Biography
Who is Bakary Sako?
Early life and career beginnings
Bakary Sako was born in Ivry-sur-Seine, Mali, on April 26, 1988. He began his youth career at the French club Châteauroux, where he joined the academy system in 2001. His professional debut occurred on the final day of the 2005-06 Ligue 2 season, when he came on as a substitute during a match against Bastia. Following this appearance, he signed his first professional contract with the club.
During his early years with Châteauroux, he was assigned the number 26 shirt. While he spent much of the following two seasons making substitute appearances, he scored his first league goal in a 2007-08 match against Brest. By the 2008-09 season, he had established himself as a key member of the squad, playing a role in helping the team avoid relegation.
Move to Saint-Etienne and English football
In July 2009, Sako transferred to the Ligue 1 club Saint-Etienne, signing a four-year agreement. He remained there until August 2012, when he moved to England to join the Championship side Wolverhampton Wanderers. His debut for his new club came in a League Cup match against Northampton Town, where he scored a goal. He continued this scoring form into his league debut against Cardiff.
His time at Wolverhampton Wanderers proved productive, as he adapted to the English style of play. Despite a hamstring injury in March 2013 that sidelined him for part of the season, he returned to help the club win the League One title in 2013-14. During this period, he was named in the PFA Team of the Year. He also earned a spot in the Championship PFA Team of the Year for the 2014-15 season.
Crystal Palace and later career
In August 2015, Sako joined the Premier League side Crystal Palace on a three-year contract. He scored his first goal for the club during a match against Aston Villa. Shortly after, he contributed to a win against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. Throughout his time at Crystal Palace, he also competed in the EFL Cup and the FA Cup, scoring goals against opponents like Watford, Burnley, and Leicester City.
After leaving Crystal Palace, he had a brief stint with West Bromwich Albion in 2018 before returning to Crystal Palace on a short-term contract in 2019. His career also included periods with other international clubs, including a return to Saint-Etienne in late 2021. He has also been associated with teams like Denizlispor and Pafos during his professional path.
International play for Mali
Before representing Mali, Sako played for French youth squads, including the under-18 and under-21 teams. He especially participated in the 2007 European Under-19 Championship and the 2009 Toulon Tournament. He was called up to the senior Malian national team for the first time in March 2014 for a friendly match against Senegal.
He scored his first international goal for Mali against Guinea in May 2014. Later that year, he scored his first goal in competitive international play during an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Malawi. He was part of the Mali squad for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations held in Equatorial Guinea, where he played in matches against Cameroon and Ivory Coast, scoring a goal against the latter.
Birthday and age
Bakary Sako was born on April 26, 1988, which makes Bakary 38 years old today. That birthday falls under the Taurus sign. Bakary shares the date with 62 other famous people.
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