Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Bacary Sagna
Bacary Sagna, also sometimes spelled Bakary or Bakari, (born 14 February 1983 in Sens, Bourgogne) is a French International football defender of Senegalese descent, currently playing for Arsenal. His cousin Ibrahima Sonko also plays in England, for newly relegated Reading.[1]
Auxerre
Sagna made 87 Ligue 1 appearances for Auxerre and was part of the squad that won the French Cup in 2005. He also played in the UEFA Cup in each of his three seasons with the club's first team, making a total of 17 appearances in the competition. He was also voted into the Ligue 1 team of the season for his outstanding displays at the right back position.
Arsenal
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).[2] He wears the number 3 shirt, most recently worn for Arsenal by former defender Ashley Cole and most notably fans favourite Nigel Winterburn.[3]
Sagna made his 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.[4]
In his Premier League debut, Sagna started in the 2–1 win over Fulham at the Emirates and again impressed. The French full-back is predominantly a right-back, although he can play centre-back, left-back and in midfield. Despite his recent move to the Premier League, he has displaced Emmanuel Eboué as the preferred starting right-back for Arsene Wenger, while Eboué plays right wing.
On March 23, 2008, Sagna tallied his 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 him as he dedicated it to his late brother who died a few days before. He could be seen looking up to the sky while pointing at it. However, he went off injured before Chelsea came back to win the game 2-1. At the end of the season, he was named in the PFA's 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.
On June 4, 2008, it was announced that Sagna had signed a new deal with the Gunners following a very successful first season. Arsenal have signed him for a further two years, taking his 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." .[5]
Sagna made his 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.[4]
In his Premier League debut, Sagna started in the 2–1 win over Fulham at the Emirates and again impressed. The French full-back is predominantly a right-back, although he can play centre-back, left-back and in midfield. Despite his recent move to the Premier League, he has displaced Emmanuel Eboué as the preferred starting right-back for Arsene Wenger, while Eboué plays right wing.
On March 23, 2008, Sagna tallied his 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 him as he dedicated it to his late brother who died a few days before. He could be seen looking up to the sky while pointing at it. However, he went off injured before Chelsea came back to win the game 2-1. At the end of the season, he was named in the PFA's 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.
On June 4, 2008, it was announced that Sagna had signed a new deal with the Gunners following a very successful first season. Arsenal have signed him for a further two years, taking his 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." .[5]
International career
Sagna has previously represented the French under-21 team, with whom he also participated at the 2006 European Under-21 Championship.
He received his first senior international cap for France on 22 August 2007 in a friendly match against Slovakia on the road, which they won 1–0, coming on as a substitute for François Clerc after one hour of play. He went on to make his competitive debut for France in their 6–0 away win at the Faroe Islands on 13 October 2007 in the UEFA Euro 2008 qualifiers, playing all 90 minutes. It was his only appearance in the Euro 2008 qualifying.
He received his first senior international cap for France on 22 August 2007 in a friendly match against Slovakia on the road, which they won 1–0, coming on as a substitute for François Clerc after one hour of play. He went on to make his competitive debut for France in their 6–0 away win at the Faroe Islands on 13 October 2007 in the UEFA Euro 2008 qualifiers, playing all 90 minutes. It was his only appearance in the Euro 2008 qualifying.
Career Honours
With AJ Auxerre
* Winner
o Coupe de France 2005
* Runner-up
o Trophee des Champions 2005
Individual
* Auxerre's player of the season for the 2006–07 season
* Voted France's best right-sided defender in the 2006–07
* French Ligue 1's Team of the Year 2006–07
* Member of PFA Team of the Year: 2007–08.
* Voted Premier League's best right-back in the 2007-08 season
* Winner
o Coupe de France 2005
* Runner-up
o Trophee des Champions 2005
Individual
* Auxerre's player of the season for the 2006–07 season
* Voted France's best right-sided defender in the 2006–07
* French Ligue 1's Team of the Year 2006–07
* Member of PFA Team of the Year: 2007–08.
* Voted Premier League's best right-back in the 2007-08 season
Auxerre's Sagna signs for Arsenal
Arsenal have signed Auxerre defender Bacary Sagna for an undisclosed fee.
The 24-year-old, who was in the last France squad but is uncapped, has signed a long-term deal and said: "It is great to be joining Arsenal."
