Morike Sako

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Personal information
Morike Sako
Full name	Morike Sako
Date of birth	November 17, 1981 (1981-11-17) (age 26)
Place of birth	Paris, France
Height	6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
Playing position	Midfielder / Forward
Club information
Current club	FC St. Pauli
Number	26
Youth clubs
	US D'Ivry
Senior clubs¹
Years	Club	App (Gls)*
?-2004 2004-2005 2005-2006 2006-2007 2007-	US D'Ivry SR Delémont Torquay United Rochdale FC St. Pauli	25 (3) 20 (3) 14 (2)
¹ Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of June 8, 2007. * Appearances (Goals)

Morike Sako (born 17 November 1981 in Paris) is a very tall French professional football player. He currently plays for FC St. Pauli in Hamburg, Germany after being released by Rochdale in December, 2006. He can play as either a striker or a midfielder - his height being used to win headers and flick-ons.

Sako began his career in France with US Ivry, leaving in 2004 to join Swiss side SR Delémont. He joined Torquay United in July 2005, one of three French players, the others being Mamadoli Sow and Carl Priso signed at the same time by then Torquay manager Leroy Rosenior.^[1] Sako was the most successful and popular of the three, playing 27 times and scoring three goals the following season, his league debut coming in a 3-0 defeat away to Mansfield Town on 13 August, 2005. He was one of six players transfer-listed in October 2005 as Torquay struggled in the league,^[2] but regained his place in the side and was taken off the list in January 2006 after Rosenior had been replaced by John Cornforth.^[3] Torquay chairman Mike Bateson turned down an offer for Sako on the transfer deadline day at the end of that month.^[4] He was surprisingly released by new manager Ian Atkins at the end of the season, despite playing in some crucial games as Torquay successfully fought off relegation to the Nationwide Conference.

He had trials with a number of clubs after being released from Torquay, including League One clubsBristol City^[5] and Blackpool. But in August 2006 he signed for League Two club Rochdale having impressed manager Steve Parkin.^[6]

At the end of December 2006, Sako left Rochdale after being told his contract would not be renewed. He played twenty times for the club, scoring three goals.

He was on then trial at League One club, AFC Bournemouth. In January, 2007 he signed a short term contract until the end of the 2006-07 season to play for German Regionalliga club FC St. Pauli.^[7] He later signed a contract with St. Pauli until the end of the 2008-09 season.