Armand Traoré
Encyclopedia
Armand Mohamed Traoré is a French-born Senegalese footballer who plays for Queens Park Rangers as a left back. Traoré is a product of the famous Arsenal Academy
, he has also represented France at under-19
and under-21
levels, but has since opted to represent his parents' native country, Senegal
, at the senior level.
and Monaco
. Although mainly a reserve team member, making six appearances in the FA Premier Reserve League in 2005–06, he played in Dennis Bergkamp
's testimonial against Ajax in the first game at Emirates Stadium
in July 2006 and he was an unused member of Arsenal's 18-man squad for their Champions League
match against Dinamo Zagreb the following month.
The Frenchman went on to sign a professional contract with the Club in August before making his first team debut in the League Cup
in a Third Round match against West Bromwich Albion
on 24 October 2006, coming on as a 24th minute substitute for Emmanuel Adebayor
. He went on to start Arsenal's League Cup matches against Everton
, Liverpool
, both legs of the semi-final against Tottenham Hotspur
and the final against Chelsea
, which Arsenal lost 2–1. On Wednesday 28 February 2007, he started the FA Cup quarter-final replay against Blackburn Rovers in a 1–0 defeat at Ewood Park
.
At the beginning of the 2007/08 campaign Armand said he wanted to prove his quality to manager Arsène Wenger. He put in numerous impressive performances for the Reserves and even scored a few goals including a spectacular long-range effort against Tottenham Reserves.
In September 2007, Traoré returned to White Hart Lane
, but this time only as a spectator when he was arrested for carrying knuckle dusters
into the stadium. Traoré and a friend were taken into custody for questioning and Traoré was given a formal warning.
He later apologised the situation and said that he didn't know that it was wrong because the laws are different in France. He also started Arsenal's FA Cup
tie against Burnley
, before being replaced by Justin Hoyte
in the 71st minute, and was on the bench during Arsenal's 3–1 Premier League victory over Manchester City
on 2 February 2008, but did not actually make it onto the pitch. On Saturday 16 February 2008, he started and played the full 90 minutes against Manchester United at Old Trafford
in a 4–0 defeat in the FA Cup fifth round. He finally got his league debut on 5 April 2008, against Liverpool
. He was used as a left-winger in Arsenal's final two league matches of the 2007–08 season, supplying the cross which led to Nicklas Bendtner
's winner against Everton
. On 4 August 2008, he signed a long term contract with Arsenal.
to gain valuable first team experience. He was given the jersey number 30, the same jersey number that he had at Arsenal. Traoré made his debut for Portsmouth against Manchester United at Fratton Park
, playing the first 56 minutes of the game before being subbed out for Jerome Thomas
, also a former gunner.
Traoré had enjoyed a fair amount of playing time in the early part of his loan spell, being utilised as a left midfielder. However when the Croatian international, Niko Kranjčar
, returned from injury, Traoré's playing chances soon became limited.
Traoré scored his first Premier League goal on 18 May 2009 in a home match to Sunderland
, Portsmouth
went on to win 3–1.
He made 19 Premier League appearances and scored one goal for Portsmouth before returning to Arsenal at the end of the season.
in the Football League Cup
, he played 61 minutes before he was replaced by Nacer Barazite
. Due to Gaël Clichy
and Kieran Gibbs
both getting injuries, Traoré stepped up to the number one left back spot. He made his first start against Sunderland
and followed it up with big appearances including in a 3–0 win to Chelsea and a 1–1 draw over Liverpool. Traoré himself got injured and missed a few games but returned against Aston Villa
in a 3–0 win.
His form reportedly attracted the interest of Paris Saint-Germain and Traoré was forced to strenuously deny reports he was set to move to France. However Traoré struggled in the games against Everton
and Bolton Wanderers
.
Clichy's return forced Traoré out of the side until May's trip to Blackburn but the defender had proved that he was a more-than-capable understudy, helping the Gunners close the gap at the top of the Premier League.
on a season-long loan. He was given the shirt number 17, previously worn by David Trezeguet
.
