french association football player
not to be confused with Moussa Sissako
Moussa Sissoko ( digest 16 August 1989 ) is a french professional football player who plays as midfielder for Premier League golf club Watford, which he captains and the France national team. He plays as a box-to-box midfielder in the center of the pitch, and is capable of playing in either a holding midfield function, or even as an attacking midfielder, correct winger or right back.

Reading: Moussa Sissoko

Sissoko began his football career act for local youth clubs in the Île-de-France region, such as Espérance Aulnay and AS Red Star 93. In 2002, he moved south to join master club Toulouse. Sissoko spent four years in the clubhouse ‘s youth academy and made his master introduction in the 2007–08 season. He besides played in the UEFA Champions League for the first meter. In the pursuit season, Sissoko earned award nominations for his performances and besides helped Toulouse qualify for the newly created UEFA Europa League. He finally joined Newcastle United in the Premier League in 2013, before moving on to Tottenham Hotspur in 2016 after Newcastle ‘s delegating from the top fledge. At Tottenham, Sissoko finished runner-up in the 2016–17 Premier League and the 2018–19 UEFA Champions League. Sissoko was a french youth international and played at all levels he was eligible for. In August 2009, he was called up to the elder team for the first gear time and made his senior international introduction in a 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification against the Faroe Islands. [ 3 ] He made his first international start four days former in a qualifier against Austria. Sissoko was a member of the France side that lost the UEFA Euro 2016 Final .

early liveliness and career [edit ]

Sissoko was born in Le Blanc-Mesnil, a parisian suburb, to malian parents. His father is a construction proletarian and his mother is a housewife. [ 4 ] Sissoko is the eldest of four children, with three younger sisters. He was attracted to football at a very young age, submit, “ I promptly realised that football could lead me to have a better biography ”. [ 4 ] At the historic period of six, Sissoko joined the youth academy of Espérance Aulnay, based in nearby Aulnay-sous-Bois, a suburb in northeastern Paris. He trained three times a workweek at the baseball club under the supervision of trainer Adama Dieye, who nowadays serves as a analogous for the club ‘s futsal team. Sissoko describes Dieye as an important mentor in his exploitation stating “ I am here nowadays because of him ”. [ 4 ] In July 1999, Sissoko moved to Saint-Ouen to join AS Red Star 93. Sissoko spend two years at the club and was teammates with former France young person external Yannis Salibur. In September 2001, he returned to Aulnay for a further two years developing before seeking a move to a professional golf club .

Club career [edit ]

toulouse [edit ]

