Seydou Keita (footballer)
Seydou Keita in August 2008
Seydou Keita ( born January 16, 1980 in Bamako ) is a Malian football player.
Career
The beginnings
In 1997 Seydou Keita joined the then 17 -year-old from his Malian homeland to France, where he played in the youth of Olympique Marseille. There he was brought into the first team in 1999, but could not prevail, because although it boast three appearances in the Champions League, but could deny only six season games. He then went to the second division club FC Lorient, with whom he reached immediately move up to the Division 1. Although he could claim his place and win the Bretons the French Cup the following year, but increased with the club in 2002 as a Table again.
The last years
Seydou Keita then moved on to RC Lens, for whom he played the next five years. With Lens up Keita was in four of five seasons for an international competition qualify (three times UEFA Cup and one Champions League ) and was captain of his team at the end. In summer 2007, Seydou Keita signed a long-term contract with the Spanish side and two-time UEFA Cup winners and Cup Winners' Cup in 2007, the Sevilla FC. There he showed remarkable performances and scored four goals in 31 games. He then moved to season 2008/2009 for a transfer fee of € 14 million to FC Barcelona, with whom he signed a four year contract. In his first season with the Catalans Keita won the Triple, but he came in 29 out of 38 league games for use, including seven over the full season. In the 2009/10 season, Keita had completely accustomed to the game system of FC Barcelona and was a regular fixture in the midfield of the team that successfully defended at the end of the season, the Spanish championship. Keita ran into this season as a left winger and scored in a 6-1 in league play against Real Zaragoza three goals. Beginning of the 2010/11 season has been extended until 2014 Keita's contract. On 7 July 2012, the FC Barcelona announced that Keita will leave the club with immediate effect. According to media reports Keita pulled a get-out clause that allows him to leave it to the club free transfer when he completed less than half of the season games. He left FC Barcelona after four seasons in which he won 14 titles. In July 2012, he joined the Chinese first division club Dalian Aerbin. He left the club in November 2013 following competitions 41 games in which reach ten goals it.
On January 30, 2014 Keita returned to the Primera División back to Valencia. He signed a contract until the end of the 2013/14 season with an option for another season.
Internationally
For Mali, he already participated with the U -20 team at the Junior World Championship 1999, where he was able to demonstrate an excellent third place with his team and was voted the best player of the tournament.
Seydou Keita is current Malian national team. His debut for Mali, he gave in April 2000 against Libya. In Keita's first Africa Cup participation in his home country of Mali in 2002 Keita equalized in the opening match against Liberia shortly before the end of the game the hit of George Weah and thus scored the 1-1 draw. Mali came in this tournament before the semi-finals, where they lost to eventual winners Cameroon. In the African Cup of 2004 where Keita four games played, was again for Mali in the semi final destination. For the Africa Cup 2006, his team was not qualified and the Africa Cup 2008, at the Keita of Mali was in all games in the starting lineup, his team already retired from in the first round. Two years later, Mali had been solved at the Africa Cup in the group of the host Angola. In the opening game of the hosts in the 79th minute led already 4-0 before to Mali by two goals from Keita still won a 4-4 draw. But even in this tournament different Keita with his team in the first round of.
Achievements
Club:
- Promotion to Ligue 1: 2001
- Coupe de France: 2002
- Spanish Cup: 2009, 2010, 2011
- Spanish Cup: 2009
- Spanish Super Cup: 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011
- UEFA Champions League: 2009, 2011
- UEFA Super Cup: 2009, 2011
- FIFA Club World Cup: 2009, 2011
National team:
- Third place at the Junior World Championship 1999
- Player of the Tournament at the Junior World Cup: 1999
Others
Keita is athlete ambassador of development organization Right to Play.
The former professional football player and top striker Salif Keïta is Seydous uncle. Seydou Keita's cousin Mohamed Sissoko is also a well-known professional football player who currently plays for Levante UD.