 Sakho playing forLiverpool in 2014 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Mamadou Sakho[1] | ||
| Date of birth | (1990-02-13)13 February 1990 (age 35)[2] | ||
| Place of birth | Paris, France | ||
| Height | 1.87 m (6 ft 2 in)[3] | ||
| Position | Centre-back[2] | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1996–2002 | Paris FC | ||
| 2002–2007 | Paris Saint-Germain | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2007–2013 | Paris Saint-Germain | 151 | (7) |
| 2013–2017 | Liverpool | 56 | (2) |
| 2017 | →Crystal Palace (loan) | 8 | (0) |
| 2017–2021 | Crystal Palace | 64 | (1) |
| 2021–2023 | Montpellier | 45 | (1) |
| 2024–2025 | Torpedo Kutaisi | 17 | (0) |
| International career | |||
| 2005–2006 | France U16 | 7 | (1) |
| 2006–2007 | France U17 | 5 | (0) |
| 2007–2008 | France U18 | 3 | (0) |
| 2008–2009 | France U19 | 4 | (0) |
| 2008–2010 | France U21 | 15 | (1) |
| 2010–2018 | France | 29 | (2) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 30 May 2025 | |||
Mamadou Sakho (born 13 February 1990) is a French professionalfootballer who most recently played as acentre-back forErovnuli Liga clubTorpedo Kutaisi.
Sakho began his career atParis FC before moving toParis Saint-Germain's youth system in 2002. In October 2007, on his league debut, he became the youngest player ever to captain aLigue 1 club. Sakho made over 200 appearances for the club, winning all fourdomestic trophies. In 2013, he transferred to Liverpool for £18 million. He had a loan spell withCrystal Palace in 2017, and was subsequently bought by the team for £26 million in September 2017. In July 2021, he joinedMontpellier on afree transfer; he left the club in November 2023, following a physical altercation with managerMichel Der Zakarian.
Sakho is a full France international, who has previously earned caps andcaptained the nation at all youth levels. Since making his senior debut in 2010 againstEngland, Sakho has over 25 caps and represented France at the2014 FIFA World Cup.
Sakho was born inParis toDiakhankéSenegalese parents and was the fourth child of a family of seven children.[4] He was raised in the northern neighborhood ofGoutte d'Or.[5]
Sakho started his football career at the age of six playing for the juniors of hometown clubParis FC.[citation needed] In 2002, he was lured away to professional clubParis Saint-Germain. Sakho was originally a striker, but due to Paris Saint-Germain's youth team having fewer defenders than strikers, he was moved into a more defensive role.[citation needed]
Sakho struggled to adapt during his first year at theCamp des Loges, the headquarters of the club'syouth academy, often refusing to accept orders handed out by the trainers, such as when to go to bed. At one point, he was threatened with expulsion from the club due to his constant bad behavior. Following guidance from his parents and, particularly, under-13 Paris Saint-Germain coach Christian Mas, Sakho curbed his bad behavior and began to focus on his studies and football. When Sakho was 14, his father suddenly died. The resulting pain led to Sakho considering leaving football, but he later described that idea as "useless" and returned to the club afterbereavement. Sakho quickly became one of the club's most sought after prospects winning numerousMVP awards during his time in the youth academy. In April 2005, he was a part of theÎle-de-France region team that won the 2004–05 Coupe Nationale. That same year, he was a part of the Paris Saint-Germain under-18 team that won theChampionnat National des 18 ans league title, despite being three years younger than many of his teammates.[4]
In total, Sakho spent nearly six years at theCamp des Loges. A day after his 17th birthday, managerPaul Le Guen called the youngster up for the club'sUEFA Cup Round of 32 first leg match againstAEK Athens on 14 February 2007. Sakho started the match picking up a yellow card in the 20th minute. He played 85 minutes before being substituted out as Paris Saint-Germain won the match 2–0.[6] Sakho played his second and final match of the season in theUEFA Cup Round of 16 first leg match againstBenfica, he played the full match in a 2–1 victory.[citation needed]
