in Afcon qualifier". BBC. 7 September 2014.
  37. Bakary Sako. National Football Teams. Retrieved on 12 May 2015.
  38. "B. SAKO". Soccerway. Retrieved 7 September 2015.
  39. "B. SAKO". National-Football-Teams. Retrieved 7 September 2015.
  40. Anderson, John, ed. (2014). Sky Sports Football Yearbook 2014–2015. London: Headline Publishing Group. pp. 386–387. ISBN 978-1-4722-1251-1.
  41. McNulty, Phil (21 May 2016). "Crystal Palace 1–2 Manchester United". BBC Sport. Retrieved 19 May 2019.
  42. "League 1 Team of the Season 2013/14". efl.com. English Football League. Retrieved 1 August 2018.
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