ASEC Mimosas
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Full name | Amicale Sportive des Employés de Commerce Mimosas | ||
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Nickname(s) | Mimosas | ||
Founded | 1948 | ||
Ground | Stade Félix Houphouët-Boigny Abidjan | ||
Capacity | 50,000 | ||
League | Côte d'Ivoire Premier Division | ||
1ère Division 2005 | 1st | ||
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The Amicale Sportive des Employés de Commerce (ASEC) Mimosas is an Ivorian football club. The club was founded in 1948 by eight businessmen from Abidjan. As well as being known as ASEC Mimosas, they are also referred to by the names ASEC Mimosas Abidjan and ASEC Abidjan, especially in international club competitions.
Academy
ASEC has a youth academy that has been described as the crown jewel of African football. The academy was started by Jean-Marc Guillou in 1993 at ASEC's training complex. The student-athletes are given an education, for which they take classes in math, history, geography, physics, French, English, and Spanish. The students live in dorms during the week and have two training sessions a day. They play matches on Saturday and get health care and tutoring.
The list of alumni of the ASEC Academy is impressive. It includes: Kolo Touré, Aruna Dindane, Salomon Kalou, Didier Zokora, Yaya Touré, Emmanuel Eboué, and Gilles Yapi. ASEC provided the backbone of the national team for many years, including key members of the side that won the 1992 African Nations Cup such as Abdoulaye Traoré and Donald-Olivier Sié.
ASEC sends many of its graduates to play for K.S.K. Beveren in the Belgian Jupiler League. Once at Beveren, the Ivorians showcase their talents and move on to bigger clubs in Europe. Guillou has since left ASEC to become the Sporting Director at Beveren. ASEC linked up with Charlton Athletic on 1 May 2006, meaning Charlton may benefit from ASEC academy in future. See here for details
Current squad 2006/07
The numbers are established according to the official website:
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Technical staff
Patrick Liewig Manager Maxime Gouamene Assistant Manager Bakary Kone Goalkeeping Coach Yves Kouame Doctor Rémi Kouame Academy Director Patrice Voli Bi Masseur Moustapha Kante Senior Physiotherapist
Famous players
- Kolo Touré
- Yaya Touré
- Ibrahim Touré
- Aruna Dindane
- Emmanuel Eboué
- Didier Zokora
- Salomon Kalou
- Bonaventure Kalou
- Bakari Koné
- Arthur Boka
- Gilles Yapi Yapo
- Amara Diané
- Abdoulaye Méïté
- Didier Ya Konan
- Mamadou Zare