Ibrahima Bakayoko

Ibrahima Bakayoko

Personal information
Full name	Ibrahima Bakayoko Sela
Date of birth	December 31, 1976 (1976-12-31)
Place of birth	Séguéla, Côte d'Ivoire
Height	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Playing position	Striker
Club information
Current club	PAS Giannina
Youth career
1991–1993	Yani Sports
1993–1994	Alliance Renaissance
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
1994–1995	Stade d'Abidjan	64	(12)
1995–1998	Montpellier	76	(25)
1998–1999	Everton	23	(4)
1999–2003	Marseille	115	(34)
2003–2004	Osasuna	26	(4)
2004–2005	FC Istres	15	(3)
2005–2007	Livorno	37	(5)
2007	Messina	6	(1)
2007–2008	Larissa	30	(3)
2008–2009	PAOK	32	(8)
2009–	PAS Giannina	71	(29)
National team
1996–2002	Côte d'Ivoire	45	(30)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 29 July 2009. † Appearances (Goals).

Ibrahima Bakayoko (born December 31, 1976 in Séguéla) is an Ivorian footballer who plays as a striker for PAS Giannina in the Greek Superleague.

Club career

Playing in France with Montpellier Hérault Sport Club, Bakayoko was rated highly enough by then Everton manager Walter Smith that Smith was willing to pay £4.5m for Bakayoko's services in October 1998. However, he failed to impress in the 23 games he played, only finding the net 4 times; Everton fans referred to Bakayoko affectionately as 'Baka-joke-o' due to his appalling performance on the football field and also "Back O the Echo" after the local daily newspaper. He was sold for £4m in June 1999 to Olympique de Marseille.

A spell in Spain with Osasuna followed, before Bakayoko returned for a third spell in France, this time representing FC Istres, before he moved over the Alps to Italy, first with Livorno and then with Messina. On January 28, 2007 he played his first Serie A match for Messina against Ascoli.

In the summer of 2007 he joined Greek Superleague outfit AE Larissa. On 20 September 2007 he scored from 30 yards for his new side in the UEFA Cup first round first leg against English Premiership side Blackburn. On June 19, 2008 he joined PAOK for a year. He has scored many vital goals so far this season saving PAOK many points in the dying minutes. This made PAOK fans love him and sing his name in every match he's playing. They also Nicknamed him Baka-goal.

Following a short transfer thriller after his contract expired, Bakayoko signed a two-years contract for the newly-promoted PAS Giannina on July 27, 2009.

International career

Bakayoko is a former international for Côte d'Ivoire. He made his first appearance for The Elephants in 1995.

Palmares

• PAS Giannina
  • Greek Second Division: 2011

Individual

• PAS Giannina
  • Top Scorer of Greek Second Division

External links

• Ibrahima Bakayoko French league stats at LFP.fr (French)