Arouna Koné
Encyclopedia
Arouna Koné is an Ivorian
footballer who plays for Levante UD
on loan from Sevilla FC
in Spain
, as a striker.
, Koné started his football career with Rio Sport d'Anyama
, a club based in his hometown. The club's president, Amidou Sylla, is said to be the guidance behind making him the player he later became.
In 2002–03, aged just 18, Koné signed for Lierse S.K.
in Belgium
, being the team's top scorer at it finished fifth. He moved to the neighbouring Netherlands
in the following off-season and joined Roda JC, scoring in double digits in two consecutive Eredivisie
seasons, including a career-best 15 in 2004–05.
vian Jefferson Farfán
. He also proved crucial in the 2005–06 UEFA Champions League, scoring a vital winner in the 2–1 away success against Galatasaray SK
; his successful 2006 finished on a high note, as he was nominated for the Ivorian Football of the Year award, an accolade eventually won by Didier Drogba
.
During the January 2007 transfer window
, Koné was linked with a number of moves away from PSV, with the likes of Aston Villa
and FC Shakhtar Donetsk
vying for his services. In May, after several weeks sidelined due to injury, he picked his second consecutive national championship-winners medal
Koné endured a difficult start to PSV's 2007–08 season: due to a date mix-up, he returned late to pre-season training following a holiday in his country, thus missing out on valuable time to prepare for the new campaign. Added to this, the player was struck down with malaria
at the end of July 2007, In August, it was announced that he had returned to training following his health scare, and was expected to be fit in time for the team's first league game against Heracles Almelo
on the 19th. He also immediately returned to international duty.
On 20 August 2007, rumours surfaced that scouts
from Premier League side Middlesbrough
had been observing Koné, and that a £
6 million bid for his services was being prepared. The following day, news surfaced that La Liga
outfit and UEFA Cup holders Sevilla FC
were locked in talks with PSV to secure his services, with negotiations apparently at an "advanced" stage.
club reportedly paid the Philips
outfit a fee of €
12 million. On 12 September, he was finally presented to the media, having been assigned the number 22 shirt. The delay from his signing to his unveiling led to rumours that there were problems with the Ivorian's health – in particular his heart
. However, Koné was quick to dispel such talk, with the real reason being due to the death of Sevilla player Antonio Puerta
a few days previously - the midfielder
eventually died in hospital.
Koné spoke about his ambitions for his latest move, stating: "I know the team and I know that they have won many things in recent years, but I hope to be able to help them to win even more."
At his unveiling, club president José María del Nido commented that Koné was 'one of the best attackers in the world' and with the Ivorian in their ranks, the Andalusia
ns had the strongest side in the club's history. He made his league debut on 16 September, as a second-half substitute for Frédéric Kanouté
in a 4–1 win against Recreativo de Huelva
. In the game, he won a penalty
, but fellow striker Aleksandr Kerzhakov
failed to convert; following the game, he commented that he felt fellow African Kanouté was one of the "best forwards in the world" and looked forward to striking up an attacking partnership with him.
On 25 September 2007, Koné opened his scoring account for Sevilla, helping the team come from behind 0–2 against RCD Espanyol
to tie it 2–2, in an eventual 2–3 home loss. On 2 October, he netted his first UEFA Champions League
goal for the club in a 4–2 group stage win against SK Slavia Prague, after only ten minutes on the pitch.
In April 2008 it was reported that Koné was to be shown the door at Sevilla in the summer of 2008, after a disappointing first season. His lack of playing time, partly due to the form of Luís Fabiano
and Kanouté, and a bust-up on the training ground with a member of the training staff that was caught on Spanish television, made for some intense speculation about the player's future. Additionally, a trip to Rome
to supposedly visit a brother, fueled reports that he would be making the switch to Serie A
when the summer transfer window begun.
Koné was expected to be more important in 2008–09 for Sevilla following the departure of Kerzhakov to FC Dynamo Moscow
, but suffered a serious injury while playing for Côte d'Ivoire against Guinea
on 20 August 2008. A scan showed he had suffered a cruciate knee
ligament injury in his left leg, and he underwent surgery to repair the damage the following week, returning to training in February 2009.
Subsequently, Koné fell out of favour at Sevilla, with fellow top-divisioner Real Zaragoza
being a likely destination. In December 2009, it was reported that Birmingham City
, Wolverhampton Wanderers
, Hull City
and Burnley
had also joined the race.
On 1 February 2010, Koné left Sevilla and joined Hannover 96
on loan until 30 June. He scored on his Bundesliga
debut, a 1–2 away loss against TSG 1899 Hoffenheim.
Koné only appeared once for Sevilla in 2010–11
, one minute against Villarreal CF
. For the following season
he was loaned to Levante UD
, starting often and scoring his first goal of the campaign on 18 September 2011, in a famous 1–0 home win over Real Madrid
.
