Souleymane Doukara

Souleymane Doukara
Personal information
Full nameSouleymane Doukara
Date of birth29 September 1991
Place of birthMeudon, France
Height1.93 m (6 ft 4 in)
Playing positionStriker / winger
Club information
Current team
Leeds United
Number29
Youth career
SCM Châtillon
CA Paris
Paris Université Club
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps†(Gls)†
2008–2011Rovigo75(11)
2011–2012Vibonese37(13)
2012–2014Catania13(0)
2013–2014→ Juve Stabia (loan)20(6)
2014–Leeds United24(5)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 15:40, 22 November 2014 (UTC).
† Appearances (Goals).

Souleymane 'Dudu' Doukara (born 29 September 1991 in Meudon) is a French footballer who plays for English Championship club Leeds United. He is a striker but can also play as a winger.

He is nicknamed Dudu, The Duke or Bloody Dukey [1][2]

Club career

Early career

He started his professional career during the 2008–09 season, playing for Rovigo Calcio in the Lega Pro Seconda Divisione.[3] Making his first team debut at the age of 16 he played seven games that season, without scoring goals. Doukara was scouted by AC Milan who had an option to sign him from Rovigo Calcio, he even played for AC Milan's youth team on a trial spell during a youth tournament in Milan, but Milan decided not to exercise their option to sign him.[1][4] His club participated in the 2009–10 Serie D season and Doukara had his first chance to play as a regular starter;[3] at the end of the championship he had made 36 appearances. His form earned him a trial spell at Grasshopper Club Zürich in the Swiss Super League but he was unable to earn a contract.

Prior to the 2011–12 Lega Pro season Doukara was transferred to Seconda Divisione club Vibonese, in which he played 37 out of 42 league matched, scoring 13 goals.

Catania

After impressing scouts in the Italian fourth tier, Doukara officially signed with Serie A outfit, Calcio Catania. He made his Serie A debut on the 16th of September 2012 when Doukara came on as a substitute for Alejandro Gómez against Fiorentina in a 2–0 loss after goals from Luca Toni and Stevan Jovetić.[5] Doukara primarily served as a back-up to Argentine international's Gonzalo Bergessio and Maxi Lopez, though he has made 12 Serie A appearances in his maiden top flight season.

Additionally, the player made 2 Coppa Italia appearances this season in Catania's quarter-final run. Doukara failed to score for Stadio Massimino outfit in his debut season at the club.

Juve Stabia loan

On 1 September 2013 Doukara played in the 3–0 defeat of Catania by Italian Serie A side Inter Milan. On 2 September, the last day of the transfer window, saw Doukara join Serie B side Juve Stabia on loan. Subsequently he scored six goals in Serie B in 20 games during the 2013/14 season. However his six goals weren't enough to keep Juve Stabia in the division as they were relegated, finishing at the bottom.

Leeds United

On 11 July 2014, it was confirmed by Leeds United owner Massimo Cellino that the club would sign Doukara on season-long loan with the option to sign Doukara on a permanent deal.[6] On 12 July, Doukara's signing to Leeds was confirmed on the clubs official Twitter page.[7][8] The loan fee was £500,000 with a price of £1.5 million agreed to make the transfer permanent.[9] On 1 August, Doukara was assigned the Leeds number 29 shirt for the 2014–15 season.[10] Doukara made his debut for Leeds on 9 August against Millwall.[11]

Doukara's first goal for Leeds United came on 12 August 2014, in a League Cup match against Accrington Stanley with fellow newcomer Gaetano Berardi getting the assist. He scored his second less than twenty minutes later to make it 2–0 to the home side.[12]

However on the 16 August, Doukara tore his ankle ligaments in the 1–0 victory over Middlesbrough. the injury would rule Doukara out for 4–5 weeks.[13][14]

On 1 September 2014, Doukara's loan deal was made permanent, signing a 3 year deal at the club.[15] On 16 September 2014 he scored his first league goal for Leeds and his third in all competitions against Bournemouth in a 3–1 win.[16] On 20 September, Doukara scored his 4th goal of the season and his first league goal at Elland Road in a 3–0 win over local rivals Huddersfield Town.[17] Doukara scored his 5th goal of the season in a 1–1 draw against Norwich City, with teammate Adryan providing an assist.[18] The same game saw Doukara pick up a suspension after receiving his 5th yellow card of the season.[19] Doukara returned from suspension and scored his 6th goal of the season against Blackpool F.C. in a 3-1 win on 8 November.[20]

