{{short description|Malian-French footballer (born 1984)}} {{EngvarB|date=July 2022}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2022}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Jimmy Kébé | image = Jimmy Kébé, 1 February 2011.jpg | caption = Kébé playing for Reading in 2011 | full_name = Jimmy Boubou Kébé | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1984|1|19|df=y}} | birth_place = Vitry-sur-Seine, France | height = 1.87 m<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.premierleague.com/players/3483/Jimmy-K%C3%A9b%C3%A9/overview |title=Jimmy Kébé: Overview |publisher=Premier League |access-date=11 July 2022}}</ref> | position = Right winger<ref>{{Hugman|23656|Jimmy Kebe|access-date=11 July 2022}}</ref> | currentclub = | years1 = 2002–2008 | clubs1 = Lens | caps1 = 0 | goals1 = 0 | years2 = 2002–2006 | clubs2 = Lens B | caps2 = 57 | goals2 = 5 | years3 = 2006–2007 | clubs3 = → Châteauroux (loan) | caps3 = 18 | goals3 = 2 | years4 = 2007–2008 | clubs4 = → Boulogne (loan) | caps4 = 16 | goals4 = 5 | years5 = 2008–2013 | clubs5 = Reading | caps5 = 175 | goals5 = 29 | years6 = 2013–2015 | clubs6 = Crystal Palace | caps6 = 6 | goals6 = 0 | years7 = 2014 | clubs7 = → Leeds United (loan) | caps7 = 9 | goals7 = 1 | years8 = 2015–2016 | clubs8 = Real Mallorca | caps8 = 0 | goals8 = 0 | totalcaps = 281 | totalgoals = 42 | nationalyears1 = 2004 | nationalteam1 = Mali U23 | nationalcaps1 = 4 | nationalgoals1 = 0 | nationalyears2 = 2005–2009 | nationalteam2 = Mali | nationalcaps2 = 2 | nationalgoals2 = 0 }} '''Jimmy Boubou Kébé''' (born 19 January 1984) is a former professional footballer who played as a right winger. Born in France, he represented Mali at international level.
==Club career== ===Early life and career=== Jimmy Boubou Kébé<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.verif.com/dirigeants/Jimmy-KEBE-J31561953/ |title=Jimmy Boubou Kebe |website=Verif.com |access-date=23 February 2025 |language=fr}}</ref> was born on 19 January 1984 in Vitry-sur-Seine, Val-de-Marne.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.lequipe.fr/Football/FootballFicheJoueur23761.html |title=Jimmy Kébé |newspaper=L'Équipe |location=Paris |access-date=11 July 2022 |language=fr}}</ref> He started his footballing career at RC Lens. He played predominately for the B team before having successful loan spells at clubs Châteauroux and Boulogne.{{citation needed|date=July 2022}}
===Reading=== [[File:Jimmy Kébé, 19 April 2008.jpg|thumb|upright|Kébé playing for Reading in 2008]]
On 16 January 2008, Kébé agreed to join Reading after being spotted by the then scout Brian McDermott, but his then club Boulogne initially refused to let him end his season-long loan early.<ref>{{cite news |date=17 January 2008 |url=http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,12874_3052989,00.html |title=Reading move for Malian |website=Sky Sports | access-date=17 January 2008}}</ref> Kébé went on strike in order for Boulogne to release him from his loan spell early to join Reading.<ref>{{cite news |date=28 January 2008 |url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/reading-land-jimmy-kebe-722056 |title=Reading land Jimmy Kebe |newspaper=Daily Mirror |location=London | access-date=29 January 2008}}</ref> On 28 January 2008, Reading announced that Kébé had signed a {{frac|2|1|2}}-year contract with them, moving for an undisclosed fee.<ref>{{cite news |date=28 January 2008 |url=http://www.readingfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10306~1224989,00.html |title=Kebe joins Royals from Lens |publisher=Reading F.C. |access-date=28 January 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080129053904/http://www.readingfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0%2C%2C10306~1224989%2C00.html |archive-date=29 January 2008}}</ref>
He made his debut for Reading as a substitute, coming on for John Oster late into a 1–0 away defeat to Everton on 9 February 2008 and should have opened his Reading account minutes later.<ref>{{cite news |date=9 February 2008 |url=http://www.readingfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10306~1236858,00.html |title=Royals are unlucky to be beaten |publisher=Reading F.C. |access-date=9 February 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080210150910/http://www.readingfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0%2C%2C10306~1236858%2C00.html |archive-date=10 February 2008}}</ref> He scored his first Reading goal in the 1–2 home defeat against Southampton on 22 November 2008.<ref>{{cite news |date=22 November 2008 |url=http://www.readingfc.co.uk/page/MatchReport/0,,10306~44613,00.html |title=Royals taste defeat at home |publisher=Reading F.C.}}</ref> On 6 December 2008 he was sent off for the first time in his Reading career for aiming an elbow towards Barnsley defender Dennis Souza.<ref>{{cite news |date=22 November 2008 |url=http://www.readingfc.co.uk/page/MatchReport/0,,10306~44305,00.html |title=10-man royals defeat Barnsley |publisher=Reading F.C.}}</ref>
