Souleymane Doukara

Souleymane Doukara
Personal information
Full name Souleymane Doukara[1]
Date of birth (1991-09-29) 29 September 1991
Place of birth Meudon, France
Height 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)
Playing position Striker / Winger
Club information
Current team
 Leeds United
Number 11
Youth career
SCM Châtillon
CA Paris
Paris Université Club
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2008–2011 Rovigo 75 (11)
2011–2012 Vibonese 37 (13)
2012–2014 Catania 13 (0)
2013–2014 → Juve Stabia (loan) 21 (6)
2014– Leeds United 53 (9)

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 23:06, 15 February 2016 (UTC).


Souleymane Doukara (born 29 September 1991 in Meudon) is a French-Senegalese footballer who plays for English club Leeds United. He is a striker and can also play as a winger.

He is nicknamed Dudu or The Duke.[2][3]

Club career

Early career

He started his professional career during the 2008–09 season, playing for Rovigo Calcio in the Lega Pro Seconda Divisione.[4] Making his first team debut at the age of 16 he played seven games that season, without scoring goals. Doukara was scouted by A.C. Milan who had an option to sign him from Rovigo, he even played for Milan's's youth team on a trial spell during a youth tournament in Milan, but the club decided against signing him.[2][5] His club participated in the 2009–10 Serie D season and Doukara had his first chance to play as a regular starter;[4] at the end of the championship he had made 36 appearances. His form earned him a trial spell at Grasshopper Club Zürich in the Swiss Super League but he was unable to earn a contract.

Prior to the 2011–12 Lega Pro season, Doukara was transferred to Seconda Divisione club Vibonese, in which he played 37 out of 42 league matches, scoring 13 goals.

Catania

After impressing scouts in the Italian fourth tier, Doukara officially signed with Serie A outfit, Calcio Catania. He made his Serie A debut on the 16 September 2012, when he came on as a substitute for Alejandro Gómez against Fiorentina in a 2–0 loss after goals from Luca Toni and Stevan Jovetić.[6] Doukara primarily served as a back-up to Argentine international's Gonzalo Bergessio and Maxi López, though he made 12 Serie A appearances in his maiden top flight season.

Additionally, he made 2 Coppa Italia appearances that season in Catania's quarter-final run. Doukara failed to score for the Sicilian outfit in his debut season at the club.

On 1 September 2013, Doukara played in the 3–0 defeat of Catania by Serie A side Internazionale.

Loan to Juve Stabia

On 2 September, the last day of the transfer window, Doukara joined Serie B side Juve Stabia on loan. Subsequently he scored six goals in 20 games during the 2013/14 season. However this wasn't enough to keep Juve Stabia in the division as they were relegated, finishing bottom.

Leeds United

2014–15

On 11 July 2014, it was confirmed by Leeds United owner Massimo Cellino that the club would sign him on season-long loan with the option for a permanent deal.[7] On 12 July, Doukara's signing to Leeds was confirmed on the club's official Twitter page.[8][9] The loan fee was £500,000 with an additional payment of £1.5 million agreed to make the transfer permanent.[10] On 1 August, Doukara was assigned the Leeds number 29 shirt for the 2014–15 season.[11] Doukara made his debut for Leeds on 9 August against Millwall.[12]

Doukara's first goal for Leeds United came on 12 August 2014, in a League Cup match against Accrington Stanley with fellow newcomer Gaetano Berardi getting the assist. He scored his second less than twenty minutes later to make it 2–0 to the home side.[13][14]

However on 16 August, Doukara tore his ankle ligaments in the 1–0 victory over Middlesbrough. The injury would rule him out for 4–5 weeks.[15][16]

