Demba Ba
Encyclopedia
Demba Ba is a French
-born Senegal
ese footballer who plays as a striker for Newcastle United
in the Premier League, and for the Senegal national team
.
, Hauts-de-Seine
, and was the sixth child of seven. He grew up in Saint-Valery-en-Caux
, Seine-Maritime
.
He joined a youth club in Montgaillard
in 1992, he played for Port Autonome du Havre between 1998 and 2000, and then for Frileuse between 2000 and 2001.
In 2001 his family moved to Châtillon
and Ba played for Montrouge. He played there until 2004, at which point he decided to concentrate on his football. He had trials with Olympique Lyonnais
and then with AJ Auxerre
, both of which were unsuccessful. He then left France to take part in trials at Watford
and Barnsley
, and was offered a one year deal at Watford. After Watford manager Ray Lewington was sacked in 2005, Ba found that he was not in the first team plans of Aidy Boothroyd, and left the club in March 2005.
on a one year contract, and Ba enjoyed a highly successful season with the club. Mouscron
beat off competition from numerous other clubs to win Ba's signature in 2006. Scoring in each of his first three games, he then picked up fractures in his tibia and fibula, and out of action between August 2006 and April 2007. Following his eight month recovery period he scored seven goals in nine games, and picked up his first international cap.
and their successful first season in the Bundesliga, where they finished seventh after leading during the Christmas
break. In that season he scored 14 goals, only missing one game all season. These goals included a hat-trick in a 3–3 game against Stuttgart
on 24 February 2009. In all competitions Ba scored 40 goals in 103 appearances for TSG 1899 Hoffenheim.
In July 2009, he was due to move to VfB Stuttgart
, but the move fell through after he failed a medical. In December of that year Ba extended his contract at Hoffenheim to 2013. After signing a new contract, Ba went on to score 5 goals this season due to injuries and linked with other clubs. During mid season of season
, Ba was linked with English clubs. Stoke City
made a £5.9 million bid for Ba but the deal was off after Ba failed his medical. Stoke City manager Tony Pulis
expresses dissapointment over Ba not joining Stoke. Following his move to West Ham (which later Ba move to Newcastle United), Hoffenheim have insisted they made the right decision to let Demba Ba leave in January.
. Hoffenheim announced that Ba would be punished. However, Ba claimed that Hoffenheim had assured him that he would be allowed to leave the club under the current conditions. In January 2011 a proposed move to Stoke City
fell through after Ba failed a medical.
He completed his move to West Ham on 28 January, signing a three-year deal that would take him until June 2014. The transfer fee was undisclosed but was dependent upon Ba's appearances for West Ham. Ba made his West Ham and Premier League debut on 6 February coming on as a 75th minute substitute for Robbie Keane
in a 1–0 home defeat by Birmingham City
. His first West Ham goals came on 12 February when Ba, making his full debut, scored twice for West Ham in a 3–3 draw against West Bromwich Albion
. Ba scored two goals against Wigan Athletic on 15 May 2011, giving West Ham a 2–0 lead at half-time. West Ham lost 3–2 and were relegated from the Premier League. He finished as West Ham's top scorer in the Premier League with seven goals from twelve games. He however left at the end of the season due to a release clause in his contract letting him go for free if West Ham were relegated.
on a three-year deal. He made his Newcastle debut at home against Arsenal
on 13 August 2011. This game resulted in 0–0 draw. Ba had a slow start to his Newcastle career, rumours surfaced that this was affected by his observance of the holy Islamic month of Ramadan
which requires fasting during daylight hours. He scored his first goals for the Magpies
on 24 September 2011 with a hat-trick
against Blackburn Rovers
in a 3–1 win. He scored in Newcastle's two consecutive games against Wolverhampton Wanderers
and Tottenham Hotspur
before he scored his second club hat-trick in their 3–1 away win at Stoke City. The result maintained Newcastle's unbeaten start to the league season to 10 games and took them to third place in the Premier League, six points behind leaders Manchester City
and just one point behind reigning champions Manchester United
.
, scoring three goals. He scored on his debut against Tanzania
, in June 2007.
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
-born 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...
ese footballer who plays as a striker for 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...
in the Premier League, and for the Senegal national 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...
.
Early life
Ba was born in SèvresSèvres
Sèvres is a commune in the southwestern suburbs of Paris, France. It is located from the centre of Paris.The town is known for its porcelain manufacture, the Manufacture nationale de Sèvres, making the famous Sèvres porcelain, as well as being the location of the International Bureau of Weights...
, Hauts-de-Seine
Hauts-de-Seine
Hauts-de-Seine is designated number 92 of the 101 départements in France. It is part of the Île-de-France region, and covers the western inner suburbs of Paris...
, and was the sixth child of seven. He grew up in Saint-Valery-en-Caux
Saint-Valery-en-Caux
Saint-Valery-en-Caux is a commune in the Seine-Maritime department in the Haute-Normandie region in northern France.-Geography:A small fishing port and light industrial town situated in the Pays de Caux, some west of Dieppe at the junction of the D53, D20, D79 and the D925 roads...
