*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 13 June 2023 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 11 November 2019
Hadi Sacko (born 24 March 1994) is a professional footballer who plays as a winger for Turkish club Sakaryaspor.[2] Born in France, he plays for the Mali national team,[3] having made his debut in 2018. He is a former French youth international.
Club career
Bordeaux
Sacko was born in Corbeil-Essonnes, Essonne.[1] On 31 May 2012, he signed his first professional contract at Bordeaux agreeing to a three-year deal.[4] He was subsequently promoted to the senior team by managerFrancis Gillot ahead of the 2012–13 season and assigned the number 12 shirt. He made his professional debut on 20 September 2012 in a UEFA Europa League group stage match against Belgian club Club Brugge.[5]
On 28 August 2014, Sacko joined Sporting CP on a six-year contract, with the club stipulating a 60 million euro release clause in his contract.[7]
On 1 February 2016, after scoring 10 goals in 54 games for Sporting CP B and failing to break into the Sporting first team bar one cup appearance, Sacko joined Ligue 2 side Sochaux on loan and scored two goals in 14 appearances whilst on loan.
Loan to Leeds United
On 5 July 2016, Sacko joined Leeds United on a season-long loan, with a view to a permanent transfer.[8] He was given the squad number 24 shirt for the 2016–17 season.[9] On 7 August, Sacko made his Leeds debut as a substitute against QPR in a 3–0 defeat.[10] He made his first start for Leeds on 10 August in a League Cup victory on penalties against Fleetwood Town.[11] Sacko scored his first goal for Leeds in a 2–1 loss to Birmingham City on 13 August 2016.[12]
After making 38 league appearances and scoring two goals, he returned to Sporting Lisbon after his loan to Leeds had expired.[16]
Leeds United
On 2 June 2017, Sacko signed a permanent deal with Leeds for an undisclosed fee believed to be £1.5 million to take him up until at least the end of the 2019/20 season.[17] Despite the resignation of head coach Garry Monk, he was the first signing under new owner Andrea Radrizzani.[18]
On 6 August 2017, Sacko made his Leeds United debut as a permanent player in a 3–2 victory at Bolton Wanderers.[19] On 19 September, after a spell out the side, Sacko made a scoring return for Leeds scoring the opening goal of the game, in their League Cup tie against Premier League side Burnley in a penalty shootout victory after a 2–2 draw.[20]
With speculation that he was not in Marcelo Bielsa's plans, on 26 July 2018, Sacko was not given a shirt number for Leeds for the upcoming 2018–19 season for Leeds.[21]
On 29 January 2019, Sacko joined Turkish Süper Lig side Ankaragücü on a 6-month loan.[25] With the club unveiling Sacko with him as a mocked up picture of him as Marvel superhero 'Falcon'.[26]
He scored his first goal for the club on 11 February with a long range striker against Kasimpasa S.K. In total he made 15 appearances for Ankaragücü scoring 3 goals in Süper Lig, helping them avoid relegation.[27]
After not playing for France senior team (in a competitive game), Sacko was still eligible to play for Mali.
On 15 March 2018, Sacko was called up the senior Mali national team for a friendly against Japan.[32] On 23 March 2018, he made his debut for Mali coming on as a substitute replacing AS Monaco's Adama Traoré in the final 13 minutes in a 1–1 draw against Japan.[33][32]
Career statistics
Club
As of match played 11 September 2022
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition