Aly Cissokho

Early career

Cissokho was born and raised in Blois, the capital city of the Loir-et-Cher département, to Senegalese parents. He grew up learning the sport of football from his three older brothers who are also football players. Mamadou, the eldest, and Demba remain in Blois playing for local amateur clubs AFM Blois and Blois Foot 41, respectively, while Issa plays for professional club Nantes in Ligue 1. Cissokho began his football career at the age of eight playing for AMJ Blois. He spent four years in the club's benjamins section and, in 1999, joined the biggest club in the city, Blois Foot 41. While at the club, Cissokho settled into his role as a left back with his coaches describing him as a player with great potential. Following his move from Porto to Lyon, Blois were compensated €162,500 due to an agreement Blois reached with both Gueugnon and Porto. The payment helped the club achieve some stability after a few years of financial difficulties. After four years at Blois, Cissokho had a year's stint at FCO Saint-Jean-de-la-Ruelle. In 2004, while playing with Saint-Jean-de-la-Ruelle, Cissokho was spotted by the assistant manager of professional club FC Gueugnon Jean Acédo who recommended the player join his club, who were playing in the second division of French football, Ligue 2. In July 2004, he signed with the club and was inserted into the club's youth academy. After two years in the club's academy and another two years in the reserves, Cissokho made his…

Due to hovering in the second division with Gueugnon, Cissokho never earned call-ups with any of France's international youth teams. However, he did earn the attention of the Senegalese Football Federation ("FSF"), which governs the Senegal national team. The FSF wanted the player to play for the nation of his ancestors, and Cissokho initially accepted; however, he lost confidence in the FSF when it lost his passport and informed him it preferred homegrown players on the national team. After excelling in Portugal, the FSF contacted him again, but Cissokho refused contact, stating he had not made up his mind. On 3 October 2009, Cissokho announced he would be open to representing the France national team, but his main focus was currently with his new club. On 5 November 2009, Cissokho was included in the France squad by coach Raymond Domenech for the team's 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification playoff round tie against the Republic of Ireland to serve as backup to Patrice Evra. Cissokho described the call up as a "childhood dream". He made the substitutes' bench for the first match played at Croke Park, Dublin, but remained unused. In the second leg, he did not make the bench as France nonetheless earned a place in the 2010 World Cup. On 25 February 2010, he received his second call-up to the team for the friendly against Spain on 3 March, but did not make an appearance. On 11 May, he was named to the 30-man preliminary list by Domenech to play in the 2010 World Cup finals, but…

Club

As of match played 29 June 2017

International

Porto

Primeira Liga: 2008–09 Taça de Portugal: 2008–09 Lyon

Coupe de France: 2011–12 Trophée des Champions: 2012 Lamphun Warrior

Thai League 2: 2021–22