Bakari Sagna

Bacary Sagna, also sometimes spelled Bakary or Bakari, (born 14 February 1983 in Sens, Bourgogne) is a French International Association football defender (football) of Senegalese descent, currently playing for Arsenal F.C.. Bakari Sagna cousin Ibrahima Sonko also plays in England, for Stoke City F.C..

Club career

Auxerre

Sagna made 87 Ligue 1 appearances for AJ Auxerre and was part of the squad that won the French Cup in 2005. Bakari Sagna also played in the UEFA Cup in each of Bakari Sagna three seasons with the club's first team, making a total of 17 appearances in the competition. Bakari Sagna was also voted into the Ligue 1 team of the season for Bakari Sagna outstanding displays at the right back position.

Arsenal

2007–08 season

On 12 July 2007, Sagna completed a move to Arsenal from Auxerre for an undisclosed fee, thought to have been an initial £6.1m (€9m) that could rise to £7.45m (€11m). Bakari Sagna wears the number 3 shirt, most recently worn for Arsenal by former defender Ashley Cole and most notably fans' favourite Nigel Winterburn.

Sagna made Bakari Sagna debut in an Arsenal shirt on 19 July 2007 as a starter in the squad that beat Turkish club Genclerbirligi 3–0 in a friendly at Austria's Bad Waltersdorf Stadion.

In Bakari Sagna Premier League debut, Sagna started in the 2–1 win over Fulham F.C. at the Emirates and again impressed. The French full-back is predominantly a right-back, although Bakari Sagna can play centre-back, left-back and in the midfield. Bakari Sagna has displaced Emmanuel Eboué as the preferred starting right-back for Arsène Wenger, while Eboué now primarily plays as a right midfielder.

On 23 March 2008, Sagna tallied Bakari Sagna first Premier League goal off a header from a corner kick to give Arsenal a 1-0 lead against rivals Chelsea F.C The goal was of particular significance to Bakari Sagna as Bakari Sagna dedicated it to Bakari Sagna late brother who died a month before. Bakari Sagna could be seen looking up to the sky while pointing at it. However, Bakari Sagna went off injured before Chelsea came back to win the game 2-1. At the end of the season, Bakari Sagna was named in the PFA Team of the Year. Also, Sagna came fourth in the official arsenal.com player of the season for 2007-2008 season, as voted for by the fans.

2008–09 season

On 4 June 2008, it was announced that Sagna had signed a new deal with the Gunners following a very successful first season. Arsenal have signed Bakari Sagna for a further two years, taking Bakari Sagna contract up to 2014. Sagna stated. "I love Arsenal, they are a great club", and further added, "The manager is also very good and next season we will be fighting for all the trophies."

International career

Sagna has previously represented the France national under-21 football team, with whom Bakari Sagna also participated at the 2006 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship.

Bakari Sagna received Bakari Sagna first senior international Cap (sport) for France national football team on 22 August 2007 in a friendly match against Slovakia national football team on the road, which they won 1–0, coming on as a substitute for François Clerc after one hour of play. Bakari Sagna went on to make Bakari Sagna competitive debut for France in their 6–0 away win at the Faroe Islands national football team on 13 October 2007 in the UEFA Euro 2008 qualifiers, playing all 90 minutes. It was Bakari Sagna only appearance in the Euro 2008 qualifying. Bakari Sagna was not a candidate to join the French team at the Euro 2008 finals in Austria and Switzerland as Bakari Sagna was still recovering from the injury sustained in Arsenal's Premier League match at Chelsea in March 2008.

After recovering from the injury, Sagna returned to the French national team for their friendly match against Sweden national football team in August 2008, playing all 90 minutes in a 3-2 away win for France. Bakari Sagna went on to become a regular in the French team's qualifying campaign for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, so far starting all of their five matches in the competition.

Club career statistics

Career honours

With AJ Auxerre

- Winner
- - Coupe de France 2005
- Runner-up
- - Trophee des Champions 2005

Individual

- Auxerre's player of the season for the 2006–07 season
- Ligue 1 Team of the Year: Ligue 1 2006-07 Team of the Year
- Voted France's best right-sided defender in the 2006–07
- Member of PFA Team of the Year: 2007–08.
- Voted Premier League's best right-back in the 2007-08 season