On 14 June 2007, Sakho signed his first professional contract agreeing to a three-year deal.[7] He was officially promoted to the senior side for the2007–08 season, despite being only 17 years old, and was assigned the first team number 3 shirt. Sakho made his first start that season for Paris Saint-Germain in the club's 3–0 win overLorient in theCoupe de la Ligue on 26 September 2007, starting in the centre back role alongside the experienced ColombianMario Yepes.[8] Sakho made his league debut on 20 October againstValenciennes in a 0–0 draw.[9] In an effort to galvanize the questionable leadership of several senior team players, such as first-team captainPauleta and vice-captainSylvain Armand, Le Guen named Sakho captain for the match. Sakho's role as captain made him the youngest-ever captain of Paris Saint-Germain at the age of 17 years and 8 months and also the youngest player to ever captain a side inLigue 1.[10] In the following match againstLyon, he was named captain again and tasked with the role of containing fellow French starletHatem Ben Arfa. Despite Sakho and the club putting up a strong fight, Ben Arfa scored two goals in a span of three minutes asLes Parisiens suffered a 3–2 defeat.[11] In the club's following match againstNancy, Sakho picked up an extensive injury, which ruled him out for two months.[12] He returned to action on 23 February 2008, playing the entire match in a 1–1 draw againstMonaco.[13] On 29 March, Sakho started and played the full 90 minutes in the club's 2–1 victory overLens in the2008 Coupe de la Ligue Final. The victory awarded Sakho the first major trophy of his career. In total, Sakho made 16 appearances during that season.[citation needed]
In thefollowing season, Sakho made 34 total appearances contributing to PSG's successful run where the club reached as high as 2nd in the league, reached the semi-finals of theCoupe de France, and made it to theUEFA Cup quarter-finals. On 30 January 2009, due to his positive play and clubs from abroad constantly inquiring for his services, Paris Saint-Germain awarded Sakho a contract extension until June 2012.[14] Two weeks later, he scored his first career goal for the club in a league match againstSaint-Étienne on 14 February 2009, a day after his 19th birthday. The goal gave Paris Saint-Germain a 1–0 lead and the club went on to win the match 2–1.[15]
Sakho opened the2009–10 season as the incumbent starter partnering either veteransSammy Traoré orZoumana Camara in defense. Midway through the season, Sakho was embroiled in controversy when he allegedly slapped aLe Parisien newspaper journalist at theCamp des Loges, the club's training center. Before the incident, Sakho had allegedly confronted the journalist to question the accuracy of an article he had written referring to the controversy surrounding why Sakho went to anightclub following Paris Saint-Germain's embarrassing loss toLorient hours earlier.[16] Sakho reportedly insulted the journalist and then slapped him before walking away. The journalist, who preferred to remainanonymous, filed a complaint the following day with both he and the newspaper describing Sakho's attitude as "unprofessional". Paris Saint-Germain president Robin Leproux and managerAntoine Kombouaré issued an apology on the club's behalf and Sakho later apologized to the journalist by telephone.[17][18][19]
Sakho started the2010–11 campaign partnering with Camara in defense. He was also installed as the team's captain in theUEFA Europa League by manager Kombouaré due to the unavailability ofClaude Makélélé. Midway through August, Sakho began appearing in the centre back position alongside veteranSylvain Armand. He scored his first goal of the season on 11 September 2010 in a 4–0 victory overArles-Avignon.[20] In Europe, Sakho captained the team in their 5–4 aggregate victory over Israeli clubMaccabi Tel Aviv in the Europa League playoff round.[21][22] He accomplished this feat again in the group stage leading the team to a 2–0 victory over Ukrainian clubKarpaty Lviv.[23] On 16 October, Sakho scored the game-winning goal in a 2–0 victory overToulouse.[24] In the team's first match following the winter break, he scored his third goal of the campaign in Paris Saint-Germain's victory overSochaux.[25] After a prolonged period of negotiations, on 8 March 2011, Sakho signed a two-year contract extension with the club until June 2014.[26] On 20 April, he captained the team to a 3–1 victory overAngers in the semi-finals of the Coupe de France. The victory inserted the club into the2011 Coupe de France Final; the club's second consecutive appearance in the competition's final match.[27] Paris Saint-Germain lost the match 1–0 toLille. On 10 May, Sakho was nominated for theNational Union of Professional Footballers (UNFP)Young Player of the Year award. Two weeks later, he won the honour. Sakho was also named to the organization's Team of the Year alongside club teammateNenê.[28]