Gunners boss Arsene Wenger told the club's website: "He is a very capable defender and has played consistently well for Auxerre in recent seasons.
"He plays mainly at right-back, but can also play along the defence or in midfield. He is strong and quick."
Sagna, who will wear the number three shirt, has been a regular in the Auxerre team for the last three seasons and won the French Cup in 2005.
And Sagna added: "I know Abou Diaby from our time together at Auxerre and also Gael Clichy and Mathieu Flamini from the French Under-21 team.
The fact no-one really rates us means maybe we can surprise people
Sagna on Arsenal's prospects
"Also Arsene Wenger is a major reason why I have signed for Arsenal. He is an excellent manager with a fantastic record and I am really looking forward to working with him."
Sagna's signing comes in the wake of compatriot Thierry Henry's departure to Barcelona.
But the new signing is confident the Gunners can still compete for silverware next season.
"We have youth and the fact that no-one really rates us means that maybe we can surprise people," he added.
"The young players want to prove what they can do and I want to prove what I can do. And all of this together will help us have a good season, I hope."
"It is quite a French-speaking club, everybody has put me at ease right from the start and I feel good."
Arsenal have been linked with Caen striker Yoan Gouffran, who helped his club win promotion to the French top-flight last season.
606: DEBATE
Your reaction to Sagna's move
But their president Jean-Francois Fortin believes it is too early for the 21-year-old to join the Gunners.
"Yoan is a young player who has not played in Ligue 1 and I am convinced the best thing for him is the stage here," Fortin told L'Equipe.
"Unlike us, I am not sure the interested clubs could guarantee him a stage to perform like we can. If he is given just 20 minutes at the end of a match - I don't think that is very interesting for him.
"I honestly believe it is too early for him to leave."
The 24-year-old, who was in the last France squad but is uncapped, has signed a long-term deal and said: "It is great to be joining Arsenal."
Gunners boss Arsene Wenger told the club's website: "He is a very capable defender and has played consistently well for Auxerre in recent seasons.
"He plays mainly at right-back, but can also play along the defence or in midfield. He is strong and quick."
Sagna, who will wear the number three shirt, has been a regular in the Auxerre team for the last three seasons and won the French Cup in 2005.
And Sagna added: "I know Abou Diaby from our time together at Auxerre and also Gael Clichy and Mathieu Flamini from the French Under-21 team.
The fact no-one really rates us means maybe we can surprise people
Sagna on Arsenal's prospects
"Also Arsene Wenger is a major reason why I have signed for Arsenal. He is an excellent manager with a fantastic record and I am really looking forward to working with him."
Sagna's signing comes in the wake of compatriot Thierry Henry's departure to Barcelona.
But the new signing is confident the Gunners can still compete for silverware next season.
"We have youth and the fact that no-one really rates us means that maybe we can surprise people," he added.
"The young players want to prove what they can do and I want to prove what I can do. And all of this together will help us have a good season, I hope."
"It is quite a French-speaking club, everybody has put me at ease right from the start and I feel good."
Arsenal have been linked with Caen striker Yoan Gouffran, who helped his club win promotion to the French top-flight last season.
606: DEBATE
Your reaction to Sagna's move
But their president Jean-Francois Fortin believes it is too early for the 21-year-old to join the Gunners.
"Yoan is a young player who has not played in Ligue 1 and I am convinced the best thing for him is the stage here," Fortin told L'Equipe.
"Unlike us, I am not sure the interested clubs could guarantee him a stage to perform like we can. If he is given just 20 minutes at the end of a match - I don't think that is very interesting for him.
"I honestly believe it is too early for him to leave."
Foot - Transferts - Sagna signe jeudi à Arsenal
Il ne devrait pas y avoir de surprise : l'Auxerrois Bacary Sagna signera ce jeudi un contrat de cinq ans avec Arsenal. Pour s'assurer les services du latéral droit bourguignon, le club de Londres s'est engagé à verser à l'AJA une indemnité de transfert de quelque 9 millions d'euros, assorti d'un bonus éventuel de 2 autres millions. Les derniers détails ont été réglés mercredi soir entre les deux clubs. Sagna a déjà passé la visite médicale préalable à son engagement. Il sera Gunner dans les prochaines heures.
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