Salomon Kalou

At 39 years old, Salomon Kalou has this physical status:

Club career

Kalou was born in Oumé. He began his career in Mimosas before heading to Europe, as his older brother Bonaventure Kalou. In 2003, he signed for Feyenoord and in 2004, he was loaned to Feyenoord's "satellite club," Excelsior.

Kalou then moved to Feyenoord and competed in the Dutch top flight Economy from 2004 to 2006. He scored 35 goals in 67 league appearances as well as receiving the Johan Cruijf Award in 2005 as the season's most promising young talent. Feyenoord supporters and the Dutch media referred to Kalou as "K2," a play on the word of K3, a Belgian pop band.

Kalou was linked to many clubs, including Auxerre, where his brother's brother played for.

Kalou paid Chelsea a reported £9 million on the 30th of May 2006. Kalou was given the number 21 shirt while Chelsea's contract was up until 2009.

José Mourinho, Chelsea's top manager, praised the young Ivorian as being hardworking, adaptable, eager to improve, and unafraid of the physical aspect of the game. Kalou confessed to taking a camera with him to his first training session at Chelsea's Cobham's training center because he couldn't believe that he'd be rubbing shoulders with well-known footballers like Michael Ballack, John Terry, and Didier Drogba. "This was the dream moment of my life, and I did not want to wake up and discover that it wasn't real," Kalou described the experience.

Kalou played with his compatriot and Ivory Coast captain Didier Drogba at Chelsea. In a 5–0 thrashing, Kalou scored his first goals for Chelsea in a reserve game against Portsmouth, bagging a hat-trick and awarding the match ball. In a two-goal victory over Blackburn Rovers in the third round of the League Cup, he scored his first senior goal for Chelsea.

Kalou scored his first Premier League goal against Wigan Athletic in Chelsea's 3–0 victory in December 2006. Chelsea also scored a 93rd-minute goal against Watford, sending Chelsea 1–0 up. In the FA Cup quarter-finals, he scored a volleyed goal from 12 yards against Tottenham Hotspur, which ended 3-3. Chelsea won the replay 1–2 before progressing to the final with a similar score against Blackburn. Kalou also served as a replacement for Manchester United in the FA Cup Final victory over Manchester United for his second trophy in England, having earlier appeared as a replacement for Chelsea in the league Cup Final victory over Arsenal.

Kalou continued his good form into the season that followed, scoring his first goal of the season against Chelsea's 6–0 victory over Stamford Bridge and the first goal against Derby County in a 2–0 victory.

In the UEFA Champions League semi-final first leg at Anfield, John Arne Riise scored his own goal, giving Chelsea a vital away goal over Liverpool. In the Champions League final in Moscow, where Chelsea lost to Manchester United, Kalou also scored with Chelsea's sixth penalty.

Except during pre-season, Kalou did not do well under Avram Grant's successor, Luiz Felipe Scolari, because of his appearance in the 2008 Beijing Olympics as part of the Ivory Coast national under-23 football team. However, he came off the bench against Manchester United on September 21 and scored a header after 80 minutes from a Mikel John Obi free kick. Chelsea gained a point and maintained their unbeaten home record, thanks to the goal. In Chelsea's 5–0 victory over Middlesbrough, Kalou scored two goals and assisted with a Frank Lampard header on October 18th.

Chelsea lost 4–1 in the replay on January 14th, 2009, as Kalou scored a tap in against Southend United in the third round of the FA Cup. He scored two goals against Middlesbrough, this time at Stamford Bridge on January 28, a 2–0 win, making him a favorite under interim manager Guus Hiddink. These strikes was his first goal in 15 Premier League games. He celebrated the objectives by giving a "handcuff" gesture but denied that he was advocating an Ivorian conviction. He scored the winner over West Ham in London on April 25, 2009. In Chelsea's 2–1 loss to Everton, a unused substitute, as the Blues lifted the FA Cup on May 30.

Chelsea defeated Manchester United to lift the 2009 FA Community Shield, with Kalou scoring the winning goal. In the third round of the League Cup, he scored his first goal of the 2009-10 season against Queens Park Rangers at Stamford Bridge, earning his team a 1–0 victory. Kalou signed a three-year contract with Chelsea on October 12, 2009, keeping him at the club until the summer of 2012. Chelsea continued their undefeated run in the Champions League as he brace against Atlético Madrid, allowing Chelsea to maintain their undefeated record in the tournament.

In the Champions League round of 16 first leg, he scored a goal against Internazionale on February 24, 2010. His shot from outside was good, but Inter goalkeeper Jlio César's mistake caused the ball to crash into the back of the net in a 2–1 loss. Kalou netted a hat-trick in Chelsea's 7-0 victory over Stoke City on April 25, but his second goal of the day was close to being a two-foot tackle. On the last day of the season against Wigan, Chelsea scored their third of eight goals.

Kalou got off to a good start in the 3–1 loss at Wembley Stadium against Manchester United, with the sole goal scoring in the 3-1 loss. In the 6–0 loss of Wigan at the DW Stadium, he appeared as a replacement, as well as fellow Ivorian Didier Drogba.

Kalou had scored 14 goals in all competitions in 31 appearances. Despite his form, however, he found it difficult to gain a regular first team spot after the signing of Fernando Torres from Liverpool in January. Nonetheless, he was included in Chelsea's starting lineup for their next game against West Bromwich Albion, who scored a goal on Chelsea's 3–1 victory on April 16th. Chelsea defeated Birmingham City 3-1, with Kalou starting the next game as well as scoring twice. Kalou was not included in Chelsea's crucial match against Tottenham Hotspur because Carlo Ancelotti wanted a dynamic team of Drogba and Torres rather than an essential match against Tottenham Hotspur. However, Kalou replaced Torres in the 63rd minute, scoring a goal in the 89th minute to lead Chelsea to a 2–1 victory and three points behind league leaders Manchester United. This year, he scored ten Premier League goals for Chelsea, the first time he had scored double-digit league goals for Chelsea.

Kalou started the season with Chelsea against West Brom in the club's second league match; he was suspended after only 34 minutes. He was an ineffective substitute against Sunderland and Bayer Leverkusen, but Chelsea's first League Cup match of the season against Fulham was his first. Chelsea defeated 4–3 on penalties, with him converting the second penalty. In the 83rd minute, Kalou came back for Frank Lampard. In the 85th minute, he was banned for handball, which resulted in Roberto Soldado's scoring a penalty; the score was still 1-1. Kalou's first goal of the new season came in a 5–0 win over Belgian side Racing Genk on October 19th. In a 3–0 away victory over Newcastle, he scored in a 2–1 victory at Goodison Park in the Premier League, then scored his first goal in the Premier League season.

Kalou fought his way back into the first-team squad following Roberto Di Matteo's promotion as interim boss; under André Villas-Boas, he was frozen out, with just four starts in over seven months. Chelsea defeated Leicester City 5–2 at Stamford Bridge, with Kalou scoring his first goal in the FA Cup this season. This goal put him and Sergio Agüero as the only players to score in the Premier League, League Cup, FA Cup, and Champions League in the season. After a superb game from strike partner Fernando Torres in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final match against Benfica, Kalou then scored a vital away goal in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final match against Benfica. Chelsea defeated Chelsea 1–0 in the game. Kalou's goal against Benfica was his 58th for the club. He said he had been frozen out by former Chelsea boss André Villas-Boas on Sunday, which he confirmed on March 29, 2012. Kalou made his 250th appearance for Chelsea in a 0–0 draw against rivals Arsenal on April 21. He appeared in both the 2012 FA Cup Final and Champions League finals, both of which were Chelsea victories.

Chelsea announced on July 1, 2012, that Kalou's deal had come to an end, as well as José Bosingwa. He had played for 254 games for the club, including 147 starts, and scored 60 goals. Kalou was linked to a number of clubs around Europe, including Schalke 04, Liverpool, Galatasaray, Newcastle United, and Arsenal.

After being released by Chelsea at the end of his deal, Kalou will sign for Lille on a free transfer on July 7, 2012. He was given the number 8 jersey. Rudi Garcia, the new manager, was delighted to see Kalou join Lille but admitted that it was not easy to persuade him to join the French side. In his second appearance, Kalou scored his first competitive goal for Lille, a header to equalize the scoreline against Nancy. In the club's 6–1 loss to Bayern Munich on September 7, he scored his first Champions League goal for the club.

Kalou played in all of Lille's games from 2013 to 2014, beginning with two of them. He scored 16 goals, making him one of five runners-up to Zlatan Ibrahimovi for top scorer. The Dogues defeated 3–2 at Ajaccio, with a hat-trick on two penalties on March 2nd.

Kalou joined Hertha BSC on a three-year deal on August 31, 2014. Lille's transfer fee was reported as €3 million.

He played 27 times in the league, scoring six goals and assisting Hertha from relegation in his first full season.

Kalou traded number 11 for the unoccupied 8 shirt at the start of the 2015--16 Bundesliga season. This was the same number he wore during his time at Lille as well as with the Ivorian national team.