-led Côte d'Ivoire under-20 team
in the 2003 FIFA World Youth Championship
, alongside Lierse teammate where he starred alongside Lierse team mate Adolphe Tohoua
. He scored three goals in the tournament - once against Mexico
in a 2–1 win, and twice in the 2–2 draw against the Republic of Ireland
- in an eventual round-of-16
exit, and the official FIFA
website declared him to be a "crucial pivot for the attacking thrust" of the Ivorian team.
Koné made his debut for the full side
in March 2004 against Tunisia
. He was selected for the 2006 Africa Cup of Nations tournament, scoring once as the Elephants finished runners-up to hosts Egypt.
Koné was also picked for the squad that appeared at the 2006 FIFA World Cup
in Germany
, a first-ever for the Africa
n nation. He replaced Abdul Kader Keïta
in the 77th minute of the first game, a 1–2 loss against Argentina
, and started in the other two - going scoreless in the process - as the national team did not make it to the knockout stages.
Koné was named in the Ivorian squad for the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations in Ghana
, being a backup in an eventual fourth-place finish. On 8 October 2006, in the qualifying campaign, he scored a hat-trick
in a 5–0 home win against Gabon
.
. He prays five times a day, and also wears the traditional West African Islamic dress, the Boubou
, on holidays and on Fridays – the Islamic day of public worship.
On 21 August 2007, Koné became a father after his wife gave birth to the couple's first child – a boy named Amidou. He stated that both mother and child were doing well and that he was absolutely delighted.
Koné's older brother, Bakari
, is also a footballer and a forward. He played several years in France
and also represented the Ivorian national team. A younger sibling, Karamoko, played youth football for Roda.
Koné also sends a portion of his wages to his mother and family in his country. Speaking of his success in football and his support of his family, he is quoted as saying: "In Africa the solidarity for your family is very large. My father died when I was nine years old. My mother and my family have spent many years with difficulty. I am glad that I am now able support them."
Côte d'Ivoire
The Republic of Côte d'Ivoire or Ivory Coast is a country in West Africa. It has an area of , and borders the countries Liberia, Guinea, Mali, Burkina Faso and Ghana; its southern boundary is along the Gulf of Guinea. The country's population was 15,366,672 in 1998 and was estimated to be...
footballer who plays for Levante UD
Levante UD
Levante Unión Deportiva, S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in Valencia, in the namesake community.Founded in 1909, it plays in La Liga, holding home games at Estadi Ciutat de València.-Early years:...
on loan from Sevilla FC
Sevilla FC
Sevilla Fútbol Club S.A.D. is a Spanish professional football club based in Seville, Spain that plays in the Spanish La Liga championship.They are one of the most successful clubs in Spanish football having won a 1 La Liga title, 5 Spanish "Copa del Rey" Cups, 1 Spanish Super Cup and 2 UEFA...
in Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, as a striker.
Early years
Born in AnyamaÁnyama
Anyama is a suburb of the Côte d'Ivoire capital of Abidjan, lying around 20 km north of the city. It has its own football club, the Rio Sport d'Anyama, and a population of roughly 100,000. Ivory coast football internationals Gervinho and Arouna Koné were born in Anyama....
, Koné started his football career with Rio Sport d'Anyama
Rio Sport d'Ányama
Rio Sport d'Anyama is a football club based in the Côte d'Ivoire town of Anyama.- History :The club stadium, Stade de Rio Sports, seating 3,000 people....
, a club based in his hometown. The club's president, Amidou Sylla, is said to be the guidance behind making him the player he later became.
In 2002–03, aged just 18, Koné signed for Lierse S.K.
Lierse S.K.
Koninklijke Lierse Sportkring is a Belgian professional football club, from the city of Lier in the Antwerp province. Lierse has been playing in the Belgian Pro League since the 2010-11 season and they have already won the competition 4 times. They also have won 2 Belgian Cups...
in Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
, being the team's top scorer at it finished fifth. He moved to the neighbouring Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
in the following off-season and joined Roda JC, scoring in double digits in two consecutive Eredivisie
Eredivisie
The Eredivisie is the highest football league in the Netherlands. The league was founded in 1956 two years after the start of professional football in the Netherlands. It is currently ranked the ninth best league in Europe by UEFA....
seasons, including a career-best 15 in 2004–05.
PSV
Koné continued in Holland and joined national powerhouse PSV Eindhoven in the 2005 summer, netting 11 goals in his first season, and nine in the first part of the following, partnering well up front with PeruPeru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
vian Jefferson Farfán
Jefferson Farfán
Jefferson Agustín Farfán Guadalupe is a Peruvian football player, playing for Schalke 04 in the Bundesliga.-Club career:Farfán began his professional career with Alianza Lima of Peru, with whom he signed for in 2001...
