Alassane També

Alassane També (born January 26, 1992 in Villepinte) is a French footballer who plays for Italian club Genoa. He primarily plays as a central defender, then mostly plays as a right-back and is described as the classic example of a modern full-back who is renowned for his pace, athleticism, and determination offering a genuine attacking outlet down the right side of the field.

Club career

Early career

També started playing football in the streets of Villepinte, city of Paris Île-de-France region. He developed many qualities required in football and then started his youth football career playing for his hometown club Villepinte Football Club. After defending the colours of Villepinte FC he joined PSG aged of 11. Years after years in PSG academy he established himself as a leader of his generation being captain from U11 until U17 having team mate such as Chris Mavinga, Loïck Landre and Gianelli Imbula.

Paris Saint-Germain

During the season 2008/2009 Alassane També signed aged of 17 a three-year professional deal with PSG and became at the time the youngest player to sign a professional contract for PSG. També said "It means a lot for me to sign my first contract with Paris Saint-Germain. It's also great that the club is looking after their youth players. To sign at just 17 years of age a pro contract is simply fantastic, my dream came true but it's only the start for me. I have to keep on working and continue my development."^[1] Alassane També played over than 30 games with the reserve team, despite training with the first team he only played friendlies and the first team manager Antoine Kombouaré finally picked him up with the first team squad for the Ligue 1 home game against Stade Brestois 29. With the arriving of Qatar Investment Authority with Nasser Al-Khelaifi appointed as chairman, the club dimension changed and established world class player arrived which made almost impossible for També the chances to play more official games with the first team. He failed to make a third appearance for PSG and in January 2012 També left the club for Belgian side KV Kortrijk.^[2]

KV Kortrijk

També made his debut for KV Kortrijk on 4 February 2012 which finished 0-0 with També playing the full 90 minutes. His second game for Kortrijk came in a 2-2 draw against Mons and yet again, També played the full 90 minutes. He played and started most of the games during that season helping the team to reach the 2012 Belgian Cup Final against Lokeren in a 1-0 defeat in King Baudouin Stadium.KV Kortrijk managed to make it to the play off where També also played all the games and got stopped by an ankle injury against Royal Standard de Liège which put him off the pitch for two month. Despite the injury at the end, Alassane's first season at the club remain positive. The season 2012/2013 started very well for També, he played all the games of the Belgian Pro League early in the season and then slowly started on the bench. He made few appearances during the season and failed to regain the manager's confidence. 2013/2014 started like it ends for També, and the situation became worst when he wasn't making any appearances with the first team despite be in the squad. He then requested to leave the club to get more time of play.

També joined Royal Antwerp on January 2014 for a 6-month loan.

Royal Antwerp F.C.

Alassane joined Royal Antwerp on loan requested by the former Chelsea and Netherland legend Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink. The Dutchman now manager at the club played Alassane every games of the second part of the season and made of Alassane one of his main player saying : "Alassane is a fantastic player, very professional and dedicated to his football. A real fighter on the pitch that always fight for his mates". Despite his good personal performances, the club failed to qualify for the promotion's play off finishing at the 7th place. Alassane's loan finished at the end of May and then he returned to KV Kortrijk where the manager Hein Vanhaezebrouck left replaced by his assistant Yves Vanderhaeghe.

International

Alassane També started his international career with France national under-16 football team. He represented his country in all youth categories from France national under-16 football team to France national under-20 football team. His last cap was a 1-0 victory against Israel in 2011 with the France national under-20 football team. He shared the France national jersey with Ishak Belfodil, Alexandre Lacazette, Loïck Landre all part of the generation 1992. He is eligible to play for France or Mali at international level.

In September 2014 he was called up to play for Mali and accepted to represent the country at international level.

References