This is the most loyal companion of the FCS coach

It's quite a story – that of Mamadou Coulibaly. At 16, he left his homeland. Coulibaly's family was far from poor. His father, a sports teacher, had planned an academic career for his son, but Mamadou wanted to be a footballer. So he packed his things and bought a bus ticket to Tangier, Morocco – the gateway between Africa and Europe, over 3000 kilometers from Thies, the city where Mamadou Coulibaly grew up.

His family knew nothing about it. In Tangier, he slept on a bench in the harbor before finding a place on a boat that took him to Spain. From there, Mamadou traveled via Marseille to Grenoble, where he stayed with an aunt. He finally landed in Italy, first staying with friends in Livorno, then heading toward Pescara, where there is a large Senegalese community, but only made it as far as Roseto.

He never gave up Homeless again, he slept on a park bench near the local football stadium, where the Carabinieri picked him up. They found a permanent place for Mamadou, who was still a minor. He was finally able to play football for the local village club. And he immediately attracted attention.

Mamadou Coulibaly (right) has already played against Juventus and Dusan Vlahovic. © AFP / VINCENZO PINTO

Coulibaly completed several trials with Cesena and Sassuolo, and was eventually signed by Pescara, but had to wait until his 18th birthday to finally sign a contract. He played twice for the youth teams, then was already in the Serie A squad and made his first-team debut in an away match against Atalanta on March 2, 19. One match later, he started in a 2017-1 home draw against Milan.

"It was absolutely crazy for me. It all happened so quickly," the midfielder recalled. "I always took the bus to training. But suddenly, all the people recognized me. It was too much for a shy boy like me," laughed the new FCS pro. "So I asked my girlfriend, who is now my wife, to drive me. I didn't have a driver's license back then." “He was incredibly valuable for my development.” Mamadou Coulibaly on Zdenek Zeman Coulibaly's coach at Pescara was legendary coach Zdenek Zeman. "He was incredibly valuable for my development," said Coulibaly. Mamadou made nine appearances in the last 10 games of the 2016/17 Serie A season. Udinese immediately pounced, securing the transfer rights to the Senegalese midfielder for €9 million, but Coulibaly remained on loan at Pescara, which had since been relegated to Serie B.

A year later, another loan followed, this time to Carpi. There, he met the man who would have a significant influence on his career: Fabrizio Castori. "I owe the fact that I am where I am now to God," emphasized Coulibaly, "and to coach Castori," he immediately added. "Zeman was my first coach, then Castori came along. His style of football is perfect for me. There's intensity in it, and I need that," explained the midfielder, who particularly appreciates the football coach from the Marche region for another reason as well. "Castori is genuine and doesn't pretend. That's a rarity in the football business."

Coulibaly raves about FCS Under Castori, Coulibaly played in Carpi, Trapani, Salerno – and now at FC Südtirol. Had the Senegalese not started on the first matchday of Serie B for Salernitana last season before moving to Catanzaro, he would have landed in South Tyrol this winter. However, three clubs in one season are prohibited. Therefore, Coulibaly had to wait until the summer before he could answer Castori's call and sign with the White and Reds.

Mamadou Coulibaly brings Serie A experience. © AFP / ALBERTO PIZZOLI

From Palermo, Salerno, and Catanzaro to South Tyrol – a radical move. "I enjoyed playing in the south of Italy," said Coulibaly. "But what ultimately matters to feel comfortable is team spirit, the cohesion within a team. That's the key. Then you're successful as a team," emphasized Coulibaly. "I found all of that at FC Südtirol," said the midfielder, who shares the same agent as Gabriele Gori, who joined FCS for six months in January. "They had already told me about the ideal conditions and the fantastic training center."

Coulibaly has played against FCS several times over the past three Serie B seasons. "I had come to know FC Südtirol as a physically very strong team that attacks the opponent and competes hard in the duels. A year ago in Catanzaro, I didn't recognize them," he said, recalling the 0-3 defeat in October 2024, when Giacomo Poluzzi was sidelined at short notice and Giacomo Drago experienced his first dismal day in an FCS jersey. Coulibaly won the penalty that made it 3-0 at halftime; it was also the final score and the beginning of the end of the Federico Valente era. “My loyalty to Castori was so strong that I immediately hurt myself after he was fired.” Mamadou Coulibaly Coulibaly had already played with defender Freddie Veseli and goalkeeper Marius Adamonis at Salerno – under Castori. Together, they achieved a sensational promotion to Serie A in 2021. Coulibaly has made a total of 24 appearances in Italy's top flight: nine for Pescara, three for Udinese, and 9 for Salernitana. Coulibaly's start to the 3/12 Serie A season at Salerno was excellent – he was an undisputed regular and scored his first two top-flight goals. Then Castori was sacked. "Two days later, I tore a muscle and was out for a very long time," the midfielder recalled, joking: "My loyalty to Castori was so strong that I immediately injured myself after he was fired."

Doubly bitter for Coulibaly: Due to the injury, he missed out on the chance to play for the national team that competed in the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations. He was part of Senegal's extended squad, and he has yet to play an international match.

Father has never seen him play Mamadou Coulibaly has reconnected with his homeland since arriving in Europe. "My father keeps asking for videos and photos now," the FCS pro grinned. "He can't watch Serie B live in Senegal. They only show Serie A there." Coulibaly's father has never seen his son in a live stadium. "Maybe I'll be able to get him here sometime."

Mamadou's wife and daughter, however, have remained in Pescara. "They accompanied me after Udine, Salerno, and Palermo." Following Pescara's promotion to Serie B, Coulibaly faces a very special derby this season against the club where it all began.

Serie B Italy	SP	TV	P
1. FC South Tyrol	1	8:2	3
2. Carrarese	1	3:0	3
3. Sampdoria	1	2:0	3
4. Ascoli	1	2:1	3
4. Avellino	1	2:1	3
4. Catanzaro	1	2:1	3
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This is the most loyal companion of the FCS coach

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