. He also proved crucial in the 2005–06 UEFA Champions League, scoring a vital winner in the 2–1 away success against Galatasaray SK
Galatasaray S.K. (football team)
Galatasaray Anonim Şirketi is a Turkish football club, part of the Galatasaray S.K. multi-sport club of Istanbul. Galatasaray is a major sports club in Turkey, holding 17 Turkish Super League titles and the highest number of Turkish Cups....
; his successful 2006 finished on a high note, as he was nominated for the Ivorian Football of the Year award, an accolade eventually won by Didier Drogba
Didier Drogba
Didier Yves Drogba Tébily is an Ivorian footballer who plays in the centre forward position. He currently plays for Chelsea in the Premier League, where he is deputy vice-captain, and is the captain and all-time top scorer of the Côte d'Ivoire national football team...
.
During the January 2007 transfer window
Transfer window
The transfer window is the period during the year in which a football club can transfer players from other countries into their playing staff. Such a transfer is completed by registering the player into the new club through FIFA...
, Koné was linked with a number of moves away from PSV, with the likes of Aston Villa
Aston Villa F.C.
Aston Villa Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Witton, Birmingham. The club was founded in 1874 and have played at their current home ground, Villa Park, since 1897. Aston Villa were founder members of The Football League in 1888. They were also founder...
and FC Shakhtar Donetsk
FC Shakhtar Donetsk
FC Shakhtar Donetsk is a Ukrainian professional football club from the city of Donetsk. Shakhtar has appeared in several European competitions and currently is often a participant of the UEFA Champions League. The club became the first Ukrainian club to win the UEFA Cup in 2009, the last year...
vying for his services. In May, after several weeks sidelined due to injury, he picked his second consecutive national championship-winners medal
Koné endured a difficult start to PSV's 2007–08 season: due to a date mix-up, he returned late to pre-season training following a holiday in his country, thus missing out on valuable time to prepare for the new campaign. Added to this, the player was struck down with malaria
Malaria
Malaria is a mosquito-borne infectious disease of humans and other animals caused by eukaryotic protists of the genus Plasmodium. The disease results from the multiplication of Plasmodium parasites within red blood cells, causing symptoms that typically include fever and headache, in severe cases...
at the end of July 2007, In August, it was announced that he had returned to training following his health scare, and was expected to be fit in time for the team's first league game against Heracles Almelo
Heracles Almelo
Heracles Almelo is a football club from Almelo, Netherlands.Heracles Almelo were founded on May 3, 1903 as Heracles, after the demigod son of Zeus. They changed their name on July 1, 1974 to SC Heracles '74 and finally settled on the current name in 1998. The club has won the Dutch national title...
on the 19th. He also immediately returned to international duty.
On 20 August 2007, rumours surfaced that scouts
Scout (sport)
In professional sports, scouts are trained talent evaluators who travel extensively for the purposes of watching athletes play their chosen sports and determining whether their set of skills and talents represent what is needed by the scout's organization...
from Premier League side Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough F.C.
Middlesbrough Football Club , also known as Boro, are an English football club based in Middlesbrough, who play in the Football League Championship. Formed in 1876, they have played at the Riverside Stadium since August 1995, their third ground since turning professional in 1889...
had been observing Koné, and that a £
Pound sterling
The pound sterling , commonly called the pound, is the official currency of the United Kingdom, its Crown Dependencies and the British Overseas Territories of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, British Antarctic Territory and Tristan da Cunha. It is subdivided into 100 pence...
6 million bid for his services was being prepared. The following day, news surfaced that La Liga
La Liga
The Primera División of the Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional , commonly known as La Liga or, for sponsorship reasons, Liga BBVA since 2008, is the top professional association football division of the Spanish football league system...
outfit and UEFA Cup holders Sevilla FC
Sevilla FC
Sevilla Fútbol Club S.A.D. is a Spanish professional football club based in Seville, Spain that plays in the Spanish La Liga championship.They are one of the most successful clubs in Spanish football having won a 1 La Liga title, 5 Spanish "Copa del Rey" Cups, 1 Spanish Super Cup and 2 UEFA...
were locked in talks with PSV to secure his services, with negotiations apparently at an "advanced" stage.
Sevilla
On 30 August 2007, Sevilla FC confirmed on its official website the signing of Koné for the next five years. The SpanishSpain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
club reportedly paid the Philips
Philips
Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. , more commonly known as Philips, is a multinational Dutch electronics company....
outfit a fee of €
Euro
The euro is the official currency of the eurozone: 17 of the 27 member states of the European Union. It is also the currency used by the Institutions of the European Union. The eurozone consists of Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg,...
