Jean Michaël Seri Explained

Jean Michaël Seri
Fullname:Jean Michaël Seri[1]
Birth Date:19 July 1991
Birth Place:Grand-Béréby, Ivory Coast
Height:1.68 m[2]
Position:Central midfielder
Currentclub:Hull City
Clubnumber:24
Youthyears1:2007–2010
Youthclubs1:Africa Sports d'Abidjan
Years1:2010–2013
Clubs1:ASEC Mimosas
Caps1:16
Goals1:1
Years2:2012–2013
Clubs2:Porto B (loan)
Caps2:19
Goals2:1
Years3:2013–2015
Clubs3:Paços de Ferreira
Caps3:54
Goals3:2
Years4:2015–2018
Clubs4:Nice
Caps4:103
Goals4:12
Years5:2018–2022
Clubs5:Fulham
Caps5:65
Goals5:2
Years6:2019–2020
Clubs6:Galatasaray (loan)
Caps6:27
Goals6:2
Years7:2021
Clubs7:Bordeaux (loan)
Caps7:12
Goals7:0
Years8:2022–
Clubs8:Hull City
Caps8:76
Goals8:2
Nationalyears1:2011
Nationalteam1:Ivory Coast U23
Nationalcaps1:3
Nationalgoals1:0
Nationalyears2:2015–
Nationalteam2:Ivory Coast
Nationalcaps2:58
Nationalgoals2:4
Club-Update:20:41, 14 May 2024 (UTC)
Nationalteam-Update:23:37, 11 June 2024 (UTC)

Jean Michaël Seri (born 19 July 1991) is an Ivorian professional footballer who plays as a central midfielder for club Hull City and the Ivory Coast national team.

Club career

Early career in the Ivory Coast

In his native Ivory Coast, the young Seri was nicknamed "Galla", because he tried to emulate the former Monaco and Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Marcelo Gallardo, whose technical skills he admired. Seri joined the Ivorian football academy that was opened in 2001 by the Ivorian footballer Cyril Domoraud. "Jean is gifted, intelligent and respectful," Domoraud said in retrospect. "In his young days, he was one step ahead of the others, thanks to his ball control."[3] Born in the south-western city of Grand-Béréby, Seri began his career as a youth player with Abidjan club Africa Sports d'Abidjan in July 2007.[4] The best clubs in Ivory Coast fought for his services. In January 2010, Seri started his career as a senior player by joining ASEC Mimosas, the most successful club in Ivorian football, where he needed just one season to prove himself and become one of the best players in the country. "He is a great listener, and his state of mind is impeccable," raved Sébastien Desabre, ASEC Mimosas's head coach from October 2010 to October 2012 when Seri was a senior player there, and that quality enabled Seri to make steady progress.[3]

Porto

On 2 November 2012, Seri joined Primeira Liga club Porto on loan, after impressing their scouts. However, there was no place for Seri in the club's first team. He was thus forced to play for the club's reserve team, scoring once in 19 Segunda Liga matches in the first five months of 2013.[3] [5] [6]

Paços de Ferreira

On 31 August 2013, two months after finishing his loan spell at Porto (the Dragões), Seri joined another Primeira Liga club Paços de Ferreira on a permanent basis and on a free transfer by signing a three-year deal.[7] He debuted for the Pacenses on 14 September 2013 against Benfica in a Primeira Liga 3–1 away loss.[8] On 2 March 2014, he scored a goal in the 54th minute to register his first competitive goal for Paços de Ferreira in a 3–1 Primeira Liga home win over Marítimo to send his side away from the relegation zone.[9] It was at Paços de Ferreira where Seri's magnificent range of passing and ability to dictate the tempo of the game made him a fans' favourite. The club finished in eighth place in the 2014–15 Primeira Liga, and Ligue 1 club Nice were quick to sign Seri before bigger clubs took notice.[3]