Due to an injury he missed almost three months of the season before finally making his debut on 13 November 2010 against Roma
coming on as a 45th minute substitute for Fabio Grosso
. The match ended 1–1 and the goals were scored by Vincenzo Iaquinta
and Francesco Totti
.
He made his first start for Juventus
on 1 December 2010 in a Europa League match against Lech Poznan
, playing 83 minutes before being subbed out while the match ended 1–1. He made his first start in Serie A
for Juventus on 10 January 2011, starting the match against Napoli. The match ended 3–0 to Napoli with all goals scored by hat-trick hero Edinson Cavani. After a return from a short injury, he started Juventus both latest games against Milan and Cesena
. On 10 April 2011, Traoré played the full 90 minutes in a 3–2 win against Genoa
with Luca Toni
as the match winner against his former team mates. Armand spent most of his time with Juventus on the bench, making only ten league appearances. At the end of the season it was confirmed that he would return to Arsenal.
He eventually played his last game for Juventus against Manchester United at Old Trafford
in Gary Neville
's testimonial match
on 24 May 2011.
in an 8–2 loss in the Barclays Premier League. He came under criticism when he was seen smiling and congratulating several Manchester United players after the final whistle. This was his final appearance for Arsenal.
signing a three-year deal for an undisclosed fee. On 12 September 2011, Traoré made his QPR Debut in a 0-0 draw against Newcastle United
before being substituted by Matthew Connolly
on the 51st minute. On 17 September 2011, Traore next match was against Wolves
in a 3-0 win. Traoré provided 2 assists, once for Alejandro Faurlin
in the 10th minute and also for DJ Campbell in the 86th minute. On 25 September 2011, Traoré was sent off in the 90th minute in a 1-1 draw against Aston Villa
. QPR Manager Neil Warnock
described Traoré sending off as a absolute "disgrace".
and Under-18
. Armand played with the France U-19s
, helping them qualify for the Elite Round
of the 2008 UEFA Under-19 Championship qualification
. He participated in all three qualifying matches and one of France's elite matches, before France were eliminated by Italy.
He received his first call-up to the U-21 team
on 13 November 2008 for their friendly
against Denmark
. The match resulted in a 1–0 victory with Traoré playing 73 minutes before being taken off.
In June 2011, Traoré opted to represent his nation of origin, Senegal, after discussions with their coach Amara Traoré.
His father also played international football for the Senegal national football team
.
However Traoré received his first Senegal call-up on 1 August ahead of a friendly match against Morocco
.
Armand Traoré made his debut for Senegal in a 2–0 defeat against Morocco on 10 August 2011, the defender played 70 minutes before being subbed out.
Traoré explained:
"It's all about many of the things that are good in football too – like resting, doing everything right, being nice to people, respecting, not swearing or lying, being fair."
Armand has supported PSG since he was a boy, and has previously said that there had always been a dream come true to play for them sometime in the future, and his role model has been Zinedine Zidane
since he was a child.
Runner-up:
Arsenal F.C. Academy
Arsenal Football Club Academy are the youth team of Arsenal Football Club. They currently play in the FA Premier Academy League, the highest level of youth football in England...
, he has also represented France at under-19
France national youth football team
The France national youth football team are the national under-20, under-19, under-18, under-17 and under-16 football teams of France and are controlled by the Fédération Française de Football. The youth teams of France participate in tournaments sanctioned by both FIFA and UEFA and also...
and under-21
France national under-21 football team
The France national under-21 football team , known in France as Les Espoirs , is the national under-21 football team of France and is controlled by the French Football Federation. The team competes in the UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship, held every two years...
levels, but has since opted to represent his parents' native country, Senegal
Senegal
Senegal , officially the Republic of Senegal , is a country in western Africa. It owes its name to the Sénégal River that borders it to the east and north...
, at the senior level.
