Kader Keita

Personal information
Full name	Abdel-Kader Keïta
Date of birth	6 August 1981 (1981-08-06) (age 28)
Place of birth	Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire
Height	1.84 m (6 ft 0 in)
Playing position	Winger, Attacking Midfielder, Striker
Club information
Current club	Galatasaray
Number	11
Youth career
1998–1999	Africa Sports
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
1999–2000	Africa Sports	23	(4)
2000–2001	Étoile du Sahel	22	(7)
2001–2002	Al Ain	19	(6)
2002–2005	Al-Sadd	71	(23)
2005–2007	Lille	63	(15)
2007–2009	Lyon	52	(5)
2009–	Galatasaray	15	(1)
National team‡
2000–	Côte d'Ivoire	53	(11)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 25 January 2010. † Appearances (Goals). ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 25 January 2010

Abdel-Kader Keïta (born 6 August 1981) is an Ivorian professional football player. Keïta plays as a winger for Galatasaray in the Turkish Super League and the Cote d'Ivoire national football team. He is a versatile player who can also play on the right and left wings in, which is where he was positioned while playing for Lille before signing for Lyon.

Like the Touré brothers, the Kalou brothers, and the Koné brothers, Keita is also part of a footballing family. He has an older brother called Fadel Keïta, who is a former Côte d'Ivoire international.

[edit] Club career

Keïta, also known as 'Popito', began his career at homeland club Africa Sports, before moving on to Tunisian Club Etoile du Sahel. Following spells in United Arab Emirates with Al Ain and Qatar with Al Sadd, he moved to France with Ligue 1 club OSC Lille in 2005.

[edit] Olympique Lyon

On May 31, 2007, Lyon chairman Jean-Michel Aulas revealed that the club had made bids for both Keïta and his fellow club-mate Mathieu Bodmer.^[1]

On June 14, 2007, Lyon officially announced that they would be unveiling Keïta and Bodmer to the media, the pair having already passed their medicals at the Stade Gerland.^[2] On June 16, 2007, Lyon confirmed the signing of Keïta from Lille for 18.5 million euro. Keïta was given the number 9 shirt.^[3][4] But due to the jersey change of Brazilian striker, Fred, from 11 to 9, Abdul has changed to number 32. But again he changed to number 23 after the departure of Jérémy Berthod.^[5]

[edit] Galatasaray

On 2 July 2009, Galatasaray officially announced that Keïta joined the Turkish club and signed a three year contract. He scored his first goal for Galatasaray in a qualification match for UEFA Europa cup against Macabbi Netenya in the 5th minute.^[6] On December 12, Keïta scored for Galatasaray in a 3-2 victory over Antalyaspor.

[edit] Career statistics

As of 25 January 2010.

[edit] International career

He has 52 caps for the national team, and was called up to the 2006 World Cup. Keïta did not make it into the Ivorian squad for the 2006 African Cup of Nations. However, he did win his place back for the World Cup at the expense of Stade Reims winger Siaka Tiéné.

Keïta was selected also for 2010 African Nations Cup and played three matches. He scored once against Algeria during the quarter-final match. Coming on as a substitute for Salomon Kalou, Keïta ran with it diagonally along the edge of the penalty area until he suddenly unleashed a 30-metre drive to the top left corner that gave Algeria’s Faouzi Chaouchi no chance. It seemed a worthy winner for the quarter-final tie, but within minutes Algeria were level again.^[7]

[edit] Goals for Senior National Team

#	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1	March 1, 2006	Valladolid, Spain	Spain	2-3	Lost	Friendly
2	January 25, 2008	Sekondi, Ghana	Benin	4-1	Won	2008 African Nations Cup
3	February 3, 2008	Sekondi, Ghana	Guinea	5-0	Won	2008 African Nations Cup
4	February 7, 2008	Kumasi, Ghana	Egypt	1-4	Lost	2008 African Nations Cup
5	January 24, 2010	Cabinda, Angola	Algeria	2-3	Lost	2010 African Nations Cup

[edit] Honours

Al-Ain FC

• UAE League : 2001/02
• Gulf Club Champions Cup : 2001

Al-Sadd Sports Club

• Qatar National First Division : 2004
• Emir of Qatar Cup : 2003, 2005
• Qatar Crown Prince Cup : 2003

Olympique Lyonnais

• Ligue 1 : 2007/08
• Coupe de France : 2007/08

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Abdul Kader Keita Fansite (Turkish)
• Abdul Kader Keïta at National-Football-Teams.com
• Profile at transfermarkt.de (German)
• Keita linked with AC Milan
• Keita linked with Man Utd and Liverpool
• Keita linked with Inter Milan
• Keita signs contract extension
• Keita is runner up for Ivorian Player of the Year award

Côte d'Ivoire squads v • d • e Côte d'Ivoire squad – 2006 Africa Cup of Nations Runners-up 1 Tizié • 2 Akalé • 3 Boka • 4 K. Touré • 5 Zokora • 6 Kouassi • 7 Faé • 8 Kalou • 9 A. Koné • 10 Yapi Yapo • 11 Drogba • 12 Méïté • 13 Zoro • 14 B. Koné • 15 Dindane • 16 Gnanhouan • 17 Domoraud • 18 Keïta • 19 Y. Touré • 20 Demel • 21 Eboué • 22 Romaric • 23 Barry • Coach: Michel v • d • e Côte d'Ivoire squad – 2006 FIFA World Cup 1 Tizié • 2 Akalé • 3 Boka • 4 K. Touré • 5 Zokora • 6 Kouassi • 7 Faé • 8 Kalou • 9 A. Koné • 10 Yapi Yapo • 11 Drogba • 12 Méïté • 13 Zoro • 14 B. Koné • 15 Dindane • 16 Gnanhouan • 17 Domoraud • 18 Keïta • 19 Y. Touré • 20 Demel • 21 Eboué • 22 Romaric • 23 Barry • Coach: Michel v • d • e Côte d'Ivoire squad – 2008 Africa Cup of Nations Fourth Place 1 Barry • 2 Djakpa • 3 Boka • 4 K. Touré • 5 Zokora • 6 Gohouri • 7 Faé • 8 S.Kalou • 9 A. Koné • 10 Gervinho • 11 Drogba • 12 Méïté • 13 Romaric • 14 B. Koné • 15 Dindane • 16 Loboué • 17 Tiéné • 18 Keïta • 19 Y. Touré • 20 Sanogo • 21 Eboué • 22 Zoro • 23 T. Koné • Coach: Gili v • d • e Côte d'Ivoire squad – 2010 Africa Cup of Nations 1 Barry • 2 Angoua • 3 Boka • 4 K. Touré • 5 Zokora • 6 Y. Touré • 7 Faé • 8 Kalou • 9 Tioté • 10 Gervinho • 11 Drogba • 12 Méïté • 13 Gosso • 14 B. Koné • 15 Dindane • 16 Zogbo • 17 Tiéné • 18 Keïta • 19 E. Koné • 20 Demel • 21 Eboué • 22 Bamba • 23 Angban • Coach: Halilhodžić