In July 2003, Sissoko made the trek down south to the Haute-Garonne department to sign with professional golf club Toulouse FC. He signed an aspirant ( young ) condense and was placed in the club ‘s under-14 team. Sissoko spent three years developing in the club ‘s youth academy alongside future teammates Cheikh M’Bengue and Étienne Capoue before earning a predict up to the clubhouse ‘s reserve team in the Championnat de France amateur, the fourth horizontal surface of french football, ahead of the 2006–07 season. Sissoko appeared in 18 matches during the amateur season, quickly becoming one of the club ‘s most seek after prospects. [ 5 ] Prior to signing his professional sign with Toulouse, he garnered interest from English clubs Liverpool and Bolton Wanderers. [ 6 ] Midway through the 2006–07 season, Sissoko signed his foremost professional contract agreeing to a three-year manage with Toulouse until June 2010. [ 7 ] He was subsequently promoted to the club ‘s senior team in the ensuing summer and assigned the number 22 shirt by director Elie Baup. Sissoko made his professional introduction on 4 August 2007, appearing as a stand-in in a 3–1 frustration to Valenciennes. [ 8 ] He made his first master start the following week in the baseball club ‘s 1–0 overturn victory over the defend champions Lyon. [ 9 ] On 15 August, he appeared in the cabaret ‘s UEFA Champions League third base qualifying round first leg match against Liverpool. Sissoko replaced Albin Ebondo in the 83rd infinitesimal and received a yellow card in the final examination minute. toulouse lost the first leg 1–0 and the tie 5–0 on sum. [ 10 ] [ 11 ] Sissoko scored his foremost professional goal on 1 September 2007 in a 2–0 victory over Auxerre, scoring in injury time after coming on as a substitute two minutes previously. [ 12 ] In late September, he began featuring in the team as a regular starter play in the defensive midfielder role alongside attackers Achille Emana and Fodé Mansaré, and captain Nicolas Dieuze. On 6 January 2008, Sissoko scored his irregular goal of the season against Paris in the Coupe de France. Toulouse amazingly lost the match to the semi-professional club 2–1. [ 13 ] Despite the promising person season from Sissoko, Toulouse finished one place above relegation and Baup was sacked and replaced by Alain Casanova. Following the season, on 25 July 2008, Sissoko signed a abridge extension with the club until 2012. [ 14 ]
Following the deviation of Emana to Spain, Casanova put Sissoko into the box-to-box midfielder character ahead of the 2008–09 season to accommodate emerging defensive midfielder Étienne Capoue into the starting batting order, adenine well as Étienne Didot, who arrived from Rennes. The move allowed Sissoko to retain his defensive duties, but besides showcase his attacking skills. He began the season featuring primarily as a stand-in under Casanova, but by December, Sissoko had become a regular in the starting eleven. On 24 January 2009, he scored his first goal of the season against amateurish alsatian clubhouse FCE Schirrhein in an 8–0 cream in the Coupe de France. It was a memorable goal with Sissoko running closely the entire flip with the testis at his feet, eluding several Schirrhein players, before finishing at the six-yard corner. [ 15 ] [ 16 ] Toulouse reached the semi-finals of the rival before losing 2–1 to the eventual winners Guingamp. [ 17 ] In the league, Sissoko was a samara contributor in helping a refurbished Toulouse side polish 4th in the league, leading to reservation for the newly created UEFA Europa League. He scored his first goal of the league campaign on 7 February in a 2–0 victory over Le Mans. [ 18 ] Sissoko besides scored goals in victories over Derby de la Garonne rivals Bordeaux and Paris Saint-Germain. [ 19 ] [ 20 ] In sum, he made 40 appearances and scored five goals. For his efforts, he was nominated for the UNFP Young Player of the Year, along with teammate Capoue who besides had an outstanding season. anterior to the start of the 2009–10 season, Sissoko drew strong interest from Premier League outfit Tottenham Hotspur. The english club reportedly offered vitamin a a lot as £ 12 million for the musician and subsequently increased its offer to £15.5 million before president of the united states Olivier Sadran declared that Sissoko would not be sold. [ 21 ] [ 22 ] Despite Sadran ‘s comments, boyfriend Premier League club Manchester City, deoxyadenosine monophosphate well as italian clubs Internazionale and Juventus, and german club Bayern Munich were besides linked with Sissoko. [ citation needed ] To quash the rumor, Sadran announced that Sissoko would not leave the club for anything less than €30 million. Sissoko started the 2009–10 crusade by displaying his attacking art as he scored six league goals in the baseball club ‘s first 12 matches. He opened the campaign scoring in the cabaret ‘s second league equal of the season against Saint-Étienne in a 3–1 victory. [ 23 ] On 20 September 2009, he scored in the clubhouse ‘s 2–0 winnings against Le Mans and in the comply week scored the hatchway goal in the baseball club ‘s 2–1 personnel casualty to Lyon. [ 24 ] [ 25 ] On 1 October 2009, Sissoko scored his first career european goal in a UEFA Europa League group stage match against belgian club Brugge. The match ended in a 2–2 draw. [ 26 ] On 24 October, Sissoko recorded his fourthly league goal of the season in a 2–0 away victory over Lens. [ 27 ] In the ensuing two weeks, Sissoko scored both openers in a 1–1 draw with Marseille and a 3–2 victory at base against Rennes. [ 28 ] [ 29 ] Sissoko ‘s goalscoring slowed in the latter depart of the temper, scoring only one goal after the winter break in against Valenciennes in a 3–1 win. [ 30 ] He was a regular in the team for the respite of the season, but Toulouse failed to keep pace with the league leaders and finished a disappoint 14th. Despite concern from several clubs, Sissoko opted to remain at Toulouse stating he was happy to remain at the club and would let his agent deal with his remove position. [ 31 ] He scored his first goal of the new season on 22 September 2010 in a 2–1 kill to Boulogne-sur-Mer in the Coupe de la Ligue. [ 32 ] On 6 February 2011, Sissoko scored both team goals in a 2–0 win over Monaco. [ 33 ]

newcastle United [edit ]