Arsenal
Traoré joined Arsenal on 1 August 2005, having previously been at Racing ParisRCF Paris
Racing Club de France – Levallois 92 is a French association football club formerly based in Colombes, a suburb of Paris. In 2009, the club moved to nearby Levallois-Perret after the club reached a financial agreement with the commune. Racing was founded in 1882 as a sports club and is one of the...
and Monaco
AS Monaco FC
Association Sportive de Monaco Football Club are a French football club based in Fontvieille, Monaco. The club was founded in 1924 and currently play in Ligue 2, the second tier of French football. The team plays its home matches at the Stade Louis II located within Fontvieille...
. Although mainly a reserve team member, making six appearances in the FA Premier Reserve League in 2005–06, he played in Dennis Bergkamp
Dennis Bergkamp
Dennis Nicolaas Bergkamp , is a former Dutch professional footballer who is currently the assistant manager to Frank de Boer at Ajax. At club level he played for Ajax, Internazionale, and Arsenal, and also represented the Netherlands at international level...
's testimonial against Ajax in the first game at Emirates Stadium
Emirates Stadium
Ashburton Grove, currently known as the Emirates Stadium, is a UEFA elite football stadium which is home to Arsenal FC, where they moved from Highbury in 2006. It has an current capacity of 60,361, and there have been rumours of an expansion...
in July 2006 and he was an unused member of Arsenal's 18-man squad for their Champions League
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
match against Dinamo Zagreb the following month.
The Frenchman went on to sign a professional contract with the Club in August before making his first team debut in the League Cup
Football League Cup
The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
in a Third Round match against West Bromwich Albion
West Bromwich Albion F.C.
West Bromwich Albion Football Club, also known as West Brom, The Baggies, The Throstles, Albion or WBA, are an English Premier League association football club based in West Bromwich in the West Midlands...
on 24 October 2006, coming on as a 24th minute substitute for Emmanuel Adebayor
Emmanuel Adebayor
Sheyi Emmanuel Adebayor is a Togolese footballer who plays for Tottenham Hotspur as a striker on loan from Manchester City. He plays in the same position for the Togo national team. Adebayor previously played for Metz, Monaco and Arsenal and was voted African Footballer of the Year for 2008...
. He went on to start Arsenal's League Cup matches against Everton
Everton F.C.
Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football...
, Liverpool
Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups...
, both legs of the semi-final against Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham Hotspur F.C.
Tottenham Hotspur Football Club , commonly referred to as Spurs, is an English Premier League football club based in Tottenham, north London. The club's home stadium is White Hart Lane....
and the final against Chelsea
Chelsea F.C.
Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four...
, which Arsenal lost 2–1. On Wednesday 28 February 2007, he started the FA Cup quarter-final replay against Blackburn Rovers in a 1–0 defeat at Ewood Park
Ewood Park
Ewood Park is a football stadium in the English town of Blackburn, Lancashire, and is the home of Blackburn Rovers Football Club — one of the founder members of the Football League and Premier League. Rovers have played there since they moved from Leamington Street in the summer of 1890. The...
.
At the beginning of the 2007/08 campaign Armand said he wanted to prove his quality to manager Arsène Wenger. He put in numerous impressive performances for the Reserves and even scored a few goals including a spectacular long-range effort against Tottenham Reserves.
In September 2007, Traoré returned to White Hart Lane
White Hart Lane
White Hart Lane is an all-seater football stadium in Tottenham, London, England. Built in 1899, it is the home of Tottenham Hotspur and, after numerous renovations, the stadium has a capacity of 36,230....
, but this time only as a spectator when he was arrested for carrying knuckle dusters
Brass knuckles
Brass knuckles, also sometimes called knuckles, knucks, brass knucks, or knuckledusters, are weapons used in hand-to-hand combat. Brass knuckles are pieces of metal, usually steel despite their name, shaped to fit around the knuckles...
into the stadium. Traoré and a friend were taken into custody for questioning and Traoré was given a formal warning.
He later apologised the situation and said that he didn't know that it was wrong because the laws are different in France. He also started Arsenal's FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
tie against Burnley
Burnley F.C.