12 million. On 12 September, he was finally presented to the media, having been assigned the number 22 shirt. The delay from his signing to his unveiling led to rumours that there were problems with the Ivorian's health – in particular his heart
Heart
The heart is a myogenic muscular organ found in all animals with a circulatory system , that is responsible for pumping blood throughout the blood vessels by repeated, rhythmic contractions...
. However, Koné was quick to dispel such talk, with the real reason being due to the death of Sevilla player Antonio Puerta
Antonio Puerta
Antonio José Puerta Pérez was a Spanish footballer who played solely for Sevilla.Mainly a left midfielder who could also operate as an offensive left back, he died on 28 August 2007, affected with arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy, three days after suffering a series of cardiac...
a few days previously - the midfielder
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
eventually died in hospital.
Koné spoke about his ambitions for his latest move, stating: "I know the team and I know that they have won many things in recent years, but I hope to be able to help them to win even more."
At his unveiling, club president José María del Nido commented that Koné was 'one of the best attackers in the world' and with the Ivorian in their ranks, the Andalusia
Andalusia
Andalusia is the most populous and the second largest in area of the autonomous communities of Spain. The Andalusian autonomous community is officially recognised as a nationality of Spain. The territory is divided into eight provinces: Huelva, Seville, Cádiz, Córdoba, Málaga, Jaén, Granada and...
ns had the strongest side in the club's history. He made his league debut on 16 September, as a second-half substitute for Frédéric Kanouté
Frédéric Kanouté
Frédéric Oumar Kanouté is a French-born Malian footballer who currently plays for Sevilla FC in the Spanish La Liga. On 2 February 2008, Kanouté was named the 2007 African Footballer of the Year and is the first foreign-born player to win it.-Lyon:Born in Sainte-Foy-lès-Lyon, Rhône, Kanouté's...
in a 4–1 win against Recreativo de Huelva
Recreativo de Huelva
Real Club Recreativo de Huelva, S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in Huelva, in the autonomous community of Andalusia. Founded on 23 December 1889, it is the oldest football team in Spain, and currently plays in the second division, holding home games at Estadio Nuevo Colombino, which has a...
. In the game, he won a penalty
Penalty kick
A penalty kick is a type of direct free kick in association football, taken from twelve yards out from goal and with only the goalkeeper of the defending team between the penalty taker and the goal.Penalty kicks are performed during normal play...
, but fellow striker Aleksandr Kerzhakov
Aleksandr Kerzhakov
Aleksandr Anatolyevich Kerzhakov is a Russian international association football striker currently playing for Russian Premier League club Zenit St. Petersburg.-Zenit:...
failed to convert; following the game, he commented that he felt fellow African Kanouté was one of the "best forwards in the world" and looked forward to striking up an attacking partnership with him.
On 25 September 2007, Koné opened his scoring account for Sevilla, helping the team come from behind 0–2 against RCD Espanyol
RCD Espanyol
Reial Club Deportiu Espanyol de Barcelona is a sports club based in Barcelona, Spain. It is best known for its football team. Espanyol currently play in the Estadi Cornellà-El Prat with seats for 40,500 spectators. It was inaugurated on 2 August 2009...
to tie it 2–2, in an eventual 2–3 home loss. On 2 October, he netted his first UEFA Champions League
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
goal for the club in a 4–2 group stage win against SK Slavia Prague, after only ten minutes on the pitch.
In April 2008 it was reported that Koné was to be shown the door at Sevilla in the summer of 2008, after a disappointing first season. His lack of playing time, partly due to the form of Luís Fabiano
Luís Fabiano
Luís Fabiano Clemente , commonly known as Luís Fabiano, is a Brazilian footballer who currently plays for São Paulo and the Brazilian national football team as a striker.-Early career:...
and Kanouté, and a bust-up on the training ground with a member of the training staff that was caught on Spanish television, made for some intense speculation about the player's future. Additionally, a trip to Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
to supposedly visit a brother, fueled reports that he would be making the switch to Serie A
Serie A
Serie A , now called Serie A TIM due to sponsorship by Telecom Italia, is a professional league competition for football clubs located at the top of the Italian football league system and has been operating for over eighty years since 1929. It had been organized by Lega Calcio until 2010, but a new...
when the summer transfer window begun.
Koné was expected to be more important in 2008–09 for Sevilla following the departure of Kerzhakov to FC Dynamo Moscow
FC Dynamo Moscow
Dynamo Moscow is a Russian football club based in Moscow, currently playing in the Russian Premier League. Dynamo's traditional kit colours are blue and white...
