Serigne Modou Kara Mbodji (born 22 November 1989), commonly known as Kara or Kara Mbodji, is a Senegalese professional footballer who plays for the Senegal national team. He can be deployed as a defender, defensive midfielder or in the central midfield.

Kara Mbodji
Mbodji with Genk in 2014
Personal information
Full name Serigne Modou Kara Mbodji
Date of birth (1989-11-22) 22 November 1989 (age 34)[1]
Place of birth Ndiass, Senegal
Height 1.92 m (6 ft 4 in)[1]
Position(s) Centre-back, defensive midfielder
Youth career
Diambars FC
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2008–2010 Diambars FC 43 (4)
2010–2012 Tromsø 70 (8)
2013–2015 Genk 75 (4)
2015–2019 Anderlecht 90 (6)
2018–2019Nantes (loan) 6 (0)
2019–2022 Al-Sailiya 57 (3)
International career
2011–2012 Senegal U23 7 (1)
2011–2018 Senegal 47 (4)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 7 January 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 8 June 2018

Club career edit

Tromsø edit

At the age of 15, Mbodji joined the Diambars academy in Dakar, Senegal.[2] On 2 February 2010, he joined Norwegian club Tromsø IL. During his three seasons in the Norwegian Premier League, he was awarded best player of his team and twice second best player of the Championship.

Genk edit

On 31 December 2012, Mbodji joined KRC Genk for a fee of €1.4 million.[3] After regularly starting for Genk in defence and winning the 2012–13 Belgian Cup, his contract was extended until June 2018.

Anderlecht edit

On 7 August 2015, he joined R.S.C. Anderlecht for a fee of €4.5 million, signing a four-year deal until June 2019.[2] In August 2017, he agreed a contract extension with the club until 2020.[4] In his time at the club he made 97 appearances scoring 7 goals.[5]

Nantes edit

On 30 August 2018, one day before the closing of the 2018 summer transfer window, Mbodji moved to Ligue 1 side FC Nantes on loan for the 2018–19 season. Nantes also secured an option to sign him permanently.[5] His loan ended early, in January 2019, with Mbodji citing lack of playing time.[6]

Al-Sailiya edit

On 20 July 2019, Al-Sailiya signed Kara Mbodji for three season from Anderlecht.[7]

International career edit

Mbodji was a part of the Senegal team for the 2012 Olympic Games.[8] He was included in the Senegal national football team's squad for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations and scored in a 1–1 draw with South Africa in the team's second group match.[9]

In June 2018 he was named in Senegal's 23-man squad for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.[10]

Career statistics edit

Club edit

As of 7 February 2024[11]
Club Season League National Cup[a] Continental Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Tromsø 2010 Tippeligaen 22 0 2 0 24 0
2011 26 5 1 0 4[b] 0 31 5
2012 22 3 4 0 3[b] 1 29 4
Total 70 8 7 0 7 1 84 9
Genk 2012–13 First Division 2 0 2 0 0 0 8[c] 2 12 2
2013–14 26 0 3 0 10[b] 2 8[d] 0 47 2
2014–15 24 2 1 0 6[c] 0 31 2
2015–16 2 0 2 0
Total 54 2 6 0 10 2 22 2 92 6
Anderlecht 2015–16 First Division 24 1 0 0 9[b] 1 8[c] 1 41 3
2016–17 First Division A 21 3 0 0 7[b] 0 8[c] 1 36 4
2017–18 12 0 1 0 5[e] 0 2[f] 0 20 0
2018-19 9 0 8[c] 0 17 0
Total 66 4 1 0 21 1 26 2 114 7
Nantes (loan) 2018–19 Ligue 1 6 0 1 0 1[g] 0 8 0
Total 6 0 1 0 1 0 8 0
Al-Sailiya 2019-20 Qatar Stars League 22 1 0 0 1[h] 0 1[i] 1 24 2
2020-21 17 2 2 0 8[j] 1 27 3
2021-22 18 0 2 0 8[k] 0 28 0
Total 57 3 4 0 1 0 17 2 79 5
Career total 253 17 19 0 39 4 66 6 377 27
  1. ^ Appearances in the Norwegian Football Cup, the Belgian Cup, the Coupe de France, and the Emir Cup
  2. ^ a b c d e Appearances in the Europa League
  3. ^ a b c d e Appearances in the Belgian First Division playoffs
  4. ^ Seven appearances in the Belgian First Division playoffs, and one appearance in the Belgian Super Cup
  5. ^ Appearances in the UEFA Champions League
  6. ^ One appearance in the Belgian First Division A playoffs, and one appearance in the Belgian Super Cup
  7. ^ Appearances in the Coupe de la Ligue
  8. ^ Appearances in the AFC Champions League
  9. ^ Appearances in the Qatari Stars Cup
  10. ^ Five appearances in the Qatari Stars Cup, and three appearances in the Qatar FA Cup
  11. ^ Six appearances in the Qatari Stars Cup, one appearance in the Qatar FA Cup, and one appearance in the Qatari Stars League relegation play-off