Kébé has since extended his contract until the summer of 2012.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/r/reading/7781475.stm |website=BBC Sport |title=Winger Kebe signs new Royals deal |date=13 December 2008}}</ref> 2010 saw an up-turn in Kébé's goal-scoring form, notching up 13 goals in the Championship in the 2010 calendar year.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.readingfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10306~2270642,00.html |access-date=19 January 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110123001042/http://www.readingfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0%2C%2C10306~2270642%2C00.html |archive-date=23 January 2011|title=Reading | News | Latest News | Latest News | Bon anniversaire Jimmy! }}</ref> On 21 August 2010, Kébé played his 100th game for Reading, appearing in a 1–1 home draw with Nottingham Forest.{{citation needed|date=July 2022}}
The 2011–12 season saw a further development in Kébé's position at Reading, with a well-publicised dispute over his contract. Having shown himself to be one of Reading's key players in the 2010/11 Playoff push, the club were eager to see him sign a new long term contract to ward off interest from other clubs such as Leicester City<ref>{{cite web |last=Mercury |first=Leicester |url=http://www.thisisleicestershire.co.uk/story-13237459-detail/story.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120913055605/http://www.thisisleicestershire.co.uk/story-13237459-detail/story.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=13 September 2012 |title=Leicester City target Andy Johnson and Jimmy Kebe |newspaper=Leicester Mercury |date=31 August 2011 |access-date=18 August 2014}}</ref> as his contract was at the time due to run out at the end of the 2011–12 season. It soon became clear that Kébé wanted to stay at the club, but was reluctant to sign a two-year deal rather than the three-year deal he wanted. Reading could not afford to offer Kébé a three-year, despite being willing to make him one of their highest earners.<ref>{{cite web |last=Post |first=Reading |url=http://www.getreading.co.uk/sport/football/readingfc/s/2103015_jimmy_kebe_breaks_his_reading_fc_contract_silence |title=Jimmy Kebe breaks his Reading FC contract silence |website=Berkshire Live |date=9 November 2011 |access-date=18 August 2014}}</ref> This ongoing contract saga continued into the new year, with Reading manager Brian McDermott becoming increasingly resigned to the possibility of losing his prized winger.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.getbracknell.co.uk/sport/football/readingfc/s/2105790_kebe_set_to_leave_reading_fc_this_month |title=Reading FC – News, views, gossip, pictures, video – Get Reading |website=Berkshire Live |access-date=18 August 2014}}</ref> On 5 January 2012, it was confirmed that Reading had offered Kebe a new contract for the three years that he wanted.<ref>{{cite news |title=Reading reiterate desire to keep winger Jimmy Kebe |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/16574528.stm |website=BBC Sport |access-date=19 January 2012 |date=16 January 2012}}</ref> On 24 January 2012, following Anton Zingarevich's takeover of Reading,<ref>{{cite web |title=Thames Sports Investment confident Anton Zingarevich will be a hit with Reading fans |url=http://www.readingchronicle.co.uk/news/roundup/articles/2012/01/27/56731-thames-sports-investment-confident-anton-zingarevich |access-date=29 May 2012 |date=27 January 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140202115228/http://www.readingchronicle.co.uk/news/roundup/articles/2012/01/27/56731-thames-sports-investment-confident-anton-zingarevich |archive-date= 2 February 2014}}</ref> Kebe signed a new contract that will keep him at Reading until 2014.<ref>{{cite news |title=Reading winger Jimmy Kebe signs new contract |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/16706613.stm|access-date=24 January 2012 |date=24 January 2012}}</ref>