, but suffered a serious injury while playing for Côte d'Ivoire against Guinea
Guinea national football team
The Guinea national football team, nicknamed Syli national , is the national team of Guinea and is controlled by the Fédération Guinéenne de Football. They have never qualified for the World Cup finals, and their best finish in the African Nations Cup was second in the 1976...
on 20 August 2008. A scan showed he had suffered a cruciate knee
Knee
The knee joint joins the thigh with the leg and consists of two articulations: one between the fibula and tibia, and one between the femur and patella. It is the largest joint in the human body and is very complicated. The knee is a mobile trocho-ginglymus , which permits flexion and extension as...
ligament injury in his left leg, and he underwent surgery to repair the damage the following week, returning to training in February 2009.
Subsequently, Koné fell out of favour at Sevilla, with fellow top-divisioner Real Zaragoza
Real Zaragoza
Real Zaragoza, S.A.D. is a Spanish association football team from Zaragoza in Spain. Founded on 18 March 1932, Real Zaragoza have spent the majority of their 78 year history in the Spanish top-flight. Real Zaragoza are Spain's 9th highest ranked team in overall league points...
being a likely destination. In December 2009, it was reported that Birmingham City
Birmingham City F.C.
Birmingham City Football Club is a professional association football club based in the city of Birmingham, England. Formed in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance, they became Small Heath in 1888, then Birmingham in 1905, finally becoming Birmingham City in 1943.They were relegated at the end of the...
, Wolverhampton Wanderers
Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club that represents the city of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands region. They are members of the Premier League, the highest level of English football. The club was founded in 1877 and since 1889 has played at...
, Hull City
Hull City A.F.C.
Hull City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, founded in 1904. The club participates in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football...
and Burnley
Burnley F.C.
Burnley Football Club are a professional English Football League club based in Burnley, Lancashire. Nicknamed the Clarets, due to the dominant colour of their home shirts, they were founder members of the Football League in 1888...
had also joined the race.
On 1 February 2010, Koné left Sevilla and joined Hannover 96
Hannover 96
Hannoverscher Sportverein von 1896, commonly referred to as Hannover 96, Hannover or simply 96, is a German association football club based in the city of Hanover, Lower Saxony.-Foundation to WWII:...
on loan until 30 June. He scored on his Bundesliga
Fußball-Bundesliga
The Fußball-Bundesliga is a professional association football league in Germany. At the top of Germany's football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. It is contested by 18 teams and operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the 2. Bundesliga...
debut, a 1–2 away loss against TSG 1899 Hoffenheim.
Koné only appeared once for Sevilla in 2010–11
2010–11 La Liga
The 2010–11 La Liga season was the 80th since its establishment. The campaign began on 28 August 2010 and ended on 21 May 2011. A total of 20 teams contested the league, 17 of which already contested in the 2009–10 season and three of which were promoted from the Segunda División...
, one minute against Villarreal CF
Villarreal CF
Villarreal Club de Fútbol, S.A.D. , usually abbreviated to Villarreal CF or just Villarreal, is a Spanish Primera División football club based in Vila-real, a city in the province of Castellón within the Valencian Community...
. For the following season
2011–12 La Liga
The 2011–12 La Liga season is the 81st since its establishment. Barcelona are the defending champions, having won their 21st La Liga title in the previous season for the third time in a row. The campaign began on 27 August 2011, and will end on 13 May 2012...
he was loaned to Levante UD
Levante UD
Levante Unión Deportiva, S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in Valencia, in the namesake community.Founded in 1909, it plays in La Liga, holding home games at Estadi Ciutat de València.-Early years:...
, starting often and scoring his first goal of the campaign on 18 September 2011, in a famous 1–0 home win over Real Madrid
Real Madrid C.F.
Real Madrid Club de Fútbol , commonly known as Real Madrid, is a professional football club based in Madrid, Spain. The club have won a record 31 La Liga titles, the Primera División of the Liga de Fútbol Profesional , 18 Copas del Rey, 8 Spanish Super Cups, 1 Copa Eva Duarte and 1 Copa de la...
.
International career
Koné played for the Mama OuattaraMama Ouattara
Mama Ouattara was a footballer from Bouna, Côte d'Ivoire. He was a player for French clubs Nîmes Olympique, Montpellier HSC, Olympique Avignonnais and homeland club Stade d'Abidjan, as well as the Ivory Coast national team....
-led Côte d'Ivoire under-20 team
Côte d'Ivoire national under-20 football team
Côte d'Ivoire national under-20 football team, also known as Côte d'Ivoire Under-20s or Ivory Coast U20, represents Côte d'Ivoire in association football at a under-20 age level and is controlled by Fédération Ivoirienne de Football, the governing body for football in Côte d'Ivoire.-Achievements:*...
in the 2003 FIFA World Youth Championship
2003 FIFA World Youth Championship
The 2003 FIFA World Youth Championship took place in United Arab Emirates between November 27 and December 19, 2003. The 2003 championship was the 14th contested...
