Biography
Who is Seydou Keita?
Early career and professional start
Seydou Keita began his football path in Mali before moving to France to complete his training. He joined Olympique de Marseille at age 17 and played primarily for their reserve squad. His first Ligue 1 appearance occurred in September 1999 during a match against Troyes AC.
Following his time at Marseille, he moved to Lorient in 2001. He helped the club earn promotion to the top flight by playing 37 games. During the subsequent season, he won the Coupe de France by playing the full 90 minutes in the final against SC Bastia.
Success at Lens and Sevilla
In 2002, he transferred to Lens, where he eventually served as team captain. He achieved a personal best of 13 goals during the 2006-07 season. This performance helped the club secure a fifth-place league finish and reach the UEFA Cup last-16.
A move to Sevilla FC in July 2007 saw him participate in a Supercopa de España victory against Real Madrid. He was a regular starter for the Andalusian side throughout the 2007-08 season, helping them finish fifth in their league.
Major achievements with Barcelona
Seydou Keita joined FC Barcelona in May 2008 after his buyout clause was met. He became the first player from Mali to represent the Catalan club. During his tenure, he contributed to winning 14 different titles, including the UEFA Champions League and multiple La Liga trophies.
He played a role in the club's domestic dominance and participated in the 2008-09 treble-winning season. In the 2010-11 campaign, he made more appearances than any other outfield player for the team. He also scored his first career hat-trick against Real Zaragoza in 2009.
Later clubs and international career
After leaving Spain, he played for Dalian Aerbin in China and later returned to Spain to join Valencia. At Valencia, he scored a goal only nine seconds into a match against Almería. He also had a period playing for Roma in Italy before moving to El Jaish in Qatar.
On the international stage, Seydou Keita represented the Mali national team for many years. He earned 102 caps and scored 25 goals for his country. He was a key player in several Africa Cup of Nations tournaments and won the Golden Ball at the 1999 FIFA World Youth Championship.
Personal life and family
The footballer is the nephew of Salif Keita, who was also a professional player for clubs like Marseille and Valencia. Seydou married Zubaida Johnson, who is of Cape Verdean descent. They have several children, including a son named Mohammed who was born in Seville.
His family life includes children named Hanane, Ishana, and Zulaykah, all of whom were born in Barcelona. He officially ended his professional playing career after a season with El Jaish at age 37.
Birthday and age
Seydou Keita was born on January 16, 1980, which makes Seydou 46 years old today. That birthday falls under the Capricorn sign. Seydou shares the date with 26 other famous people.
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