Burnley Football Club are a professional English Football League club based in Burnley, Lancashire. Nicknamed the Clarets, due to the dominant colour of their home shirts, they were founder members of the Football League in 1888...
, before being replaced by Justin Hoyte
Justin Hoyte
Justin Raymond Hoyte is an English footballer who plays for Middlesbrough. His younger brother, Gavin Hoyte, plays for Arsenal in the reserve team. His mother is the British sprinter, Wendy Hoyte.-Arsenal:...
in the 71st minute, and was on the bench during Arsenal's 3–1 Premier League victory over Manchester City
Manchester City F.C.
Manchester City Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Manchester. Founded in 1880 as St. Mark's , they became Ardwick Association Football Club in 1887 and Manchester City in 1894...
on 2 February 2008, but did not actually make it onto the pitch. On Saturday 16 February 2008, he started and played the full 90 minutes against Manchester United at Old Trafford
Old Trafford
Old Trafford commonly refers to two sporting arenas:* Old Trafford, home of Manchester United F.C.* Old Trafford Cricket Ground, home of Lancashire County Cricket ClubOld Trafford can also refer to:...
in a 4–0 defeat in the FA Cup fifth round. He finally got his league debut on 5 April 2008, against Liverpool
Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups...
. He was used as a left-winger in Arsenal's final two league matches of the 2007–08 season, supplying the cross which led to Nicklas Bendtner
Nicklas Bendtner
Nicklas Bendtner , is a Danish international footballer who plays for Sunderland on loan from Arsenal as a striker...
's winner against Everton
Everton F.C.
Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football...
. On 4 August 2008, he signed a long term contract with Arsenal.
Loan move to Portsmouth
On 21 August 2008, Traoré signed a season long loan deal with PortsmouthPortsmouth F.C.
Portsmouth Football Club is an English football club based in the city of Portsmouth. The club is nicknamed Pompey. Portsmouth's home matches have been played at Fratton Park since the club's formation in 1898. The team currently play in the Football League Championship after being relegated from...
to gain valuable first team experience. He was given the jersey number 30, the same jersey number that he had at Arsenal. Traoré made his debut for Portsmouth against Manchester United at Fratton Park
Fratton Park
Fratton Park is a football stadium in the English city-port of Portsmouth. It has been the home of professional club Portsmouth F.C. since its construction in 1898.-Description:...
, playing the first 56 minutes of the game before being subbed out for Jerome Thomas
Jerome Thomas
Jerome William Thomas is an English footballer who plays for West Bromwich Albion predominantly as a left winger, but can also operate centrally...
, also a former gunner.
Traoré had enjoyed a fair amount of playing time in the early part of his loan spell, being utilised as a left midfielder. However when the Croatian international, Niko Kranjčar
Niko Kranjcar
Niko Kranjčar is a Croatian footballer who plays as a midfielder for Tottenham Hotspur and the Croatia national team.He represented two of the biggest clubs in his homeland, playing for Dinamo Zagreb before sparking controversy by making a move to their fierce rivals Hajduk Split in 2005...
, returned from injury, Traoré's playing chances soon became limited.
Traoré scored his first Premier League goal on 18 May 2009 in a home match to Sunderland
Sunderland A.F.C.
Sunderland Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear who currently play in the Premier League...
, Portsmouth
Portsmouth F.C.
Portsmouth Football Club is an English football club based in the city of Portsmouth. The club is nicknamed Pompey. Portsmouth's home matches have been played at Fratton Park since the club's formation in 1898. The team currently play in the Football League Championship after being relegated from...
went on to win 3–1.
He made 19 Premier League appearances and scored one goal for Portsmouth before returning to Arsenal at the end of the season.
Return to Arsenal
Armand Traoré returned to Arsenal and was involved in Arsenal's 2–0 win over West Bromwich AlbionWest Bromwich Albion F.C.