Sakho began the2011–12 season as the club's first-choice captain under Kombouaré. On 13 August 2011, in the club's second league match of the season, he suffered ahamstring injury.[29] Despite initially being ruled out for three weeks, Sakho missed two months and returned to the team in its 3–1 away win overAjaccio. He remained a fixture in the team for the rest of the autumn campaign as PSG finished the first half of the league in first-place position.[30] In January 2012, Kombouaré resigned from his position. He was replaced by Italian managerCarlo Ancelotti. Under the helm of Ancelotti, Sakho retained the captaincy and appeared as a starter through March. However, after unconvincing performances in draws with Lyon,Caen, and Bordeaux, which resulted in the club losing its grip on first place, the captain was benched by Ancelotti and stripped of the captaincy. Ancelotti based Sakho's benching on the increased competition in the squad as the Italian preferred the central duo ofMilan Biševac andAlex.[31][32] Sakho was also questioned by club directorLeonardo for being "slightly overweight".[33]
After making a cameo appearance in theLe Classique,[34] Sakho made his second appearance since his benching on 29 April 2012 appearing as a first-half substitute for the injured Biševac against fellow title contendersLille. In the second half, withLes Parisiens leading 1–0, Sakho conceded a penalty after fouling strikerNolan Roux.[35] The foul also resulted in ared card. Lille converted the penalty and later went on to win the match 2–1.[36]
On 26 May 2013, in PSG's final game of the season having already won the league, Sakho came on as an emergency goalkeeper for the final seven minutes againstLorient after substitute goalkeeperRonan Le Crom had been sent off for foulingJulien Quercia to give away a penalty.Arnaud Le Lan converted the penalty, but PSG won 3–1.[37]
On 2 September 2013,Premier League clubLiverpool announced the signing of Sakho for a fee of £18 million.[38] He made his debut on 16 September 2013 againstSwansea City in a 2–2 draw at theLiberty Stadium.[39] Liverpool managerBrendan Rodgers had described the Frenchman as "a beast in training" prior to his debut.[40] On 7 December 2013, Sakho scored his first goal for Liverpool in a 4–1 win atAnfield againstWest Ham United.[41] Intermittent injuries limited Sakho to just 19 appearances, however he played a key role in Liverpool's surprisetitle challenge where they eventually finished as runners-up in the Premier League.[citation needed]
On 27 September 2014, Sakho was left out of the squad for the Merseyside Derby clash againstEverton. Upon hearing the manager's decision, he left the stadium. The Frenchman later apologised for his action.[42] After a poor beginning to theseason, managerBrendan Rodgers switched to a 3-man defensive line in October – with Sakho playing a crucial part. His pace, athleticism, and ball playing abilities were key in this formation.[43] Sakho returned to the Liverpool team for a 2–2 draw withArsenal on 22 December 2014[44] and went on to help the Reds to five clean sheets in eightPremier League matches.[45]
Sakho began the season as backup toDejan Lovren. On 17 September 2015, Sakho made his first start of the season; a man-of-the-match performance in aEuropa League away match againstBordeaux, captaining the side in a 1–1 draw.[46] A day later, it was announced that he had signed a new long-term contract with the club.[47] Sakho was restored to the starting lineup and under new managerJürgen Klopp was praised for his excellent form.[48] On 8 November, however, he sustained a knee injury in a 2–1 defeat toCrystal Palace at Anfield that ruled him out for two months.[49]
