1. Overview
Abdou Razack Traoré, born on December 28, 1988, is a professional footballer from Burkina Faso who primarily plays as a forward or an attacking midfielder. Born in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, Traoré has represented Burkina Faso at the international level. His extensive club career spans multiple countries, including Norway, Poland, and notably Turkey, where he played for several Süper Lig clubs, before moving to China. This article details his journey from a promising young talent to an experienced professional, highlighting his club transfers, performance statistics, international contributions, and a notable incident during his early career.
2. Personal life and background
Abdou Razack Traoré was born in Abidjan, Ivory Coast. Although born in Ivory Coast, he holds a Burkinabè passport because both of his parents are from Burkina Faso. This parentage allowed him to represent Burkina Faso at the international level.
3. Club career
Traoré's professional career began in North Africa before moving to Europe and later to Turkey and China, showcasing his versatility across various leagues.
3.1. Rosenborg BK
Traoré began his professional career with Raja Casablanca before joining the Norwegian club Rosenborg BK on a free transfer in 2006. At Rosenborg, he played alongside his compatriot, Didier Ya Konan, an Ivory Coast international who joined the club in December 2006. In August 2007, Norwegian newspapers reported that Traoré was assaulted and robbed while on vacation in Ivory Coast. In November 2007, the prestigious World Soccer magazine featured him on their list of the 50 most exciting teenagers in world football, recognizing his potential.
His time at Rosenborg concluded when his contract expired at the end of 2010. His final year with the Norwegian champions was challenging, marked by limited playing time. Following his departure, Erik Hoftun, Rosenborg's Chief of Football, stated that Traoré "didn't develop as much as we expected," while wishing him well for his future career.
3.2. Lechia Gdańsk
On August 20, 2010, Traoré joined the Polish Ekstraklasa club Lechia Gdańsk on loan. He made his debut for the club on August 28 in a league match against Śląsk Wrocław. His first goal for Lechia Gdańsk came on September 21 in a Polish Cup match against Górnik Zabrze. Just four days later, on September 25, he scored his first two league goals in a game, also against Górnik Zabrze. His notable performance for the club earned him the Ekstraklasa Player of the Month award in October 2012.
3.3. Gaziantepspor
On January 15, 2013, Traoré moved to Turkey, joining Süper Lig club Gaziantepspor on a free transfer. He played for the club for two seasons, making 37 league appearances and scoring 10 goals.
3.4. Karabükspor
Following his stint at Gaziantepspor, Traoré joined another Turkish club, Karabükspor. During his time at Karabükspor, he made 42 league appearances and scored 17 goals. He also contributed in cup competitions and continental matches, playing 4 games in the UEFA Europa League.
3.5. Konyaspor
Traoré had two separate stints with Konyaspor. Initially, he joined the club on loan for the 2015-16 season. During this loan period, he played in 30 league matches, scoring 7 goals, and also made 5 appearances in the Turkish Cup. He later returned to Konyaspor permanently for the 2017-18 and 2018-19 seasons. In his second spell, he made 22 league appearances and scored 1 goal in the Turkish Cup. He also notably scored one goal in the 2017 Turkish Super Cup, helping Konyaspor secure the title.
3.6. Sivasspor
On August 31, 2019, Traoré signed a 1+1 year contract with Sivasspor, another club in the Turkish Süper Lig. He played 9 league matches and made 4 appearances in the Turkish Cup during his time there.
3.7. Bursaspor
During the 2019-20 season, Traoré was loaned to Bursaspor. He played 14 matches in the TFF First League and scored 4 goals. He also participated in 4 cup matches, scoring 2 goals.
3.8. Giresunspor
For the 2020-21 season, Traoré joined Giresunspor. He made 26 league appearances, scoring 3 goals, and played in 2 cup matches.
3.9. Nantong Zhiyun
In 2021, Abdou Razack Traoré moved to China, signing with China League One side Nantong Zhiyun. He played 16 league matches and scored 6 goals in his first season (2021). In the 2022 season, he made 29 league appearances, scoring 9 goals.
3.10. Nanjing City
Most recently, on July 1, 2023, Traoré joined another Chinese club, Nanjing City, which also competes in the China League One. He played 12 league matches and scored 3 goals for the club in the 2023 season.
4. International career
Abdou Razack Traoré represents the Burkina Faso national team. He made his international debut for Burkina Faso on March 27, 2011, in a match against the Namibia national team. Throughout his international career, he has made 49 appearances and scored 4 goals for his country. He has participated in various competitions, including Africa Cup of Nations qualification matches.
5. Player style
Abdou Razack Traoré is primarily known for his versatility in attacking roles, capable of playing as a forward or an attacking midfielder. His playing style is characterized by his ability to contribute goals and assist in offensive plays. His statistics across various clubs demonstrate his consistent scoring ability from these positions.
