Cédric Kanté
Encyclopedia
Cédric Kanté Defend is a Mali
an and French
football
defender
, currently playing for Greek team Panathinaikos FC
.
before starting his professional career there. He signed his first professional contract with them in 1999, at the age of 19. He spent two seasons with them, in his first stint, making 7 appearances and picking up a Coupe de France
winners medal in 2001
. He moved on to find first-team football playing for FC Istres
, in Ligue 2
. In one season at Istres, Kanté made 16 appearances. ASOA Valence
saw the talent in the 21 year old and signed him. He spent one season there but was the focal point of the team, anchoring the center of their defense. He left the club due to its financial insecurity, having made 32 appearances.
. In Kanté's three seasons for the club, he scored 3 league goals in 91 appearances. At the end of his contract, he signed with Ligue 1
side Nice
. His first season at the club was disappointing, with them barely escaping relegation. However his and the club had better fortunes helping them achieve an 8th place finish in his second season. His last season was more of the same, as he helped Nice finish respectably in 9th place during the 2008–09
campaign. After three successful seasons, Kanté left the club for Greek
giants Panathinaikos
. In all, he made 97 Ligue 1
appearances for the side and added 2 goals.
in June 2009. In his first season at Panathinaikos, he helped the "Prasinoi", the Greens, to their first Greek Championship
and Greek Cup
in six years. In the Greek Cup Final
, Kanté played a vital role in the center of the defense for Panathinaikos as they defeated Aris
1–0 with a goal from Argentinian winger Sebastián Leto
.
In his first season at Panathinaikos, Kanté appeared in 29 league games and added an assist to his name.
through his ancestry. Thus he opted to play for the country of his parents' birth and represented the Eagles 25 times as well as at the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations in Ghana.
Panathinaikos
Mali
Mali , officially the Republic of Mali , is a landlocked country in Western Africa. Mali borders Algeria on the north, Niger on the east, Burkina Faso and the Côte d'Ivoire on the south, Guinea on the south-west, and Senegal and Mauritania on the west. Its size is just over 1,240,000 km² with...
an and French
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...
football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
defender
Defender (football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
, currently playing for Greek team Panathinaikos FC
Panathinaikos FC
Panathinaikos Football Club is a Greek professional football club based in Athens. Founded in 1908, they play in the Super League Greece and are one of the oldest and most successful clubs in Greek football history. They have won 20 Greek Championships and 17 Greek Cups.Panathinaikos is the most...
.
Early career
Kanté progressed through the youth ranks at local club RC StrasbourgRC Strasbourg
Racing Club de Strasbourg is a French association football club founded in 1906 and professional since 1933, based in the city of Strasbourg, in Alsace...
before starting his professional career there. He signed his first professional contract with them in 1999, at the age of 19. He spent two seasons with them, in his first stint, making 7 appearances and picking up a Coupe de France
Coupe de France
The Coupe Charles Simon, commonly known as the Coupe de France , is the premier knockout cup competition in French football organized by the French Football Federation...
winners medal in 2001
Coupe de France Final 2001
The Coupe de France Final 2001 was a football match held at Stade de France, Saint-Denis on 36 May 2001, that saw RC Strasbourg defeat Amiens SC in a penalty shoot out. After normal time and extra-time could not separate the two sides, the match was to be decided on penalty kicks...
. He moved on to find first-team football playing for FC Istres
FC Istres
Football Club Istres Ouest Provence is a French association football club based in Istres. The club was formed in 1920 and currently play in Ligue 2, the second level of French football having achieved promotion to the league following the 2008–09 season. Istres plays its home matches at the...
, in Ligue 2
Ligue 2
Ligue 2 , formerly known as Division 2, is a French professional football league. The league serves as the second division of French football and is one of two divisions making up the Ligue de Football Professionnel , the other being Ligue 1, the country's top football division...
. In one season at Istres, Kanté made 16 appearances. ASOA Valence
ASOA Valence
Association Sportive d'Origine Arménienne de Valence was a French football team playing in the city of Valence, Drôme.-History:The team ended in 2005 due to financial problems...
saw the talent in the 21 year old and signed him. He spent one season there but was the focal point of the team, anchoring the center of their defense. He left the club due to its financial insecurity, having made 32 appearances.
Strasbourg and Nice
He then returned to boyhood club Strasbourg, signing a three year deal. He quickly made it into the first team and was a main part of their progression within Ligue 2Ligue 2
Ligue 2 , formerly known as Division 2, is a French professional football league. The league serves as the second division of French football and is one of two divisions making up the Ligue de Football Professionnel , the other being Ligue 1, the country's top football division...
. In Kanté's three seasons for the club, he scored 3 league goals in 91 appearances. At the end of his contract, he signed with Ligue 1
Ligue 1
Ligue 1 , is the French professional league for association football clubs. It is the country's primary football competition and serves as the top division of the French football league system. Ligue 1 is one of two divisions making up the Ligue de Football Professionnel, the other being Ligue 2....
side Nice
OGC Nice
Olympique Gymnaste Club Nice Côte d'Azur is a French association football club based in Nice. The club was founded in 1904 and currently plays in Ligue 1, the top-tier of French football. Nice plays its home matches at the Stade Municipal du Ray located within the city. In 2013, the club is...
