José Kanté Explained

José Kanté
Upright:0.9
Full Name:José Kanté Martínez[1]
Birth Date:27 September 1990
Birth Place:Sabadell, Spain
Height:1.84 m
Position:Forward
Youthclubs1:PB Manresa
Youthyears2:2007–2009
Youthclubs2:Gimnàstic
Years1:2009–2011
Caps1:8
Goals1:0
Years2:2011–2012
Caps2:27
Goals2:5
Years3:2012–2013
Caps3:14
Goals3:5
Years4:2013
Caps4:11
Goals4:2
Years5:2013–2014
Caps5:35
Goals5:11
Years6:2014–2015
Caps6:29
Goals6:5
Years7:2016
Caps7:16
Goals7:0
Years8:2016–2018
Caps8:62
Goals8:19
Years9:2018–2021
Caps9:43
Goals9:12
Years10:2019
Clubs10:Gimnàstic (loan)
Caps10:14
Goals10:3
Years11:2021–2022
Caps11:32
Goals11:15
Years12:2022
Caps12:16
Goals12:14
Years13:2023
Caps13:24
Goals13:8
Totalcaps:331
Totalgoals:99
Nationalyears1:2016–2024
Nationalcaps1:30
Nationalgoals1:4

José Kanté Martínez (born 27 September 1990) is a former professional footballer who played as a forward.

Born in Spain, he played for the Guinea national team, representing the country in three Africa Cup of Nations.

Club career

Born in Sabadell, Province of Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, Kanté only played lower league or amateur football in his country of birth initially,[2] representing CE Manresa, UE Rubí, AE Prat (all in his native region)[3] [4] and Atlético Malagueño.[5] He scored his first goal in the Segunda División B while at the service of the third club, in a 2–1 away win against CF Badalona on 11 November 2012.[6]

In June 2014, Kanté signed with Cypriot First Division side AEK Larnaca FC,[7] where he shared teams with a host of compatriots.[2] He played his first top-flight game on 31 August of that year, coming on as a second-half substitute in the 0–2 home loss to APOEL FC.

Kanté moved to the Polish Ekstraklasa in January 2016, going on to remain several years in the country with Górnik Zabrze[8] and Wisła Płock.[9] In the 2016–17 season he scored ten goals, helping to a final ninth-place finish.[10]

On 18 June 2018, Kanté signed for Legia Warsaw in the same league.[11] The following 31 January, he joined Gimnàstic de Tarragona on loan for the remainder of the campaign in the Segunda División.[12]

Kanté terminated his Legia contract by mutual consent on 23 February 2021.[13] On 10 March, he moved to Kazakhstan Premier League club FC Kairat on a deal until December 2022,[14] but left four months after it expired.[15]

On 27 August 2022, Kanté joined Cangzhou Mighty Lions F.C. on a free transfer.[16] On 24 September, in his third appearance and first start in the Chinese Super League, he scored all of his team's goals in a 4–3 victory over leaders Wuhan Three Towns FC, which ended the opponent's 17-game unbeaten run since getting promoted the previous season.[17]

In 2023, Kante signed for J1 League club Urawa Red Diamonds. On 27 November that year, having scored 12 times in all competitions, the 33-year-old announced his retirement at the end of the campaign.[18]

International career

Of Guinean descent, Kanté opted to represent that nation even though he did not speak French nor any of the local dialects when he was first summoned by manager Kanfory Lappé Bangoura in November 2016.[19] He earned his first cap on the 13th, playing 25 minutes in a 1–2 home defeat against DR Congo for the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.[20]

Kanté was included in the squads for Guinea at the 2019,[21] 2021[22] and 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.[23]

