Coli Saco

Coli Saco (born 15 May 2002) is a professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Serie C Group B club Ancona on loan from Napoli. Born in France, Saco represents Mali at under-23 level.

Coli Saco
Personal information
Date of birth (2002-05-15) 15 May 2002
Place of birth Créteil, France
Height 1.97 m (6 ft 6 in)
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Ancona
Number 94
Youth career
2017–2018 Le Havre
2018–2020 Sochaux
2020–2021 AC Milan
2021–2022 Napoli
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2022– Napoli 0 (0)
2022–2023 → Pro Vercelli (loan) 34 (3)
2023– → Ancona (loan) 0 (0)
International career‡
2023– Mali U23 5 (0)
Medal record
Representing  Mali
U-23 Africa Cup of Nations
Bronze medal – third placeMorocco 2023U-23 Team
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 23:00, 22 April 2023 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 7 July 2023

Club career

Born in Créteil, Saco joined Le Havre's youth sector in 2017, aged 15, before moving to Sochaux one year later.[1][2] He then came through the youth ranks of the Lionceaux,[1] taking part in the 2019–20 Coupe Gambardella, where Sochaux reached the round of 16 before the competition was cancelled, due to the emergency caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.[3][4]

In October 2020, Saco entered AC Milan's academy;[5][6] however, he was released after just one season, having not managed to break into the under-19 team consistently.[2][7] In September 2021, he officially joined fellow Italian club Napoli after a successful trial.[8][9]

Having impressed with his performances for Napoli's under-19 squad, during the 2021–22 season Saco started training with the first team, under manager Luciano Spalletti.[2][10] The midfielder originally received his first official call-up to the senior team for a Serie A match against Juventus on 6 January 2022: however, having tested positive for COVID-19, he eventually had to withdraw from the match-day squad.[2][8][10]

On 15 July 2022, Saco joined Serie C side Pro Vercelli on a season-long loan.[11][12] He then made his professional debut for the club on 3 September, starting and playing 90 minutes in a 1–0 league win against Padova.[13] On 5 November, he scored his first professional goal in a 3–1 league loss against AlbinoLeffe.[2][14]

On 1 September 2023, Saco joined fellow Serie C club Ancona on loan for the remainder of the season.[15][16]

International career

In June 2023, Saco was included in the final squad of the Malian under-23 national team for the 2023 U-23 Africa Cup of Nations, hosted in Morocco,[17][18] where the Eagles finished in third place and qualified for the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.[19][20]

Style of play

Saco is a left-footed midfielder, who has been mainly regarded for his physical attributes, which allow him to win many headers and keep possession.[8][9] Despite his slow pace, he has proved to have good abilities in reading the game and finding goal opportunities, thanks to his off-the-ball movement and his heading.[2][8] He has also been noticed for his vision and his long-range passing prowess.[8]

Although he has been compared to André-Frank Zambo Anguissa,[8] he cited Paul Pogba and Yaya Touré as his main sources of inspiration.[9]

Personal life

Born in France, Saco is of Malian descent.[2][8]

Career statistics

Club
As of match played 22 April 2023[21][22]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Cup Europe Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Napoli 2022–23 Serie A 0000——00
Pro Vercelli (loan) 2022–23 Serie C 34300——343
Career total 343000000343

Honours

Mali U23

References
  1. "Le bilan de la saison sochalienne en U17". La Bande à Bonal (in French). 8 May 2019. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
  2. "Il Napoli di Spalletti, l'amicizia con Malcuit e la Pro Vercelli: la storia di Coli Saco". La Casa di C (in Italian). 1 December 2022. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
  3. "Le tenant chute, un Poucet passe". French Football Federation (in French). 2 February 2020. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
  4. "Décision concernant les championnats amateurs et les compétitions". French Football Federation (in French). 16 April 2020. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
  5. Lionetto, Riccardo (5 October 2020). "Milan, doppio colpo: presi Saco e Pobi". MondoPrimavera (in Italian). Retrieved 3 February 2023.
  6. "Football. Coli Saco, pas conservé au FC Sochaux, signe au Milan AC". L'Est Républicain (in French). 7 October 2020. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
  7. Brianti, Simone (20 June 2021). "Milan, Saco ai saluti: parole d'addio per il centrale rossonero". MondoPrimavera (in Italian). Retrieved 3 February 2023.
  8. Paesano, Luca (14 June 2022). "Largo ai giovani: Coli Saco". Sport del Sud (in Italian). Retrieved 3 February 2023.
  9. Stesina, Marco (22 July 2022). "Il nuovo Pogba ha 20 anni e sbarca in Piemonte: muscoli e centimetri per impressionare". Sprint e Sport (in Italian). Retrieved 3 February 2023.
  10. Brianti, Simone (6 January 2022). "Napoli, il messaggio social di Saco: "Non era il momento di esordire in Serie A"". MondoPrimavera (in Italian). Retrieved 3 February 2023.
  11. Regis, Sebastiano (15 July 2022). "BENVENUTO COLI SACO!". F.C. Pro Vercelli 1892 (in Italian). Retrieved 3 February 2023.
  12. Lanza, Raffaella (17 July 2022). "Corradini, Vergara e Coli Saco: la carica dei nuovi leoni. Awua, Panico e Vitale verso il Crotone". La Stampa (in Italian). Retrieved 3 February 2023.
  13. "Pro Vercelli vs. Calcio Padova - 3 September 2022". Soccerway. Retrieved 22 March 2023.
  14. "Pro Vercelli vs. AlbinoLeffe - 5 November 2022". Soccerway. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
  15. "SACO COLI E' UN NUOVO GIOCATORE DELL'ANCONA" [SACO COLI IS A NEW PLAYER FOR ANCONA] (in Italian). US Ancona. 1 September 2023. Retrieved 1 September 2023.
  16. "Ancona, si alza il sipario sul campionato: Cioffi e Spagnoli per scardinare l'Entella". Il Resto del Carlino (in Italian). 2 September 2023. Retrieved 3 September 2023.
  17. "Mali stages comeback to defeat Gabon in TotalEnergies CAF U-23 AFCON | Total U-23 Africa Cup of Nations 2023". CAFOnline.com. Confederation of African Football. 25 June 2023. Retrieved 27 June 2023.
  18. "Mali U23 vs. Gabon U23 - 25 June 2023". Soccerway. Retrieved 27 June 2023.
  19. "Mali's U23 team ends 20-year wait, qualifies for Paris Olympics | Total U-23 Africa Cup of Nations 2023". CAFOnline.com. Confederation of African Football. 7 July 2023. Retrieved 9 July 2023.
  20. "CAN 2023 : le Mali se qualifie aux JO 2024". Sport News Africa (in French). 7 July 2023. Retrieved 9 July 2023.
  21. Coli Saco at WorldFootball.net
  22. Coli Saco at Soccerway
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