Ibrahima Sonko

Ibrahima Sonko (2014)

Ibrahima Sonko (born 22 January 1981 Bignona, Senegal ) is a Senegalese football player who since 2012 stands at Akhisar Belediyespor under contract. Bacary Sagna His cousin plays for Arsenal in the Premier League too.

Club career

Sonko started his career with French club AS Saint- Étienne, 1999, he moved to the then third division side Grenoble Foot 38 in 2001 reached the summit in the Ligue 2, and a year later he left France and moved to the English club Brentford FC. In 2004, he joined a free transfer to the English second division side FC Reading. From the fans of Reading FC, he received the nickname because of his Superman above average jumping ability with which he wegköpfte the balls.

In 2006 he went to the club to the Premier League. His first season in the Premier League was eventful. Already on Matchday 2 saw after an emergency brake in the penalty area against Luke Moore in the match against Aston Villa on 33 minutes the red card, Reading lost the game 1-2. In October 2006, he collided in stoppage time with Carlo Cudicini, the goalkeeper of Chelsea, in the air. Cudicini was then on the ground unconscious and had to be replaced. Sonko later announced that he has received several death threats because of this event.

On 11 December 2006 Sonko extended his contract with Reading, until the summer of 2010. A month later Sonko suffered in the home game against Sheffield United a serious knee injury that meant the end of the season for the defender. It was only on 20 October 2007, he made his comeback in the league game against Blackburn Rovers.

On 26 August 2011, he moved to Ipswich Town and signed a one-year contract

For the season 2012/13 he moved to the Turkish Süper Lig newly promoted Akhisar Belediyespor.

National team career

Sonko was indeed born in Senegal, but his family moved just six months after his birth in France. He decided initially to play for his country and represented his country at the U23 national team. In 2006 he was nominated for the African Cup, Sonko declined to participate from but to stand the Reading FC in the promotion battle in the Football League Championship available. In December 2006, Sonko said that he is waiting for a nomination in the French national team, but would also play for Senegal if they first take it into account.

Sonko was appointed in December 2007 in the provisional squad of 38 players comprehensive Senegal for the African Cup in 2008 and made ​​the jump, the only player without international match, in the final squad by national coach Henryk Kasperczak. His international debut he gave on January 12, 2008 in a preseason game against Namibia. In the 3-1 win, he stood over the full season in central defense.