Kebe scored his first Premier League goal in a 2–2 draw at home to Newcastle United. He scored on his return from injury with a cool finish at home to Arsenal in a 5–2 defeat. His next goal came at home to West Bromwich Albion with a far post diving header, to pull one back with 8 minutes to go. This sparked a dramatic comeback from the Royals who scored two more late goals in the dying moments to win 3–2. In January 2013, Kébé announced on his official Twitter page that he had joined Newcastle United, this was then picked up by several media outlets, only for Kébé to reveal that it had been a joke due to the number of French-speaking players Newcastle had recently signed.<ref>{{cite web |title=Reading's Jimmy Kebe mocks Newcastle's French signings with hoax tweet |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/newcastle-united/9824566/Readings-Jimmy-Kebe-mocks-Newcastles-French-signings-with-hoax-tweet.html/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130125074553/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/newcastle-united/9824566/Readings-Jimmy-Kebe-mocks-Newcastles-French-signings-with-hoax-tweet.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=25 January 2013|access-date=24 January 2013 |date=24 January 2013}}</ref>
Kebe scored both the goals as Reading beat Sunderland at home 2–1, to move out of the relegation zone. After the match Reading captain Jobi McAnuff proclaimed Kébé to be ''a big player for Reading'' and '' a real sight to see when he's in full flow and I'm glad he's in our side when he's on song like this."''.<ref>{{cite news |title=Jimmy Kebe hailed as key to Reading's recent revival after victory over Sunderland |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/jimmy-kebe-hailed-as-key-to-readings-recent-revival-after-victory-over-sunderland-8479131.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220608/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/jimmy-kebe-hailed-as-key-to-readings-recent-revival-after-victory-over-sunderland-8479131.html |archive-date=8 June 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|access-date=3 February 2013 |date=3 February 2013}}</ref> After the same game, Kébé also received special praise from manager Brian McDermott who proclaimed Kébé ''has been brilliant for me in the three years I have had this job.''<ref>{{cite web |title=Reading boss Brian McDermott delighted with Jimmy Kebe |url=http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11673/8466114/reading-boss-brian-mcdermott-delighted-with-jimmy-kebe|access-date=30 August 2013 |date=3 March 2013}}</ref>
He then injured his groin in the early minutes of the 1–3 defeat to Everton on 2 March 2013, and was ruled out for the rest of the season. Reading were subsequently relegated from the Premier League at the end of the season.{{citation needed|date=July 2022}}
In August 2013, after six months out injured with a groin strain, Kébé was set to make a comeback for Reading in a match against Peterborough in the League Cup, however he controversially dropped out of contention with an injury, with manager Nigel Adkins unhappy about the timing after speculation linking Kébé with a move to Crystal Palace. Kébé revealed that he did not refuse to play and that he missed the game due to a hamstring injury.<ref>{{cite web |title=EXCLUSIVE – Reading FC's Kebe reveals real reason behind Posh no-show |url=http://www.readingchronicle.co.uk/sport/readingfc/articles/2013/08/30/92614-exclusive--reading-fcs-kebe-reveals-real-reason-behind-posh-noshow/ |access-date=30 August 2013 |date=30 August 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140109110848/http://www.readingchronicle.co.uk/sport/readingfc/articles/2013/08/30/92614-exclusive--reading-fcs-kebe-reveals-real-reason-behind-posh-noshow/ |archive-date= 9 January 2014}}</ref>
===Crystal Palace=== On 31 August 2013, Kébé was signed by manager Ian Holloway for Crystal Palace on a three-year contract for an undisclosed fee.<ref name="Kebe Arrives At Palace">{{cite web |title=Kebe Arrives at Palace |url=https://www.cpfc.co.uk/news/2013/august/kebe-arrives-at-palace/ |publisher=Crystal Palace F.C. |access-date=31 August 2013}}</ref> Kébé made his Palace debut against Manchester United on 14 September in a 2–0 away defeat at Old Trafford.<ref>{{cite web |title=Manchester United 2–0 Palace: Controversial red card spoils brave Eagles performance |url=http://www.croydonadvertiser.co.uk/Manchester-United-2-8211-0-Palace-Controversial/story-19797897-detail/story.html |date=15 September 2013|access-date=9 January 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140109144327/http://www.croydonadvertiser.co.uk/Manchester-United-2-8211-0-Palace-Controversial/story-19797897-detail/story.html#ixzz2puCR7nZ7=15|archive-date=9 January 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> Not long after Kébé joined the club, Holloway left, and was replaced by Tony Pulis.{{citation needed|date=July 2022}}