Nice

On 11 June 2015, Seri officially joined Ligue 1 club Nice for a transfer fee of €1 million.[3] [10] [11] On 27 May 2015, prior to the opening of the transfer window, the club had announced the "very likely" arrival of Seri.[12] [13] On 8 August 2015, Seri made his competitive debut for Nice in their opening match of the 2015–16 Ligue 1 season, playing the entire match in the 2–1 home loss to Monaco. On 27 September 2015, he scored in the 53rd minute to register his first competitive goal for Nice in a 4–1 Ligue 1 away win over Saint-Étienne.[6]

Fulham

In July 2018, Seri joined Fulham on a four-year deal until 2022 with an option for Fulham to extend the contract by a further year.[14]

Seri scored his first goal for his new club on 26 August, opening the scoring against Burnley with a spectacular strike from outside the area. Seri picked the ball up and took one touch around an oncoming defender before curling in a long-range effort into the top corner of Joe Hart's net and the goal was awarded with the Premier League Goal of the Month for August.[15]

Loan to Galatasaray

On 18 July 2019, Seri joined Galatasaray on a season-long loan deal, with an option to buy.[16] Eventually, he would leave Galatasaray and return to Fulham at the end of the season.

Loan to Bordeaux

On 30 January 2021, Seri joined Ligue 1 club Bordeaux on loan until the end of the season.[17]

Return to Fulham

Following his return from his loan spell at Bordeaux, Seri began playing again for Fulham starting his first match for the club for the season against Huddersfield Town, which saw Fulham win 5–1 in the Championship on 14 August 2021.[18] On 2 May 2022, Seri both featured and scored in a 7–0 victory over Luton Town, this victory securing the Championship title for Fulham.[19] Despite promotion back to the Premier League, it was announced that Seri would be leaving the club at the end of his contract in June 2022.[20]

Hull City

Seri returned to the Championship on 8 July 2022 to join Hull City on a three-year contract.[21] On 30 July 2022, he would mark his debut with the winning goal in a 2–1 home victory over Bristol City.[22] His next goal for the Tigers would come on 10 April 2024, scoring his side's second goal in a 2–2 draw with Middlesbrough.[23]

International career

Seri made a total of three appearances for the Ivory Coast under-23 team, all of them at the 2011 CAF U-23 Championship held in Morocco, playing every minute of all their three Group B matches against South Africa, Egypt and Gabon. Ivory Coast finished third in Group B and thus did not qualify for the semifinals.

On 27 February 2014, Seri received his first senior international call up for the Ivory Coast in an upcoming friendly match against Belgium;[24] he was an unused substitute in The Elephants 2–2 away draw (held on 5 March 2014) against Belgium.[25] On 6 September 2015, Seri made his senior international debut in a 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualification match against Sierra Leone, playing the entire match in the 0–0 away draw. On 17 November 2015, Seri scored a goal in the 64th minute of the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification second round second leg 3–0 home win over Liberia to register his first senior international goal.

Seri played two of Ivory Coast's three 2017 Africa Cup of Nations Group C matches as they finished third in Group C and thus did not qualify for the quarter-finals. In the 2019 edition of the tournament he also made two group stage appearances, starting against South Africa and Morocco.[26]

Seri was a member of the Ivory Coast's squad for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations and started in all four of the team's matches as they reached the round of 16, losing 5–4 to Egypt in a penalty shootout.[27]

In December 2023, Seri was named in the Ivory Coast's squad for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, and ended up winning the tournament.[28] [29] [30]

Personal life

Seri is a devout Christian.[31] [32]

Career statistics

Club

[6]

Club!rowspan="2"
SeasonLeagueNational cupLeague cupEuropeOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Paços de Ferreira2013–14Primeira Liga21120206021332
2014–15Primeira Liga3312000351
Total54240206021683
Nice2015–16Ligue 1383102000413
2016–17Ligue 1347001040397
2017–18Ligue 1312201090432
Total10312304013012312
Fulham2018–19Premier League3211010341
2020–21Premier League00002020
2021–22Championship3311000341
Total6522030702
Galatasaray (loan)2019–20Süper Lig272306010372
Bordeaux (loan)2020–21Ligue 112010130
Hull City2022–23Championship3710000371
2023–24Championship3910000391
2024–25Championship00001010
Total7620010772
Career total337201301002503138821