On 21 January 2013, English side Newcastle United confirmed they had signed Sissoko on a six-and-a-half-year manage for an undisclosed fee, believed to be in the region of £1.5 million. [ 34 ] It was rumoured that Sissoko waived any sign language on fee from his raw club in order to push the act through after Toulouse were unwilling to let him leave until the summer, when his contract expired. He was given the act 7 shirt. [ 35 ] He made his debut for Newcastle on 29 January, getting the help for the afford goal in a 2–1 winnings against Aston Villa. [ 36 ] In his second match, his first at St James ‘ Park, Sissoko scored both the equal and winning goals in a 3–2 comeback victory against Chelsea. [ 37 ] On 24 February, Sissoko scored in a 4–2 winnings against Southampton. [ 38 ]
Sissoko ‘s first goal of the 2013–14 season came on 30 November, against West Bromwich Albion, a 25-yard affect which made the score 2–1. [ 39 ] In the close minutes of a game against Southampton in December, he was involved in an incident in which he unintentionally hit reviewer Mike Jones in the face when trying to pull away from the opposing goalkeeper. [ 40 ] He scored doubly in a 4–1 win away at Hull City in March 2014, in what the Chronicle reporter, Neil Cameron, described as an “ absolutely brilliant ” operation. [ 41 ] In the 2014–15 season, Sissoko was given the captain ‘s armband after Fabricio Coloccini sustained an injury. In his first equal starting as master, Sissoko scored his first league goal of the season in a 1–0 winnings over Queens Park Rangers. [ 42 ] On 29 November 2014, Sissoko was shown two yellows in the space of 45 seconds, in a 1–0 off frustration to West Ham United. [ 43 ] On 1 January 2015, Sissoko scored his moment league goal of the temper, as Newcastle drew 3–3 against Burnley. [ 44 ] On 13 April 2015, Sissoko was sent off in an away match at Liverpool, receiving a second chicken tease from referee Lee Mason, after a dangerous rigging to Lucas Leiva. [ 45 ] On 24 May 2015, the final day of the season, he scored the opening finish in a 2–0 home victory over West Ham United, which helped Newcastle clinch their Premier League guard. [ 46 ] During the 2015–16 season, Sissoko was made master for the final six games of the temper, and in his beginning game as master on 16 April 2016, he scored his one and alone goal of the campaign in a 3–0 home victory against Swansea City. [ 47 ] This sparked a six-game unbeaten prevail in Newcastle ‘s delegating conflict, which included creditable draws against Liverpool and Manchester City, and a final day 5–1 win over Tottenham Hotspur. [ 48 ] Despite this, Newcastle were unable to escape the dismiss zone and were relegated to the Championship .

Tottenham Hotspur [edit ]

On 31 August 2016, Sissoko signed for Tottenham Hotspur on a five-year deal, for £30 million. [ 49 ] [ 50 ] Tottenham, who beat out Everton for his signature on the final day of the transfer deadline, gave Sissoko his introduction away at Stoke City on 10 September 2016. [ 51 ] On 22 October, in a match against AFC Bournemouth, Sissoko elbowed Harry Arter, resulting in a three-match ban. [ 52 ] He did not play a league match again for Spurs until 3 December, and made merely four more starts in the Premier League that season under coach Mauricio Pochettino. Following a disappoint inaugural season at Tottenham, [ 53 ] Sissoko was afforded an extend run in the first team to open the 2017–18 temper after multiple injuries in the midfield. He received his fourth begin in six Premier League games in a 3–2 acquire at West Ham on 23 September, with Pochettino describing his performance as “ antic ”, [ 54 ] [ 55 ] and scored his first finish for Tottenham on 30 September 2017 in their 4–0 victory of Huddersfield Town. [ 56 ] In the 2018–19 season, Sissoko emerged as a crucial member of Tottenham, making 43 appearances in all competitions. [ 57 ] [ 58 ] His improvement this season has been noted by a number of writers, [ 57 ] [ 59 ] [ 60 ] [ 61 ] [ 62 ] some of whom ranked him amongst the best players of the season in the Premier League. [ 63 ] He besides won plaudits from former players and fans alike. [ 64 ] [ 65 ] [ 66 ] He won the inauguration Tottenham Hotspur Legends ‘ Player of the Season award in May 2019. [ 67 ] At the concluding of the 2018–19 UEFA Champions League, Sissoko ‘s branch was hit by the testis on the rebound in the box after 22 seconds. Judged a handball, [ 68 ] it resulted in a penalty converted by Liverpool and one that Tottenham could not overcome, finally losing 2–0. [ 69 ]

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In the 2019–20 temper, under new director José Mourinho, Sissoko scored his first goal in over two years in the meet against Bournemouth. This is only his second Premier League goal for Tottenham and helped the team to a 3–2 acquire. [ 70 ] In the 2020 New Year ‘s Day match against Southampton, Sissoko damaged the medial collateral ligament of his right stifle, which required operating room resulting in him being out of action for more than three months. [ 71 ] however, due to the COVID-19 pandemic which resulted in the pause of League matches, he did not play any game until the 19 June equal against Manchester United after the season restarted. [ 72 ] On 5 January 2021, Sissoko scored his beginning goal of the 2020–21 season in the semi-final of the Carabao Cup, which ended in a 2–0 winnings. [ 73 ]