On 8 January 2014, after dropping down the pecking order under Pulis, Leeds United approached Crystal Palace to take Kébé on loan for the remainder of the season and to reunite with his former Reading manager Brian McDermott.<ref>{{cite web |title=Leeds set to sign Jimmy Kebe from Crystal Palace |url=http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11095/9106887/transfer-news-leeds-set-to-sign-jimmy-kebe-from-crystal-palace|access-date=9 January 2014 |date=9 February 2014}}</ref> Pulis confirmed in his pre-match press conference on 9 January that Kébé had been in talks with Leeds and was set to join them on loan until the end of the 2013–14 season.<ref>{{cite web |title=Reading FC: Transfer window |url=http://www.getreading.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/reading-fc-transfer-window-live-6472072 |website=Berkshire Live |access-date=9 January 2014 |date=9 January 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Crystal Palace winger Jimmy Kebe set to join Leeds |url=http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11095/9107676/championship-crystal-palace-winger-jimmy-kebe-set-to-join-leeds |access-date=9 January 2014 |date=9 January 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140109141342/http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11095/9107676/championship-crystal-palace-winger-jimmy-kebe-set-to-join-leeds |archive-date= 9 January 2014}}</ref> on 23 January 2015 his Crystal Palace Contract was terminated.<ref>{{cite web |title=Kebe Released By Palace |url=https://www.cpfc.co.uk/news/2015/january/kebe-released-by-palace/ |publisher=Crystal Palace F.C. |date=23 January 2015}}</ref>
===Leeds United (loan)=== On 10 January 2014, Kébé signed on a six-month loan for Leeds United.<ref>{{cite web |title=Jimmy Completes United Move |url=http://www.leedsunited.com/news/article/lu9y3q5rm3hx1hsmqd84nhoer/title/jimmy-completes-united-move |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140110161732/http://www.leedsunited.com/news/article/lu9y3q5rm3hx1hsmqd84nhoer/title/jimmy-completes-united-move |url-status=dead |archive-date=10 January 2014 |publisher=Leeds United F.C. |date=10 January 2014}}</ref> The deal contained a clause to make the move permanent at the end of the season if Leeds were promoted.<ref>{{cite web |title=NO HOLIDAY FOR JIMMY |url=http://www.leedsunited.com/news/article/12tqyfw1bsoqu1hv8cfsahssa8/title/no-holiday-for-jimmy |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140110193400/http://www.leedsunited.com/news/article/12tqyfw1bsoqu1hv8cfsahssa8/title/no-holiday-for-jimmy |url-status=dead |archive-date=10 January 2014 |publisher=Leeds United F.C. |date=10 January 2014}}</ref>
Kébé made his Leeds debut on 11 January, starting the game in a 6–0 defeat against Sheffield Wednesday.<ref>{{cite web |title=MISERY AT WEDNESDAY |url=http://www.leedsunited.com/news/article/q84wiec1zwup1f6ydzhlcpd3p/title/misery-at-wednesday |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140111165723/http://www.leedsunited.com/news/article/q84wiec1zwup1f6ydzhlcpd3p/title/misery-at-wednesday |url-status=dead |archive-date=11 January 2014 |publisher=Leeds United F.C. |date=11 January 2014}}</ref> On 1 February 2014, only the day after the alleged dismissal of Kébé's mentor Brian McDermott, Kébé scored his first goal for Leeds in a 5–1 victory against local rivals Huddersfield Town.<ref name="Leeds United Official Site">{{cite news |title=Leeds United 5 – Huddersfield Town 1 |url=http://www.leedsunited.com/news/article/h5pvsi331uu31qcjuysfx2d5a/title/huddersfield-live!|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140202201928/http://www.leedsunited.com/news/article/h5pvsi331uu31qcjuysfx2d5a/title/huddersfield-live!|url-status=dead|archive-date=2 February 2014|access-date=1 February 2014 |publisher=Leeds United F.C. |date=1 February 2014}}</ref> On 1 March, in Leeds draw against Queens Park Rangers Kébé was subject of chants to be substituted, with Leeds fans calling for the arrival of Sam Byram due to Kébé's mixed displays since signing for the club. After the game manager Brian McDermott leapt to the defence of Kébé's performances and work rate and proclaimed he believed Kébé could still become a fans' favourite.<ref name="Yorkshire Post">{{cite news |title=Kebe can become favourite, believes McDermott |url=http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/sport/football/leeds-utd/kebe-can-become-favourite-believes-mcdermott-1-6483501|access-date=7 March 2014 |newspaper=The Yorkshire Post |location=London |date=7 March 2014}}</ref>