, Seine-Maritime
Seine-Maritime
Seine-Maritime is a French department in the Haute-Normandie region in northern France. It is situated on the northern coast of France, at the mouth of the Seine, and includes the cities of Rouen and Le Havre...
.
He joined a youth club in Montgaillard
Montgaillard
Montgaillard is the name or part of the name of several communes in France:* Montgaillard, Ariège, in the Ariège department* Montgaillard, Aude, in the Aude department* Montgaillard, Landes, in the Landes department...
in 1992, he played for Port Autonome du Havre between 1998 and 2000, and then for Frileuse between 2000 and 2001.
In 2001 his family moved to Châtillon
Châtillon
Châtillon may refer to:*Châtillon ** Hugh I of Châtillon*First Battle of Châtillon during the war in the Vendée .*Battle of Châtillon during the Siege of Paris in the Franco-Prussian War It is the name of several places:...
and Ba played for Montrouge. He played there until 2004, at which point he decided to concentrate on his football. He had trials with Olympique Lyonnais
Olympique Lyonnais
Olympique Lyonnais is a French association football club based in Lyon. They play in France's highest football division, Ligue 1. The club was formed as Lyon Olympique Universitaire in 1899, according to many supporters and sport historians, but was nationally established as a club in 1950. The...
and then with 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...
, both of which were unsuccessful. He then left France to take part in trials at Watford
Watford F.C.
Watford Football Club is an English professional football club based in Watford, Hertfordshire. It is often referred to as Watford F.C., Watford, or by the team's nickname The Hornets . Watford Rovers, Founded in 1881, entered the FA Cup for the first time in 1886, and the Southern League a decade...
and Barnsley
Barnsley F.C.
Barnsley Football Club are a professional English football club based in the town of Barnsley, South Yorkshire. Nicknamed the Tykes, they were founded in 1887 under the name Barnsley St. Peter's...
, and was offered a one year deal at Watford. After Watford manager Ray Lewington was sacked in 2005, Ba found that he was not in the first team plans of Aidy Boothroyd, and left the club in March 2005.
Club career
Ba signed with Alain Michel because they were both moving to RouenFC Rouen
Football Club de Rouen 1899 is a French association football club based in Rouen. The club was formed in 1899 and currently play in the Championnat National, the third level of French football. Rouen plays its home matches at the Stade Robert Diochon; named after Robert Diochon, a historic player...
on a one year contract, and Ba enjoyed a highly successful season with the club. Mouscron
R.E. Mouscron
R.E. Mouscron was a Belgian association football club from the municipality of Mouscron, Hainaut. In December 2009 they were declared bankrupt and suspended operations soon after marking the end of professional football in Mouscron.-History:...
beat off competition from numerous other clubs to win Ba's signature in 2006. Scoring in each of his first three games, he then picked up fractures in his tibia and fibula, and out of action between August 2006 and April 2007. Following his eight month recovery period he scored seven goals in nine games, and picked up his first international cap.
1899 Hoffenheim
On 29 August 2007, he moved to 1899 Hoffenheim for €3 million. Ba was an integral part of Hoffenheim's promotion to the BundesligaFußball-Bundesliga
The Fußball-Bundesliga is a professional association football league in Germany. At the top of Germany's football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. It is contested by 18 teams and operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the 2. Bundesliga...
and their successful first season in the Bundesliga, where they finished seventh after leading during the Christmas
Christmas
Christmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday generally celebrated on December 25 by billions of people around the world. It is a Christian feast that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, liturgically closing the Advent season and initiating the season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days...
break. In that season he scored 14 goals, only missing one game all season. These goals included a hat-trick in a 3–3 game against Stuttgart
VfB Stuttgart
Verein für Bewegungsspiele Stuttgart 1893 e. V., commonly known as VfB Stuttgart, is a German sports club based in Stuttgart, Baden-Württemberg. The club is best known for its football team, which has participated in all but two Bundesliga seasons...
on 24 February 2009. In all competitions Ba scored 40 goals in 103 appearances for TSG 1899 Hoffenheim.
In July 2009, he was due to move to VfB Stuttgart
VfB Stuttgart
Verein für Bewegungsspiele Stuttgart 1893 e. V., commonly known as VfB Stuttgart, is a German sports club based in Stuttgart, Baden-Württemberg. The club is best known for its football team, which has participated in all but two Bundesliga seasons...
, but the move fell through after he failed a medical. In December of that year Ba extended his contract at Hoffenheim to 2013. After signing a new contract, Ba went on to score 5 goals this season due to injuries and linked with other clubs. During mid season of season
2010–11 Fußball-Bundesliga
The 2010–11 Fußball-Bundesliga was the 48th season of the Fußball-Bundesliga, Germany's premier football league. The season started on the weekend of 21 August 2010 with the traditional season opening match involving the defending champions and ended with the last games on 14 May 2011. The winter...