West Bromwich Albion Football Club, also known as West Brom, The Baggies, The Throstles, Albion or WBA, are an English Premier League association football club based in West Bromwich in the West Midlands...
in the Football League Cup
Football League Cup
The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
, he played 61 minutes before he was replaced by Nacer Barazite
Nacer Barazite
Nacer Barazite is a Dutch footballer of Moroccan descent who plays for Austria Wien. Barazite can play as either an attacking midfielder or striker.-Club career:...
. Due to Gaël Clichy
Gaël Clichy
Gaël Clichy is a French footballer who plays as a defender for Manchester City and the France national football team. Though initially right-foot dominant, he primarily plays as a left back that is also capable of playing as an offensive-minded wingback. Clichy is described as a player who...
and Kieran Gibbs
Kieran Gibbs
Kieran James Ricardo Gibbs is an English footballer who plays for Arsenal and was a product of their academy who came to prominence during 2006-07 FA Youth Cup by scoring in the semi-final prior to his first-team breakthrough...
both getting injuries, Traoré stepped up to the number one left back spot. He made his first start against Sunderland
Sunderland A.F.C.
Sunderland Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear who currently play in the Premier League...
and followed it up with big appearances including in a 3–0 win to Chelsea and a 1–1 draw over Liverpool. Traoré himself got injured and missed a few games but returned against Aston Villa
Aston Villa F.C.
Aston Villa Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Witton, Birmingham. The club was founded in 1874 and have played at their current home ground, Villa Park, since 1897. Aston Villa were founder members of The Football League in 1888. They were also founder...
in a 3–0 win.
His form reportedly attracted the interest of Paris Saint-Germain and Traoré was forced to strenuously deny reports he was set to move to France. However Traoré struggled in the games against Everton
Everton F.C.
Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football...
and Bolton Wanderers
Bolton Wanderers F.C.
Bolton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the area of Horwich in the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, Greater Manchester. They began their current spell in the Premier League in 2001....
.
Clichy's return forced Traoré out of the side until May's trip to Blackburn but the defender had proved that he was a more-than-capable understudy, helping the Gunners close the gap at the top of the Premier League.
Loan move to Juventus
On 31 August 2010, Traoré joined Italian giants JuventusJuventus F.C.
Juventus Football Club S.p.A. , commonly referred to as Juventus and colloquially as Juve , are a professional Italian association football club based in Turin, Piedmont...
on a season-long loan. He was given the shirt number 17, previously worn by David Trezeguet
David Trézéguet
David Sergio Trezeguet is a World Cup winning French international footballer who currently is a free agent after being released by Baniyas SC on 21 Nov 2011....
.
Due to an injury he missed almost three months of the season before finally making his debut on 13 November 2010 against Roma
A.S. Roma
Associazione Sportiva Roma, commonly referred to as simply Roma, is a professional Italian football club based in Rome. Founded by a merger in 1927, Roma have participated in the top-tier of Italian football for all of their existence but one season in the early 50s...
coming on as a 45th minute substitute for Fabio Grosso
Fabio Grosso
Fabio Grosso, Ufficiale OMRI is an Italian World Cup-winning footballer who currently plays for Serie A club Juventus. Grosso is primarily a left wingback, but can also play as left back. He is also a free kick, penalty kick and corner kick specialist...
. The match ended 1–1 and the goals were scored by Vincenzo Iaquinta
Vincenzo Iaquinta
Vincenzo Iaquinta, Ufficiale OMRI is an Italian World Cup-winning footballer who plays for Serie A club Juventus. He is a strong striker who can also play on the wing.-Reggiolo:...
and Francesco Totti
Francesco Totti
Francesco Totti, Ufficiale OMRI, is an Italian footballer who is the captain of Serie A club Roma. His primary position is that of a trequartista, though he has also been successfully utilized as a lone striker. Totti has spent his entire career at Roma, is the number-one goalscorer and the most...
.
He made his first start for Juventus
Juventus F.C.
