The 10 best Left backs in the world (Part 3) – Aly Cissokho
Aly Cissokho is French international footballer of Senegalese descent. The youngster’s steep rise to fame last year is one for the story tellers. A young Cissokho started his football career with an unknown French club in Blois Foot 41. At 17, Cissokho then
joined the youth ranks of FC Gueugnon in 2004. The club was playing in the French third division and Aly made his first team debut in 2007.
The player was signed by Portuguese second division club Vitória Setúbal in the summer of 2008. The move to Portugal seemed to have given the left back a breath of fresh air as the youngster played beyond his abilities, so much so that the player was snapped
by the reigning Portuguese Champions FC Porto barely six months later. Dragões paid a meagre €300,000 in the transfer fee for his services.
Cissokho was immediately slotted into the starting eleven. The young sensation made just 15 league appearances for his new club. Porto went undefeated during that time and the club was able to seal its consecutive Liga ZON Sagres title. Where his league
appearances were impressive, it was his performances in the UEFA Champions League that earned him continental praise.
In the quarterfinals on the primary European club competition, Porto was set to face English Champions Manchester United. Cissokho was given the arduous task of handling the 2008 FIFA World Player of the Year, Cristiano Ronaldo. It was Cissokho’s maiden
season in the Champions League and many expected the young wing back to buckle under pressure. Cissokho however, thrived under the circumstances and put in some impressive displays over the two legs. Although they lost the tie 3-2 on aggregate, Cissokho earned
rave reviews for his performance.
By the end of the season, Aly Cissokho was pretty much a man in demand. On 14th June, 2009, AC Milan declared they had signed Cissokho for a fee of 15 million Euros. The transfer was to be completed after the medical. Cissokho failed his medical
under astonishing circumstances. The player was reportedly diagnosed with a teeth problem that could lead to Spinal issues later in the career - the transfer deal was terminated to the dismay of the young player. However, Cissokho wasn’t kept waiting for long
as French League 1 giants Olympique Lyonnais approached the player with a contract. Lyon paid the 15 million Euros fee and the player was signed in no time. Cissokho later blasted Milan for the way he was treated. AC Milan was accused of exaggerating the issue
so that they could get a transfer discount.
Cissokho was able to break into the Lyon starting eleven almost immediately. The player made his debut in the opening match of the 2009/10 season and he went on to make a further 30 league appearances for the club. The wingback has tremendous energy and
huge reservoirs of stamina which he uses to devastating effect. The springy wingback is equally effective with his crossing. Cissokho’s offensive prowess coupled with his defensive nous makes him one of the best left backs in the world and at just 23 years
of age, he is only going to get better.
France has been producing quality left backs on a conveyor belt in the last couple of years. Despite all the quality, Cissokho has made his international debut with Les Blues, a fact that bears testimony to Cissokho’s outstanding ability. The young wingback
has a world class career ahead of him and the player will be too big a player for Les Gones in very near future. The player has moved from a nobody playing in French third division to one of the best left backs in the world in just two years. Real Madrid is
currently looking for a left back. Owing to Cissokho’s outrageous ability, don’t be surprised if you see Cissokho playing in a Galacticos jersey next year.
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