===Return to Crystal Palace, release and Real Mallorca=== At the end of the 2013–14 season, Leeds United decided against making Kebe's loan permanent and he returned to Palace, where upon his return he was deemed surplus to requirements. He joined Real Mallorca in Spain<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.getreading.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/former-reading-fc-winger-jimmy-9600592 |title=Former Reading FC winger Jimmy Kebe joins Real Mallorca |last=Low |first=Jonathan |date=6 July 2015 |website=Berkshire Live |access-date=7 May 2018}}</ref> but did not make a single appearance. Kebé later retired, and now plays professional poker, where he is ranked 6,473 in the world.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.globalpokerindex.com/poker-players/jimmy-kebe-573049/ |title=Jimmy Kebe {{!}} RAG710 {{!}} France {{!}} The Official Global Poker Index – GPI Rankings|website=www.globalpokerindex.com|language=en-US|access-date=7 May 2018}}</ref>
==International career== He was part of the Mali football team at the 2004 Summer Olympics, finishing top of Group A, but losing to Italy 1–0 (aet) in the next round.{{citation needed|date=July 2022}}
==Career statistics== ===Club=== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;" |+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition<ref>{{soccerbase|48638|accessdate=17 November 2020}}</ref> |- !rowspan="2"|Club !rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|National cup !colspan="2"|League cup !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total |- !Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals |- |rowspan="7"|Reading |2007–08 |Premier League |5||0||0||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||5||0 |- |2008–09 |Championship |41||2||1||0||0||0||2{{efn|Appearances in Championship play-offs|name=PO}}||0||44||2 |- |2009–10 |Championship |42||10||5||2||0||0||colspan="2"|—||47||12 |- |2010–11 |Championship |36||9||3||0||2||0||1{{efn|name=PO}}||0||42||9 |- |2011–12 |Championship |33||3||0||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||33||3 |- |2012–13 |Premier League |18||5||0||0||1||0||colspan="2"|—||19||5 |- !colspan="2"|Total !175||29||9||2||3||0||3||0||190||31 |- |rowspan="3"|Crystal Palace |2013–14 |Premier League |6||0||0||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||6||0 |- |2014–15 |Premier League |0||0||0||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||0||0 |- !colspan="2"|Total !6||0||0||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||6||0 |- |Leeds United (loan) |2013–14 |Championship |9||1||0||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||9||1 |- !colspan="3"|Career total !190||30||9||2||3||0||3||0||205||32 |}
{{notelist}}
===International=== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;" |+ Appearances and goals by national team and year<ref>{{NFT|8106}}</ref> |- !National team!!Year!!Apps!!Goals |- |rowspan="2"|Mali |2005||1||0 |- |2009||1||0 |- !colspan="2"|Total||2||0 |}
==Honours== '''Reading''' *Football League Championship: 2011–12{{citation needed|date=July 2022}}
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== {{Commons category}} *{{LFP}}
{{Mali men's football squad 2004 Summer Olympics}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kebe, Jimmy}} Category:1984 births Category:Living people Category:Footballers from Vitry-sur-Seine Category:French men's footballers Category:Malian men's footballers Category:Men's association football wingers Category:RC Lens players Category:LB Châteauroux players Category:US Boulogne players Category:Reading F.C. players Category:Crystal Palace F.C. players Category:Ligue 2 players Category:Premier League players Category:English Football League players Category:Mali men's international footballers Category:Olympic footballers for Mali Category:Footballers at the 2004 Summer Olympics Category:French expatriate men's footballers Category:Malian expatriate men's footballers Category:Expatriate men's footballers in England Category:French expatriate sportspeople in England Category:Malian expatriate sportspeople in England Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Spain Category:French expatriate sportspeople in Spain Category:Malian expatriate sportspeople in Spain Category:French sportspeople of Malian descent Category:21st-century French sportsmen