1. Overview
Bakaye Traoré (born 6 March 1985) is a former professional footballer from Mali who primarily played as a central midfielder. Born in Bondy, France, Traoré began his professional career in 2004 with Amiens SC in France. He later played for AS Nancy before moving to Italian club A.C. Milan in 2012, becoming the first Malian player to represent the club. He also had stints with Kayseri Erciyesspor and Bursaspor in Turkey. Internationally, Traoré earned 24 caps for the Mali national team, scoring two goals, and was part of the squad that secured a bronze medal at the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations.
2. Early life and youth career
Bakaye Traoré was born on 6 March 1985 in Bondy, a commune in the northeastern suburbs of Paris, France. His early football development began at the local youth club, Villepinte FC. He later joined the youth ranks of Amiens SC, where he honed his skills before transitioning into professional football. Traoré stands at 73 in (185 cm) and weighs 159 lb (72 kg).
3. Club career
Bakaye Traoré's professional club career spanned several leagues across France, Italy, and Turkey, marked by a progression through different levels of competition and increasing prominence as a midfielder.
3.1. Amiens SC
Traoré commenced his professional career with Ligue 2 club Amiens SC in 2004. He made his professional debut on 5 September 2004 against LB Châteauroux. In the seasons that followed, he steadily gained more playing time, becoming a more integral part of the team. During the 2006-07 season, Amiens achieved notable success, narrowly missing out on promotion to Ligue 1 by a single point. Despite the team's relegation to the third division, the Championnat National, in the 2008-09 season, Traoré enjoyed his most productive individual season, scoring 9 goals in 36 official appearances across all competitions. He played for Amiens from 2003 to 2009.
3.2. AS Nancy
On 10 June 2009, Traoré departed Amiens SC on a free transfer, signing a three-year contract with Ligue 1 club AS Nancy, then managed by Pablo Correa. He quickly made an impact, scoring his first goal for the club on 8 August 2009 in the season-opening 3-1 defeat against Valenciennes FC, which was Nancy's third goal of the match. During the 2011-12 season, Traoré became a crucial central midfielder for Nancy, contributing significantly to both their offensive and defensive play. Despite being sidelined for approximately two months due to a bout of malaria, he remained a key figure for the team upon his return.
3.3. A.C. Milan
Traoré's career took a significant step forward on 17 May 2012 when he signed a three-year contract with Italian football giant A.C. Milan on a free transfer. His move made him the first Malian player to feature for the renowned Serie A club. He made his official debut for Milan on 26 September 2012 in a 2-0 Serie A victory against Cagliari Calcio. In his inaugural season with the club, he made seven first-team appearances, all coming off the bench. Traoré made his UEFA Champions League debut on 20 February 2013, entering the match in the 88th minute during Milan's 2-0 victory over FC Barcelona.
3.4. Kayseri Erciyesspor (loan)
On 5 September 2013, Traoré was sent on loan to Turkish Süper Lig club Kayseri Erciyesspor. During his loan spell, he continued to gain valuable playing experience in a competitive league.
3.5. Bursaspor
Following the conclusion of his contract with A.C. Milan, Bakaye Traoré signed a three-year deal with Bursaspor, another club in the Turkish Süper Lig, in June 2014. He continued his professional playing career with Bursaspor until 2016.
4. International career
Bakaye Traoré holds dual French and Malian nationality but chose to represent the Mali national team at the international level. He made his senior international debut for Mali on 24 February 2009 in a 4-0 victory against Angola. He went on to earn 24 caps for his country, scoring two goals. Traoré was a member of the Malian squad that participated in the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations. He also played a key role in the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations, where Mali achieved a third-place finish, securing a bronze medal.
5. Career statistics
This section provides a statistical overview of Bakaye Traoré's professional career, detailing his appearances and goals for both club and national teams.
5.1. Club
| Club | Season | League | Cup | League Cup | Europe | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Amiens | 2004-05 | Ligue 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 2 | 0 | ||
| 2005-06 | Ligue 2 | 22 | 0 | 2 | 0 | - | - | 24 | 0 | |||
| 2006-07 | Ligue 2 | 17 | 0 | 2 | 0 | - | - | 19 | 0 | |||
| 2007-08 | Ligue 2 | 31 | 6 | 7 | 3 | - | - | 38 | 9 | |||
| 2008-09 | Ligue 2 | 34 | 8 | 2 | 1 | - | - | 36 | 9 | |||
| Total | 106 | 14 | 13 | 4 | - | - | 119 | 18 | ||||
| Nancy | 2009-10 | Ligue 1 | 22 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | - | 24 | 1 | |
| 2010-11 | Ligue 1 | 29 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | - | 33 | 5 | ||
| 2011-12 | Ligue 1 | 22 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | 23 | 5 | ||
| Total | 73 | 11 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 0 | - | 80 | 11 | |||
| Milan | 2012-13 | Serie A | 7 | 0 | 1 | 0 | - | 1 | 0 | 9 | 0 | |
| Kayseri Erciyesspor (loan) | 2013-14 | Süper Lig | 25 | 1 | 2 | 0 | - | - | 27 | 1 | ||
| Bursaspor | 2014-15 | Süper Lig | 10 | 0 | 6 | 2 | - | 2 | 0 | 18 | 2 | |
| 2015-16 | Süper Lig | 8 | 1 | 5 | 2 | - | - | 13 | 3 | |||
| Total | 18 | 1 | 11 | 4 | - | 2 | 0 | 31 | 5 | |||
| Career total | 229 | 27 | 32 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 266 | 35 | ||
- "Cup" appearances include matches in the Coppa Italia, Coupe de France, Supercoppa Italiana, and Trophée des Champions.
- "League Cup" appearances include matches in the Coupe de la Ligue.
5.2. International
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mali | 2009 | 6 | 1 |
| 2010 | 5 | 0 | |
| 2011 | 3 | 0 | |
| 2012 | 6 | 1 | |
| 2013 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2014 | 4 | 0 | |
| Total | 24 | 2 | |
6. Honours
Mali
- Africa Cup of Nations bronze: 2012
7. Trivia
When Bakaye Traoré joined A.C. Milan, he chose the jersey number 12. This was a unique choice, as traditionally, the number 12 jersey at A.C. Milan had exclusively been worn by goalkeepers. Traoré became the first field player in the club's history to wear this number.