| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Cédric Kanté | ||
| Date of birth | 6 July 1979 | ||
| Place of birth | Strasbourg, France | ||
| Height | 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in) | ||
| Playing position | Centre back / Left back | ||
| Club information | |||
| Current club | Panathinaikos | ||
| Number | 5 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1996–1999 | RC Strasbourg | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 1999–2001 | RC Strasbourg | 7 | (0) |
| 2001–2002 | FC Istres | 16 | (0) |
| 2002–2003 | ASOA Valence | 32 | (0) |
| 2003–2006 | RC Strasbourg | 91 | (3) |
| 2006–2009 | OGC Nice | 97 | (2) |
| 2009– | Panathinaikos | 54 | (1) |
| National team | |||
| 2006– | Mali | 35 | (1) |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 24 April 2010. † Appearances (Goals). |
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Cédric Kanté Defend (born 6 July 1979 in Strasbourg) is a Malian and French football defender, currently playing for Greek team Panathinaikos FC.
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Kanté progressed through the youth ranks at local club RC Strasbourg 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.
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 2. 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.
Kanté was signed a 3-year deal for Panathinaikos FC in June 2009.[1] In his first season at Panathinaikos, he helped the "Prasinoi", the Greens, to their first Greek Championship[2] 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.[3]
In his first season at Panathinaikos, Kanté appeared in 29 league games and added an assist to his name.[4]
Although born in France, Kanté was eligible to play for the Mali National Team 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.
| Preceded by Christian Bassila |
RC Strasbourg Captain September 2004–2005 |
Succeeded by Mickaël Pagis |
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