Lacina Traoré

Lacina Traoré

Traoré training with Anzhi Makhachkala in 2012.
Personal information
Full name Lacina Traoré[1]
Date of birth (1990-08-20) 20 August 1990
Place of birth Abidjan, Ivory Coast
Height 2.03 m (6 ft 8 in)
Playing position Striker
Club information
Current team
 Monaco
Number 19
Youth career
2006–2007 ASEC Mimosas
Senior career*
Years Team Apps† (Gls)†
2007–2008 Stade d'Abidjan 47 (18)
2008–2011 CFR Cluj 44 (14)
2011–2012 Kuban Krasnodar 38 (18)
2012–2014 Anzhi Makhachkala 29 (13)
2014– Monaco 17 (3)
2014 → Everton (loan) 1 (0)
2015 Monaco B 1 (1)
National team‡
2011 Côte d'Ivoire U23 5 (3)
2012– Côte d'Ivoire 8 (4)

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 05:21, 25 December 2015 (UTC).
† Appearances (goals)

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 14:49, 4 December 2014 (UTC)

Lacina Traoré (born 20 August 1990) is an Ivorian professional footballer who plays as a striker for Ligue 1 club AS Monaco. He is nicknamed the “Gentle Giant”, due to his 6 ft 8in frame,[2] which puts him among the tallest professional footballers.

Club career

Early career

Traoré playing for Kuban Krasnodar.

Growing up in Abidjan, Ivory Coast,[3] Traoré began his career with Jean-Marc Guillou's football school ASEC Mimosas, before joining Stade d'Abidjan in 2006.[4] He played in Abidjan until January 2008, when he joined the Romanian club CFR Cluj.[5]

CFR Cluj

Traoré made his European debut with CFR, scoring a second goal in the first match of the 2009–10 UEFA Europa League group stage, against Copenhagen. He then scored another goal in the 3–2 home loss against Sparta Prague.[6]

The following season for Traoré continued smoothly for him at CFR Cluj while he was constantly in the first squad as a full-time regular. Lacina Traoré scored his first league goal of the season and set up Cristian Bud in a match against Astra Giurgiu on 13 August 2010. Traoré received his first red card of his career after a brutal foul in the second half as Cluj lost 3–0 against CSMS Iași on 20 August 2010. On 15 November 2010, he scored his first brace of his career in a 3–0 win over Gloria Bistrița. In the 2010–11 UEFA Champions League group stage, Traoré scored one goal in the 2–1 win against Basel and one goal in the 1–1 draw against Roma (after hitting the post twice in Italy against the same team in the first match), both matches in the group phase and home.[6]

Kuban Krasnodar

Traoré playing for Anzhi in 2012

In February 2011, Traoré transferred to Kuban Krasnodar in the Russian Premier League for a reported fee of €6 million.[7] In the opening game of the season on 13 March 2011, Traoré made his debut, coming on as a substitute, in a 2–0 loss against Rubin Kazan. On 2 April 2011, Traoré scored his first league goal of the season, followed up by setting up a goal for Vladislav Kulik in a 3–1 win over Spartak Moscow. After the match, Traoré says he dedicated his first goal to the club's supporters.[8] Traoré then scored his first brace in Russian Football and set up a goal for Gheorghe Bucur in a 3–2 win over Amkar Perm.[9]

By May, Traoré was voted player of the month by the club for his recent good performance.[10] His further good performance earned him player of month in September[11] and November.[12] In his first season at Kuban Krasnodar, Traoré made thirty-nine appearances and scored eighteen times in all competitions.

At the start of his football career in Russia, Traoré was compared to his compatriot striker Seydou Doumbia.[13]

Anzhi Makhachkala

Traoré training for the national team before his debut.