International

[33]

Appearances and goals by national team and year!National team!!Year!!Apps!!Goals
Ivory Coast201541
201650
201780
201861
201971
202141
2022110
202340
202490
Total584

Scores and results list Ivory Coast's goal tally first.[33]

List of international goals scored by Jean Michaël Seri! No. !! Date !! Venue !! Opponent !! Score !! Result !! Competition
align=center 1 17 November 2015 Stade Félix Houphouët-Boigny, Abidjan, Ivory Coast align=center 3–0 align=center 3–0 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification
align=center 2 18 November 2018 Stade du 28 Septembre, Conakry, Guinea align=center 1–1 align=center 1–1 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualification
align=center 3 19 June 2019 Zayed Sports City Stadium, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates align=center 2–1 align=center 4–1 Friendly
align=center 4 13 November 2021 Stade de l'Amitié, Cotonou, Benin align=center 3–0 align=center 3–0 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification

Honours

Galatasaray

2019[34]

Fulham

2021–22[35] Ivory Coast

2023[36]

Individual

2017[39]

August 2018[41]

2023[42]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2018/19 Premier League squads confirmed . Premier League . 3 September 2018 . 4 September 2018.
  2. Web site: Player Profile. OGC Nice . 26 January 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180711022202/http://www.ogcnice.com/en/teams/pros/squad/player/436/seri. 11 July 2018. dead.
  3. News: Arsenal target Jean Seri destined for big move after Nice displays. ESPN FC. 5 August 2017.
  4. News: Jean-Michaël Seri at FootballDatabase.eu. FootballDatabase.eu.
  5. News: Dragões garantem Jean-Michael Seri. Dragons guarantee Jean-Michael Seri. Record. 2 November 2012. 11 March 2014.
  6. News: Jean Seri at Soccerway. Soccerway.
  7. News: FC Porto: Jean Michel Seri assina pelo P. Ferreira. FC Porto: Jean Michel Seri signs for P. Ferreira. MaisFutebol. 31 August 2013. 11 March 2014. 7 June 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140607005735/http://www.maisfutebol.iol.pt/fc-porto-jean-michel-seri-assina-pelo-p-ferreira/5221d1f984ae24c6a09fc476.html. dead.
  8. News: Benfica 3–1 P. Ferreira. ZeroZero. 14 September 2013. 11 March 2014.
  9. News: P. Ferreira 3–1 Marítimo. ZeroZero. 2 March 2014. 11 March 2014.
  10. News: Seri à Nice, c'est officiel. Seri to Nice, it's official. 19 February 2017. L'Equipe. 11 June 2015. fr.
  11. Web site: Jean-Michaël Seri : L'Ivoirien signe à Nice. Jean-Michaël Seri: The Ivorian signs to Nice. Africa Top Sports. 19 February 2017. fr. 11 June 2015.
  12. News: P. Ferreira: Nice confirma contratação de Seri. P. Ferreira: Nice confirms Seri signing. 19 February 2017. MaisFutebol. 27 May 2015. pt.
  13. Web site: Jean-Michael Seri arrive aussi. Jean-Michael Seri also arrives. OGC Nice. 19 February 2017. fr.
  14. News: Jean Michael Seri: Fulham sign Ivory Coast international from Nice . 12 July 2018 . BBC Sport . 12 July 2018.
  15. Web site: Seri strike wins Carling Goal of the Month for August 2018. Premier League. 7 September 2018. 21 January 2020.
  16. News: Loan deal for Seri . 19 July 2019 . BBC Sport. 18 July 2019.
  17. Web site: Seri joins Bordeaux . Fulham FC . 30 January 2021 . 30 January 2021.
  18. Web site: Huddersfield Town 1–5 Fulham. BBC Sport. 14 August 2021. 17 September 2021.