. His first season at the club was disappointing, with them barely escaping relegation. However his and the club had better fortunes helping them achieve an 8th place finish in his second season. His last season was more of the same, as he helped Nice finish respectably in 9th place during the 2008–09
Ligue 1 2008-09
The 2008–09 Ligue 1 season was the 71st since its establishment. Bordeaux became champions for the sixth time on the last weekend of the season. The fixtures were announced on 23 May 2008. The season began on 9 August 2008 and ended on 30 May 2009...
campaign. After three successful seasons, Kanté left the club for Greek
Super League Greece
The Superleague Greece is the highest professional football league in Greece. It was formed on July 16, 2006 and replaced Alpha Ethniki at the top of the Greek football league system. The league consists of 16 teams and runs from August to May, with teams playing 30 games each...
giants Panathinaikos
Panathinaikos FC
Panathinaikos Football Club is a Greek professional football club based in Athens. Founded in 1908, they play in the Super League Greece and are one of the oldest and most successful clubs in Greek football history. They have won 20 Greek Championships and 17 Greek Cups.Panathinaikos is the most...
. In all, he made 97 Ligue 1
Ligue 1
Ligue 1 , is the French professional league for association football clubs. It is the country's primary football competition and serves as the top division of the French football league system. Ligue 1 is one of two divisions making up the Ligue de Football Professionnel, the other being Ligue 2....
appearances for the side and added 2 goals.
Panathinaikos
Kanté was signed a 3-year deal for Panathinaikos FCPanathinaikos FC
Panathinaikos Football Club is a Greek professional football club based in Athens. Founded in 1908, they play in the Super League Greece and are one of the oldest and most successful clubs in Greek football history. They have won 20 Greek Championships and 17 Greek Cups.Panathinaikos is the most...
in June 2009. In his first season at Panathinaikos, he helped the "Prasinoi", the Greens, to their first Greek Championship
Super League Greece
The Superleague Greece is the highest professional football league in Greece. It was formed on July 16, 2006 and replaced Alpha Ethniki at the top of the Greek football league system. The league consists of 16 teams and runs from August to May, with teams playing 30 games each...
and Greek Cup
Greek football Cup
The Greek Football Cup , commonly known as the Greek Cup or for sponsorship reasons the Football Cup OPAP, is a Greek football competition, run by the Hellenic Football Federation....
in six years. In the Greek Cup Final
2009–10 Greek Cup
-Calendar:-First round:-Second round:-Third round:-Fourth round:-Fifth round:-Quarter-Finals:------------The match had been interrupted in the 69th minute due to bad condition of grass, that came from continuous raining...
, Kanté played a vital role in the center of the defense for Panathinaikos as they defeated Aris
Aris Thessaloniki F.C.
Aris Football Club , also known as God of war and the Yellows, is a Greek football club based in the city of Thessaloniki, Macedonia. Formed in 1914, the club was a founding member of Macedonian Football Clubs Association as well as the Hellenic Football Federation, they currently compete in...
1–0 with a goal from Argentinian winger Sebastián Leto
Sebastián Leto
Sebastián Eduardo Leto Lées is an Argentine footballer who currently plays on the left wing for Panathinaikos.- Lanús :...
.
In his first season at Panathinaikos, Kanté appeared in 29 league games and added an assist to his name.
International
Although born in France, Kanté was eligible to play for the Mali National TeamMali national football team
The Mali national football team, nicknamed Les Aigles , is the national team of Mali and is controlled by the Fédération Malienne de Football. They have never qualified for the World Cup finals.-History:...
through his ancestry. Thus he opted to play for the country of his parents' birth and represented the Eagles 25 times as well as at the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations in Ghana.
Honours
RC StrasbourgRC Strasbourg
Racing Club de Strasbourg is a French association football club founded in 1906 and professional since 1933, based in the city of Strasbourg, in Alsace...
- Coupe de FranceCoupe de FranceThe Coupe Charles Simon, commonly known as the Coupe de France , is the premier knockout cup competition in French football organized by the French Football Federation...
: 2001Coupe de France Final 2001The Coupe de France Final 2001 was a football match held at Stade de France, Saint-Denis on 36 May 2001, that saw RC Strasbourg defeat Amiens SC in a penalty shoot out. After normal time and extra-time could not separate the two sides, the match was to be decided on penalty kicks...
Panathinaikos
Panathinaikos FC
Panathinaikos Football Club is a Greek professional football club based in Athens. Founded in 1908, they play in the Super League Greece and are one of the oldest and most successful clubs in Greek football history. They have won 20 Greek Championships and 17 Greek Cups.Panathinaikos is the most...
- Greek Super LeagueSuper League GreeceThe Superleague Greece is the highest professional football league in Greece. It was formed on July 16, 2006 and replaced Alpha Ethniki at the top of the Greek football league system. The league consists of 16 teams and runs from August to May, with teams playing 30 games each...
: 2009–10 - Greek Cup: 2010