On 29 June 2012, Anzhi reported that they had signed Lacina Traoré for an undisclosed fee.[14] Media reports estimated the transfer fee to be around €18 million.[15] Upon joining the club, Traoré was given number 19 shirt[16] and aimed to make the club very successful in the near future.[17]

Traoré scored his first goal for the club against former club Kuban Krasnodar on 22 July, scoring the winner for Anzhi in the 43rd minute.[18] In Anzhi's first European campaign in nine years, the club played its first match in the qualification round against AZ and scored in a 1–0. He would then score another in the second leg and the club would eventually advanced to the Group Stage after a 5–0 win. He scored another goal, in Anzhi's 1–0 defeat of Liverpool on 8 November in a Europa League group stage game.[19] In his first season at Anzhi, Traoré would score seventeen goals in thirty-eight appearance in all competitions. Russian's newspaper Sport Express named Traoré as the most outstanding player at Anzhi in his first season.[20]

In his second season at Anzhi, Traoré started his season very well when he scored in a 1-1 draw against Lokomotiv Moscow.[21] However, the announcement was marred with restructuring at business level, which lead Anzhi chose to transfer list their whole squad, including recent signing Traoré.[22] To add an insult to an injury, Traoré have his own concern when he suffered injuries.[23][24]

Monaco

On 4 January 2014, Traoré signed a four-and-a-half-year contract with Ligue 1 side Monaco.[25][26] The fee is said to be around $14 million. Traoré also have previous interests with the club in the last summer transfer window.[27] Monaco was planning to sign Traoré and then loan him back to Anzhi.[28]

Loan to Everton

After joining Monaco, West Ham United battled it out with other clubs to sign Traoré.[29] Instead, Traoré joined Everton on loan on 24 January 2014 until the end of the 2013–14 Premier League season[30] after his work permit was granted[31] and given the number 28 shirt.[32] He scored his first Everton goal on his debut on 16 February, the opener in a 3-1 FA Cup win over Swansea City.[33] Traoré injured his hamstring in the warm-up for the game against Chelsea on 22 February 2014,[34] and was ruled out until the final game of the season where he made his only league appearance as an injury time substitute against Hull City.[35]

Return to Monaco

After a disastrous spell at Everton, Traoré was given a chance in the first team by new manager Leonardo Jardim after being recalled ahead of the new season.[36] However, he received a set back when he suffered a hamstring injury that caused him to miss the first nine matches at the start of the season.[37] Manager Jardim made comment about Traoré quoting: "He was wounded. He will return. I trust him."[38] Following his recovery, Traoré made his Monaco debut, where he came on as a substitute for Anthony Martial in the 64th minute, in a 2–0 win over Evian on 17 October 2014.[39] Traoré scored his first Monaco goal on 9 November, in a 1–1 draw against Saint-Étienne.[40]

On 3 January 2016, when Monaco hosted seventh-tier Saint-Jean Beaulieu in the last 64 of the Coupe de France, Traoré scored four goals in an eventual 10–2 victory, despite being sent off at half time.[41]

International career

2011 CAF U-23 Championship

Traoré was involved in Ivory Coast's successful 2011 CAF U-23 Championship qualification campaign. Traoré scored against Liberia U23 in a 4-0 win. He was also named in the Ivory Coast squad for the final stage of the tournament, which acted as CAF's qualification for the Summer Olympics football tournament.[42] Ivory Coast did not fare too well in the competition, finishing third in the Group stage behind Egypt and Gabon. Traoré scored a consolation goal against Gabon in a 3-1 loss.[43]

2013 CAF Africa Cup of Nations

Traoré was selected in the final squad for the Ivorians, playing in two games. He played for 68 minutes versus Tunisia before he was replaced by Didier Drogba and he had a 7-minute cameo versus Nigeria in the quarter final stage which ended the Ivorians' campaign following a 2-1 loss.[44][45]

At the end of the 2013-14 season, Traoré was initially featured as part of the country's World Cup squad, but was then left out after the national team's manager made his decision to include the final squad.[46]

Career statistics

As of match played 4 January 2016.[47]
Club performance League Cup Other[48] Continental Total
Season Club League Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
2008–09CFR ClujLiga I61 --61
2009–1025632-823610
2010–11137101062219
2011–12Kuban KrasnodarRFPL381810--3918
2012–13Anzhi Makhachkala241230-1263918
2013–145100-2071
2013–14Everton (loan) Premier League1011--21
2014–15AS MonacoLigue 16100002071
2015–16AS MonacoLigue 1112250062199
Career total 1284811810361217668

Personal life

Traoré is a Muslim.[49]

