Seydou Keita - Malian star

Keita Seydou is a footballer, known to many fans thanks to his performances for famous clubs. A player who has good enough physical data, capable of scoring goals even from long distances. Always confident in himself and believing that you can win even the strongest club.

Beginning of the player's career

Seydou Keita, whose biography is outlined in this article, is an example for many athletes in the world. He was born in a city called Bamako, which is in Mali, in January 1980. At 15 years, the future player of the national team enters the "Salif Keita Center." There he spent two years, while playing in the youth championship.

After this training Seydou Keita enters the academy of the football club "Marseilles", where for two years he develops further as a football player. And in 1999 he got to the youth team, which successfully performed in Nigeria and took third place. The player himself received his first trophy - the youthful Golden Ball.

Club career

His first match for adult clubs Keita played in the League of France in 1999, speaking for the "Olympic". In this club he spent only one season, although the contract was originally supposed to be long-term.

Then there was the "Lorien" club, where the player successfully performed for two seasons, playing even for the French Cup.

The longest cooperation with Seydou Keita boasts a French club called "Lance". In the 2006-2007 season, the player played in thirty-seven games and became the author of eleven goals, becoming the second best player of the league. He was rightfully the leader of this club and not by accident became a captain. For the entire period in Lance, the footballer played one hundred and fifty-six matches, nineteen goals scored.

After eight years spent in France, the player decides to sign a contract with Sevilla. There he plays only one season 2007-2008. On the field in the starting line Seydu leaves 29 times out of 38 and only two more times to replace. By striking from the distance, which this player gets just superb, he slashes four goals into the opponents' goal.

In 2008, the footballer comes to Barcelona, which gave him fourteen million euros. From the very beginning he was the player of the base. 119 matches and 16 goals testify to his professionalism. However, in 2012 they decided to leave Barça and go to the Chinese Dalian Aerybin.

And in January 2014 the football player signed a contract with the Spanish "Valencia", but, not having spent the season there, canceled the contract and moved to "Roma", where he still plays.

Games for the country

Seydou Keita has a rich experience of playing for the national team. After all, he started playing for youth up to seventeen years back in 1997. In 1999, he was invited to the national team under the age of 19, where Seydu achieved a high award - the Golden Ball.

2001 brought an invitation already to the adult national team of Mali on football. In 2008, the team dropped out of the Africa Cup in the first round. But in 2012 and 2013 they occupied the third place in the Cup of African Nations.

Career achievements

Seydou Keita has a rich experience of playing for the national team. After all, he started playing for youth up to seventeen years back in 1997. In 1999, he was invited to the national team under the age of 19, where Seydu achieved a high award - the Golden Ball.

2001 brought an invitation already to the adult national team of Mali on football. In 2008, the team dropped out of the Africa Cup in the first round. But in 2012 and 2013 they occupied the third place in the Cup of African Nations.

As already noted, the first trophy footballer received in 1999, playing for the national team of Mali.

Then another sixteen awards were won. With the team "Lorient" in 2002 won the Cup of France.

"Barcelona" with the participation of the player won 3 championship titles, won two Cups of Spain, won the Super Cup three times, twice won in the Champions League and once in the UEFA Super Cup.

In addition to the awards for cups and championships, Seydou Keita was recognized as the athlete of the year in Mali in 2011. The record of the national team of this country also belongs to him. Footballer was the first who spent one hundred matches, protecting the colors of his country.

The main position of midfielder "Roma" - the main zone, but he can also play on the left flank. Often Keita can be seen on the attacking positions.