Kalidou Koulibaly's Life and Career Journey in Football

Kalidou Koulibaly was born on June 20, 1991 in Saint-Die-des-Vosges, France. He was born into a family that is fairly mediocre. His mother is a janitor, while his father is an employee in a saw factory.

His family belongs to the part of Africans who migrated to France. The goal is to get a better life.

Koulibaly relates that his little life in France went so well. He is friends with people from various backgrounds. Koulibay even said that he and his friends have different skin colors, eyes, to body shapes.

At his residence in France, Koulibaly befriends the Turks, Arabs and Senegalese themselves. He felt so comfortable in a colorful life.

Koulibaly first played football when visiting his native place in Senegal. At that time he admitted that he was surprised because the children there played without using shoes. He even took the initiative to buy the children shoes. But his mother forbade and instead said that Koulibaly had to take off his shoes.

Although initially doubtful, Koulibaly felt that the experience was the most beautiful. He could feel the excitement that was so extraordinary. And since then, he has continued to pursue his football talent.

Koulibaly began his career playing for the junior team of his birth club SR Saint-Die. He spent two seasons playing for the senior team at Championnat de France Amateur 2, before finally joining the young academy of the professional club Metz on July 1, 2009.

With Metz, Koulibaly helped the club's U19 team win the Gambardella Coupe in the 2009/10 season, after the team defeated Sochaux 5–4 on penalties in the final.

At the start of the 2010/11 season, Koulibaly signed his first professional contract with Metz.

He was later promoted to the senior team by new manager Dominique Bijotat. Koulibaly made his professional debut on August 20, 2010 in a league match against Vannes. Koulibaly appeared as a substitute in the 1-0 win. On 15 April 2011, he scored his first goal for FC Metz, when they drew 3–3 against Clermont.

Three days later, Koulibaly signed a three-year contract extension with the club, or until 2014.

Being in the line of team defense, Koulibaly is known as a player who is not easily provoked emotions. He has his own way to dispel the opponent's attacks and often do the right tackles. That is why he has always been FC Metz's first choice.

But despite extending his contract with FC Metz, Koulibaly decided to move to RC Genk. Koulibaly left Metz as one of the club's best players. He collected 42 appearances and entered the list of the 10 most expensive players that Metz had ever sold.

According to Transfermrkt, the 1.3 million Euros received from Koulibaly was only lower than Miralem Pjanic (7.5), Jocelyn Blanchard (6.5), Franck Ribery (5), Faryd Mondragón (4.5), Sadio Mane (4), Emmanuel Adebayor (3.2), Louis Saha (3.15), Sebastien Bassong (1.8), and Papiss Demba Cissé (1.5).

Koulibaly joined Belgian club Genk on June 29, 2012 after agreeing to a four-year contract. On August 23, 2012, Koulibaly made his debut for Genk in the Europa League play-off qualifying round, where they were beaten by Swiss team Luzern 2-1 in the first leg.

Since he first landed at Genk, Koulibaly has always been the first choice.

In the 2013/14 season, Koulibaly increasingly established himself as one of the best players in the center back position. At that time, he established a very effective partnership with Kara Mbodji.

He then scored two goals in two matches between October 6, 2013 and October 19, 2013. But his glory at Genk instead caused anxiety at the club. The reason is, many people have paid attention to Koulibaly's talent.

At that time, Napoli became a team that continued to be a loyal spectator of Koulibaly in each match. So in 2014, Genk could not refuse Koulibaly's offer.

When he first joined Napoli, he claimed immediately crammed with various boring tactics by Rafael Benitez. Benitez has been in charge of Napoli since 2013. He filled the position after the previous coach Walter Mazzarri left. At that time, Koulibaly was brought in for just 6.5 million pounds.

Koulibaly then transformed into a pillar of the back line that is very tough. He also became one of the best central defenders on the Serie A and European stages.

However, his first impression of Benitez remained boring.

Koulibaly revealed that after undergoing medical tests, Benitez immediately took him to lunch. And it turns out it was not an ordinary lunch. At the dining table at that time, when the food had not arrived, Benitez used empty glasses to introduce his tactics to Koulibaly. A confused Senegalese player is only able to think, "is this person crazy?"

Benitez's intensity about tactics does not stop there. There was a time when Koulibaly returned from vacation, the former Newcastle boss immediately locked him in a room.

In the room there is also the head of video analys Napoli. The person then played a video of footage from Koulibaly's match. All his best games when baiting, dribbling the ball and launching a tackle.

Benitez then continues to show another video to Koulibaly. The video was a very boring match. Normal things on the field. But apparently, according to Benitez, Koulibaly did a lot of rubbish tricks. The coach admitted that Koulibaly was only superior in strength alone. If the opponent is smarter, then obviously strength doesn't mean anything.

But what Benitez had done made Koulibaly aware. He admitted that all the simple things applied by the coach were very useful.

He called the former Liverpool coach not only helpful in terms of tactics but also a matter of adaptation in the country of Italy. In addition, the former Racing Genk defender also praised Napoli's tifosi support.

After Benitez's departure, Koulbaly got a far more impressive replacement. Maurizio Sarri, the coach who was initially doubtful even gave many happy memories for Napoli, especially Koulibaly himself.

In Sarri's leadership, Koulibaly told of a moment with the coach who was somewhat amazing, but also very annoying.

Koulibaly revealed that Maurizio Sarri had forced him to leave his new wife, only to place him on the Partenopei bench.

At some point in January 2016, Napoli will have a duel with Sassuolo. Ahead of the duel, Sarri held an opponent analysis session via video.

In the middle of the session, Koulibaly's wife called him. The Senegalese defender was initially reluctant to accept the call because he knew Sarri did not want the session to be disturbed.

But in the end, Koulibaly received the call. It turns out that his wife Charline will give birth soon. But apparently when he was about to meet his wife, Sarri forbade him to go. After discussion, Sarri finally let him go.

Koulibaly immediately rushed to see his wife. He can also be present on time to accompany his wife to give birth to their first son, Art.

But only two hours after leaving Napoli headquarters, Sarri called Koulibaly. He urged the defender to return as soon as possible in order to prepare for the game against Sassuolo.

The wife then gave permission for Koulibaly to return to the stadium. But after arriving at the stadium, the 28-year-old defender gets a surprise. Sarri did not immediately play Koulibaly, but first put him on the bench.

Sarri's plan in the game was successful. Napoli were initially 1-0 behind. They will still be able to turn around winning 3-1.

Koulibaly himself played in that match. He went down in the second round, with 22 minutes remaining. Although his story with the boss who now gushes Juventus sounds negative, but he insists the opposite.

Koulibaly said that it was Sarri's craziest moment.

So far, Koulibaly is still one of the best defenders in the world. For four years in a row, Kalidou Koulibaly filled the best Italian Serie A team. Making the Senegalese defender become one of the players who most often fill the best team of the highest division of Pizza Country.

At least until 2019, only Gianluigi Buffon and Giorgio Chiellini have filled in the best Serie A list, which is 5 times.

Koulibaly's ability was inevitable. Even based on the results of Ballon 's poll in 2019, he is one of the most chosen defenders. Noted in the 25 players with the most votes at Ballon d'Or 2019. With this achievement, Napoli clearly set a high price for Koulibaly's services.

Napoli President Aurelio De Laurentiis even said that Koulibaly's price would be more expensive than Harry Maguire, the world's most expensive defender at 80 million euros.

At the international level, Koulibaly could actually choose to play for the French or Senegalese national teams.

At a young age, he had played for France in the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Colombia. However, in September 2015, he was convinced to defend the Senegal national team.