Honours

CFR Cluj
Ivory Coast

References

  1. ↑ "List of Players" (PDF). Confederation of African Football (CAF). Retrieved 24 January 2013.
  2. ↑ http://talksport.com/magazine/features/121113/free-scoring-striker-solve-liverpools-attacking-crisis-185209
  3. ↑ "Traore became a player, "Kuban"". Official Site of FC "Kuban". 12 February 2011. Retrieved 19 December 2014.
  4. ↑ International Football Management. Ifm-ci.com. Retrieved on 12 July 2012.
  5. ↑ Romanian Soccer Profile. Romaniansoccer.ro (20 May 1990). Retrieved on 12 July 2012.
  6. 1 2 matches of Lacina Traoré on. Soccerway.com. Retrieved on 12 July 2012.
  7. ↑ CFR Cluj and Kuban Krasnodar agreed for the transfer of Lacina Traoré (Romanian). Cfr1907.ro (11 August 2011). Retrieved on 12 July 2012.
  8. ↑ "Траоре: свой первый гол я посвящаю болельщикам" (in Russian). Championat.ru. 3 April 2011. Retrieved 19 December 2014.
  9. ↑ "Траоре: это очень большая победа для нас" (in Russian). Championat.ru. 11 June 2011. Retrieved 19 December 2014.
  10. ↑ ЛУЧШИМ В МАЕ СТАЛ ЛАСИНА ТРАОРЕ (in Russian). Official site of FC Kuban. 1 June 2011. Archived from the original on 19 December 2014. Retrieved 30 November 2012.
  11. ↑ "Траоре признан лучшим игроком "Кубани" в сентябре" (in Russian). Championat.ru. 3 October 2011. Retrieved 19 December 2014.
  12. ↑ "Траоре признан лучшим игроком "Кубани" в ноябре" (in Russian). Championat.ru. 3 December 2011. Retrieved 19 December 2014.
  13. ↑ "Л. Траоре: пока рановато для сравнений с Думбия" (in Russian). Championat.ru. 8 July 2011. Retrieved 19 December 2014.
  14. ↑ "Анжи" и "Кубань" договорились о переходе Траоре (in Russian). fc-anji.ru. 29 June 2012.
  15. ↑ "2-meter striker Anzhi'ye". Haber Monitor. 30 June 2012.
  16. ↑ "Траоре будет играть за "Анжи" под номером 19" (in Russian). Championat.ru. 30 June 2012. Retrieved 19 December 2014.
  17. ↑ "Траоре: сделаю всё возможное, чтобы этот год для "Анжи" был очень успешным" (in Russian). Championat.ru. 30 June 2012. Retrieved 19 December 2014.
  18. ↑ "Anzhi Makhac 2 – 1 Kuban Krasnodar". EPSNFC. 22 July 2012.
  19. ↑ "Anzhi blanks Liverpool to top Group A". ESPNFC. 8 November 2012.
  20. ↑ "Траоре: в "Анжи" сильный состав, есть выдающиеся игроки" (in Russian). Championat.ru. 31 May 2013. Retrieved 19 December 2014.
  21. ↑ ""Анжи" и "Локомотив" сыграли вничью, Это'О в концовке не реализовал пенальти" (in Russian). Championat.ru. 14 July 2013. Retrieved 19 December 2014.
  22. ↑ "Tottenham and Chelsea transfer target Willian poised for bargain move as Anzhi slash budget". Daily Mirror. 7 August 2013. Retrieved 20 December 2014.
  23. ↑ "Нападающий "Анжи" Траоре выбыл из строя на неопределённый срок" (in Russian). Championat.ru. 16 July 2013. Retrieved 19 December 2014.
  24. ↑ "Нападающий "Анжи" Траоре выбыл из строя на четыре недели" (in Russian). Championat.ru. 23 October 2013. Retrieved 19 December 2014.
  25. ↑ "Lacina Traoré nouvelle recrue de l'AS Monaco FC" (in French). http://www.asm-fc.com/. Retrieved 4 January 2014. External link in |publisher= (help)
  26. ↑ "Lacina Traore to Monaco FC". http://fc-anji.ru/news/en/. Retrieved 4 January 2014. External link in |publisher= (help)
