The next destination of our alphabetical world tour is the Ivory Coast. Lying on the West African coast, Cote d’Ivoire are two-time Champions of Africa. They have enjoyed something of a golden era during the last 15 years, with several of their stars appearing for the world’s top clubs and reaching the first three World Cup Finals tournaments in their history.
According to the Premier League website, 32 players have represented the Ivory Coast in the Premier League, the first of whom was…
First Player – Ibrahima Bakayoko (Everton; 1998-99)
Striker Ibrahima Bakayoko became the first Ivorian to play in the Premier League in 1998/99. He made his full Everton debut in October 1998 in a home derby against Liverpool and went on to make 23 league appearances during the campaign.
Bakayoko left Everton the following June after failing to impress at Goodison Park but is fondly remembered by Toffees fans for his enthusiastic nature. He also has the honour of being the first Ivorian to score a Premier League goal, netting four in total.
Most Appearances: Kolo Toure – 353 (Arsenal, Manchester City, Liverpool; 2002-16)
A Premier League winner with both Arsenal and Manchester City, Kolo Toure spent 14 years in the Premier League and has made the most appearances of any Ivorian.
As well as being one half of the most popular football chant of the last decade, Toure was a fearsome defender and a key part of Arsenal’s invincibles, where he formed a solid partnership with Sol Campbell.
After leaving Liverpool in 2016, he spent one season at Celtic before hanging up his boots. Toure won 120 caps for the Ivory Coast national team, making him the second-most capped player in their history.
Top Scorer: Didier Drogba – 104 (Chelsea; 2004-12, 2014-15)
The ultimate big-game player. Didier Drogba did just about everything in his time in England. Four League titles, four FA Cups and THAT Champions League are just some of the medals around his very crowded neck.
He was not actually as consistent a goalscorer as you may think. He only managed to pass 12 league goals in one of his nine seasons at Stamford Bridge (though he scored 29 in that season), but it was in the clutch moments when Chelsea needed a player to step up and be counted, that Drogba came into his own.
In 10 Cup Finals for Chelsea, Drogba scored nine goals and ended up lifting the trophy on eight of those occasions. His highlight will forever be scoring the equalising goal and then the winning penalty in the unforgettable 2011/12 Champions League Final.
Current Players
The following six players represented Ivory Coast in the Premier League in 2019/20 before the suspension:
Nicolas Pepe (Arsenal), Jonathan Kodjia (Aston Villa), Wilfried Zaha (Crystal Palace), Jean-Philippe Gbamin (Everton), Eric Bailly (Manchester United) and Serge Aurier (Spurs). Kodjia left Villa in January 2020 for Qatari side Al-Gharafa, meaning there are currently five Ivorian Premier League players.
Trivia
- Four Ivorians have won the Premier League – Didier Drogba, Salomon Kalou, Yaya Toure and Kolo Toure.
- Only 21 players have scored more international goals than Didier Drogba’s 65. Drogba’s 104 Premier League goals is also a record for an African player.
- Former Spurs midfielder Didier Zokora is the most capped player in the history of the Ivory Coast national team (123 caps).