On 1 September 2014, Doukara's loan deal was made permanent, signing a three-year deal at the club.[17] On 16 September 2014 he scored his first league goal for Leeds and his third in all competitions against Bournemouth in a 3–1 win.[18] On 20 September, Doukara scored his 4th goal of the season and his first league goal at Elland Road in a 3–0 win over local rivals Huddersfield Town.[19] Doukara scored his 5th goal of the season in a 1–1 draw against Norwich City, with teammate Adryan providing an assist.[20] The same game saw him pick up a suspension for receiving his 5th yellow card of the season.[21] Doukara returned from suspension and scored his 6th goal of the season against Blackpool in a 3–1 win on 8 November.[22]

On 18 April 2015, Doukara was 1 of 6 Massimo Cellino signings (including Mirco Antenucci, Giuseppe Bellusci, Marco Silvestri, Dario Del Fabro and Edgar Çani) who controversially pulled out of the squad with an 'injury' the day before a 2–1 loss against Charlton Athletic.[23][24][25]

On 2 May 2015, Doukara's strike against Blackpool was nominated for Leeds United's goal of the season at the end of the 2014/15 season awards ceremony, but lost out to eventual winner Rudy Austin's goal against Watford.[26]

2015–16

On 31 July 2015, Doukara was given the number 11 shirt for the upcoming 2015/16 season.[27] He scored his first goal of the season against Rotherham United on 9 January 2016 in a 2–0 win to help Leeds advance to the fourth round of the FA Cup. [28] He scored his fourth goal in five games in a 2–1 victory over Bolton Wanderers in the FA Cup on 30 January.[29] On 31 March 2016 Doukara was banned for eight matches after biting Fernando Amorebieta during Leeds' home game with Fulham on 23 February 2016.[30]

After being banned for eight matches, Doukara returned to the Leeds squad upon the expiry of his ban in the final game of the season in Leeds' 1–1 draw against Preston North End.[31]

2016–17

He made his first start of the season for Leeds on 23 August 2016, starting in Leeds' League Cup fixture against Luton Town.[32]

Doukara came on as a substitute on 29 October 2016 against Burton Albion, making an immediate impact by winning the penalty scored by team-mate Chris Wood which was followed by Doukara's first goal of the season to seal the game at 2–0 deep into stoppage time.[33]

International career

Born in Meudon, France, Doukara is also eligible to play for Senegal through his parents. On 5 April 2014, he declared that he wanted to play for Senegal.[34]

Style of play

Doukara plays as a striker but he can also play as a winger.[9] Doukara revealed in a 2013 interview that his favourite player was Nicolas Anelka due to his style of play.[35]

Career statistics

As of 22 November 2014.[36]
Club statistics
Club Season League National Cup League Cup Other Total
Division AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Leeds United 2014–15 The Championship255101200277
2015–16 The Championship233221000275
Total 4883222005412