Juventus Football Club S.p.A. , commonly referred to as Juventus and colloquially as Juve , are a professional Italian association football club based in Turin, Piedmont...
on 1 December 2010 in a Europa League match against Lech Poznan
Lech Poznan
Lech Poznań is a Polish football club based in Poznań, Poland. The club is named after Lech, the legendary founder of Polish nation.The club was established in 1922 as Lutnia Dębiec, later changing its name several times. From 1933 until 1994, the club was closely linked to Polish State Railways...
, playing 83 minutes before being subbed out while the match ended 1–1. He made his first start in Serie A
Serie A
Serie A , now called Serie A TIM due to sponsorship by Telecom Italia, is a professional league competition for football clubs located at the top of the Italian football league system and has been operating for over eighty years since 1929. It had been organized by Lega Calcio until 2010, but a new...
for Juventus on 10 January 2011, starting the match against Napoli. The match ended 3–0 to Napoli with all goals scored by hat-trick hero Edinson Cavani. After a return from a short injury, he started Juventus both latest games against Milan and Cesena
A.C. Cesena
Associazione Calcio Cesena is an Italian football club based in Cesena, Romagna. The club was formed in 1940 and won the first promotion to Serie A in 1973. Since then, the club have been in the Italian Premier League for a total of in 11 seasons, reaching the best achievement in 1976 with the 6th...
. On 10 April 2011, Traoré played the full 90 minutes in a 3–2 win against Genoa
Genoa C.F.C.
Genoa Cricket and Football Club, commonly referred to simply as Genoa , is a professional Italian football club based in the city of Genoa, Liguria...
with Luca Toni
Luca Toni
Luca Toni, Ufficiale OMRI is an Italian World Cup-winning footballer who currently plays for Serie A club Juventus. He has had successful spells at top clubs such as Palermo, Fiorentina, Bayern Munich, and Roma...
as the match winner against his former team mates. Armand spent most of his time with Juventus on the bench, making only ten league appearances. At the end of the season it was confirmed that he would return to Arsenal.
He eventually played his last game for Juventus against Manchester United at Old Trafford
Old Trafford
Old Trafford commonly refers to two sporting arenas:* Old Trafford, home of Manchester United F.C.* Old Trafford Cricket Ground, home of Lancashire County Cricket ClubOld Trafford can also refer to:...
in Gary Neville
Gary Neville
Gary Alexander Neville is a former English footballer. He is England's most capped right-back and was Manchester United's club captain for five years....
's testimonial match
Testimonial match
A testimonial match or testimonial game, often referred to simply as a testimonial, is a practice in some sports, notably football and especially in the United Kingdom, where a club puts on a match in honour of a player for service to the club....
on 24 May 2011.
Return to Arsenal
On 28 August 2011, Traore started and played the full 90 minutes at left-back against Manchester United at Old TraffordOld Trafford
Old Trafford commonly refers to two sporting arenas:* Old Trafford, home of Manchester United F.C.* Old Trafford Cricket Ground, home of Lancashire County Cricket ClubOld Trafford can also refer to:...
in an 8–2 loss in the Barclays Premier League. He came under criticism when he was seen smiling and congratulating several Manchester United players after the final whistle. This was his final appearance for Arsenal.
Queens Park Rangers
On 30 August 2011, Traoré completed his move to Queens Park RangersQueens Park Rangers F.C.
Queens Park Rangers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in White City, Hammersmith and Fulham, west London. As the 2010-11 Football League Championship champions, they now play in the top tier of English football the Premier League, for the first time in 15 years...
signing a three-year deal for an undisclosed fee. On 12 September 2011, Traoré made his QPR Debut in a 0-0 draw against Newcastle United
Newcastle United F.C.
