Salzburg faced Bayern Munich in the first leg of the Champions League last 16 on Wednesday. The Austrian team has a history of investing in African players. From Sadio Mané to Patson Daka through Naby Keita, Sport News Africa offers you a list of five African players who have played for the Austrian club.
Sadio Mané has had a successful spell at RB Salzburg. The Senegalese spent two seasons there (between 2012 and 2014). The recent African champion made a big impact in the city of Mozart. Sadio scored 45 goals and gave 32 assists in 87 matches.
Exceptional performances that have attracted the attention of many. First, those of Southampton, which he joined in 2014. At the Saints, the prodigy played 75 games, scoring 25 goals and giving 14 assists. The rise has only just begun. Liverpool jumped at the chance to snatch the former Salzburg man. Since then, Mané has won the league, the Champions League, the World Club Championship, the African Player of the Year award and the Premier League's top scorer award in 2019 (22 goals). His record with the Reds is 245 matches for 107 goals and 44 assists.
Naby Keïta, midfielder
Another African from Liverpool has been a big hit at Salzburg. He is Naby Keïta. The Guinean played for the Austrian club between 2014 and 2016. He won the title of best player in the Austrian championship in 2016.
During his time in Austria, Naby Keïta was the real hub of the team. He set the tempo, organized the game and led the team. Eighty-one matches, 20 goals and 11 assists, he headed for Germany and RB Leipzig. It was there that Naby Keïta showed the full extent of his talent. He literally brought Germany to its feet. He was even part of the Bundesliga team of choice in 2016-2017. He then joined Liverpool for €60 million, after two seasons in Germany. However, his English adventure has been plagued by a number of setbacks, notably recurring injuries. The Guinean nevertheless made 94 appearances for Liverpool (10 goals, 5 assists).
Patson Daka, striker
Now playing for Leicester, Patson Daka is gradually adapting to his new life in England (9 goals and 4 assists in 22 games, including 13 starts). The Zambian international terrorized Austrian defenses during his time at Salzburg. The proof is in the pudding, with his record of 68 goals and 27 assists in 125 matches.
During the 2020-2021 season, he exploded all the counters (29 goals in 26 starts). Leicester put almost 30 million euros on the table to snatch him from Salzburg. The Foxes want to make the 23-year-old Zambian the successor to Jamie Vardy (35).
Amadou Haidara, midfielder
Another African who has emerged from the RB Salzburg nursery is Amadou Haidara. The Malian midfielder is currently in his fourth season with Leipzig. Before that, he played for RB Salzburg between 2016 and 2019. His performances were so high that he finished 12th in the 2018 Golden Boy. He had notably finished ahead of Kyllian Mbappé (13th), or Eder Militao (15th).
The year 2018 was moreover the most successful in Salzburg. He won the Austrian Football League's best young player award and was named in the Austrian league's top team. In addition to his presence in the Europa League XI of that season.
After leaving RB Salzburg in 2018, he signed for Leipzig. He only played 12 matches. The reason for this was a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament in his knee. However, he resumed his progress in the following seasons. His performances did not escape the attention of the big foreign clubs. Manchester United in particular are on his trail.
Jérôme Onguéné, central defender
Salzburg have conceded just 13 goals in the league this season. Thanks in large part to Jérôme Onguéné. On loan to Genoa last season (only 4 matches played), the Cameroonian defender has come back in force this year even if he has experienced a delay in starting up as he is playing his fifth season with the Austrian club.
He has already played five matches this season in the Long Eared Cup competition.