International career

Born in Meudon, France, Doukara is also eligible to play for Senegal through both of his parents. On 5 April 2014, he declared himself wanting to play for the Senegal national side.[21]

Style of play

Doukara plays as a striker, but due to his strengths of pace, power and dribbling ability, he can also play as a winger.[8] Doukara revealed in a 2013 interview that his favourite player was Nicholas Anelka due to his style of play.[22]

Career statistics

As of 22 November 2014[23]
Club statistics
Club Season League National Cup League Cup Other Total
Division AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Leeds United 2014-15 Championship205101200227
Total 205101200227

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Souleymane Doukara: 1991 – France". Generazione Di Talenti. 7 January 2012. Retrieved 7 January 2012.
  2. ↑ "Vibo Valentia, Doukara: "I dedicate the goal to my family and to the fans"". TuttoLegaPro. 24 October 2011. Retrieved 24 October 2011.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Aic.football.it profile". Retrieved 27 September 2012.
  4. ↑ "Doukara show Gol, prayers and the myth Anelka". La Gazzetta Dello Sport. 30 December 2011. Retrieved 30 December 2011.
  5. ↑ "Fiorentina 2 – 0 Catania". Football Italia. 16 September 2012. Retrieved 16 September 2012.
  6. ↑ "Leeds United President Massimo Cellino on new signings, McCormack, Elland Road & buying a bus". BBC Sport. 11 July 2014. Retrieved 11 July 2014.
  7. ↑ "COMPLETE: We can now confirm that Souleymane Doukara will join the club on a season-long loan with a view to a permanent deal.". Leeds United Official Twitter Page. 12 July 2014. Retrieved 12 July 2014.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 "STRIKER JOINS ON LOAN: Souleymane Doukara joins up for the season...". Leeds United Official Site. 12 July 2014. Retrieved 12 July 2014.
  9. ↑ Laurie Whitwell (5 August 2014). "Leeds United don't even own their chairs: owner Massimo Cellino on the mess to have engulfed Elland Road". Daily Mail. Retrieved 6 August 2014.
  10. ↑ "SQUAD NUMBERS RELEASED". Leeds United. 1 August 2014. Retrieved 1 August 2014.
  11. ↑ "Millwall v Leeds". BBC Sport. Retrieved 9 August 2014.
  12. ↑ "Leeds V Accrington". Leeds United. Retrieved 12 August 2014.
  13. ↑ "Leeds 1 Middlesbrough 0". BBC Sport. 16 August 2014. Retrieved 16 August 2014.
  14. ↑ "DEBUTANT SHARP BLUNTS BORO". Leeds United Official Site. Retrieved 16 August 2014.
  15. ↑ "Doukara commits to United". Leeds United F.C. 1 September 2014. Retrieved 2 September 2014.
  16. ↑ "Bournemouth 1 – 3 Leeds". BBC Sport. 16 September 2014. Retrieved 16 September 2014.
  17. ↑ "UNITED TAKE DERBY DAY SPOILS". Leeds United Official Site. 20 September 2014.
  18. ↑ "UNITED EARN AWAY POINT". Leeds United Official Site. 21 October 2014. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
  19. ↑ "DOUKARA ABSENCE OPENS DOOR". Leeds United Official Site. 24 October 2014. Retrieved 24 October 2014.
  20. ↑ "UNITED TOO STRONG FOR BLACKPOOL". Leeds United Official Site. 8 November 2014. Retrieved 8 November 2014.
  21. ↑ "EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH SOULEYMANE DOUKARA: CHÂTILLON JUVE STABIA". Calcio Mio. 5 April 2014. Retrieved 5 April 2014.
  22. ↑ "Interview with ... Souleymane Doukara: "The Serie A is the top"". Foot Mercato. 4 January 2013. Retrieved 4 January 2013.
  23. ↑ "Souleymane Doukara stats". Soccerbase. Retrieved 9 November 2014.

External links