6. Career statistics
6.1. Club
| Club | Season | League | National cup | Continental | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Rosenborg | 2007 | Tippeligaen | 18 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 9 | 3 | - | 31 | 4 | |
| 2008 | Tippeligaen | 15 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 0 | - | 23 | 1 | ||
| 2009 | Tippeligaen | 10 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | - | 13 | 1 | ||
| 2010 | Tippeligaen | 8 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | - | 12 | 1 | ||
| Total | 51 | 3 | 9 | 1 | 19 | 3 | - | 79 | 7 | |||
| Lechia Gdańsk | 2010-11 | Ekstraklasa | 27 | 12 | 6 | 1 | - | - | 33 | 13 | ||
| 2011-12 | Ekstraklasa | 24 | 4 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 24 | 4 | |||
| 2012-13 | Ekstraklasa | 13 | 9 | 2 | 1 | - | - | 15 | 10 | |||
| Total | 64 | 25 | 8 | 2 | - | - | 72 | 27 | ||||
| Gaziantepspor | 2012-13 | Süper Lig | 11 | 2 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 11 | 2 | ||
| 2013-14 | Süper Lig | 26 | 8 | 1 | 0 | - | - | 27 | 8 | |||
| Total | 37 | 10 | 1 | 0 | - | - | 38 | 10 | ||||
| Karabükspor | 2014-15 | Süper Lig | 25 | 10 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 0 | - | 33 | 12 | |
| 2016-17 | Süper Lig | 17 | 7 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 17 | 7 | |||
| Total | 42 | 17 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 0 | - | 50 | 19 | |||
| Konyaspor (loan) | 2015-16 | Süper Lig | 30 | 7 | 5 | 0 | - | - | 35 | 7 | ||
| Konyaspor | 2017-18 | Süper Lig | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | |
| 2018-19 | Süper Lig | 21 | 0 | 2 | 1 | - | - | 23 | 1 | |||
| Total | 22 | 0 | 2 | 1 | - | 1 | 1 | 25 | 2 | |||
| Sivasspor | 2019-20 | Süper Lig | 9 | 0 | 4 | 2 | - | - | 13 | 2 | ||
| Bursaspor (loan) | 2019-20 | TFF First League | 14 | 4 | 4 | 2 | - | 2 | 0 | 20 | 6 | |
| Giresunspor | 2020-21 | TFF First League | 26 | 3 | 2 | 0 | - | - | 28 | 3 | ||
| Nantong Zhiyun | 2021 | China League One | 16 | 6 | 1 | 0 | - | - | 17 | 6 | ||
| 2022 | China League One | 29 | 9 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 29 | 9 | |||
| Total | 45 | 15 | 1 | 0 | - | - | 46 | 15 | ||||
| Nanjing City | 2023 | China League One | 12 | 3 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 12 | 3 | ||
| Career total | 352 | 87 | 40 | 9 | 23 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 418 | 101 | ||
6.2. International
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Burkina Faso | 2011 | 8 | 1 |
| 2012 | 5 | 0 | |
| 2013 | 8 | 2 | |
| 2014 | 3 | 0 | |
| 2015 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2016 | 5 | 0 | |
| 2017 | 7 | 0 | |
| 2018 | 4 | 1 | |
| 2019 | 2 | 0 | |
| 2020 | 4 | 0 | |
| 2021 | 1 | 0 | |
| Total | 49 | 4 | |
:Scores and results list Burkina Faso's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Traoré goal.
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4 June 2011 | Independence Stadium, Windhoek, Namibia | Namibia | 1-0 | 4-1 | 2012 Africa Cup of Nations qualification |
| 2 | 17 January 2013 | Mbombela Stadium, Mbombela, South Africa | Eswatini | 2-0 | 3-0 | Friendly |
| 3 | 14 August 2013 | Stade Ibn Batouta, Tangier, Morocco | Morocco | 2-0 | 2-1 | Friendly |
| 4 | 13 October 2018 | Stade du 4 Août, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso | Botswana | 3-0 | 3-0 | 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualification |
7. Honours
Rosenborg
- Tippeligaen: 2009, 2010
- Superfinalen: 2010
Konyaspor
- Turkish Super Cup: 2017
Individual
- Ekstraklasa Player of the Month: October 2012
8. Controversy and incidents
On October 24, 2008, a notable incident occurred during a practice session at Rosenborg BK. It was reported that Abdou Razack Traoré physically assaulted his teammate, Øyvind Storflor, knocking him down. The following day, Rosenborg announced disciplinary action against Traoré, banning him from playing in the last two matches of the season. Traoré later expressed his regret for the incident. This event contributed to a difficult final year for Traoré at Rosenborg, which saw him receive limited playing time before his contract expired at the end of 2010.