Sakho was praised in Liverpool's victory overBorussia Dortmund in the Europa League quarter-finals. He coped against in-form strikerPierre-Emerick Aubameyang in the 1–1 away draw in the first leg,[50] and then scored a header as they mounted a late comeback to win the second 4–3.[51]
On 18 July 2016, it was announced that Sakho would wear the number 3 jersey for the2016–17 season, switching from the number 17 he had worn since he joined Liverpool.[52] During Liverpool's pre-season tour of the United States, Sakho was sent home by manager Jürgen Klopp for not respecting the rules that had been put in place for the squad. Klopp revealed that Sakho had been late for the team's flight as well as for a subsequent medical treatment session and a team meal time.[53] As a result, Sakho was demoted from the senior squad and thus only played competitive football with thereserves in theProfessional Development League that season.[citation needed]
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On 31 January 2017, Sakho signed withCrystal Palace on loan until the end of the season. Sakho made his debut appearance in a 1–0 victory overMiddlesbrough on 25 February, and was praised by managerSam Allardyce for his role in Crystal Palace's victory.[54] After Palace kept clean sheets in victories againstWest Bromwich Albion andWatford, Sakho was named a nominee for thePremier League Player of the Month award for March[55] and was also awarded Crystal Palace's Player of the Month on 31 March.[56] Sakho followed this up with well-received performances in Palace's 1–2 victory atStamford Bridge over league leadersChelsea and a 3–0 home win overArsenal.[57]
On 31 August 2017, Sakho signed for Crystal Palace on a four-year contract, with a transfer fee of £24 million plus £2 million in add-ons being agreed with Liverpool.[58][59]
In July 2021, Sakho signed forLigue 1 clubMontpellier on afree transfer, after his Crystal Palace contract expired.[60]
On 27 June 2022, Sakho changed his shirt number at Montpellier from 3 to 75, taking advantage of new rules on shirt numbers set forth by theLigue de Football Professionnel (LFP). 75 is thedepartment number of Paris, where Sakho was born.[61]
On 24 October 2023, Sakho was involved in an altercation with managerMichel Der Zakarian, with the defender reportedly grabbing Der Zakarian by the collar before the manager fell to the floor; it is alleged that Sakho was provoked by Der Zakarian calling him a "cry-baby" over a training ground incident.[62] On 2 November, Sakho announced his departure from the club.[63]
On 11 June 2024, Georgian sideTorpedo Kutaisi officially announced that they had reached an agreement for the signing of Sakho on a free transfer; as part of the deal, he would also serve in a managerial role within the club's youth academy.[64][65]
Sakho has been active withFrance at youth level.[66] As early as the age of 13, he began featuring with regional youth sides playing for Île-de-France alongside fellow youth internationalsYacine Brahimi,Tripy Makonda,Maxime Partouche, andSébastien Corchia. Sakho made his debut for theunder-16 team on 21 March 2006 in afriendly match againstGermany in a 3–1 victory.[67] He scored his only goal for the team in their 1–0 victory overEngland in theMontaigu Tournament.[68] France later won the competition defeatingItaly 2–1 in the final.[69] With theunder-17 team, Sakho made his debut in the team's opening match against Cyprus in an international youth tournament.[70] Midway through the season, Sakho was namedcaptain by coach François Blaquart who noticed the player's leadership skills. Under Sakho's captaincy, the team reached the2007 UEFA European Under-17 Championship and, later, the2007 FIFA U-17 World Cup by virtue of their semi-final appearance in the UEFA-sanctioned tournament. At the U-17 World Cup, which was held in South Korea, Sakho captained the team to a quarter-final appearance where they lost toSpain in apenalty shoot-out.[71]