  19. News: Fulham 7–0 Luton Town: Fulham clinch Championship title with emphatic Luton victory. BBC Sport. 2 May 2022. 8 July 2022.
  20. Web site: Player Departures. www.fulhamfc.com. 23 May 2022. 8 July 2022.
  21. Web site: Seri signs for Hull City. www.wearehullcity.co.uk. 8 July 2022. 8 July 2022.
  22. News: Hull City 2–1 Bristol City . 30 July 2022 . BBC Sport . 30 July 2022.
  23. News: Hull City 2–2 Middlesbrough . 10 April 2024 . BBC Sport . 25 July 2024.
  24. News: Séri convocado para a seleção costa-marfinense . Séri selected for the Ivorians . . 27 February 2014 . 11 March 2014 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140305182620/http://www.record.xl.pt/Futebol/Nacional/1a_liga/pacos_ferreira/interior.aspx?content_id=870292 . 5 March 2014 .
  25. News: Belgium draws with Ivory Coast 2–2 in WCup warm-up. KansasCitySports. 5 March 2014. 11 March 2014.
  26. Web site: Ivory Coast Squad. 16 January 2024. ESPN.
  27. Web site: Ivory Coast Squad. 16 January 2024. ESPN.
  28. Web site: LA LISTE. Ivorian Football Federation. 28 December 2023. 16 January 2024. pt. Facebook.
  29. Web site: Côte d'Ivoire: voici les 27 Eléphants de Gasset, Zaha et des ténors font leurs adieux à la CAN 2023. 7info. Tristan. Sahi. 28 December 2023. 16 January 2024. fr.
  30. Web site: CÔTE D'IVOIRE. Confederation of African Football. 5 January 2024.
  31. Web site: Jean Michaël Seri: 'You have to take risks or you are just a water carrier'. 6 October 2018. 6 January 2019. The Guardian . Dominic. Field.
  32. Web site: Fulham star reveals why he snubbed Chelsea, Spurs and Liverpool to join The Cottagers. 5 September 2018. 6 January 2019. X The Line. Ollie. Baines. 13 April 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190413220605/https://www.xtheline.co.uk/fulham-star-reveals-why-he-snubbed-chelsea-spurs-and-liverpool-to-join-the-cottagers/. dead.
  33. Web site: Seri, Jean Michaël. National Football Teams. 14 February 2017.
  34. Web site: TFF Süper Kupa 2019 Galatasaray'ın. 7 August 2019. Turkish Football Federation . tr. 7 August 2019.
  35. Web site: Championship: 2021/22: Current table . Soccerbase . Centurycomm . 8 May 2022.
    Web site: Fulham: Squad details: 2021/22 . Soccerbase . Centurycomm . 8 May 2022.
  36. Web site: Stevens . Rob . 11 February 2024 . Nigeria 1–2 Ivory Coast . 14 February 2024 . BBC Sport.
  37. News: Trophées UNFP : le palmarès complet de l'édition 2017. 7 June 2017. Le Figaro. 15 May 2017. fr.
  38. News: Mbappe, Cavani & Bernardo Silva lead Ligue 1 Team of the Season. 7 June 2017. Goal.com . 18 May 2017.
  39. News: PRIX MARC-VIVIEN FOE: PAST WINNERS OF THE LIGUE 1 PRIZE lead Ligue 1 Team of the Season. 18 January 2018. Goal.com. 15 May 2017.
  40. News: Seri and Cyprien are your MVP of the season. 7 June 2018. OGC Nice. 18 May 2017.
  41. News: Seri strike wins Carling Goal of the Month. Premier League. 7 September 2018. 7 September 2018.
  42. Web site: 14 February 2024 . CAF TSG Group releases TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nation Cote d'Ivoire 2023 Best XI . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240214121627/https://www.cafonline.com/caf-africa-cup-of-nations/news/caf-tsg-group-releases-totalenergies-caf-africa-cup-of-nation-cote-d-ivoire-2023-best-xi/ . 14 February 2024 . 14 February 2024 . CAF Online . Confederation of African Football.