Razak Boukari Explained

Razak Boukari
Fullname:Abdoul-Razak Boukari
Birth Date:25 April 1987
Birth Place:Lomé, Togo
Height:1.87 m
Position:Winger
Youthyears1:2002–2004
Youthclubs1:Châteauroux
Years1:2004–2006
Clubs1:Châteauroux
Caps1:48
Goals1:7
Years2:2006–2010
Clubs2:Lens
Caps2:119
Goals2:11
Years3:2010–2012
Clubs3:Rennes
Caps3:37
Goals3:7
Years4:2012–2016
Clubs4:Wolverhampton Wanderers
Caps4:18
Goals4:8
Years5:2013
Clubs5:Sochaux B (loan)
Caps5:1
Goals5:0
Years6:2013–2014
Clubs6:Sochaux (loan)
Caps6:10
Goals6:0
Years7:2016–2021
Clubs7:Châteauroux
Caps7:80
Goals7:12
Years8:2021–2022
Clubs8:Châteauroux B
Caps8:8
Goals8:0
Years9:2022
Clubs9:Châteauroux
Caps9:1
Goals9:0
Nationalyears1:2006
Nationalteam1:France U21
Nationalcaps1:1
Nationalgoals1:0
Nationalyears2:2010–2018
Nationalteam2:Togo
Nationalcaps2:19
Nationalgoals2:1
Club-Update:15 May 2021
Nationalteam-Update:23:16, 6 March 2020 (UTC)

Abdoul-Razak "Razak" Boukari (born 25 April 1987) is a Togolese professional footballer who plays as a winger.

He progressed from Châteauroux to play top-level football in France for both Lens and Rennes, before joining Wolverhampton Wanderers in 2012. In 2016, he returned to Châteauroux, playing for the club until 2022.

Club career

Early days

Boukari began his career with Châteauroux, for whom his father Sadou also played. He made his professional debut during the 2004–05 season in Ligue 2, ending the campaign with two goals from his fourteen appearances. In the following season he became regular player and caught the eye of several top division clubs, such as Nantes, Lille and Monaco.

Ligue 1 moves

In June 2006 he signed a five-year contract with Lens of Ligue 1. He played 29 league games for Lens in his first year and 19 in his second season but could not prevent the club from being relegated. Promised more playing time, Boukari remained after relegation to be part of the team that won promotion back to the top flight as Ligue 2 champions in 2009–10.

In January 2011 he left Lens to sign for fellow Ligue 1 club Rennes for €4.5 million in a four-and-a-half-year deal.[1] He scored four goals for his new club in 18 games, most of them as a starter, before injury kept him out for the remainder of the season.

However, he lost his starting position during the following campaign to Jonathan Pitroipa. This situation was compounded by suffering from a torn left thigh injury in January 2012, which kept Boukari on the sidelines for four weeks.[2] He did though manage 20 appearances for the club, 13 of them as a substitute and scored three goals as Rennes finished in 6th place.[3]

Wolverhampton Wanderers

Boukari moved to Wolverhampton Wanderers of the Football League Championship on 27 August 2012, signing a four-year deal for an undisclosed fee.[4] Only weeks before, Boukari had spent time on trial at newly promoted Premier League side West Ham United, but they instead opted to buy Wolverhampton Wanderers winger Matt Jarvis, opening up a position at Wolverhampton Wanderers for Boukari to eventually fill.[5]

After a promising start to the season, Boukari was substituted during a 1–0 win over Sheffield Wednesday on 29 September 2012, after suffering a calf injury.[6] It was subsequently reported that he would be out of action for three to six weeks, but it was later reported he wouldn't be fit until Autumn 2013.[7]

On 12 August 2013, Ligue 1 side Sochaux announced that Boukari was to spend a week on trial with them, with a view to a season-long loan deal.[8] Although it was reported after this initial week that the player could not agree terms,[9] on 27 August, a loan deal to cover the 2013–14 season was completed.[10] His time with Sochaux was again impaired by injury problems, making only ten appearances (all as substitute), as the team suffered relegation.

International career

Boukari, who holds dual citizenship with Togo and France, made his France U21 debut against Sweden on 14 November 2006. In July 2010, he confirmed with the Togolese Football Federation to represent Togo thereafter. From 2010 to 2018, Boukari played for the Togo national team.

Career statistics

Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueLeagueCup[11] OtherTotal
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Châteauroux2004–05Ligue 214511156
2005–06Ligue 234240382
Total48751538
Lens2006–07Ligue 12905081421
2007–08Ligue 11902130241
2008–09Ligue 226451315
2009–10Ligue 127441315
2010–11Ligue 118310233
Total1191117311114715
Rennes2010–11Ligue 118431215
2011–12Ligue 1203218[12] 2337
Total38752825411
Wolverhampton Wanderers2012–13Championship402060
Sochaux (loan)2013–14Ligue 110000100
Sochaux B (loan)2013–14CFA1010
Châteauroux2016–17National22641267
2017–18Ligue 223120251
2018–19Ligue 217420194
2019–20Ligue 2100010
2020–21Ligue 217100171
Total8012818813
Châteauroux B2021–22National 38080
Châteauroux2021–22National100010
Career total3093737719336547

International goals

Scores and results list Togo's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Boukari goal.[13]

Honours

Lens

Châteauroux

France U21

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Togo's Razak Boukari signs for Rennes from Lens . BBC Sport . 4 January 2011.
  2. Web site: Injuries : several weeks for Boukari, at least one for Pajot . Stade Rennais Online . 17 January 2012.
  3. Web site: Stade Rennes 5–0 Dijon FCO . https://archive.today/20120715094109/http://soccernet.espn.go.com/report/_/id/320022?cc=5901. dead. 15 July 2012. ESPNSoccernet . 20 May 2012.
  4. Web site: Wolves sign winger Razak Boukari from Rennes . BBC Sport . 27 August 2012.
  5. Web site: Rennes, Boukari andrà in prova al West Ham . Tutto Mercato Web . 15 August 2012.
  6. Web site: Wolves 1 Sheffield Wednesday 0. BBC Sport . 29 September 2012.
  7. Web site: Boss gives injury update. Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. 1 October 2012. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20121104183456/http://www.wolves.co.uk/news/article/boukari-updatehunt-set-for-surgery-401429.aspx. 4 November 2012.
  8. Web site: Transfer news: Wolves forward Razak Boukari joins Sochaux on trial. Sky Sports. 12 August 2013.
  9. Web site: Razak Boukari back at Wolves as move falters. Express & Star. 20 August 2013.
  10. News: Wolves winger Razak Boukari to join Sochaux on season-long loan. Sky Sports. 27 August 2013.
  11. Includes Coupe de France, Coupe de la Ligue, FA Cup, and EFL Cup
  12. Appearances in the UEFA Europa League
  13. Web site: Boukari, Razak. National Football Teams. 25 April 2017.