Sadio Mane

Sadio Mane - Rising From The Ashes

Amongst the conveyor belt of talent that has come from Red Bull Salzburg and Southampton, many players have gone on to star in top teams around the world. The Premier League, Serie A, Ligue 1, and La Liga are just a few leagues that have been graced by the presence of the polished talent. One individual who hails from both the academies mentioned above is Sadio Mane, the star of Africa.

Sadio Mane hails from Sedhiou in Senegal and was born on 10th April 1992. He was a player who was introduced to the beautiful game by playing regularly on the streets. It was the passion for having the ball at his feet that led him to undertake a long journey across two continents and several countries.

His journey begins with a small incident when he travelled with his uncle for football trials that were taking place in the city of Dakar. It was a long 500-mile journey that Mane undertook in a bid to showcase his skills. Despite being looked at twice for his outfit and the way his apparel turn out was, Mane managed to catch the attention of the scouts and coaches who had come there to take the trials. This is the beginning of his football journey. Sadio Mane is another of the many footballers who have shown the world the way up.

FC Metz and RB Salzburg

Mane earned his first move abroad when he went from the Academie Generation Foot in Senegal to FC Metz in France. He plied his trade in Ligue 2 with his first goal coming against Guingamp. That was to be his only goal that season as FC Metz was relegated to French tier 3. Sadio Mane moved from the reputed FC Metz academy to RB Salzburg for a fee of 4 million euros in August 2012. He scored a total of 45 goals for the team in three years and was instrumental in the double-winning run of 2013-2014. He is one of the many reputed youth products to have come from the RB Salzburg youth academy. However, things ended on a sour note for him when he had to force a move out of the club.

Southampton Days

Mane’s most famous moment in a Southampton shirt is the 2-minute 56-second hattrick that he scored in 2015 at St Mary’s against Aston Villa. It was something that brought into the limelight for it was more than a record-breaking moment for him. Ronald Koeman utilized him effectively in the team and Mane never seemed out of place in the Southampton line-up that performed extremely well in the 2014 and 2015 seasons. In a total of 75 appearances over two seasons, Mane scored 25 goals in a total of 75 appearances for the club.

Into Liverpool Folklore

Undoubtedly, Sadio Mane has been at the peak of his career at Liverpool. He is the first name on the team sheet every week and has established himself as one of the best wingers in the world ever since making his debut at Anfield in 2016. There was much debate about him justifying the 34 million price tag that Liverpool paid for him but one Premier League, one Champions League title, a Club World Cup and, a UEFA Super Cup later, that debate seems closed forever. He has combined well with Andy Robertson on the left wing to form a deadly and marauding partnership across England and Europe. The front three of Mo Salah, Mane, and Firmino have formed a formidable strike partnership with each other over the past couple of years under Jurgen Klopp. Mane has been everything from a goal scorer to an assist provider and a chance creator. He has everything that a modern-day winger needs in terms of skills and team contribution.

In the 2018 season, he scored a total of 22 goals for the Liverpool in the Premier League as the club came agonizingly close to winning the title. The historic 2019-2020 season was his most famous moment in the Red Shirt with him leading the charge for Liverpool’s title quest right from game week one.

What Makes Him Unique?

One of the reasons why right-backs around the world are so afraid of facing him is versatility. Over time, he has become proficient in dribbling, working his way through tough positions, having a burst of pace and, having an acute tactical awareness. One must remember the historic opening day goal he scored against Arsenal back in the 2016 season. Despite being closed down by two defenders, Mane managed to weave past both with ease, cut in and fire a goal into the top left corner. It all seemed so perfect and that moment is etched in the hearts of Liverpool fans for years. His height has never been a disadvantage for him and is his biggest asset when it comes to positional play and agility, both of which are the main traits of his off-the-ball movement.

He has been included in the PFA Team of the year in 2016, 2018, and 2020. His contributions to Senegal have phenomenal as well with National Team reaching the Africa Cup of Nations in 2019. He was awarded the Africa Footballer of the Year in 2019 for his achievements. He was voted Liverpool’s Player of the Season in 2016-2017, won the Premier League Golden Boot in 2019 and, has been included in various UEFA Squads, over the past few years.

A Leader on and Off the Pitch

Mane’s motive to give back to his community began when he was seven years old. He was informed of his father’s death before he stepped onto the football field for a match. It was a shock to him as a young child and this incident coupled with other family circumstances led him to return over two decades later and build the communities first hospital and a school. He has provided relief during Coronavirus and continues to support community development in is native region.

It is not just about his numerous goals or accolades that have been accumulated over time. Sadio Mane needs to be recognized for the journey he has undertaken from start to finish. He has shown the way for numerous youngsters both in Senegal and around the world who wish to be professional sportspersons. He has given back to his community in more ways than one. The boy whose father forbade him from playing football is now more than a professional. Who knew that the young lad who was looked at twice because of the clothes he wore for trials would be chosen to represent the nation one day? Dreams do come true for those who work towards them. By leading the way both on and off the pitch, Sadio Mane has been a revelation for football in the past decade and an inspirational icon… to say the least.

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