Habib Sissoko (born 24 May 1971) is a former professional footballer who played as a forward.

Habib Sissoko
Personal information
Full name Habib Sissoko[1]
Date of birth (1971-05-24) 24 May 1971 (age 52)
Place of birth Juvisy-sur-Orge, France
Height 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)
Position(s) Forward
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1996–1997 Olympique Noisy-le-Sec
1997–1998 Louhans-Cuiseaux
1998 Preston North End 7 (0)
1998 Airdrieonians 1 (1)
1998–2000 União Leiria
2000 Cappelen
2000–2001 Torquay United 14 (2)
2001–2002 Red Star 93
2002–2003 Nîmes 24 (6)
2003–2004 Brest 20 (8)
2004–2005 Cannes 29 (5)
2005–2006 Rouen
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Career edit

Born in Juvisy-sur-Orge, Essonne, Sissoko joined Olympique Noisy-le-Sec in 1996, moving on to CS Louhans-Cuiseaux in the 1997 close season. He joined Preston North End in February 1998, making his league debut, as a second-half substitute for Kurt Nogan, in a 1–1 draw away to Wycombe Wanderers on 21 February 1998. He played seven times for North End before being released at the end of the season.

He joined Airdrieonians on trial in August 1998, scoring a late winner on his only appearance having come on as a 70th-minute substitute for Stuart Taylor in the home game against St Mirren on 22 August 1998.

In October 1998 he joined Portuguese side União Leiria joining Belgian side Cappelen in the 1999–2000 season. He was released at the end of the season and returned to England, joining Torquay United on trial, signing on a free transfer in July 2000. He was one of three French players to play for Torquay that season, the others being Jules Mendy and Khalid Chalqi.

His Torquay debut came on 12 August 2000, a 2–0 defeat away to Kidderminster Harriers, with his first goal coming two weeks later in a 3–2 win home to Blackpool. Despite a good start to his Plainmoor career, Sissoko struggled to establish himself in Torquay's struggling side. He was sacked by the club on 23 April 2001 after an angry reaction to being substituted in the defeat away to local rivals Plymouth Argyle.[2]

In July 2001, Sissoko signed for Parisian side Red Star 93. He subsequently played for Nîmes Olympique before joining Stade Brestois 29 in 2003, immediately becoming embroiled in controversy. On leaving Nîmes he still had a three match suspension in place, but played in the first three games for Brest after his move, against AS Cannes, US Raon-l'Étape and Libourne-Saint-Seurin. Brest won all three games and the three clubs appealed. However, the French Football Federation rejected the appeal and allowed the results to stand, confirming Brest's promotion to League 2 instead of Cannes, who Sissoko subsequently joined in 2004.[3]

He was released at the end of the season and in October 2005 he looked set to sign for Belgian side Louvière until the end of the season, but it fell through. On 16 November 2005, he signed for FC Rouen.[4] His contract with Rouen was terminated in March 2006, 'a victim of his bad temper'.[5]

References edit

  1. ^ "Habib Sissoko". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 25 February 2017.
  2. ^ Nurse, Howard (26 April 2001). "Relegation battle hots up". BBC Sport. Retrieved 26 January 2019.
  3. ^ Penland, Erwann (12 June 2004). "Habib Sissoko quitte Brest pour Cannes" [Habib Sissoko leaves Brest for Cannes]. Foot National (in French). Retrieved 26 January 2019.
  4. ^ Habib Sissoko signs with FC Rouen (French) Archived 27 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine
  5. ^ Sissoko a victim of his bad temper (French) Archived 24 November 2006 at the Wayback Machine

External links edit