, alongside Lierse teammate where he starred alongside Lierse team mate Adolphe Tohoua
Adolphe Tohoua
Adolphe Tohoua is an Ivorian football midfielder. He played in the Belgian Jupiler League and currently plays for lower league club KSK Hasselt.-Career:...
. He scored three goals in the tournament - once against Mexico
Mexico national under-20 football team
The Mexico national under-20 football team, is controlled by the Mexican Football Federation and represents Mexico in international under-20 football competitions.-Individual awards:...
in a 2–1 win, and twice in the 2–2 draw against the Republic of Ireland
Republic of Ireland national under-21 football team
The Republic of Ireland national under-21 football team, is the national under-21 football team of the Republic of Ireland and is controlled by the Football Association of Ireland and competes in the biennial European Under-21 Football Championship and has competed since 1978.-Competition...
- in an eventual round-of-16
Single-elimination tournament
A single-elimination tournament, also called a knockout, cup or sudden death tournament, is a type of elimination tournament where the loser of each match or bracket is immediately eliminated from winning the championship or first prize in the event...
exit, and the official FIFA
FIFA
The Fédération Internationale de Football Association , commonly known by the acronym FIFA , is the international governing body of :association football, futsal and beach football. Its headquarters are located in Zurich, Switzerland, and its president is Sepp Blatter, who is in his fourth...
website declared him to be a "crucial pivot for the attacking thrust" of the Ivorian team.
Koné made his debut for the full side
Côte d'Ivoire national football team
The Côte d'Ivoire National Football Team or Ivory Coast National Football Team, nicknamed Les Éléphants , represents Côte d'Ivoire in international football and is controlled by the Fédération Ivoirienne de Football...
in March 2004 against Tunisia
Tunisia national football team
The Tunisia national football team , nicknamed Les Aigles de Carthage , is the national team of Tunisia and is controlled by the Fédération Tunisienne de Football. They have qualified for four FIFA World Cups, the first one in 1978, but have yet to make it out of the first round...
. He was selected for the 2006 Africa Cup of Nations tournament, scoring once as the Elephants finished runners-up to hosts Egypt.
Koné was also picked for the squad that appeared at the 2006 FIFA World Cup
2006 FIFA World Cup
The 2006 FIFA World Cup was the 18th FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial international football world championship tournament. It was held from 9 June to 9 July 2006 in Germany, which won the right to host the event in July 2000. Teams representing 198 national football associations from all six...
in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, a first-ever for the Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
n nation. He replaced Abdul Kader Keïta
Abdul Kader Keïta
Abdel-Kader Keïta is an Ivorian professional football player. Keïta plays as a winger for Al-Sadd in the Qatar Stars League and the Cote d'Ivoire national football team....
in the 77th minute of the first game, a 1–2 loss against Argentina
Argentina national football team
The Argentina national football team represents Argentina in association football and is controlled by the Argentine Football Association , the governing body for football in Argentina. Argentina's home stadium is Estadio Monumental Antonio Vespucio Liberti and their head coach is Alejandro...
, and started in the other two - going scoreless in the process - as the national team did not make it to the knockout stages.
Koné was named in the Ivorian squad for the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations in Ghana
Ghana
Ghana , officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country located in West Africa. It is bordered by Côte d'Ivoire to the west, Burkina Faso to the north, Togo to the east, and the Gulf of Guinea to the south...
, being a backup in an eventual fourth-place finish. On 8 October 2006, in the qualifying campaign, he scored a hat-trick
Hat-trick
A hat-trick or hat trick in sport is the achievement of a positive feat three times during a game, or other achievements based on threes. The term was first used in 1858 in cricket to describe HH Stephenson's feat of taking three wickets in three balls. A collection was held for Stephenson, and he...
in a 5–0 home win against Gabon
Gabon national football team
The Gabon national football team, nicknamed Azingo Nationale, is the national team of Gabon and is controlled by the Fédération Gabonaise de Football...
.