  27. ↑ "Нападающий "Анжи" Траоре находится в сфере интересов "Монако"" (in Russian). Championat.ru. 13 May 2013. Retrieved 19 December 2014.
  28. ↑ ""Монако" может отдать Траоре в аренду российскому клубу до окончания сезона" (in Russian). Championat.ru. 21 December 2013. Retrieved 19 December 2014.
  29. ↑ "Transfer News: West Ham keen on loan deal for Monaco striker Lacina Traore". Sky Sports. 6 January 2014. Retrieved 19 December 2014.
  30. ↑ Clark, Adam. "Everton Seal Traore Loan". evertonfc.com. Retrieved 24 January 2014.
  31. ↑ "Premier League: Everton obtain work permit for Lacina Traore". Sky Sports. 21 January 2014. Retrieved 19 December 2014.
  32. ↑ "Траоре будет выступать за "Эвертон" под номером 28" (in Russian). Championat.ru. 27 January 2014. Retrieved 19 December 2014.
  33. ↑ Harris, Daniel (16 February 2014). "Everton v Swansea City – as it happened". The Guardian. Retrieved 16 February 2014.
  34. ↑ "Everton striker Lacina Traore set for spell on sidelines with hamstring injury". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 27 February 2014.
  35. ↑ "Hull City 0–2 Everton". BBC Sport. Retrieved 19 December 2014.
  36. ↑ ""Монако" может расстаться с Траоре" (in Russian). Championat.ru. 10 July 2014. Retrieved 19 December 2014.
  37. ↑ "Ligue 1 Monaco Raggi suspendu, Falcao OK" (in French). L'Equipe. 9 August 2014. Retrieved 19 December 2014.
  38. ↑ "Ligue 1 - Monaco Lacina Traoré, enfin le grand jour ?" (in French). France Football. 17 October 2014. Retrieved 19 December 2014.
  39. ↑ "Monaco 2-0 Evian: Jardim's men continue resurgence". Goal.com. 17 October 2014. Retrieved 19 December 2014.
  40. ↑ "Ligue 1 13e j. Saint-Etienne et Monaco dos-à-dos" (in French). L'Equipe. 9 November 2014. Retrieved 19 December 2014.
  41. ↑ "Monaco 10-2 JS St Jean Beaulieu". 3 January 2016. Retrieved 3 January 2016.
  42. ↑ "Траоре: меня пригласили в олимпийскую сборную Кот-д’Ивуара" (in Russian). Championat.com. 28 May 2011. Retrieved 19 December 2014.
  43. ↑ "L'Egypte et le Gabon passent". footafrica365.fr. 4 December 2011. Retrieved 25 January 2014.
  44. ↑ "CÔTE D'IVOIRE VS. TUNISIA 3 - 0". soccerway. 26 January 2013. Retrieved 25 January 2014.
  45. ↑ "CÔTE D'IVOIRE VS. NIGERIA 2 - 1". soccerway. 3 February 2013. Retrieved 25 January 2014.
  46. ↑ "World Cup: Lacina Traore and Seydou Doumbia left out of Ivory Coast squad". Sky Sports. 2 June 2014. Retrieved 19 December 2014.
  47. ↑ "L. Traoré". Soccerway. Retrieved 4 January 2016.
  48. ↑ includes League Cup & Supercup matches
  49. ↑ "Ласина Траоре: "Готов пересесть на "приору""". Anzhi Makhachkala Official Website. 1 July 2012. Archived from the original on 19 December 2014. Retrieved 19 December 2014.
  50. ↑ http://www.romaniansoccer.ro/players/2030/lacina-traore.htm
  51. ↑ "Announcement" (in Romanian). CFR Cluj. Retrieved 14 June 2009.
  52. ↑ "Announcement" (in Romanian). CFR Cluj. Retrieved 27 July 2009.
  53. ↑ http://www.cafonline.com/en-us/competitions/orangeafricacupofnations,equatorialguinea2015/MatchDetails?MatchId=aVqWSxVaaaFmAlUW9LDlUmnWstfXXsCXBZk8lSbTv9PuSsxabr%2bIsbZ7QLoYXb0L

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