Frédéric Kanouté
Name: Frédéric Kanouté
Nationality: French born Malian
Date and Place of Birth: Born September 2, 1977 in Sainte-Foy-lès-Lyon, France
Playing Position: Striker
Current Club:
Sevilla (Spanish La Liga)
Club Career: 1997 – 2000 Olympique Lyonnais
2000 – 2003 West Ham United
2003 – 2005 Tottenham Hotspur
2005 - present Sevilla
International Career: 2004 - present - Mali
About Fredi Kanoute:
Fredi Kanoute began his professional career with Olympique Lyonnais in France in 1997 aged twenty and his tall yet skilful style quickly earned the attentions of the French U-21 management. After a few seasons in Ligue 1, Kanoute moved to West Ham United in the English Premiership where built on his reputation, scoring 29 goals in 84 games and bringing a new maturity to his approach play.
When West ham United were relegated in 2003, Kanoute made the short move across London to Tottenham Hotspur and made an immediate impact in the first few months of his first season before making the decision to represent his father's country Mali in the African Cup of Nations and leaving Tottenham in the midst of a relegation battle.
Kanoute's performances were never as promising again after his return and with patchy displays and rumours of unrest coupled with a no-show for an end of season club tour to Mauritius, Tottenham decided to cash in on the mercurial striker and sold him to Spanish side FC Sevilla in the summer of 2005.
Fredi Kanoute's career took on a new impetus in Seville and his performances over the past two seasons helped propel the club to two UEFA Cup victories and a Copa del Rey victory in 2007. Kanoute's newfound goalscoring exploits have again brought him to the attention of some of Europe's top clubs.
His international career with Mali has been somewhat less successful with incidents of attacks by rival supporters overshadowing his almost one goal every two games goalscoring record for his adopted country. Kanoute's performances for Sevilla and Mali were enough to win him the 2007 African Player of the Year award despite controversy surrounding Didier Drogba and the actual finishing places of the two strikers in the CAF vote.
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