Djiman Koukou

Djiman Waidi Koukou (born 14 November 1990) is a Beninese professional footballer who most recently played as a midfielder for French club Les Herbiers VF. He made 42 appearances for the Benin national team scoring once.

Djiman Koukou
Koukou in 2017
Personal information
Full name Djiman Waidi Koukou
Date of birth (1990-11-14) 14 November 1990
Place of birth Porto-Novo, Benin
Height 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Position(s) Midfielder
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2004–2007 Requins 50 (7)
2007–2009 Soleil 37 (5)
2009–2010 Évian 15 (0)
2010–2011 Créteil 33 (1)
2011–2013 Beira-Mar 0 (0)
2011–2012 → Belenenses (loan) 18 (0)
2012–2013 Montélimar 6 (0)
2013–2016 Niort 117 (3)
2016–2018 Lens 37 (1)
2018 Astra Giurgiu 4 (0)
2019–2021 Red Star 42 (1)
2021–2023 Les Herbiers VF 42 (0)
International career
2008–2021[1] Benin 42 (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 10:46, 21 October 2023 (UTC)

Club career

Born in Porto-Novo, Koukou played for Requins de l'Atlantique FC and Soleil FC in his country. On 5 July 2009, he signed with Thonon Évian F.C. in France,[2] going on to play two seasons in the third division.

After a successful year with US Créteil-Lusitanos, Koukou joined Portuguese club S.C. Beira-Mar in late June 2011, on a free transfer.[3] He was immediately loaned to Segunda Liga team C.F. Os Belenenses, appearing in slightly more than half of the games during his only campaign.[4]

Koukou failed to break into the first team with the Aveiro side, and returned to France in the summer of 2012. He trained with amateurs UMS Montélimar for several months, and eventually signed in February 2013.[5]

In January 2013, Koukou went on trial with Chamois Niortais F.C. from Ligue 2. After training for 15 days, he was offered a contract until the end of the season by manager Pascal Gastien,[6] and went on to compete with the team in three and a half second level seasons whilst playing 125 matches across all competitions.

In early July 2016, Koukou joined RC Lens – also of the French division two – on a two-year deal.[7] He scored his first and only league goal for them on 28 November 2017, helping the hosts defeat AC Ajaccio 2–0.[8]

Koukou moved to the Romanian Liga I on 28 September 2018, agreeing to a two-year contract at FC Astra Giurgiu.[9][10] One year later, he returned to France and its third tier by signing with recently relegated Red Star FC.[11]

International career

Koukou made his debut for Benin in 2008, being selected for that year's Africa Cup of Nations. He earned his first cap on 7 September, in a 3–2 home win against Angola for the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.[12]

Career statistics

Club
As of 1 July 2021[13]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup League cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Évian 2009–10 National 1500000–150
Créteil 2010–11 National 3312000–351
Belenenses (loan) 2011–12 Segunda Liga 1801020–210
Niort 2012–13 Ligue 2 900000–90
2013–14 Ligue 2 3612010–391
2014–15 Ligue 2 3401110–361
2015–16 Ligue 2 3822010–412
Total 11735130001254
Lens 2016–17 Ligue 2 2003020–250
2017–18 Ligue 2 1714021–232
Total 371704100482
Astra Giurgiu 2018–19 Liga I 4010—–50
Red Star 2019–20 National 1302000–150
2020–21 National 2913000–321
Total 421500000471
Career total 266621191002968

References
  1. Mamrud, Roberto (23 July 2023). "Benin - Record International Players". RSSSF. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
  2. Evian TGFc: Avec Djiman Koukou, Aussems va-t-il partir de la tête de la DTN? (Evian TGFc: With Djiman Koukou, will Aussems lead the way in DTN?); Sky Rock, 5 July 2009 (in French)
  3. "Koukou na rampa de lançamento" [Koukou poised for move]. A Bola (in Portuguese). 30 June 2011. Archived from the original on 2 July 2011. Retrieved 13 November 2011.
  4. "Koukou encerra plantel" [Koukou completes squad]. Record (in Portuguese). 1 September 2011. Retrieved 17 December 2018.
  5. "Koukou, le revoilou". La Nouvelle République du Centre-Ouest (in French). 5 February 2013. Retrieved 27 December 2015.
  6. Chochois, Alexandre (31 January 2013). "Niort: Djiman Koukou de retour en France" [Niort: Djiman Koukou returns to France] (in French). Foot National. Retrieved 31 January 2013.
  7. Affanou, Roland (6 July 2016). "Racing club [sic] de Lens: Djiman Koukou présenté à la presse samedi dernier" [Racing Club de Lens: Djiman Koukou presented to the press last Saturday]. La Nouvelle Tribune (in French). Retrieved 17 December 2018.
  8. "Football – Ligue 2: Lens réagit contre l'AC Ajaccio: revivez le match" [Football – Ligue 2: Lens react against AC Ajaccio: relive the match]. La Voix du Nord (in French). 28 November 2017. Retrieved 17 December 2018.
  9. "Mengolo– 3 ani, Koukou – 2!" [Mengolo– 3 years, Koukou – 2!] (in Romanian). FC Astra Giurgiu. 28 September 2018. Retrieved 1 October 2018.
  10. "EXCLUSIV Mutări pentru titlu. O forţă a Ligii 1 a transferat azi, gratis, doi jucători importanţi" [EXCLUSIVE Title moves. Liga 1 powerhouse have acquired today, for free, two important players] (in Romanian). Digi Sport. 28 September 2018. Retrieved 28 September 2018.
  11. Ducassou, Paul (11 September 2019). "Koukou signe" [Koukou signs] (in French). Red Star F.C. Retrieved 8 October 2019.
  12. Benin – Angola 3:2 (1:1); FIFA, 7 September 2008
  13. Djiman Koukou at Soccerway
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