Bonaventure Kalou
Encyclopedia
Bonaventure "Barry" Kalou (born 12 January 1978 in Oumé
) is a former Ivorian
football player who played as a striker
. During his career he was well known for his flair, skill and vision.
in his home country before moving to Dutch
based Feyenoord
. He played in Rotterdam
for six seasons as a first team regular, becoming a fans' favourite. He mainly played as a winger, but was also able to participate as a striker when necessary. In the meanwhile his brother Salomon Kalou
who came to visit him, impressed the Feyenoord staff as well and was signed as a youth player.
When Bona decided to leave Feyenoord and try his luck in another European competition in the Ligue 1 at AJ Auxerre
, Salomon was sent to Feyenoord's partner Excelsior
on loan, before taking over his brother's tasks. Bonaventure Kalou played two seasons at Auxerre where he developed more into a striker and an attacking midfielder
then into a winger. However he still maintained to score about the same amount of goals compared to previous seasons. It was in this period that he talked his brother (who still played at Feyenoord) into a Dutch citizenship, which eventually was rejected by Dutch minister Rita Verdonk
.
In 2005/06 his next team became Ligue 1
rivals Paris Saint-Germain. Paris Saint-Germain started to become a relegation threatened team and he signed for another French team, RC Lens
. The future looked bright for them, but they were surprisingly got relegated at the end of the season. Kalou returned to the Netherlands in 2008 with SC Heerenveen, with whom he won the Dutch Cup in 2009. Heerenveen beat FC Twente
in the final, and Kalou scored a goal. In the end of 2009 he was on trial at Crystal Palace
and Le Mans, but both trials were unsuccessful. In February 2011 Kalou announced his retirement from professional football. He joined French lower league amateurclub Combs-la-Ville for their 2011/12 campaign.
, and was also in the squad for the 2006 FIFA World Cup
for Côte d'Ivoire. Kalou scored the winning goal in their final match, against Serbia and Montenegro.
, currently plays for Chelsea
as a forward/winger; Bonaventure had himself scored against Chelsea in the 1999–2000 UEFA Champions League season for Feyenoord. They also have 8 sisters.
In the build-up to the 2006 FIFA World Cup
there was speculation that the brothers could have become the first to play against each other in a World Cup
match as Salomon was attempting to gain fast-track Dutch
citizenship. This did not happen and ultimately Salomon would also play for Côte d'Ivoire
, though not until after the World Cup.
Oumé
Oumé is the chief town in Oumé Departments of Côte d'Ivoire, located in the Fromager Region at around .It is the birthplace of current Ivory Coast international footballers, Salomon Kalou and Bonaventure Kalou....
) is a former Ivorian
Côte d'Ivoire
The Republic of Côte d'Ivoire or Ivory Coast is a country in West Africa. It has an area of , and borders the countries Liberia, Guinea, Mali, Burkina Faso and Ghana; its southern boundary is along the Gulf of Guinea. The country's population was 15,366,672 in 1998 and was estimated to be...
football player who played as a striker
Striker
Forwards, also known as strikers, are the players on a team in association football who play nearest to the opposing team's goal, and are therefore principally responsible for scoring goals...
. During his career he was well known for his flair, skill and vision.
Club career
He started playing for ASEC MimosasASEC Mimosas
The Académie Sportive des Employés de Commerce Mimosas is an Ivorian football club based in Abidjan. The club is also known as ASEC Mimosas Abidjan and ASEC Abidjan, especially in international club competitions. Founded in 1948, they are the most successful side in Ivorian football, having won...
in his home country before moving to Dutch
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
based Feyenoord
Feyenoord Rotterdam
Feyenoord is a Dutch professional football club located in Rotterdam. Along with Ajax and PSV Eindhoven, Feyenoord is one of the "big three" clubs in the Netherlands. These three clubs and Utrecht and Roda JC are the only clubs never to have been relegated from the Dutch first division...
. He played in Rotterdam
Rotterdam
Rotterdam is the second-largest city in the Netherlands and one of the largest ports in the world. Starting as a dam on the Rotte river, Rotterdam has grown into a major international commercial centre...
for six seasons as a first team regular, becoming a fans' favourite. He mainly played as a winger, but was also able to participate as a striker when necessary. In the meanwhile his brother Salomon Kalou
Salomon Kalou
Salomon Armand Magloire Kalou is an Ivorian footballer who plays as a striker for Chelsea in the Premier League.He is often used on the wings at Chelsea. He has a preference for playing on the left wing as this gives him opportunities to cut inside and take shots with his favoured right foot...
who came to visit him, impressed the Feyenoord staff as well and was signed as a youth player.
When Bona decided to leave Feyenoord and try his luck in another European competition in the Ligue 1 at AJ Auxerre
AJ Auxerre
Association de la Jeunesse Auxerroise is a French association football club based in the commune of Auxerre in Burgundy. The club was founded in 1905 and currently play in Ligue 1, the top division of French football. Auxerre plays its home matches at the Stade l'Abbé-Deschamps on the banks of the...
