Seydou Keita

Seydou Keïta (French pronunciation: ​[sɛdu kɛjta]; anglicised to Keita; born 16 January 1980) is a Malian former footballer. A versatile midfielder, he operated as both a central or defensive midfielder. He is often considered to be the greatest Malian footballer in the history of the sport.

Seydou Keita
Keita with Barcelona in 2008
Personal information
Full name Seydou Keita[1]
Date of birth (1980-01-16) 16 January 1980
Place of birth Bamako, Mali
Height 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position(s) Midfielder
Youth career
1995–1997 Centre Salif Keita
1997–1999 Marseille
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1999–2000 Marseille 6 (0)
2000–2002 Lorient 58 (1)
2002–2007 Lens 157 (19)
2007–2008 Sevilla 31 (4)
2008–2012 Barcelona 119 (16)
2012–2014 Dalian Aerbin 37 (10)
2014 Valencia 11 (1)
2014–2016 Roma 46 (3)
2016–2017 El Jaish 16 (6)
Total 481 (60)
National team
1998–2015 Mali 102 (25)
Honours
Men's football
Representing  Mali
Africa Cup of Nations
2012 Eguatorial Guinea-Gabon
2013 South Africa
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

He most notably played for Lens (five seasons) and Barcelona (four), winning 14 titles with the latter club after signing in 2008. He started his youth career in Mali and his professional career with Marseille. His career would take him to clubs in France, Spain, China, Italy and Qatar.

Keita represented Mali since the age of 18, appearing in seven Africa Cup of Nations tournaments and winning 102 caps.[2] He also held a French passport.

Club career

Marseille

Born in Bamako, Mali, Keita finished his football formation in France with Olympique de Marseille, joining the club at the age of 17. He played mainly for the reserve squad during his three-year spell.

Keita made his Ligue 1 debut for L'OM on 19 September 1999 in a 1–0 home win against Troyes AC, adding three games in the season's UEFA Champions League. In the summer of 2000, he left the Stade Vélodrome.

Lorient and Lens

Keita signed for FC Lorient in Ligue 2, being instrumental (37 games, one goal) as the team promoted to the top level in 2001. He appeared slightly less due to injury in the following season, which ended in immediate relegation, but brought the conquest of the Coupe de France, the club's first-ever; he played the full 90 minutes in the final against SC Bastia.[3]

In 2002, Keita joined fellow league side RC Lens, eventually becoming captain[4] and scoring a career-best 13 goals in the 2006–07 season – his fifth and last – helping Les Sang et Or to fifth position in the league and the last-16 in the UEFA Cup.

Sevilla

On 11 July 2007, Keita signed a four-year contract with Sevilla FC for a €4 million transfer fee, plus a 10–15% capital gain for the club if it sold the player above €4 million.[5][6] He appeared in both legs of that year's Supercopa de España, a 6–3 aggregate win against Real Madrid.[7]

Keita was an automatic first-choice for the Andalusians during 2007–08, helping the team to the fifth position in the league. On 3 November 2007 he scored from long-distance in a 2–0 home win also over Real Madrid,[8] and added three in nine matches in the Champions League, including one against Arsenal in a 3–1 group stage home victory which was the opposition's first loss of the campaign.[9]

Barcelona
Keita (middle) in action against Bayer Leverkusen.

On 26 May 2008, Keita agreed to a four-year deal with FC Barcelona who paid his €14 million buy-out clause (making Lens eligible to receive €1.3 million from Sevilla).[6] He became the first Malian player to ever represent the Catalans, and his new release clause was set at €90 million.[10]

Keita made his official debut for Barcelona in a Champions League qualifier against Poland's Wisła Kraków on 13 August 2008, a 4–0 home win.[11] He made his league debut against CD Numancia on the 31st, coming on as a substitute for Andrés Iniesta midway through the second half of a 0–1 away loss.[12]

Keita scored his first goal for the team on 16 November 2008, in a 2–0 win at Recreativo de Huelva.[13][14] The following week he added another, in a 1–1 home draw to Getafe CF;[15] he finished his first season at the Camp Nou with 46 official appearances as Barça won the treble, and played 20 minutes in the Champions League final, taking the place of Thierry Henry in the 2–0 triumph against Manchester United.[16]