Watford [edit ]

On 27 August 2021, Sissoko joined Watford on a biennial shrink. [ 74 ] He made his debut two days late in a 1–0 off frustration against his early baseball club Tottenham Hotspur. [ 75 ]

International career [edit ]

young person [edit ]

Sissoko has been active with France at youth level having represented France at all levels for which he was eligible. [ 76 ] On 4 January 2005, he made his youth international debut at under-16 charge in a friendly catch against Turkey in Manisa. France won the meet 3–0. [ 77 ] Sissoko ‘s entirely other appearance with the team came in the return leg against Turkey that was played in İzmir two days former. [ 78 ] With the under-17 team, Sissoko ‘s play time increased as France attempted to qualify for the 2006 UEFA european Under-17 Football Championship. He made his debut as a substitute on 2 November 2005 in the team ‘s opening competitive equal against England. [ 79 ] On 26 February 2006, Sissoko scored his first youth international goal in the team ‘s second group stage meet of the Algarve Cup against the Netherlands. [ 80 ] In the team ‘s adjacent group stage match against Portugal, Sissoko scored again in a 3–1 victory. [ 81 ] In UEFA rival, Sissoko and the team, composed of players such as David N’Gog, Gabriel Obertan, Adel Taarabt, and Grégory Sertic, failed to qualify for the 2006 UEFA european Under-17 Football Championship, due to their second-place coating in the Elite Round share of the competition. With the under-18 team, Sissoko appeared in all eight matches the team contested as France closely went undefeated losing their only match 1–0 to Germany in Kehl. [ 82 ] due to his increase play time domestically with Toulouse, Sissoko missed the 2007 edition of the Sendai Cup in Japan and numerous other under-19 tournaments and only featured in 2008 UEFA U-19 Championship reservation matches. He made his debut on 28 October 2007 in a 5–0 mob of Luxembourg in the first qualify turn. [ 83 ] Similar to the competition at under-17 horizontal surface, France were late eliminated in the Elite Round part of the competition. Sissoko earned his inaugural call up to the under-21 team for their friendly equal against Bosnia and Herzegovina on 9 September 2008. He subsequently made his introduction in the match, which France won 1–0. [ 84 ] Sissoko scored his only goal with the team on 31 March 2009 in the team ‘s 2–0 winnings over England at the City Ground in Nottingham. [ 85 ] He featured with the team frequently as they were attempting to qualify for the 2011 UEFA european Under-21 Football Championship. The team ‘s ultimate failure to qualify for the competition effectively ended Sissoko ‘s under-21 career, though he however appeared in friendly matches against Turkey, Denmark, and Russia in 2010 as he was calm eligible to participate in non-competitive matches .

elder [edit ]

On 3 August 2009, Sissoko earned his first call up to the senior team for a 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification match against the Faroe Islands. [ 86 ] Sissoko did not make his debut in the match. On 6 October, he was named to the elder squad for the second time for the team ‘s final World Cup qualification matches against the Faroe Islands and Austria. Sissoko earned his beginning crown in the match against the Faroe Islands appearing as a stand-in for Jérémy Toulalan in the moment half. France won the match 5–0. [ 87 ] With France ‘s spot in the play-offs already secured, Sissoko made his first career starting signal in the match against Austria, which France won 3–1. [ 88 ] [ 89 ] Despite appearing regularly in the police squad under Raymond Domenech in the 2009–10 season, Sissoko failed to make the squad for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. On 13 May 2014, Sissoko was named in Didier Deschamps ‘ team for the 2014 FIFA World Cup. [ 90 ] He made his FIFA World Cup introduction in 2014, coming on as a ersatz in France ‘s 3–0 group succeed over Honduras. [ 91 ] In France ‘s second equal of the tournament, a 5–2 victory over Switzerland, he was named in the starting line-up and scored his first external goal. [ 92 ] Sissoko was involved in France ‘s run to the concluding of the 2016 UEFA European Championship, making four starts in the tournament. He put in an cheer performance in the final against Portugal, having two shots saved in the 1–0 supernumerary clock frustration. [ 93 ] On 17 May 2018, he was named on the understudy list for the 23 valet french police squad for the 2018 World Cup in Russia. [ 94 ] due to his poor club form, he was not separate of the french police squad that won the World Cup. however, with a good club performance in the 2018–19 season, he was again back in the national squad, and played a function in the Euro 2020 qualifiers for France. [ 95 ]

style of play [edit ]