In an opening 1–0 victory over FC Augsburg, he began the season in solid goal scoring form, scoring the winner from the penalty spot. In a 3–1 loss, he scored his second game of the season as a substitute against an in-form Borussia Dortmund team. Kalou scored his third goal of the season on October 3rd in a 3–0 victory over Hamburger SV. On October 27, he scored a brace against 2nd base. FSV Frankfurt, a German club, defeated the second round of the DFB-Pokal second round by a 2–1 win, with the winner being named in extra time. In a 3–1 victory over Hannover 96, his goal-scoring form continued. On December 12th, Kalou scored the final goal in a typhoon victory over Darmstadt 98, boosting Hertha to third place in the Bundesliga. Kalou scored again against Mainz 05, raising his season tally to nine against the team's holiday, mentioning that having "time to set up with the team" was crucial to his success in the first half and achieving a target of qualifying for his team in the Champions League. Kalou was the first player to have double-digit goal scoring seasons in the Premier League, Ligue 1, and the Bundesliga, with his goal on January 30th. Hertha lost only one point from their final five matches, progressing to seventh position despite holding third place until April. Kalou was one of the top scorers in the Bundesliga last year, scoring 14 goals in the Bundesliga this year.

Kalou was involved in Hertha's brief Europa League stint against Brndby IF, as well as their first round Pokal match against Jahn Regensburg, but not eligible for Pál Dárdai. Vladimr Darida vacated a spot for Valentin Stocker initially, but it was Kalou who filled the hole in the attacking midfield when Stocker earned a three-match suspension against Borussia Dortmund on October 22, his first appearance against FC Köln. Kalou win by 3–0 on Monday, putting his side briefly into third place after his scoreless start to the season. Kalou agreed to a contract extension with Hertha on March 15, 2017, keeping him at the Olympiastadion until 2020, according to Kalou, "I'm really happy in Berlin and have a lot to do with Hertha." I want to help the team make the most progress in recent years."

He streamed live from the Hertha cabin on Facebook on May 4, 2020. Kalou welcomed players and coaches who were unaware of the live broadcast with a handshake, disregarded social justice legislation, and filmed a discussion about the Hertha professionals' salary cuts. He was then banned from schooling and playing.

Kalou joined Botafogo in the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A on an 18-month contract on July 9, 2020. On September 2nd, he made his debut against Coritiba, losing goalless home to Coritiba. He scored in a 2–2 draw at Corinthians three days later. It was his only goal in 27 games for the Rio de Janeiro team, who ended the season in last place, 14 points from safety. At the beginning of April 2021, he was released by mutual consent.

Kalou signed Arta/Solar7 in the Djibouti Premier League on a short-term deal on June 14, 2022.

International career

Kalou, a student at Feyenoord, wanted to become a Dutch citizen and play on the Netherlands national football team, but he had to delay until 2014. Marco van Basten, the national team's manager, and Dutch football icon Johan Cruyff were all behind his application. The process drew attention as the Dutch were supposed to play the Ivory Coast at the 2006 FIFA World Cup, and he would most likely face his brother.

Minister of Immigration Rita Verdonk, who believed that his application would be soon moved to a larger foreign club, dismissed him in August 2005. The Council of State ordered that the decision be updated in February 2006. Verdonk released the same verdict in May, finding that Kalou was ineligible for fast-track naturalisation and would have to pass the same tests as other applicants, effectively leaving Kalou out of the World Cup.

Centraal Beheer, a Dutch insurance company, produced a television commercial in which Kalou represents the Netherlands' opponents Germany against them. He took legal action to protect his image and name in the film.

Kalou's inability to obtain Dutch citizenship was a factor in his decision to leave Feyenoord for Chelsea. In 2006, he was called to the Ivory Coast several times but refused to join them all. On February 6, 2007, he played in a 1–0 friendly victory over Guinea, and on March 21 he scored his first goal against Mauritius.

In Ghana, Kalou was selected for the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations. In a 5–0 victory over Guinea in the quarter-finals, he scored his only goal against Nigeria in the first round and added two more.

Kalou, the opening goal of a 3–2 extra-time elimination by Algeria in the semi-finals at the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations in Angola, was defeated by Algeria. In a 3–0 victory over North Korea in the final group match, the Elephants were not allowed to participate in the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa as a replacement, with a 3–0 win over North Korea.

Kalou scored a goal in Ivory Coast's 2–0 victory over Burkina Faso, advancing his team to the Africa Cup of Nations quarterfinals on January 26, 2012. He was called back to Zambia after 64 minutes of a penalty shootout loss.

Kalou also competed at the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations. He scored in each leg of a 4–2 victory over Senegal in the 2014 FIFA World Cup play-offs. He came on as a replacement for Siaka Tié for the last four minutes of extra time in the final, and he was defeated by Ghana in a 9–8 shootout victory.

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