Ibrahima Sonko

Infobox Football biography
playername = Ibrahima Sonko


fullname =
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1981|1|22|df=yes
cityofbirth = Bignona
countryofbirth = Senegal
height = 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
position = Centre Back
currentclub = Stoke City
clubnumber = 33
contractend = 1 July 2011
youthyears =
youthclubs =
years = 1999–2002
2002–2004
2004–2008
2008–
clubs = Grenoble
Brentford
Reading
Stoke City
caps(goals) = 043 (2)
080 (8)
127 (8)
001 (0)
nationalyears = 2008–
nationalteam = Senegal
nationalcaps(goals) = 003 (1)
pcupdate = 17:03, 29 August 2008 (UTC)
ntupdate = 15:50, 7 August 2008 (UTC)

Ibrahima Sonko (born 22 January, 1981 in Bignona, Ziguinchor, Senegal) is a professional footballer. He currently plays in central defence for Stoke City in the Premier League. His cousin Bacary Sagna also plays in the Premier League, for Arsenal. [cite news | date=2007-11-08 | url=http://www.readingfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10306~1162276,00.html | title=Sonko reveals Arsenal family link | work=readingfc.co.uk | accessdate=2007-11-08]

Club career

Sonko started his career at Saint-Étienne in France, before moving to Grenoble. He then joined English club Brentford in 2002, before leaving to join Reading on a Bosman transfer in 2004. He quickly became a fans' favourite, being nicknamed Superman for his prodigious leaps into the air to powerfully head the ball away. "Sonko is Superman" t-shirts have been made available by Reading. [cite web | url=http://shop.readingfc.co.uk/product.pasp?txtCatalog=READING&txtProductID=SonkoR____ | title=Sonko is Superman T-Shirt | work=readingfc.co.uk | accessdate=2007-02-06] Dead link|date=September 2008

Sonko's first season in the Premier League was eventful. He received a straight red card against Aston Villa for tripping Luke Moore in the penalty area, meaning Reading lost 2-1. [cite news | date=2006-08-23 | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/5266118.stm | title=Aston Villa 2-1 Reading | publisher=BBC Sport | accessdate=2007-02-06] Royals coach Kevin Dillon condemned the referee's actions, saying "The reaction of the referee was disappointing. It was a penalty, fair enough, but the referee sprinted across. He couldn't wait to get his red card out". [cite news | date=2006-08-24 | url=http://uk.sports.yahoo.com/24082006/1/royals-won-t-appeal-sonko-dismissal.html | title=Royals won't appeal Sonko dismissal | publisher=Yahoo! | accessdate=2006-12-20]

He was the subject of further controversy in a match against Chelsea on 14 October 2006, when his challenge left goalkeeper Carlo Cudicini unconscious.cite news | date=2006-10-14 | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/5415980.stm | title=Reading 0-1 Chelsea | publisher=BBC Sport | accessdate=2007-02-06] Cudicini was carried off the field wearing a neck brace. On 22 December 2006 Sonko announced that he was scared after receiving death threats in connection with the Chelsea match. [cite news | date=2006-10-14 | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/5415980.stm | title=Reading 0-1 Chelsea | publisher=BBC Sport | accessdate=2006-12-20]

On 11 December 2006, Sonko signed an extension to his contract with Reading, keeping him at the Madejski Stadium until the summer of 2010. [cite news | date=2006-12-11 | url=http://www.readingfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10306~941364,00.html | title=Sonko signs a new contract with the Royals | work=readingfc.co.uk | accessdate=2006-12-11]

However, on 20 January 2007 he injured knee ligaments when he fell awkwardly whilst playing for Reading in their 3-1 home win against Sheffield United, [cite news | date=2007-01-20 | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/6258769.stm | title=Reading 3-1 Sheff Utd| publisher=BBC Sport | accessdate=2007-02-06] and it was subsequently announced that he would miss the rest of the 2006–07 season. [cite news | date=2007-02-01 | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/r/reading/6320025.stm | title=Sonko out for rest of the season | publisher=BBC Sport | accessdate=2007-02-06] He returned to first team action on 20 October 2007 in a 4–2 defeat away to Blackburn Rovers. [cite news | date=2007-10-20 | url=http://www.readingfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10306~1147956,00.html | title=Royals well beaten at Ewood | work=readingfc.co.uk | accessdate=2008-01-09] Sonko, along with teammates Emerse Fae refused to play in a reserve match at the end of the 07/08 season and was suspended for their last 2 matches.

Sonko signed for Midlands-based club Stoke City for a fee of £2 million, which could rise £2.25 million depending on appearances, on 29 August 2008. [cite news | date=2006-08-29 | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/s/stoke_city/7587931.stm| title=Stoke sign Reading defender Sonko | publisher=BBC Sport | accessdate=2008-08-29]

International career

Sonko was born in Senegal, but moved to France when he was six months and 14 days old. Despite this, Sonko initially elected to play for the Senegal national team. He represented Senegal at U23 level, but declined his call-up to their African Cup of Nations squad of 2006, opting instead to help Reading's ultimately successful bid for promotion to the English Premier League. [cite news | date=2005-12-24 | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/africa/4557912.stm | title=Sonko pulls out of Senegal squad | publisher=BBC Sport | accessdate=2007-02-06] He then announced that he would play for France if selected, but if called up to the Senegal squad before a French call-up, he would play for the African team. [cite news | date=2006-12-12 | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/africa/6172293.stm | title=Sonko seeks France call-up | publisher=BBC Sport | accessdate=2007-02-06]

Sonko was named in Senegal's provisional 38-man squad for the African Cup of Nations, which runs from 20 January to 10 February 2008. [cite news | date=2007-12-27 | url=http://www.readingfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10306~1199163,00.html | title=Sonko provisional for Senegal | work=readingfc.co.uk | accessdate=2007-12-27] Senegal coach Henryk Kasperczak also included Sonko in his final 23-man squad making him the only uncapped player in the squad. He finally made his debut for Senegal on 12 January 2008 in their 3-1 win over Namibia in Dakar; he played the entire game in the centre of defence. [cite news | date=2008-01-15 | url=http://www.readingfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10306~1214819,00.html | title=Sonko makes debut for Senegal | work=readingfc.co.uk | accessdate=2008-01-17]

References

External links

* [http://www.readingfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/ProfilesDetail/0,,10306~22520,00.html Ibrahima Sonko profile] at readingfc.co.uk
*soccerbase|32618|Ibrahima Sonko

Persondata
NAME=Sonko, Ibrahima
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=
SHORT DESCRIPTION=Footballer
DATE OF BIRTH=22 January 1981
PLACE OF BIRTH=Bignona, Senegal
DATE OF DEATH=
PLACE OF DEATH=