Xavier Kouassi

Xavier Laglais Kouassi (born 28 December 1989) is an Ivorian footballer who plays as a midfielder who currently plays for Neuchâtel Xamax in the Swiss Super League.

Xavier Kouassi
Personal information
Full name Xavier Laglais Kouassi[1]
Date of birth (1989-12-28) 28 December 1989
Place of birth San Pédro, Ivory Coast
Height 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)
Playing position(s) Midfielder
Club information
Current team
 Neuchâtel Xamax
Number 36
Youth career
2008–2009 Séwé Sports
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2009–2013 Servette 93 (2)
2013–2016 FC Sion 68 (0)
2016–2017 New England Revolution 23 (1)
2018–2020 FC Sion 54 (0)
2020– Neuchâtel Xamax 9 (0)
National team
2011 Ivory Coast 1 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 23 July 2020

He spent most of his career in the Swiss Super League, starting with Servette and then two spells at Sion. He made 215 total appearances in the competition, and won the Swiss Cup with the latter club in 2015. He also played one season of Major League Soccer for the New England Revolution, in 2017.

Kouassi earned one cap for the Ivory Coast against Israel in August 2011.

Club career

Early career

Born in San-Pédro, Kouassi began his career at hometown club Séwé Sport de San Pedro before moving to Servette FC of the Swiss Super League in 2009. He made his professional debut on 1 November that year, playing the full 90 minutes of a goalless draw away to FC Winterthur.

On 16 July 2013, Kouassi transferred to FC Sion of the same league, on a three-year deal.[2] He played five of six matches as they won the Swiss Cup in 2014–15, including the 3–0 final win over FC Basel on 7 June.[3]

New England Revolution

Kouassi joined the New England Revolution of Major League Soccer on 1 February 2016, joining asa Designated Player effective from July.[4] However, a major injury to his right knee ruled him out for over a year, and he did not debut for his new team until 19 March 2017 in a 2–1 loss at FC Dallas; though used for only 45 minutes per game in pre-season due to this injury, he made it to 79. He was praised for his performance by head coach Jay Heaps and teammate Scott Caldwell.[5]

On 1 June 2017, Kouassi scored his only goal for the Revs, earning a 2–2 draw at New York City FC.[6] In September, he received straight red cards in heavy losses away to Atlanta United FC (7–0) and Orlando City SC (6–1), in the 16th and 11th minutes of the respective games.[7][8]

Return to Sion

Kouassi returned to Sion on 15 February 2018, the last day of Switzerland's transfer window.[9] In February 2020, before the Super League was postoned due to the coronavirus pandemic, he was sent off in consecutive games against FC Zürich and Neuchâtel Xamax FCS; the latter dismissal earned him a public criticism by club owner Christian Constantin, who considered it to have "murdered" the entire team's efforts.[10]

Club captain Kouassi and eight other players were sacked by Sion on 20 March 2020, having refused a pay cut amidst the viral pandemic.[11]

Neuchâtel Xamax

On 16 June 2020, Kouassi signed with Neuchâtel Xamax.[12]

International career

Kouassi earned one cap for the Ivory Coast, on 10 August 2011. He replaced Gervinho for the last minute of a 4–3 friendly win over Israel at the Stade de Genève, home of his club Servette.[13]

Honours

FC Sion

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References
  1. "Xavier Laglais Kouassi" (in French). L'Équipe. Retrieved 21 March 2020.
  2. "FC Sion : Kouassi pour trois ans" [FC Sion: Kouassi for three years] (in French). Afrik Foot. 16 July 2013. Retrieved 21 March 2020.
  3. Radwan, Ahmed (7 June 2015). "FC Basel hammered by Sion in Swiss Cup Final". King Fut. Retrieved 21 March 2020.
  4. Stejskal, Sam (1 February 2016). "New England Revolution sign midfielder Xavier Kouassi from FC Sion to Designated Player contract". Major League Soccer. Retrieved 21 March 2020.
  5. Lemieu, Jeff (19 March 2017). "Kouassi's long-awaited debut a bright spot in loss to Dallas: "He was outstanding"". New England Revolution. Retrieved 21 March 2020.
  6. "Kouassi scores in 86th as Revs tie NYCFC 2-2". Associated Press. 1 June 2017. Retrieved 21 March 2020.
  7. Roberson, Doug (13 September 2017). "VAR plays big role in Atlanta United's big win". AJC. Retrieved 21 March 2020.
  8. "Kaka scores twice, Orlando City rolls past Revolution 6-1". Associated Press. 28 September 2017. Retrieved 21 March 2020.
  9. "Mercato: Kouassi de retour à Sion, c'est officiel" [Transfer market: Kouassi back to Sion, it's official]. Le Matin (in French). 15 February 2018. Retrieved 21 March 2020.
  10. "Constantin: «Kouassi assassine le coach»" [Constantin: "Kouassi murders the coach"]. Le Matin (in French). 16 February 2020. Retrieved 21 March 2020.
  11. "FC Sion sack nine players for reportedly not taking pay cut because of coronavirus crisis". BBC Sport. 20 March 2020. Retrieved 21 March 2020.
  12. https://www.arcinfo.ch/dossiers/neuchatel-xamax-fcs/articles/kouassi-et-djourou-qualifies-avec-xamax-pas-serey-die-avec-sion-947141
  13. "Ivory Coast beats Israel 4-3 in friendly". Fox Sports. 10 August 2011. Retrieved 21 March 2020.
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