, Salomon was sent to Feyenoord's partner Excelsior
Excelsior Rotterdam
SBV Excelsior is a professional football club from the Kralingen-Crooswijk district of Rotterdam, Netherlands. It was founded on July 23, 1902 and was formerly known as 'Rotterdamse Voetbal en Atletiek Vereniging Excelsior'...
on loan, before taking over his brother's tasks. Bonaventure Kalou played two seasons at Auxerre where he developed more into a striker and an attacking midfielder
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
then into a winger. However he still maintained to score about the same amount of goals compared to previous seasons. It was in this period that he talked his brother (who still played at Feyenoord) into a Dutch citizenship, which eventually was rejected by Dutch minister Rita Verdonk
Rita Verdonk
Maria Cornelia Frederika "Rita" Verdonk is a retired Dutch politician initially of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy until she was expelled in October 2007, she later formed her own party Proud of the Netherlands . She served as Minister for Integration and Immigration in Cabinets...
.
In 2005/06 his next team became Ligue 1
Ligue 1
Ligue 1 , is the French professional league for association football clubs. It is the country's primary football competition and serves as the top division of the French football league system. Ligue 1 is one of two divisions making up the Ligue de Football Professionnel, the other being Ligue 2....
rivals Paris Saint-Germain. Paris Saint-Germain started to become a relegation threatened team and he signed for another French team, RC Lens
RC Lens
Racing Club de Lens is a French association football club based in the northern city of Lens in the Pas-de-Calais department. Its nickname, sang et or , comes from its traditional colours of red and gold. Their primary rivals are their northern neighbors Lille OSC, whom they contest the Derby du...
. The future looked bright for them, but they were surprisingly got relegated at the end of the season. Kalou returned to the Netherlands in 2008 with SC Heerenveen, with whom he won the Dutch Cup in 2009. Heerenveen beat FC Twente
FC Twente
FC Twente is a Dutch professional football club from the city of Enschede, playing in the Eredivisie. The club was formed in 1965 by the merger of 1926 Eredivisie Champions, Sportclub Enschede and Enschedese Boys...
in the final, and Kalou scored a goal. In the end of 2009 he was on trial at Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace F.C.
Crystal Palace Football Club are an English Football league club based in South Norwood, London. The team plays its home matches at Selhurst Park, where they have been based since 1924. The club currently competes in the second tier of English Football, The Championship.Crystal Palace was formed in...
and Le Mans, but both trials were unsuccessful. In February 2011 Kalou announced his retirement from professional football. He joined French lower league amateurclub Combs-la-Ville for their 2011/12 campaign.
International career
Kalou played in the 1997 FIFA World Youth Championship1997 FIFA World Youth Championship
The 1997 FIFA World Youth Championship was the 11th staging of the FIFA World Youth Championship. It was held from June 16 to July 5, 1997 in Malaysia.-Venues:-Qualification:The following 24 teams qualified for the 1997 FIFA World Youth Championship...
, and was also in the squad for the 2006 FIFA World Cup
2006 FIFA World Cup
The 2006 FIFA World Cup was the 18th FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial international football world championship tournament. It was held from 9 June to 9 July 2006 in Germany, which won the right to host the event in July 2000. Teams representing 198 national football associations from all six...
for Côte d'Ivoire. Kalou scored the winning goal in their final match, against Serbia and Montenegro.
Personal
His younger brother, Salomon KalouSalomon Kalou
Salomon Armand Magloire Kalou is an Ivorian footballer who plays as a striker for Chelsea in the Premier League.He is often used on the wings at Chelsea. He has a preference for playing on the left wing as this gives him opportunities to cut inside and take shots with his favoured right foot...
, currently plays for 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...
as a forward/winger; Bonaventure had himself scored against Chelsea in the 1999–2000 UEFA Champions League season for Feyenoord. They also have 8 sisters.
In the build-up to the 2006 FIFA World Cup
2006 FIFA World Cup
The 2006 FIFA World Cup was the 18th FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial international football world championship tournament. It was held from 9 June to 9 July 2006 in Germany, which won the right to host the event in July 2000. Teams representing 198 national football associations from all six...
there was speculation that the brothers could have become the first to play against each other in a World Cup
FIFA World Cup
The FIFA World Cup, often simply the World Cup, is an international association football competition contested by the senior men's national teams of the members of Fédération Internationale de Football Association , the sport's global governing body...
match as Salomon was attempting to gain fast-track Dutch
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
citizenship. This did not happen and ultimately Salomon would also play for Côte d'Ivoire
Côte d'Ivoire national football team
The Côte d'Ivoire National Football Team or Ivory Coast National Football Team, nicknamed Les Éléphants , represents Côte d'Ivoire in international football and is controlled by the Fédération Ivoirienne de Football...
, though not until after the World Cup.
Honours
- UEFA CupUEFA CupThe UEFA Europa League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1971 for eligible European football clubs. It is the second most prestigious European club football contest after the UEFA Champions League...
: 1
-
- 2002 (Feyenoord Rotterdam)
- Intertoto Cup: 1
-
- 2007 (RC Lens)
- Eredivise: 1
-
- 1999 (Feyenoord Rotterdam)
- French Cup: 2
-
- 2005 (AJ Auxerre)
- 2006 (Paris Saint Germain)
- KNVB CupKNVB CupThe KNVB Cup is a competition in the Netherlands organized by the Royal Dutch Football Association since 1899. It was based on the format of the English FA Cup. Outside of the Netherlands, it is often referred to as the Dutch Cup...
: 1
-
- 2009 (SC Heerenveen)