References

  1. ↑ "EFL: Retained list: 2015/16" (PDF). English Football League. p. 29. Retrieved 29 June 2016.
  2. 1 2 "Souleymane Doukara: 1991 – France". Generazione Di Talenti. 7 January 2012. Retrieved 7 January 2012.
  3. ↑ "Vibo Valentia, Doukara: "I dedicate the goal to my family and to the fans"". TuttoLegaPro. 24 October 2011. Retrieved 24 October 2011.
  4. 1 2 "Aic.football.it profile". Retrieved 27 September 2012.
  5. ↑ "Doukara show Gol, prayers and the myth Anelka". La Gazzetta Dello Sport. 30 December 2011. Retrieved 30 December 2011.
  6. ↑ "Fiorentina 2 – 0 Catania". Football Italia. 16 September 2012. Retrieved 16 September 2012.
  7. ↑ "Leeds United President Massimo Cellino on new signings, McCormack, Elland Road & buying a bus". BBC Sport. 11 July 2014. Retrieved 11 July 2014.
  8. ↑ "COMPLETE: We can now confirm that Souleymane Doukara will join the club on a season-long loan with a view to a permanent deal.". Leeds United Official Twitter Page. 12 July 2014. Retrieved 12 July 2014.
  9. 1 2 "STRIKER JOINS ON LOAN: Souleymane Doukara joins up for the season...". Leeds United Official Site. 12 July 2014. Retrieved 12 July 2014.
  10. ↑ Laurie Whitwell (5 August 2014). "Leeds United don't even own their chairs: owner Massimo Cellino on the mess to have engulfed Elland Road". Daily Mail. Retrieved 6 August 2014.
  11. ↑ "SQUAD NUMBERS RELEASED". Leeds United. 1 August 2014. Retrieved 1 August 2014.
  12. ↑ "Millwall v Leeds". BBC Sport. Retrieved 9 August 2014.
  13. ↑ "Leeds V Accrington". Leeds United. Retrieved 12 August 2014.
  14. ↑ Press Association (19 April 2015). "Neil Redfearn:'freakish events' caused six Leeds players to miss game". The Guardian.
  15. ↑ "Leeds 1 Middlesbrough 0". BBC Sport. 16 August 2014. Retrieved 16 August 2014.
  16. ↑ "DEBUTANT SHARP BLUNTS BORO". Leeds United Official Site. Retrieved 16 August 2014.
  17. ↑ "Doukara commits to United". Leeds United F.C. 1 September 2014. Retrieved 2 September 2014.
  18. ↑ "Bournemouth 1 – 3 Leeds". BBC Sport. 16 September 2014. Retrieved 16 September 2014.
  19. ↑ "UNITED TAKE DERBY DAY SPOILS". Leeds United Official Site. 20 September 2014.
  20. ↑ "UNITED EARN AWAY POINT". Leeds United Official Site. 21 October 2014. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
  21. ↑ "DOUKARA ABSENCE OPENS DOOR". Leeds United Official Site. 24 October 2014. Retrieved 24 October 2014.
  22. ↑ "UNITED TOO STRONG FOR BLACKPOOL". Leeds United Official Site. 8 November 2014. Retrieved 8 November 2014.
  23. ↑ Press Association (19 April 2015). "Leeds United striker Steve Morison left bemused by latest chaos at Elland Road". Daily Mail.
  24. ↑ Press Association (19 April 2015). "Neil Redfearn:'freakish events' caused six Leeds players to miss game". The Guardian.
  25. ↑ Press Association (19 April 2015). "Leeds United should sack six players who pulled out of Charlton game at short notice, says former Whites captain Trevor Cherry". Daily Mail.
  26. ↑ "MOWATT SCOOPS AWARDS NIGHT DOUBLE". Leeds United. 2 May 2015.
  27. ↑ "2015/16 SQUAD NUMBERS ANNOUNCED". Leeds United Official site. 31 July 2015. Retrieved 31 July 2015.
  28. ↑ http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-3391771/Leeds-1-0-Rotherham-Steve-Evans-earns-bragging-rights-former-Mustafa-Carayol-s-debut-goal.html
  29. ↑ Leeds United Official Site (30 January 2016). "REPORT: UNITED SEAL CUP PROGRESS AT BOLTON". Leeds United Official Site. Retrieved 30 January 2016.
  30. ↑ "Doukara Banned for Biting". BBC Sport. Retrieved 31 March 2016.
  31. ↑ "REPORT: SPOILS SHARED AT PRESTON". Leeds United Official Site. 7 May 2016. Retrieved 7 May 2016.
  32. ↑ "MATCHDAY: LUTON- LIVE!". Leeds United. 23 August 2016. Retrieved 23 August 2016.
  33. ↑ "Burton Albion: Two Late Goals Secure United Victory". Leeds United. 29 October 2016. Retrieved 29 October 2016.
  34. ↑ "EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH SOULEYMANE DOUKARA: CHÂTILLON JUVE STABIA". Calcio Mio. 5 April 2014. Retrieved 5 April 2014.
  35. ↑ "Interview with ... Souleymane Doukara: "The Serie A is the top"". Foot Mercato. 4 January 2013. Retrieved 4 January 2013.
  36. ↑ "Souleymane Doukara stats". Soccerbase. Retrieved 9 November 2014.
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