ASEC Mimosas

ASEC Mimosas
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Full name	Amicale Sportive des Employés; de Commerce Mimosas
Nickname(s)	Mimosas
Founded	1948
Ground	Stade Félix Houphouët-Boigny; Abidjan
Capacity	50,000
League	Côte d'Ivoire Premier Division
1ère Division 2005	1st
Home colours	Away colours

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.


No.	Pos.	Nation	Player
—	GK	CIV	Mohamed Kaborepos
—	GK	CIV	Bernard Kouakou
—	GK	CIV	Clovis Tahourou
—	GK	CIV	Vincent de Paul Angban
—	DF	CIV	Vincent de Paul Alli N'Dri
—	DF	CIV	Abdul K. Akiola Adenon
—	DF	CIV	Moussa Ouattara
—	DF	CIV	Gaman B. Bi Youan
—	DF	CIV	Pascal Serges Wawa
—	DF	CIV	Hamed H. Diomandé
—	DF	CIV	Kevin Gnabouyou Dapé
—	DF	CIV	Akès Dacosta Gooré
—	MF	CIV	Arthur Kocou Valerie
—	MF	CIV	Ali Diarra
—	MF	CIV	Gildas Laby Kassiaty
—	MF	CIV	E. Koné Kouamatien


No.	Pos.	Nation	Player
—	MF	CIV	Kouamé K. D. Magloire
—	MF	CIV	Kouadio K. Pacôme
—	MF	CIV	Yao Kouassi Martial
—	MF	CIV	Irénée Kouakou N'Doua
—	MF	CIV	J E Antoine N'Gossan
—	FW	CIV	Roméo Konan Koffi
—	FW	CIV	Idrissu Abdul Nafiu
—	FW	CIV	John A. Adegoke Mudiu
—	FW	CIV	Marc Dion Sedé
—	FW	CIV	Déblé Serges
—	FW	CIV	Koffi Foba K. Stevens
—	FW	CIV	Kouby Abraham

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