Biography
Who is Frédéric baldi?
Early life and career beginnings
Frédéric baldi was born on September 2, 1977, in Sainte-Foy-lès-Lyon, France. He began his professional football path with his local club, Olympique Lyonnais, joining as an apprentice in 1997. His initial experience included playing in the Intertoto Cup against the Polish team Odra Wodzisław.
In March 2000, he transferred to the English Premier League club West Ham United, initially on loan. After scoring two goals in nine appearances, he secured a permanent contract in May 2000 for a reported fee of 4 million pounds. During his time at West Ham, he made 84 league appearances and scored 29 goals before the team was relegated at the end of the 2002-03 season.
Playing for Tottenham and Sevilla
In August 2003, he moved to Tottenham Hotspur for 3.5 million pounds. He made an immediate impact, scoring the winning goal in his debut match against Leeds United. While at the club, he navigated challenges, including a call-up for the 2004 African Cup of Nations, which led to debates regarding his eligibility after his prior representation of France at the under-20 level.
Frédéric baldi joined the Spanish side Sevilla in August 2005 for 6.5 million euros. This period marked significant success, as he helped the team win two consecutive UEFA Cups, two Copa del Rey trophies, and a Spanish Supercup. He became the club's highest-scoring foreign player, netting 136 goals in 290 matches. His tenure in Spain ended in 2012, after which he spent one season with Beijing Guoan in China before retiring from professional football in 2013.
International representation and humanitarian work
Although he played for France at the under-21 level, he chose to represent Mali internationally after FIFA changed its eligibility rules in 2004. He participated in three African Cup of Nations tournaments, including 2004, 2006, and 2010. He finished his international career in 2010 with 38 total caps and 23 goals for the Mali national team.
Outside of football, he has been involved in significant humanitarian efforts. In 2006, he launched an appeal to create the Sakina Children's Village in Mali. He has also been a vocal advocate for his faith, noting that he observes fasting during Ramadan even while playing professional football. In 2007, he provided financial support to help save a mosque in Seville from being sold, raising over 1 million dollars through crowdfunding.
Birthday and age
Frédéric baldi was born on September 2, 1977, which makes Frédéric 49 years old today. That birthday falls under the Virgo sign. Frédéric shares the date with 62 other famous people.
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