International goals
| # | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 8 October 2006 | Abidjan Abidjan Abidjan is the economic and former official capital of Côte d'Ivoire, while the current capital is Yamoussoukro. it was the largest city in the nation and the third-largest French-speaking city in the world, after Paris, and Kinshasa but before Montreal... , Côte d'Ivoire |
5–0 | Win | 2008 Africa Cup of Nations qualification | |
| 2. | 8 October 2006 | Abidjan Abidjan Abidjan is the economic and former official capital of Côte d'Ivoire, while the current capital is Yamoussoukro. it was the largest city in the nation and the third-largest French-speaking city in the world, after Paris, and Kinshasa but before Montreal... , Côte d'Ivoire |
5–0 | Win | 2008 Africa Cup of Nations qualification | |
| 3. | 8 October 2006 | Abidjan Abidjan Abidjan is the economic and former official capital of Côte d'Ivoire, while the current capital is Yamoussoukro. it was the largest city in the nation and the third-largest French-speaking city in the world, after Paris, and Kinshasa but before Montreal... , Côte d'Ivoire |
5–0 | Win | 2008 Africa Cup of Nations qualification | |
| 4. | 3 June 2007 | Bouake Bouaké Bouaké is the second largest city in Côte d'Ivoire, with a population of 775,300 . It is the main urban settlement of the Bouaké Department with a population exceeding 1.2 million, in the Vallée du Bandama Region... , Côte d'Ivoire |
5–0 | Win | 2008 Africa Cup of Nations qualification | |
| 5. | 3 June 2007 | Bouake Bouaké Bouaké is the second largest city in Côte d'Ivoire, with a population of 775,300 . It is the main urban settlement of the Bouaké Department with a population exceeding 1.2 million, in the Vallée du Bandama Region... , Côte d'Ivoire |
5–0 | Win | 2008 Africa Cup of Nations qualification | |
| 6. | 21 November 2007 | Doha Doha Doha is the capital city of the state of Qatar. Located on the Persian Gulf, it had a population of 998,651 in 2008, and is also one of the municipalities of Qatar... , Qatar Qatar Qatar , also known as the State of Qatar or locally Dawlat Qaṭar, is a sovereign Arab state, located in the Middle East, occupying the small Qatar Peninsula on the northeasterly coast of the much larger Arabian Peninsula. Its sole land border is with Saudi Arabia to the south, with the rest of its... |
6–1 | Win | Friendly Exhibition game An exhibition game is a sporting event in which there is no competitive value of any significant kind to any competitor regardless of the outcome of the competition... |
|
| 7. | 21 November 2007 | Doha Doha Doha is the capital city of the state of Qatar. Located on the Persian Gulf, it had a population of 998,651 in 2008, and is also one of the municipalities of Qatar... , Qatar Qatar Qatar , also known as the State of Qatar or locally Dawlat Qaṭar, is a sovereign Arab state, located in the Middle East, occupying the small Qatar Peninsula on the northeasterly coast of the much larger Arabian Peninsula. Its sole land border is with Saudi Arabia to the south, with the rest of its... |
6–1 | Win | Friendly Exhibition game An exhibition game is a sporting event in which there is no competitive value of any significant kind to any competitor regardless of the outcome of the competition... |
Club statistics
| Season | Club | Country | Competition | Matches | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002–03 | Lierse Lierse S.K. Koninklijke Lierse Sportkring is a Belgian professional football club, from the city of Lier in the Antwerp province. Lierse has been playing in the Belgian Pro League since the 2010-11 season and they have already won the competition 4 times. They also have won 2 Belgian Cups... |
Belgian Pro League | 32 | 11 | |
| 2003–04 | Roda | Eredivisie Eredivisie The Eredivisie is the highest football league in the Netherlands. The league was founded in 1956 two years after the start of professional football in the Netherlands. It is currently ranked the ninth best league in Europe by UEFA.... |
28 | 11 | |
| 2004–05 | Roda | Eredivisie Eredivisie The Eredivisie is the highest football league in the Netherlands. The league was founded in 1956 two years after the start of professional football in the Netherlands. It is currently ranked the ninth best league in Europe by UEFA.... |
33 | 15 | |
| 2005–06 | Roda | Eredivisie Eredivisie The Eredivisie is the highest football league in the Netherlands. The league was founded in 1956 two years after the start of professional football in the Netherlands. It is currently ranked the ninth best league in Europe by UEFA.... |
2 | 2 | |
| 2005–06 | PSV | Eredivisie Eredivisie The Eredivisie is the highest football league in the Netherlands. The league was founded in 1956 two years after the start of professional football in the Netherlands. It is currently ranked the ninth best league in Europe by UEFA.... |
21 | 11 | |
| 2006–07 | PSV | Eredivisie Eredivisie The Eredivisie is the highest football league in the Netherlands. The league was founded in 1956 two years after the start of professional football in the Netherlands. It is currently ranked the ninth best league in Europe by UEFA.... |
31 | 10 | |
| 2007–08 | PSV | Eredivisie Eredivisie The Eredivisie is the highest football league in the Netherlands. The league was founded in 1956 two years after the start of professional football in the Netherlands. It is currently ranked the ninth best league in Europe by UEFA.... |
1 | 0 | |
