Where Are They Now - Fredi Kanoute

Introducing a new, regular feature in our official matchday programme this season as Spurs fan and writer Andy Greeves speaks to our former players and discovers what they have been up to since retiring from playing.

First up for Sunday’s opener against Everton is ex-Mali international Frédéric Kanouté, who discusses a memorable goal against the Toffees and the philanthropic work he has been involved in since hanging up his boots.

Fredi Kanoute

‘The ball flew into the net’

Sunday’s fixture carries happy memories for a Spurs striker who scored 21 goals in 73 appearances for us between 2003 and 2005.

Fredi Kanouté was in good form prior to our home match with Everton on 4 October, 2003, having netted five times in seven matches at the start of that season following a summer move from West Ham United. With two minutes of normal time remaining at the end of the first half against the Toffees, the Mali international lit up a relatively quiet game up until that point with an incredible 30-yard volley to put us ahead.

“It would be difficult not to choose that as my favourite goal for Tottenham,” smiles Kanouté, who made over 550 club appearances for the likes of Olympique Lyonnais, West Ham United, Sevilla and Beijing Guoan during a 16-year-long professional career.

“The funny thing is, we didn’t start that match particularly well. We were struggling to get our passing going. On top of that, I didn’t have a very good start to the game. Then, all of a sudden, Kasey Keller kicked the ball upfield. I won a header in the air which Gus Poyet headed back into my path. The ball bounced perfectly in front of me, allowing me to put my laces through it. The ball flew into the net and it was magic moment for me that you cannot really put into words.”

Born in Sainte-Foy-lès-Lyon, France on 2 September, 1977, Kanouté chose to represent Mali - the country of his father’s birth - at international level. He scored 23 goals in 39 international appearances for Les Aigles between 2004 and 2010 and since his retirement, he has devoted much of his life to helping youngsters from the African nation.

“I started the Kanouté Foundation many years ago and I am delighted that we have been able to complete a number of major projects in Mali,” explains Fredi, who has been living in London for the past two years ago. “In order to support orphans and vulnerable children, we set up a children’s village on the outskirts of the Malian capital Bamako called Sakina.

"The village has facilities such as a school, a kindergarten, a vocational training centre, a health centre and facilities for sport and leisure. We have 10 houses with foster mothers, who care for the children. I started the project around 2006 and we opened in 2010. We now have over 80 children living in that village.”

Read the article in full in Sunday’s official programme - available to purchase now!