Career statistics

Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueNational cupLeague cupContinentalOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Prat2011–13Segunda División B14520165
2013–14Segunda División B35113511
Total4916205116
AEK Larnaca2014–15Cypriot First Division17341214
2015–16Cypriot First Division1221120153
Total2955220367
Górnik Zabrze2015–16Ekstraklasa160160
Wisła Płock2016–17Ekstraklasa3210003210
2017–18Ekstraklasa30910319
Total6219106319
2018–19Ekstraklasa162206310255
2019–20Ekstraklasa231043002713
2020–21Ekstraklasa4000310071
Total43126394105919
Gimnàstic (loan)2018–19Segunda División143143
2021Kazakhstan Premier League229541143817
2022Kazakhstan Premier League106201010146
Total321574124105223
Cangzhou Mighty Lions2022Chinese Super League1614001614
Urawa Red Diamonds2022J1 League2020
2023J1 League248308154314314
Total248308174314514
Career total2859224981301251352115

International

Appearances and goals by national team and year[24]
National teamYearAppsGoals
Guinea201610
201710
201841
201971
202182
202250
202320
202420
Total304

Scores and results list Guinea goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Kanté goal.[24]

List of international goals scored by José Kanté
No.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1 16 October 2018 Stade Régional Nyamirambo, Kigali, Rwanda 1–0 1–1 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualification
2 17 November 2019 Stade du 28 Septembre, Conakry, Guinea 2–0 2–0 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualification
3 8 June 2021 Arslan Zeki Demirci Sports Complex, Manavgat, Turkey 2–0 2–1 Friendly
4 9 October 2021 Adrar Stadium, Agadir, Morocco 1–0 2–2 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification

Honours

Legia Warsaw

2019–20,[25] 2020–21[26]

Kairat

2021[27]

Urawa Red Diamonds

2022[28] [29]