Newcastle United Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear. The club was founded in 1892 by the merger of Newcastle East End and Newcastle West End, and has played at its current home ground, St James' Park, since the merger...
before being substituted by Matthew Connolly
Matthew Connolly
Matthew Thomas Martin Connolly is an English footballer who plays for Queens Park Rangers as a defender. He joined the club from Arsenal on 2 January 2008.-Career:...
on the 51st minute. On 17 September 2011, Traore next match was against Wolves
Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club that represents the city of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands region. They are members of the Premier League, the highest level of English football. The club was founded in 1877 and since 1889 has played at...
in a 3-0 win. Traoré provided 2 assists, once for Alejandro Faurlin
Alejandro Faurlín
Alejandro Damián Faurlín is an Argentine football midfielder, who plays for Queens Park Rangers in the Premier League.-Career:...
in the 10th minute and also for DJ Campbell in the 86th minute. On 25 September 2011, Traoré was sent off in the 90th minute in a 1-1 draw against Aston Villa
Aston Villa F.C.
Aston Villa Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Witton, Birmingham. The club was founded in 1874 and have played at their current home ground, Villa Park, since 1897. Aston Villa were founder members of The Football League in 1888. They were also founder...
. QPR Manager Neil Warnock
Neil Warnock
Neil Warnock is an English former footballer who is currently manager of English Premier League club Queens Park Rangers....
described Traoré sending off as a absolute "disgrace".
International career
Armand has represented France at Under-17France national under-17 football team
The France national under-17 football team is the national under-17 football team of France and is controlled by the French Football Federation. The team competes in the annual UEFA European Under-17 Football Championship and the FIFA U-17 World Cup, which is held every four years...
and Under-18
France national under-18 football team
The France national under-18 football team is the national under-18 football team of France and is controlled by the French Football Federation. The team serves as a feeder team to the under-19 team as its matches aren't competitive...
. Armand played with the France U-19s
France national under-19 football team
The France national under-19 football team is the national under-19 football team of France and is controlled by the French Football Federation. The team competes in the annual UEFA European Under-19 Football Championship. They were the 2010 champions of the competition having won on home soil...
, helping them qualify for the Elite Round
2008 UEFA European Under-19 Football Championship elite qualification
UEFA U-19 Championship 2008 is the second round of qualifications for the Final Tournament of UEFA U-19 Championship 2008. The winners of each group join hosts Czech Republic at the Final Tournament.-Group 1:--------------------...
of the 2008 UEFA Under-19 Championship qualification
2008 UEFA European Under-19 Football Championship qualification
UEFA U-19 Championship 2008 was the first round of qualifications for the Final Tournament of 2008 UEFA European Under-19 Football Championship. 52 teams are split into 13 groups of 4 and teams in each group play each other once. The top two teams in each group and the two best third-placed teams...
. He participated in all three qualifying matches and one of France's elite matches, before France were eliminated by Italy.
He received his first call-up to the U-21 team
France national under-21 football team
The France national under-21 football team , known in France as Les Espoirs , is the national under-21 football team of France and is controlled by the French Football Federation. The team competes in the UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship, held every two years...
on 13 November 2008 for their friendly
Exhibition game
An exhibition game is a sporting event in which there is no competitive value of any significant kind to any competitor regardless of the outcome of the competition...
against Denmark
Denmark national under-21 football team
The Denmark national under-21 football team has played since 1976 and is controlled by the Danish Football Association. Before 1976, the age limit was 23 years.-U-21 European Championship:*1978 – Quarterfinals*1980 to 1984 – Did not qualify...
. The match resulted in a 1–0 victory with Traoré playing 73 minutes before being taken off.
In June 2011, Traoré opted to represent his nation of origin, Senegal, after discussions with their coach Amara Traoré.
His father also played international football for the Senegal national football team
Senegal national football team
The Senegal national football team, nicknamed the Lions of Teranga, is the national team of Senegal and is controlled by the Fédération Sénégalaise de Football...
.
However Traoré received his first Senegal call-up on 1 August ahead of a friendly match against Morocco
Morocco national football team
The Morocco national football team , nicknamed أسود الأطلس , is the national team of Morocco and is managed by Eric Gerets. Winners of the African Nations Cup in 1976, they were the first African team to win a group at the World Cup, which they did in 1986, finishing ahead of Portugal, Poland, and...
.