Due his increased playing time with his parent club, Sakho only made four appearances with theunder-18 team. He made his debut for the team on 18 December 2007 in a friendly match againstPortugal and later featured in two friendly matches againstGermany, one of which was played at theGAZi-Stadion auf der Waldau inStuttgart.[72][73] Similarly with theunder-19 team, Sakho's play with the team was limited not only due to his playing time with Paris Saint-Germain, but also due to his commitments with theunder-21 team. Despite making only four appearances with the team, he was selected to play in the2009 UEFA European Under-19 Championship. Paris Saint-Germain, however, refused his participation in order to preserve the player's fitness with the player having already played in the2009 Toulon Tournament, which was held the same month.[74]
Sakho made his France U21 debut on 19 August 2008 in a friendly match againstSlovakia.[75] He played in the 2009 Toulon Tournament and captained the team on two occasions serving in place of the lead captain for the tournament,Étienne Capoue, who came off the bench. On 8 September 2009, Sakho scored his first under-21 goal in a2011 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification match againstUkraine. The match ended in a 2–2 draw.[76] A month later, he was installed as the first-choice captain of the team following the selection of former captainMoussa Sissoko to thesenior team.[citation needed]
On 5 August 2010, Sakho was called up to theFrance senior team for the first time by new managerLaurent Blanc for the team'sfriendly match againstNorway on 11 August 2010. He didn't make his international debut in the match, but was subsequently called up by Blanc for national team matches in September and October 2010. On 17 November 2010, Sakho made his senior international debut againstEngland in a 2–1 win atWembley Stadium, appearing as a substitute at the start of the second half forPhilippe Mexès.[77][78]
On 19 November 2013, in the second leg of their2014 World Cup qualifying play-off againstUkraine, Sakho scored his first and second international goals, givingLes Bleus a 3–2 aggregate win to qualify for the2014 FIFA World Cup.[79]
On 13 May 2014, Sakho was named inDidier Deschamps' squad for the2014 FIFA World Cup.[80] He made hisFIFA World Cup debut in the team's opening match, keeping a clean sheet in partnership withRaphaël Varane in a 3–0 win overHonduras.[81] In the second match,Les Bleus were again on course for a shutout with Sakho in defence, leading 3–0 againstSwitzerland when he was substituted with an injury in the 66th minute. The team eventually ran out 5–2 winners to qualify for theknockout stage.[82] Sakho returned to the side for the next match, helping France to another clean sheet in a 0–0 draw withEcuador.[83]
On 17 May 2018, he was named on the preliminary list for the French squad for the2018 FIFA World Cup.[84] He ultimately did not make the final list.[85][86]
In April 2016, Richard Innes of theDaily Mirror described him as "a defensive maverick; a man who plays by his own rules", who practises an "often highlyalternative approach" to defending.[50] A tall and strong defender,[87] in 2013, Steve Hunter highlighted that Sakho's main traits are his tackling ability, work-rate, and leadership, although he also singled out the centre-back for his "physical and tactical qualities."[88] Despite not possessing a particularly good touch on the ball, which has led him to be criticised both by pundits and his teams' fans on occasion, he is also a highly competent passer, with Jack Lusby ofBleacher Report describing him as "Liverpool's best and most effective ball-playing centre-back" in 2015.[89] His ball-playing ability, combined with his pace and athleticism, enabled him to excel in a three–man back–line under his Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers during the 2014–15 season.[43]
On 23 April 2016, it was announced that Sakho was being investigated byUEFA for violating an anti-doping rule, after he was tested on 17 March following a Europa League game against Manchester United.[90] The club, along with Sakho, agreed that while UEFA were investigating, he would not be available for team selection.[91] Five days later UEFA punished him with a 30-day provisional suspension from all European football, which FIFA extended to cover all world football.[92] On 28 May 2016, when the ban expired, UEFA's chairman of the control, ethics and disciplinary body decided not to extend it.[93] On 8 July 2016, the case was dismissed by UEFA.[94] The substance higenamine, found in weight-loss supplements, was not specifically on theWorld Anti-Doping Agency’s prohibited list.[95] On 4 November 2020, Sakho won a financial settlement and apology from WADA for defamation and received substantial damages. Despite the agency not disclosing the amount, it was reported that Sakho sought a reported 16.7 million pounds ($21.7 million) in damages from WADA for its comments about the case.[95]