Individual

Notes and References

  1. Web site: FIFA Club World Cup Saudi Arabia 2023™: List of Players: Urawa Reds. FIFA. 7. 6 December 2023. 10 December 2023. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20231206205418/https://fdp.fifa.org/assetspublic/ce119/pdf/SquadLists-English.pdf. 6 December 2023.
  2. Web site: Conociendo al Spanish Larnaca. Meeting Spanish Larnaca. Vavel. Juan Manuel. Maldonado. es. 10 August 2015. 19 September 2017.
  3. News: José Kanté Martínez, sisena incorporació a l'AE Prat. José Kanté Martínez, sixth addition to AE Prat. La Premsa del Baix. Marçal. Fontanals. ca. 2 August 2012. 19 September 2017.
  4. Web site: El Prat confirma el retorn de José Kanté. Prat confirm the return of José Kanté. AE Prat. ca. 5 August 2013. 19 September 2017. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20210225015319/https://www.aeprat.com/actualitat-primer-equip-aeprat/Primer+Equip.+El+Prat+confirma+el+retorn+de+Jos%C3%A9+Kant%C3%A9./ia3357. 25 February 2021.
  5. Web site: El Atlético Malagueño se refuerza con José Kante. Atlético Malagueño bolster with José Kante. Málaga CF. es. 31 January 2013. 19 September 2017.
  6. News: Un Badalona poco peligroso pierde contra el Prat. Tame Badalona lose against Prat. El Periódico de Catalunya. es. 13 November 2011. 19 September 2017.
  7. Web site: Jose Kante fitxa per l´AEK Larnaca de Xipre i Putxi marxa a l´Europa. Jose Kante signs for AEK Larnaca of Cyprus and Putxi goes to Europa. Regiò 7. ca. 16 June 2014. 19 September 2017.
  8. Web site: Oficjalnie: Jose Kante Martinez w Górniku Zabrze. Official: Jose Kante Martinez to Górnik Zabrze. Sportowe Fakty. Łukasz. Witczyk. pl. 12 January 2016. 19 September 2017.
  9. Web site: Jose Kante podpisał kontrakt z Wisłą Płock. José Kante signed contract with Wisła Płock. Sport.onet. pl. 15 July 2016. 19 September 2017.
  10. Web site: Sezon 2016/17. 2016/17 season. 90 Minut. pl. 19 September 2017.
  11. Web site: Jose Kante podpisał kontrakt z Legią. Jose Kante signed a contract with Legia. Legia Warsaw. pl. 18 June 2018. 11 February 2019.
  12. Web site: Kanté llega cedido del Legia de Varsovia. Kanté arrives on loan from Legia Warsaw. Gimnàstic Tarragona. es. 31 January 2019. 11 February 2019. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20190322122230/http://www.gimnasticdetarragona.cat/es/kante-arriba-cedit-del-legia-de-varsovia/. 22 March 2019.
  13. Web site: Jose Kante rozwiązał kontrakt z Legią. Jose Kante terminated contract with Legia. Legia Warsaw. pl. 23 February 2021. 23 February 2021.
  14. Web site: ОФИЦИАЛЬНО: ХОСЕ КАНТЕ МАРТИНЕС ИГРОК КАЙРАТА. Official: José Kanté Martínez a Kairat player. FC Kairat. ru. 10 March 2021. 10 March 2021.
  15. Web site: СПАСИБО ХОСЕ!. Thanks José!. FC Kairat. kk. 23 August 2022. 23 August 2022.
  16. Web site: 沧州雄狮官方:何塞-坎特&朱可夫加盟王鹏租借回归. Cangzhou Lions official: José Kanté & Zhukov join Wang Peng who comes on loan. Sina Sports. zh. 27 August 2022. 26 September 2022.
  17. Web site: 中超-坎特上演大四喜加绝杀 三镇3–4负雄狮遇首败. Sina Sports. zh. 24 September 2022. 26 September 2022.
  18. Web site: ホセ カンテ選手 現役引退のお知らせ. Announcement of José Kanté's retirement. Urawa Red Diamonds. ja. 27 November 2023. 27 November 2023.
  19. Web site: Lappé-Martinez Kanté: Dialogue de sourd, langage mimique, intégration qui nécessite assez d'efforts.. Lappé-Martinez Kanté: Deaf men talking, sign language, hard-pressed integration.. Guinée Foot. Lamine. Mognouma. fr. 10 November 2016. 15 November 2016.
  20. Web site: Russie 2018 – Guinée-RD Congo: Deuxième défaite du Syli national devant la RD Congo.. Russia 2018 – Guinea-DR Congo: Second loss for Syli national team against DR Congo.. Guinée Foot. Lamine. Touré. fr. 13 November 2016. 19 September 2017.
  21. Web site: CAN 2019: Les 23 guinéens aves Keita et Kamano. CAN 2019: 23 Guineans with Keita and Kamano. Eurosport. fr. 12 June 2019. 23 January 2024.
  22. News: CAN 2022. Guinée: avec Saidou Sow, retrouvez la liste complète du Sily national. CAN 2022. Guinea: with Saidou Sow, check out the National Elephants' full squad. Ouest-France. fr. 4 January 2022. 23 January 2024.
  23. Web site: Les 25 sélectionnés pour la CAN 2023. The 25 selected for CAN 2023. Guinean Football Federation. fr. 23 December 2023. 21 January 2024.
  24. Web site: J. Kanté – Matches. Soccerway. 26 October 2018.
  25. Web site: Architekci mistrzostwa Legii. Kto poprowadził Wojskowych do tytułu?. The architetcts of Legia's championship. Who took Armymen to title?. TVP Sport. Piotr. Kamieniecki. pl. 11 July 2020. 8 May 2023.
  26. Web site: Legijni architekci mistrzostwa. Kto odegrał największą rolę w zdobyciu tytułu?. The architects of Legia's championship. Who played the biggest role in title conquest?. TVP Sport. Piotr. Kamieniecki. pl. 28 April 2021. 8 May 2023.
  27. Web site: Kairat Almaty se proclama campeón de Copa. Kairat Almaty crowned Cup champions. Migrantes del Balón. Fernando. Gómez Juárez. es. 30 November 2021. 8 May 2023.
  28. Web site: Urawa Reds edge Al Hilal for historic third title. Asian Football Confederation. 6 May 2023. 6 May 2023.
  29. News: Urawa beats Al Hilal to capture third Asian Champions League title. The Japan Times. Dan. Orlowitz. 6 May 2023. 6 May 2023.
  30. Web site: Piłkarz Lutego 2020: Jose Kante. February 2020 footballer: José Kanté. Ekstraklasa. pl. 16 March 2020. 8 May 2024. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20200912213740/https://ekstraklasa.org/aktualnosci/pilkarz-lutego-2020-jose-kante-14553. 12 September 2020.