Méry Traoré
{{Short description|Malian footballer (born 2003)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2024}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Méry Traoré
| image =
| fullname =
| height = 1.85m
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|2003|12|20}}
| birth_place = Kalabancoro, Mali
| position = Midfielder
| currentclub = Nevėžis
(on loan from Kauno Žalgiris)
| clubnumber =
| youthyears1 =
| youthclubs1 = Diarra
| years1 = 2022–2023
| clubs1 = Diarra[http://news.abamako.com/h/272381.html Tournoi de montée en D1 :Deux fauteuils, neuf prétendants], news.abamako.com, 6 July 2022, in French
| caps1 = ?
| goals1 = 11
| years2 = 2023
| clubs2 = → Ilves (loan)
| caps2 = 10
| goals2 = 3
| years3 = 2023
| clubs3 = → Ilves II (loan)
| caps3 = 1
| goals3 = 0
| years4 = 2024–
| clubs4 = Kauno Žalgiris
| caps4 = 1
| goals4 = 0
| years5 = 2024–
| clubs5 = Kauno Žalgiris B
| caps5 = 23
| goals5 = 9
| years6 = 2025–
| clubs6 = → Nevėžis (loan)
| caps6 = 1
| goals6 = 0
| nationalyears1 = 2022
| nationalteam1 = Mali U20
| nationalcaps1 = 1
| nationalgoals1 = 0
| club-update = 12 March 2025
| nationalteam-update = 4 November 2023
| medaltemplates =
{{Medal|Team|Ilves}}
{{Medal|1st|Finnish Cup|2023}}
}}
Méry Traoré (born 20 December 2003) is a Malian professional football player who plays as a forward for Lithuanian club Nevėžis, on loan from Kauno Žalgiris.
Career
In July 2023, Traoré joined Finnish Veikkausliiga club Ilves on loan until the end of the 2023 season with the option to buy.[https://ilvesedustus.fi/19-vuotias-malilaishyokkaaja-mery-traore-liittyy-ilveksen-vahvuuteen/ 19-VUOTIAS MALILAISHYÖKKÄÄJÄ MÉRY TRAORÉ LIITTYY ILVEKSEN VAHVUUTEEN], Ilves[https://www.aamulehti.fi/urheilu/art-2000009733770.html Ilves solmi uuden pelaajasopimuksen nuoren malilaishyökkääjän kanssa], Aamulehti, Aino Kattilakoski, 21 July 2023[https://www.sportti.com/uutinen.asp?CAT=3-1&ID=490425 Ilvekselle uusi hyökkääjä ulkomailta – "Kyky tehdä maaleja löytyy"], sportti.com, 20 July 2023 Having travelled to Europe from his native Mali in order to undergo a trial with a club in Austria, he joined Ilves following a breakdown in talks.[https://africafoot.com/mery-traore-mon-but-est-de-monter-petit-a-petit/ Mery Traoré : "Mon but est de monter petit à petit"], africafoot.com, in French In January 2024, he departed the club with the option for a second year's loan deal not having been taken. [https://ilvesedustus.fi/mery-traoren-lainasopimus-paattyy-merci-mery/ MÉRY TRAORÉN LAINASOPIMUS PÄÄTTYY – MERCI MÉRY!], ilvesedustus.fi, 9 January 2024 During his time with the club he scored three goals, contributing as his side won the 2023 Finnish Cup, an unused substitute in the final.[https://www.is.fi/veikkausliiga/art-2000009906723.html Tampereella nähtiin melkoinen temppu – tähän tuuletukseen harva pystyy], Ilta-Sanomat, 6 October 2023[https://www.aamulehti.fi/jalkapallo/art-2000009857308.html Pirkanmaan derbyn tunnelma huipussa: Malilaisjuniori iski Ilvekselle huiman tasoituksen lisäajalla Hakaa vastaan – ”Vaadittiin akrobatiaa”], Aamulehti, Jari Perkiö, 15 September 2023[https://www.veikkausliiga.com/uutiset/2023/11/03/ilveksen-joukkue-kaudelle-2024-rakentuu-vauhdilla-maenpaa-umar-ja-traore-jatkavat Ilveksen joukkue kaudelle 2024 rakentuu vauhdilla - Mäenpää, Umar ja Traoré jatkavat], Veikkausliiga, 3 November 2023
In March 2024, Traoré joined Lithuanian A Lyga club Kauno Žalgiris, initially joining up with the club's B team in I Lyga. {{cite web|url=https://zalgiris.lt/news/fc-kauno-zalgiris/125638/|trans-title="Kaunas Žalgiris" has a young striker from Mali|title=„Kauno Žalgirio“ gretose – jaunas puolėjas iš Malio|language=Lithuanian|website=zalgiris.lt|date=16 March 2024|accessdate=18 March 2024}}[https://www.flashscore.fi/pelaaja/traore-mery/zkPodvfL/ Mery Traore], flashscore.fi
International career
In August 2022, Traoré was called up to the Mali U20 squad.[https://malivox.net/coupe-ufoa-a-2022-liste-officielle-des-u20-du-mali/ Coupe UFOA-A 2022 : Liste officielle des U20 du Mali] 24 August 2022[https://mali24.info/?p=2758 Eliminatoires CAN Junior Egypte 2023: Le sélectionneur des Aiglons affiche de l’optimisme !], 29 August 2022
Career statistics
{{updated|12 March 2025}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition | ||||||||
| rowspan="2"|Club
!rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|Cup !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Diarra
|2022–23 |? | 11 | colspan=2|– | colspan=2|– | ? | 11 | |||
| Ilves (loan)
|2023 |10 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 3 | |
| Ilves II (loan)
|2023 |1 | 0 | colspan=2|– | colspan=2|– | 1 | 0 | |||
| Kauno Žalgiris
|2024 |1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan=2|– | 1 | 0 | ||
| Kauno Žalgiris B
|2024 |23 | 9 | colspan=2|– | colspan=2|– | 23 | 9 | |||
| Nevėžis (loan)
|2025 |I Lyga |1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan=2|– | 1 | 0 | ||
| colspan="3"|Career total
!36 | 23 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 36 | 23 |
{{notelist}}
Honours
Ilves
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Soccerway|916214}}
- {{WorldFootball.net|mery-traore}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Traore, Mery}}
Category:People from Koulikoro Region
Category:Malian men's footballers
Category:Men's association football forwards
Category:Ilves (football) players
Category:FK Kauno Žalgiris players
Category:Veikkausliiga players
Category:Malian expatriate men's footballers
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Finland
Category:Malian expatriate sportspeople in Finland
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Lithuania
Category:Malian expatriate sportspeople in Lithuania
Category:Mali men's under-20 international footballers