A versatile midfielder, Sissoko is adequate to of playing in any midfield function, ampere well as in respective other positions across the pitch. [ 96 ] He normally plays as a box-to-box midfielder in the center, although he is besides capable of playing in a holding midfield function, or even as an attacking midfielder or right winger, due to his pace and offensive capabilities. [ 97 ] [ 98 ] [ 99 ] [ 100 ] He has besides played on the left flank, as a second gear striker, or as an attacking full-back or wing-back on occasion. [ 101 ] A large, fast, physically herculean, hard-working, and energetic musician, [ 102 ] [ 103 ] [ 104 ] [ 105 ] [ 106 ] with an ability to run farseeing distances and cover a lot of grind, [ 104 ] Sissoko has been described as a “ all-around central midfielder ” who is “ tall, gangling, and strong in the rigging ”. [ 6 ] [ 107 ] Although his consistency, die, and technical ability have been questioned at times in the media, [ 100 ] [ 103 ] [ 106 ] [ 108 ] [ 109 ] he possesses a solid first equal, and has demonstrated significant improvements in terms of his proficiency and link-up playing period as his career has progressed ; furthermore, he is known for his lineal style of play, ampere well as his ability to transition from defense to attack, charge forward with the ball, and run at defences on counter-attacks, courtesy of his ball-winning ability and positional sense, equally well as his rush, dynamism, athleticism, and military capability. [ 100 ] [ 101 ] [ 106 ] [ 109 ] [ 110 ] He is besides known for his fall ability from distance and on the run with his right foot, adenine well as his center for goal from midfield. [ 96 ] [ 101 ] [ 106 ] Regarded as a promise prospect in his youth, [ 106 ] in 2010 he was included in Don Balón’ sulfur tilt of the 100 best young players in the worldly concern bear after 1989. [ 111 ]

personal life sentence [edit ]

Sissoko is Muslim. [ 112 ] Alongside his native french, he besides speaks English. [ 113 ]

career statistics [edit ]

baseball club [edit ]

As of match played 10 November 2021[114]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club

Season

League

National Cup[a]

League Cup[b]

Europe

Total

Division
Apps
Goals
Apps
Goals
Apps
Goals
Apps
Goals
Apps
Goals

Toulouse
2007–08
Ligue 1

30
1
1
1
1
0
2[c]
0
34
2

2008–09

Ligue 1

35
4
4
1
1
0

40
5

2009–10

Ligue 1

37
7
1
0
2
0
7[d]
1
47
8

2010–11

Ligue 1

36
5
1
0
1
1

38
6

2011–12

Ligue 1

35
2
1
0
1
0

37
2

2012–13

Ligue 1

19
1
1
0
2
0

22
1

Total

192
20
9
2
8
1
9
1
218
24

Newcastle United
2012–13
Premier League

12
3
0
0
0
0
6[d]
0
18
3

2013–14

Premier League

35
3
1
0
2
0

38
3

2014–15

Premier League

34
4
0
0
4
1

38
5

2015–16

Premier League

37
1
1
0
1
0

39
1

Total

118
11
2
0
7
1
6
0
133
12

Tottenham Hotspur
2016–17

Premier League

25
0
4
0
0
0
5[e]
0
34
0

2017–18

Premier League

33
1
6
0
2
1
6[c]
0
47
2

2018–19

Premier League

29
0
0
0
5
0
10[c]
0
44
0

2019–20

Premier League

29
2
0
0
0
0
6[c]
0
35
2

2020–21

Premier League

25
0
3
0
4
1
10[d]
0
42
1

Total

141
3
13
0
11
2
37
0
202
5

Watford
2021–22

Premier League

10
0
0
0
1
0

11
0

Career total

461
34
24
2
27
4
52
1
564
41

International [edit ]

Sissoko playing for France in 2013

As of match played 28 June 2021[115]

Appearances and goals by national team and year

National team
Year
Apps
Goals

France

2009
2
0

2010
1
0

2012
3
0

2013
7
0

2014
14
1

2015
7
0

2016
16
0

2017
3
1

2018
2
0

2019
7
0

2020
3
0

2021
6
0

Total
71
2

Scores and results list France’s goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Sissoko goal.

Honours [edit ]

Tottenham Hotspur
Individual

  • UEFA Champions League Squad of the Season: 2018–19[118]
  • Tottenham Hotspur Legends’ Player of the Season: 2019[67]

References [edit ]

Read more: Cardiff City F.C.