Armand Traoré made his debut for Senegal in a 2–0 defeat against Morocco on 10 August 2011, the defender played 70 minutes before being subbed out.
Personal life
Traoré is a practising Muslim, and has been seen praying before a football match for Arsenal. In 2010 Traoré claimed that he would remove all his tattoos surgically, he also claimed that the religion was behind the move after embracing the Muslim faith. He said:
"I'm planning to do this in the summer. They'll put me under anaesthetic and then do it all, and when I wake up everything will be gone. It needs a bit of recovery time though so I’m not going to do it during the football season. If I had been into my religion properly before I’d had the tattoos done, I think I would never have got them. I think it’s one of the biggest mistakes I’ve made in my life but I will try and correct it. My religion has benefits both personally and in my career."
Traoré explained:
"It's all about many of the things that are good in football too – like resting, doing everything right, being nice to people, respecting, not swearing or lying, being fair."
Armand has supported PSG since he was a boy, and has previously said that there had always been a dream come true to play for them sometime in the future, and his role model has been Zinedine Zidane
Zinedine Zidane
Zinedine Yazid Zidane is a retired French footballer. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time. Zidane was a leading figure of a generation of French players that won the 1998 World Cup and 2000 European Championship...
since he was a child.
Club
- Statistics accurate as of 25 August 2011
Club Season League Cup League Cup Europe UEFAThe Union of European Football Associations , almost always referred to by its acronym UEFA is the administrative and controlling body for European association football, futsal and beach soccer....Total Apps Goals Assists Apps Goals Assists Apps Goals Assists Apps Goals Assists Apps Goals Assists Arsenal Arsenal F.C.Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...2006–07 0 0 0 1 0 0 6 0 0 0 0 0 7 0 0 2007–08 3 0 1 2 0 0 4 0 1 2 0 0 11 0 2 Portsmouth Portsmouth F.C.Portsmouth Football Club is an English football club based in the city of Portsmouth. The club is nicknamed Pompey. Portsmouth's home matches have been played at Fratton Park since the club's formation in 1898. The team currently play in the Football League Championship after being relegated from...
(loan)2008–09 19 1 0 2 0 1 1 0 0 6 0 1 28 1 2 Arsenal Arsenal F.C.Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...2009–10 9 0 0 1 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 12 0 0 Juventus Juventus F.C.Juventus Football Club S.p.A. , commonly referred to as Juventus and colloquially as Juve , are a professional Italian association football club based in Turin, Piedmont...
(loan)2010–11 2010–11 Serie AThe 2010–11 Serie A was the 79th season since its establishment, the first under a league committee separate from Serie B. It began on 28 August 2010 and ended on 22 May 2011...10 0 0 0 0 0 — 2 0 0 12 0 0 Arsenal Arsenal F.C.Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...2011–12 2011–12 Premier LeagueThe 2011–12 Premier League is the twentieth season of the Premier League since its establishment in 1992. The 2011–12 fixtures were announced on 17 June 2011 at 9:00 BST. The season began on 13 August 2011 and is due to end on 13 May 2012...1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 2 0 0 Arsenal total 13 0 1 4 0 0 12 0 1 3 0 0 32 0 2 Queens Park Rangers 2011–12 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 1 Queens Park Rangers total 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 1 Career total 44 1 2 6 0 1 13 0 1 11 0 1 74 1 5
National team
Statistics accurate as of 10 August 2011| National team | Year | Apps | Goals | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Senegal Senegal national football team The Senegal national football team, nicknamed the Lions of Teranga, is the national team of Senegal and is controlled by the Fédération Sénégalaise de Football... |
2011 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
Honours
Arsenal F.C.Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
Runner-up:
- League CupFootball League CupThe Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
: 20072007 Football League Cup FinalThe 2007 Carling Cup Final was played on Sunday, 25 February 2007 at the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff. It was contested between Arsenal and Chelsea, making it the first all-London final in the competition's history; the two sides had previously met in Cardiff for the 2002 FA Cup Final. The game...