On 25 October 2009, Keita scored his first career hat-trick, in a 6–1 home win against Real Zaragoza,[17] and contributed with 29 games – 23 starts – as Barcelona renewed its domestic supremacy. In the 2010–11 campaign he made more appearances than any other outfield player and, on 31 August, aged 31, signed a contract extension that would link him to the club until 2014.[18]

Dalian Aerbin

On 7 July 2012, Keita announced he would be leaving Barcelona after four seasons,[19] invoking a clause in his contract allowing him to leave the club even though he still had two years left. The following day, he signed a two-and-a-half-year deal with Chinese Super League side Dalian Aerbin FC, being reportedly paid €14 million per year.[20]

Valencia
Keita playing for Roma in 2014.

On 30 January 2014, Keita returned to Spain after signing with Valencia CF, with the 34-year-old agreeing to a six-month contract with the option for an additional year.[21] He made his debut for the Che on 16 February, replacing Paco Alcácer for the last 20 minutes of a 0–0 away draw against former club Sevilla.[22] On 13 March, midway through the first half of an away fixture against PFC Ludogorets Razgrad for the UEFA Europa League, he was sent off for a challenge on Roman Bezjak that resulted in a penalty kick, but his team eventually won it 3–0[23] and 4–0 on aggregate.

Keita scored Valencia's fastest-ever goal on 27 March 2014, netting after nine seconds at UD Almería.[24] He also had to leave before the end of the first half with an injury, as the hosts came from behind for a 2–2 draw.[25]

Roma

On 5 June 2014, Keita signed a one-year contract with Serie A club A.S. Roma.[26] He made his competitive debut in the opening day of the season, against ACF Fiorentina (2–0 win),[27] and scored his first goal on 9 November to help defeat Torino F.C. 3–0 also at the Stadio Olimpico.[28]

Keita agreed to a new one-year deal in the 2015 off-season.[29]

El Jaish

Keita retired at the age of 37, after one season in the Qatar Stars League with El Jaish SC.[30]

International career
Keita (#12, middle) lining up for Mali in 2008.

Keita helped Mali's under-20s finish third at the 1999 FIFA World Youth Championship in Nigeria, scoring the only goal[31] in the last match against Uruguay, and being named the tournament's best player. He made his senior debut for Mali on 9 April 2000, in a 2002 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Libya.[32] He wore the no.12 shirt as he represented the country in six Africa Cup of Nations tournaments: in the 2010 edition in Angola he scored twice, both goals coming in the 4–4 group stage draw against the hosts, who were leading 4–0 with 11 minutes to go;[33] Les Aigles, however, could not make it past the group stage. From 2007 to 2008, he scored an impressive 8 goals in 20 international matches from his midfield position.

Keita also participated in the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa, scoring in the 1–1 quarterfinal draw against the hosts as Mali eventually won the shootout.[34]

Personal life

Keita's uncle, Salif Keïta, was also a footballer. He played, amongst others, for Saint-Étienne, Marseille, Valencia and Sporting CP, and was once voted African Footballer of the Year.[35]

Keita married Zubaida Johnson, of Cape Verdean descent. On 12 May 2008, he became the father of a son, Mohammed, who was born in Seville, also father of Hanane born in barcelona, Ishana born in barcelona and zulaykah born in barcelona.[36]

Career statistics

Club
Sources:[37][38]
Club Season League Cup League Cup Continental Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Marseille 1999–2000 Ligue 1 60001031101
Lorient 2000–01 Ligue 2 3711010—391
2001–02 Ligue 1 2105131—292
Total 581614100683
Lens 2002–03 Ligue 1 282311070393
2003–04 220301060320
2004–05 3435131—425
2005–06 3533010131524
2006–07 381141101015313
Total 157191827136221824
Sevilla 2007–08 La Liga 3142020103457
Barcelona 2008–09 La Liga 29450—122466
2009–10 2961020120446
2010–11 3539220101566
2011–12 2633020111424
Total 119161826045418822
Dalian Aerbin 2012 Chinese Super League 12410——134
2013 25630——286
Total 371040——4110
Valencia 2013–14 La Liga 111——70181
Roma 2014–15 Serie A 26210—91363
2015–16 20100—30231
Total 46310—121594
El-Jaish 2016–17 Qatar Stars League 166——50216
Career total 481604962021151365378