, Ba was linked with English clubs. Stoke City
Stoke City F.C.
Stoke City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire that plays in the Premier League. Founded in 1863, it is the oldest club in the Premier League, and considered to be the second oldest professional football club in the world, after Notts...
made a £5.9 million bid for Ba but the deal was off after Ba failed his medical. Stoke City manager Tony Pulis
Tony Pulis
Anthony Richard "Tony" Pulis is a Welsh former football player and is currently the manager of Stoke City. Pulis obtained his FA coaching badge at the age of 19, followed by his UEFA 'A' licence aged 21 – making him one of the youngest professional players ever to have obtained the qualification...
expresses dissapointment over Ba not joining Stoke. Following his move to West Ham (which later Ba move to Newcastle United), Hoffenheim have insisted they made the right decision to let Demba Ba leave in January.
West Ham United
In January 2011, Ba refused to travel to Hoffenheim's training camp as he wanted to move to West Ham UnitedWest Ham United F.C.
West Ham United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Upton Park, Newham, East London. They play in The Football League Championship. The club was founded in 1895 as Thames Ironworks FC and reformed in 1900 as West Ham United. In 1904 the club relocated to their current...
. Hoffenheim announced that Ba would be punished. However, Ba claimed that Hoffenheim had assured him that he would be allowed to leave the club under the current conditions. In January 2011 a proposed move to Stoke City
Stoke City F.C.
Stoke City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire that plays in the Premier League. Founded in 1863, it is the oldest club in the Premier League, and considered to be the second oldest professional football club in the world, after Notts...
fell through after Ba failed a medical.
He completed his move to West Ham on 28 January, signing a three-year deal that would take him until June 2014. The transfer fee was undisclosed but was dependent upon Ba's appearances for West Ham. Ba made his West Ham and Premier League debut on 6 February coming on as a 75th minute substitute for Robbie Keane
Robbie Keane
Robert David "Robbie" Keane is an Irish association football player who plays as a striker for Los Angeles Galaxy in Major League Soccer and captains the Irish national football team....
in a 1–0 home defeat by Birmingham City
Birmingham City F.C.
Birmingham City Football Club is a professional association football club based in the city of Birmingham, England. Formed in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance, they became Small Heath in 1888, then Birmingham in 1905, finally becoming Birmingham City in 1943.They were relegated at the end of the...
. His first West Ham goals came on 12 February when Ba, making his full debut, scored twice for West Ham in a 3–3 draw 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...
. Ba scored two goals against Wigan Athletic on 15 May 2011, giving West Ham a 2–0 lead at half-time. West Ham lost 3–2 and were relegated from the Premier League. He finished as West Ham's top scorer in the Premier League with seven goals from twelve games. He however left at the end of the season due to a release clause in his contract letting him go for free if West Ham were relegated.
Newcastle United
On 17 June 2011, Ba signed for Newcastle UnitedNewcastle 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...
on a three-year deal. He made his Newcastle debut at home against 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...
on 13 August 2011. This game resulted in 0–0 draw. Ba had a slow start to his Newcastle career, rumours surfaced that this was affected by his observance of the holy Islamic month of Ramadan
Ramadan
Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, which lasts 29 or 30 days. It is the Islamic month of fasting, in which participating Muslims refrain from eating, drinking, smoking and sex during daylight hours and is intended to teach Muslims about patience, spirituality, humility and...
which requires fasting during daylight hours. He scored his first goals for the Magpies
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...
on 24 September 2011 with a hat-trick
Hat-trick
A hat-trick or hat trick in sport is the achievement of a positive feat three times during a game, or other achievements based on threes. The term was first used in 1858 in cricket to describe HH Stephenson's feat of taking three wickets in three balls. A collection was held for Stephenson, and he...
against Blackburn Rovers
Blackburn Rovers F.C.
Blackburn Rovers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the town of Blackburn, Lancashire. The team currently competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football....
in a 3–1 win. He scored in Newcastle's two consecutive games against Wolverhampton Wanderers
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...
and 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....
before he scored his second club hat-trick in their 3–1 away win at Stoke City. The result maintained Newcastle's unbeaten start to the league season to 10 games and took them to third place in the Premier League, six points behind leaders 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...
and just one point behind reigning champions Manchester United
Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
.
International career
Ba has played a total of ten games for SenegalSenegal 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...
, scoring three goals. He scored on his debut against Tanzania
Tanzania national football team
The Tanzania national football team represents Tanzania in association football and is controlled by the Tanzania Football Federation, the governing body for football in Tanzania. Tanzania's home ground is Benjamin Mkapa national stadium in Dar-es-Salaam and their head coach is Jan Børge Poulsen....
, in June 2007.
Career statistics
Honours:- 2. Bundesliga2. Fußball-Bundesliga- Changes in division set-up :* Number of clubs: currently 18. From 1974 to 1981 there were two conferences, each of 20 teams. In 1981–91 it had 20...
:- Runners-up: 2008