'Baky' proves a small wonder at Marseille

Scoring his second league goal for Olympique de Marseille at the weekend following his move from OGC Nice, 1.63m-tall Bakari Koné is making a virtue of his tiny frame, saying: "It means I can find space anywhere."

Beautifully formed
He may be small, but the Ivorian striker is beautifully formed, and Marseille coach Erik Gerets was impressed enough by the combination of industry and showmanship that Koné showed in three seasons at Nice to bring him to the Stade Vélodrome for a €10m fee on 18 July. "If he performs like he did last season with Nice [scoring 14 goals and producing seven assists], I'll be over the moon," said Gerets.

Goals flowing
The striker is already settling well in Provence. His strike against FC Sochaux-Montbéliard at the weekend – a volley from a Mamadou Niang cross – was his second goal in four league games and kept Marseille top of the nascent Ligue 1 table, and now the 26-year-old is awaiting his first taste of UEFA Champions League action, with OM opening their campaign at home to Liverpool FC on 16 September. "There is an important sporting challenge here for us," said Koné, who took advice from compatriot and former Marseille star Didier Drogba before joining. Koné said: "He loves the club and that reassured me."

Venerable predecessors
The strapping Drogba, who helped Marseille reach the 2003/04 UEFA Cup final, can hardly be compared to Koné, however. Marseille's new favourite is blessed with extraordinary skill and physique and his low centre of gravity makes him a nightmare for opposition players. Like Diego Maradona, Ferenc Puskás and Alain Giresse in the past, he makes a strength of his lack of height. "A problem with my size?" he said. "Not at all. I love it because it means I can find space anywhere."

'Another level'
Former French international and ASEC Abidjan coach Jean-Marc Guillou remembers discovering Koné. "He was slightly built but I never doubted for one moment that he was a real find," said the 62-year-old. "I took him into the academy after a trial of just ten minutes." 'Baky' first joined United Arab Emirates side Al-Ittihad on loan, moving to France in 2003 to play for FC Lorient in the second division, where 34 goals in 68 league games persuaded Nice to sign him in 2005. He now looks destined to become among the shortest strikers ever to play in the UEFA Champions League. "I'm here to take it to another level," he said.