In 2012, he married Moroccan fashion designer Majda,[96] with whom he has three daughters, Aida, Sienna and Niya, born in 2013, 2015 and 2023,[97] and a son, Tidiane, born in 2018.[98]
As part of Liverpool's work in the community, Sakho helped teachFrench to local children when he played for them.[99]
| Club | Season | League | National cup | League cup | Europe | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Paris Saint-Germain | 2006–07 | Ligue 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2[a] | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 2007–08 | Ligue 1 | 12 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 0 | |
| 2008–09 | Ligue 1 | 23 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 7[a] | 0 | 0 | 0 | 34 | 1 | |
| 2009–10 | Ligue 1 | 32 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 39 | 0 | |
| 2010–11 | Ligue 1 | 35 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 9[b] | 0 | 1[c] | 0 | 46 | 4 | |
| 2011–12 | Ligue 1 | 22 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1[b] | 0 | 0 | 0 | 26 | 0 | |
| 2012–13 | Ligue 1 | 27 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3[d] | 0 | 0 | 0 | 34 | 2 | |
| Total | 151 | 7 | 17 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 22 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 201 | 7 | ||
| Liverpool | 2013–14 | Premier League | 18 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 19 | 1 | |
| 2014–15 | Premier League | 16 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 2[b] | 0 | — | 27 | 0 | ||
| 2015–16 | Premier League | 22 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 10[b] | 1 | — | 34 | 2 | ||
| Total | 56 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 12 | 1 | — | 80 | 3 | |||
| Crystal Palace (loan) | 2016–17 | Premier League | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 8 | 0 | ||
| Crystal Palace | 2017–18 | Premier League | 19 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 20 | 1 | ||
| 2018–19 | Premier League | 27 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 27 | 0 | |||
| 2019–20 | Premier League | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 14 | 0 | |||
| 2020–21 | Premier League | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 6 | 0 | |||
| Total | 72 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 75 | 1 | ||||
| Montpellier | 2021–22 | Ligue 1 | 29 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | 32 | 0 | |||
| 2022–23 | Ligue 1 | 15 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 16 | 1 | ||||
| 2023–24 | Ligue 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | 1 | 0 | ||||
| Total | 45 | 1 | 4 | 0 | — | — | — | 49 | 1 | |||||
| Torpedo Kutaisi | 2024 | Erovnuli Liga | 11 | 0 | — | — | 2[e] | 0 | — | 13 | 0 | |||
| 2025 | Erovnuli Liga | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | – | – | 6 | 0 | ||||
| Total | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 2 | 0 | — | 19 | 0 | ||||
| Career total | 336 | 11 | 27 | 0 | 19 | 0 | 36 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 419 | 12 | ||
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| France | 2010 | 1 | 0 |
| 2011 | 4 | 0 | |
| 2012 | 6 | 0 | |
| 2013 | 5 | 2 | |
| 2014 | 8 | 0 | |
| 2015 | 3 | 0 | |
| 2016 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2017 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2018 | 1 | 0 | |
| Total | 29 | 2 | |
| No. | Date | Venue | Cap | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 19 November 2013 | Stade de France, Saint-Denis, France | 16 |  Ukraine | 1–0 | 3–0 | 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification | [103] |
| 2 | 3–0 |
Paris Saint-Germain
Liverpool
Torpedo Kutaisi
Individual