International edit

As of 8 June 2018[12]
Senegal
Year Apps Goals
2011 1 0
2012 1 0
2013 3 0
2014 7 1
2015 10 1
2016 6 0
2017 12 2
2018 1 0
Total 41 4

International goals edit

Scores and results list Senegal's goal tally first.[12]
Goal Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1. 19 November 2014 Stade Léopold Sédar Senghor, Dakar, Senegal   Botswana 1–0 3–0 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualification
2. 23 January 2015 Estadio de Mongomo, Mongomo, Equatorial Guinea   South Africa 1–1 1–1 2015 Africa Cup of Nations
3. 15 January 2017 Stade de Franceville, Franceville, Gabon   Tunisia 2–0 2–0 2017 Africa Cup of Nations
4. 14 November 2017 Stade Léopold Sédar Senghor, Dakar, Senegal   South Africa 2–1 2–1 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification

Honours edit

Club edit

Genk

Anderlecht

Al-Sailiya SC

References edit

  1. ^ a b "2018 FIFA World Cup Russia – List of Players" (PDF). FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. 4 June 2018. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 June 2018. Retrieved 19 June 2018.
  2. ^ a b "Kara Mbodji tekent overeenkomst bij RSC Anderlecht". Het Nieuwsblad (in Dutch). 7 August 2015. Retrieved 4 October 2017.
  3. ^ "Kara enig med Genk" (in Norwegian). Aftenposten. 31 October 2012. Archived from the original on 2 November 2012.
  4. ^ Dove, Ed (13 August 2017). "Kara Mbodji extends Anderlecht deal". ESPN FC. Retrieved 4 October 2017.
  5. ^ a b Okeleji, Oluwashina (30 August 2018). "Senegal's Kara Mbodji joins Nantes on season's loan". BBC Sport. Retrieved 31 August 2018.
  6. ^ Okeleji, Oluwashina (15 January 2019). "Senegal's Kara Mbodji confirms and explains Nantes exit". BBC Sport. Retrieved 16 January 2019.
  7. ^ "Kara Mbodji (ex-Nantes) quitte Anderlecht pour Al-Sailiya". L'Équipe (in French).
  8. ^ "Kara Mbodj Bio, Stats, and Results". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Archived from the original on 18 April 2020. Retrieved 9 November 2018.
  9. ^ "South Africa 1-1 Senegal". BBC. Retrieved 24 January 2015.
  10. ^ Crawford, Stephen (4 June 2018). "Revealed: Every World Cup 2018 squad - Final 23-man lists". Goal. Retrieved 16 July 2019.
  11. ^ Kara Mbodji at Soccerway
  12. ^ a b "Kara Mbodji". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmermann. Retrieved 15 July 2018.

External links edit