International
Source:[2]
Mali
YearAppsGoals
199810
199900
200020
200141
2002113
200371
200482
200540
200630
200794
2008114
200950
201033
201131
2012102
2013113
201461
201540
Total10225
Scores and results list Mali's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Mali goal.
List of international goals scored by Seydou Keita
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition Ref.
1 25 December 2001 Stade Baréma Bocoum, Mopti, Mali  Ghana 1–1 1–1 Friendly
2 10 January 2002 Stade Abdoulaye Makoro Cissoko, Kayes, Mali  Zambia 1–1 1–1
3 19 January 2002 Stade du 26 Mars, Bamako, Mali  Liberia 1–1 1–1 2002 Africa Cup of Nations
4 13 October 2002  Seychelles 1–0 3–0 2004 Africa Cup of Nations qualification
5 10 October 2003 Estádio 24 de Setembro, Bissau, Guinea-Bissau  Guinea-Bissau 1–0 2–1 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification
6 18 August 2004 Stade Olympique Yves-du-Manoir, Colombes, France  DR Congo 1–0 3–0 Friendly
7 2–0
8 6 February 2007 Parc des Sports de la Courneuve, Saint-Denis, France  Lithuania 1–0 3–1
9 17 June 2007 Stade du 26 Mars, Bamako, Mali  Sierra Leone 2–0 6–0 2008 Africa Cup of Nations qualification
10 4–0
11 22 August 2007 Stade Déjérine, Paris, France  Burkina Faso 3–2 3–2 Friendly
12 1 June 2008 Stade du 26 Mars, Bamako, Mali  Congo 1–0 4–2 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification
13 4–1
14 22 June 2008  Sudan 2–0 3–0
15 3–0
16 10 January 2010 Estádio 11 de Novembro, Luanda, Angola  Angola 1–4 4–4 2010 Africa Cup of Nations
17 3–4
18 23 July 2019 Estádio Nacional do Chiazi, Cabinda, Angola  Malawi 1–0 3–1
19 11 November 2011 Stade Municipal, Saint-Leu-la-Forêt, France  Burkina Faso 1–0 1–1 Friendly
20 1 February 2012 Stade d'Angondjé, Libreville, Gabon  Botswana 2–1 2–1 2012 Africa Cup of Nations
21 27 May 2012 Stade Municipal, Saint-Leu-la-Forêt, France  Ivory Coast 1–2 1–2 Friendly
22 20 January 2013 Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth, South Africa  Niger 1–0 1–0 2013 Africa Cup of Nations
23 2 February 2013 Moses Mabhida Stadium, Durban, South Africa  South Africa 1–1 1–1
24 9 February 2013 Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth, South Africa  Ghana 2–1 3–1
25 19 November 2014 Stade du 26 Mars, Bamako, Mali  Algeria 1–0 2–0 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualification

Honours

Lorient

Lens

Sevilla

Barcelona

Mali

Individual

See also
  • List of men's footballers with 100 or more international caps

References
  1. "FIFA Club World Cup UAE 2009 presented by Toyota: List of players" (PDF). FIFA. 1 December 2009. p. 1. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 June 2019. Retrieved 27 March 2014.
  2. Mamrud, Roberto. "Seydou Keïta – Century of International Appearances". RSSSF. Retrieved 25 October 2017.
  3. "Bastia 0–1 Lorient". L'Équipe (in French). 11 May 2002. Archived from the original on 4 February 2012. Retrieved 28 July 2016.
  4. "Seydou Keita: "Si le RC Lens me rappelle, j'y retournerai les yeux fermés"" [Seydou Keita: «If RC Lens call me again, I'll return with my eyes closed»]. La Voix du Nord (in French). 1 December 2012. Retrieved 28 May 2019.
  5. Rubio, Andrés (11 July 2007). "El Sevilla ficha al centrocampista Keita" [Sevilla sign midfielder Keita] (in Spanish). Merca Fútbol. Retrieved 31 October 2011.
  6. "Arbitration CAS 2010/A/2098 Sevilla FC v. RC Lens, award of 29 November 2010" (PDF). Court of Arbitration for Sport. 29 November 2010. Retrieved 5 July 2017.
  7. "Spanish Supercup: Real Madrid – Sevilla (3–5)". Sevilla FC. 19 August 2007. Retrieved 28 May 2019.
  8. FC Sevilla 2–0 Real Madrid; ESPN Soccernet, 3 November 2007
  9. Unbeaten run ends; ESPN Soccernet, 27 November 2007
  10. Contract details; FC Barcelona, 26 May 2008
  11. Barcelona 4–0 Wisla Krakow; ESPN Soccernet, 13 August 2008
  12. Numancia 1–0 Barcelona; ESPN Soccernet, 31 August 2008
  13. More leaders than ever (0–2) Archived 31 July 2012 at archive.today; FC Barcelona, 16 November 2008
  14. Recreativo Huelva 0–2 Barcelona; ESPN Soccernet, 16 November 2008
  15. Barcelona 1–1 Getafe; ESPN Soccernet, 23 November 2008
  16. "Barcelona 2–0 Man Utd". BBC Sport. 27 May 2009. Retrieved 7 June 2018.
  17. Sensational Barca rediscover form; ESPN Soccernet, 25 October 2009
  18. "El Barça renueva a Keita hasta 2014" [Barça renew Keita until 2014] (in Spanish). UEFA. 31 August 2010. Retrieved 28 May 2019.
  19. Keita announces he won’t be at Barça next season; FC Barcelona, 7 July 2012
  20. Dalian Aerbin confirm Seydou Keita signing; Goal, 8 July 2012
  21. Comunicado oficial (Official announcement); Valencia CF, 30 January 2014 (in Spanish)
  22. "All square at Sevilla". ESPN FC. 16 February 2014. Archived from the original on 9 March 2014. Retrieved 28 March 2014.
  23. "Valencia cruise past Ludogrets". ESPN FC. 13 March 2014. Archived from the original on 19 March 2014. Retrieved 28 March 2014.
  24. "Keita entra en el podio de los goles más rápidos de la Liga" [Keita joins League's fastest goals podium]. Marca (in Spanish). 27 March 2014. Retrieved 28 March 2014.
  25. Melero, Delfín (27 March 2014). "Otro acto de fe en Almería" [Another act of faith in Almería]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 28 March 2014.
  26. "Seydou Ahmed Keita". A.S. Roma. 5 June 2014. Retrieved 6 June 2014.
  27. Luchini, Giacomo (30 August 2014). "Roma-Fiorentina 2–0, Nainggolan e Gervinho piegano i viola e rispondono alla Juve" [Roma-Fiorentina 2–0, Nainggolan and Gervinho submit purples and answer Juve]. La Repubblica (in Italian). Retrieved 28 May 2019.
  28. "Roma cruise to easy victory at home to Torino". ESPN FC. 9 November 2014. Retrieved 9 November 2014.
  29. "Club statement: Seydou Keita". A.S. Roma. 14 July 2015. Retrieved 18 July 2015.
  30. Olasoji, Tolu (4 April 2018). "Keita: Barcelona must respect AS Roma". Goal. Retrieved 1 February 2019.
  31. Seydou Keita – FIFA competition record (archived)
  32. "Match report: Libya – Mali". FIFA. 9 April 2000. Archived from the original on 5 February 2013. Retrieved 20 January 2013.
  33. Hosts stunned by fightback; ESPN Soccernet, 10 January 2010
  34. "South Africa 1–1 Mali". BBC Sport. 2 February 2013. Retrieved 5 February 2013.
  35. "Seydou Keita se ha forjado un nombre" [Seydou Keita has made a name for himself] (in Spanish). FIFA. 30 November 2007. Archived from the original on 1 December 2007. Retrieved 31 October 2011.
  36. Seydou Keita, Barcelona; Muslim Footballers, 26 July 2011
  37. "S. Kéita". Soccerway. Retrieved 23 June 2014.
  38. Seydou Keita at ESPN FC
  39. "Lens 3-1 Cluj (Aggregate: 4 - 2)". uefa.com. Archived from the original on 14 June 2007. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
  40. "2011 CAF Awards". Confederation of African Football. Archived from the original on 10 January 2015. Retrieved 12 January 2021.
  41. "CAF - CAF Awards - Previous Editions - 2011". CAF. Retrieved 9 December 2015.
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