Salomon Kalou
Friday, 05 June 2009 09:25
Nationality Ivorian
D.O.B. 05/08/1985
Height 6' 1"
Weight 78.0kg
Previuos Clubs Feyenoord
Position Striker
It was a second successive season of progress for the young Ivorian in 2007/08 as he played his 100th game for the club in less than two campaigns.
In addition, there were four weeks away in Ghana as Salomon continued his fledgling international career with the Ivory Coast at the African Cup of Nations. A superb solo goal against Nigeria kicked the tournament off, and he followed that up with two against Guinea in a resounding 5-0 win.
Back in England, Kalou flourished in a left-wing role, for spells keeping Florent Malouda, Didier Drogba and Andriy Shevchenko. out of the side, but also scored goals when asked to play in a central striking role, notably against Bolton in October, reducing the impact of injuries to
Added to his 11 goals were nine assists in the Premier League, the highest number from any Chelsea player, making Salomon a vital, and versatile member of the squad.
He signed in the summer of 2006 when an undisclosed transfer fee was paid to Dutch club Feyenoord.
He had performed in the Dutch league for three seasons. In 2003/4 he made two appearances for Feyenoord but played the bulk of the season on loan at another Rotterdam club, second division Excelsior, where he netted four goals in 11 appearances.
In the last two seasons at Feyenoord he found the net 35 times in 60 top flight starts and seven sub appearances. He has also scored four goals in 6+1 Uefa Cup games.
The 20 goals he scored in 2004/05 was the second best total in the Dutch top division that season. He was selected as the winner of the Johan Cruyff Award for Young Talent playing in Holland.
He made his Blues debut in the Community Shield against Liverpool in August and scored his first goal in a Carling Cup tie away at Blackburn in October 2006.
In total he scored nine goals in his first Chelsea season as he understudied Drogba and Shevchenko, playing a part in 58 of the 64 games, starting 25.
