Coli Saco

Coli Saco (born 15 May 2002) is a French professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Serie C Group A club Pro Vercelli, on loan from Napoli.

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
 Pro Vercelli
(on loan from Napoli)
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– → Pro Vercelli (loan) 30 (3)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 23:00, 19 March 2023 (UTC)

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][3] He then came through the youth ranks of the Lionceaux,[2] 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.[4][5]

In October 2020, Saco entered AC Milan's academy;[6][7] however, he was released after just one season, having not managed to break into the under-19 team consistently.[3][8][9] In September 2021, he officially joined fellow Italian club Napoli after a successful trial.[1][9][10]

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.[3][11] 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.[3][9][11]

On 15 July 2022, Saco joined Serie C side Pro Vercelli on a season-long loan.[10][12][13] 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.[14] On 5 November, he scored his first professional goal in a 1–3 league loss against AlbinoLeffe.[3][15]

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.[9][10] 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.[3][9] He has also been noticed for his vision and his long-range passing prowess.[9]

Although he has been compared to André-Frank Zambo Anguissa,[9] he cited Paul Pogba and Yaya Touré as his main sources of inspiration.[1][10]

Personal life

Saco is of Malian descent.[3][9]

Career statistics

Club
As of match played 19 March 2023[16][17]
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 30300——303
Career total 303000000303

References
  1. "Coli Saco : « Je me sens vraiment napolitain »". SSC Napoli France (in French). 21 September 2021. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
  2. "Le bilan de la saison sochalienne en U17". La Bande à Bonal (in French). 8 May 2019. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
  3. "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.
  4. "Le tenant chute, un Poucet passe". FFF (in French). 2 February 2020. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
  5. "Décision concernant les championnats amateurs et les compétitions". FFF (in French). 16 April 2020. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
  6. Lionetto, Riccardo (5 October 2020). "Milan, doppio colpo: presi Saco e Pobi". MondoPrimavera (in Italian). Retrieved 3 February 2023.
  7. "Football. Coli Saco, pas conservé au FC Sochaux, signe au Milan AC". L'Est Républicain (in French). 7 October 2020. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
  8. Brianti, Simone (20 June 2021). "Milan, Saco ai saluti: parole d'addio per il centrale rossonero". MondoPrimavera (in Italian). Retrieved 3 February 2023.
  9. Paesano, Luca (14 June 2022). "Largo ai giovani: Coli Saco". Sport del Sud (in Italian). Retrieved 3 February 2023.
  10. 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.
  11. 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.
  12. Regis, Sebastiano (15 July 2022). "BENVENUTO COLI SACO!". F.C. Pro Vercelli 1892 (in Italian). Retrieved 3 February 2023.
  13. 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.
  14. "Pro Vercelli vs. Calcio Padova - 3 September 2022". Soccerway. Retrieved 22 March 2023.
  15. "Pro Vercelli vs. AlbinoLeffe - 5 November 2022". Soccerway. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
  16. Coli Saco at WorldFootball.net
  17. Coli Saco at Soccerway
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