| 2007–08 | Sevilla Sevilla FC Sevilla Fútbol Club S.A.D. is a Spanish professional football club based in Seville, Spain that plays in the Spanish La Liga championship.They are one of the most successful clubs in Spanish football having won a 1 La Liga title, 5 Spanish "Copa del Rey" Cups, 1 Spanish Super Cup and 2 UEFA... |
La Liga La Liga The Primera División of the Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional , commonly known as La Liga or, for sponsorship reasons, Liga BBVA since 2008, is the top professional association football division of the Spanish football league system... |
21 | 1 | |
| 2008–09 | Sevilla Sevilla FC Sevilla Fútbol Club S.A.D. is a Spanish professional football club based in Seville, Spain that plays in the Spanish La Liga championship.They are one of the most successful clubs in Spanish football having won a 1 La Liga title, 5 Spanish "Copa del Rey" Cups, 1 Spanish Super Cup and 2 UEFA... |
La Liga La Liga The Primera División of the Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional , commonly known as La Liga or, for sponsorship reasons, Liga BBVA since 2008, is the top professional association football division of the Spanish football league system... |
6 | 0 | |
| 2009–10 | Sevilla Sevilla FC Sevilla Fútbol Club S.A.D. is a Spanish professional football club based in Seville, Spain that plays in the Spanish La Liga championship.They are one of the most successful clubs in Spanish football having won a 1 La Liga title, 5 Spanish "Copa del Rey" Cups, 1 Spanish Super Cup and 2 UEFA... |
La Liga La Liga The Primera División of the Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional , commonly known as La Liga or, for sponsorship reasons, Liga BBVA since 2008, is the top professional association football division of the Spanish football league system... |
13 | 0 | |
| 2010 | Hannover Hannover 96 Hannoverscher Sportverein von 1896, commonly referred to as Hannover 96, Hannover or simply 96, is a German association football club based in the city of Hanover, Lower Saxony.-Foundation to WWII:... |
Bundesliga Fußball-Bundesliga The Fußball-Bundesliga is a professional association football league in Germany. At the top of Germany's football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. It is contested by 18 teams and operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the 2. Bundesliga... |
8 | 2 | |
| 2010–11 | Sevilla Sevilla FC Sevilla Fútbol Club S.A.D. is a Spanish professional football club based in Seville, Spain that plays in the Spanish La Liga championship.They are one of the most successful clubs in Spanish football having won a 1 La Liga title, 5 Spanish "Copa del Rey" Cups, 1 Spanish Super Cup and 2 UEFA... |
La Liga La Liga The Primera División of the Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional , commonly known as La Liga or, for sponsorship reasons, Liga BBVA since 2008, is the top professional association football division of the Spanish football league system... |
1 | 0 | |
| 2011–12 | Levante Levante UD Levante Unión Deportiva, S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in Valencia, in the namesake community.Founded in 1909, it plays in La Liga, holding home games at Estadi Ciutat de València.-Early years:... |
La Liga La Liga The Primera División of the Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional , commonly known as La Liga or, for sponsorship reasons, Liga BBVA since 2008, is the top professional association football division of the Spanish football league system... |
9 | 3 | |
| 2002–11 | Totals | 206 | 66 | ||
Honours
PSV- EredivisieEredivisieThe Eredivisie is the highest football league in the Netherlands. The league was founded in 1956 two years after the start of professional football in the Netherlands. It is currently ranked the ninth best league in Europe by UEFA....
: 2005–06, 2006–07 - KNVB CupKNVB CupThe KNVB Cup is a competition in the Netherlands organized by the Royal Dutch Football Association since 1899. It was based on the format of the English FA Cup. Outside of the Netherlands, it is often referred to as the Dutch Cup...
: Runner-up 2005–06
Personal life
Koné is a practising muslimMuslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
. He prays five times a day, and also wears the traditional West African Islamic dress, the Boubou
Boubou (clothing)
The Grand Boubou/Bubu is one of the names for a flowing wide sleeved robe worn by men in much of West Africa, and to a lesser extent in North Africa, related to the Dashiki suit...
, on holidays and on Fridays – the Islamic day of public worship.
On 21 August 2007, Koné became a father after his wife gave birth to the couple's first child – a boy named Amidou. He stated that both mother and child were doing well and that he was absolutely delighted.
Koné's older brother, Bakari
Bakari Koné
Bakari Koné is an Ivorian football striker who plays for Qatar League side Lekhwiya.-Early career:Like many other Ivorian stars, he began his career at the famed youth academy at ASEC Mimosas, run by Frenchman Jean-Marc Guillou in his home country. Guillou recalls: "One day, when I was passing...
, is also a footballer and a forward. He played several years in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and also represented the Ivorian national team. A younger sibling, Karamoko, played youth football for Roda.
Koné also sends a portion of his wages to his mother and family in his country. Speaking of his success in football and his support of his family, he is quoted as saying: "In Africa the solidarity for your family is very large. My father died when I was nine years old. My mother and my family have spent many years with difficulty. I am glad that I am now able support them."