Coli Saco

Last updated

Coli Saco
Personal information
Date of birth (2002-05-15) 15 May 2002 (age 22)
Place of birth Créteil, France
Height 1.97 m (6 ft 6 in)
Position(s) Central midfielder
Team information
Current team
Bari
(on loan from Napoli)
Number 94
Youth career
2017–2018 Le Havre
2018–2020 Sochaux
2020–2021 AC Milan
2021–2022 Napoli
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2022– Napoli 0 (0)
2022–2023Pro Vercelli (loan) 34 (3)
2023–2024Ancona (loan) 32 (7)
2024–Bari (loan) 0 (0)
International career
2023– Mali U23 8 (0)
Medal record
Representing Flag of Mali.svg  Mali
U-23 Africa Cup of Nations
Bronze medal icon (B initial).svg Morocco 2023 U-23 Team
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 25 August 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 30 July 2024

Coli Saco (born 15 May 2002) is a professional footballer who plays as a central midfielder for Serie B club Bari, on loan from Napoli. Born in France, Saco represents Mali at under-23 level.

Contents

Club career

Born in Créteil, Saco joined Le Havre's youth sector in 2017, aged 15, before moving to Sochaux one year later. [1] [2] He then came through the youth ranks of the Lionceaux, [1] taking part in the 2019–20 Coupe Gambardella, where Sochaux reached the round of 16 before the competition was cancelled, due to the emergency caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. [3] [4]

In October 2020, Saco entered AC Milan's academy; [5] [6] however, he was released after just one season, having not managed to break into the under-19 team consistently. [2] [7] In September 2021, he officially joined fellow Italian club Napoli after a successful trial. [8] [9]

Having impressed with his performances for Napoli's under-19 squad, during the 2021–22 season Saco started training with the first team, under manager Luciano Spalletti. [2] [10] The midfielder originally received his first official call-up to the senior team for a Serie A match against Juventus on 6 January 2022: however, having tested positive for COVID-19, he eventually had to withdraw from the match-day squad. [2] [10] [11]

On 15 July 2022, Saco joined Serie C side Pro Vercelli on a season-long loan. [12] [13] He then made his professional debut for the club on 3 September, starting and playing 90 minutes in a 1–0 league win against Padova. [14] On 5 November, he scored his first professional goal in a 3–1 league loss against AlbinoLeffe. [2] [15]

On 1 September 2023, Saco joined fellow Serie C club Ancona on loan for the remainder of the season. [16] [17]

On 30 August 2024, Saco moved on loan to Bari in Serie B. [18]

International career

In June 2023, Saco was included in the final squad of the Malian under-23 national team for the 2023 U-23 Africa Cup of Nations, hosted in Morocco, [19] [20] where the Eagles finished in third place and qualified for the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. [21] [22]

In July 2024, he was included by head coach Aliou Badra Diallo in the Malian squad for the men's football tournament at the Summer Olympics in Paris, [10] [23] where The Eagles were eventually eliminated in the group stage. [24]

Style of play

Saco is a left-footed midfielder, who has been mainly regarded for his physical attributes, which allow him to win many headers and keep possession. [8] [9] Despite his slow pace, he has proved to have good abilities in reading the game and finding goal opportunities, thanks to his off-the-ball movement and his heading. [2] [8] He has also been noticed for his vision and his long-range passing prowess. [8]

Although he has been compared to André-Frank Zambo Anguissa, [8] he cited Paul Pogba and Yaya Touré as his main sources of inspiration. [9]

Personal life

Born in France, Saco is of Malian descent. [2] [8]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 4 May 2024 [25] [26]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueCupEuropeOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Napoli 2022–23 Serie A 00000000
Pro Vercelli (loan) 2022–23 Serie C 34300343
Ancona (loan) 2023–24 31700317
Career total65100000006510

Honours

Mali U23

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  26. Coli Saco at Soccerway