{{Short description|Senegalese footballer (born 1980)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2020}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Papa Malick Ba | fullname = | image = | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1980|11|11|df=yes}} | birth_place = [[Pikine]], [[Senegal]] | height = 1.76 m | currentclub = [[CS Sfaxien]] (Sporting director) | clubnumber = | position = [[Defensive midfielder]] | youthyears1 = 1987–1994 | youthclubs1 = AS Pikine | youthyears2 = 1995–1997 | youthclubs2 = Juventus Dakar | years1 = 1997–2005 | clubs1 = [[Club Sportif Sfaxien|CS Sfaxien]] | caps1 = 46 | goals1 = 1 | years2 = 2005–2008 | clubs2 = [[FC Basel]] | caps2 = 79 | goals2 = 2 | years3 = 2009 | clubs3 = [[FC Dinamo București|Dinamo București]] | caps3 = 9 | goals3 = 0 | years4 = 2009–2012 | clubs4 = [[FC Nantes|Nantes]] | caps4 = 35 | goals4 = 1 | years5 = 2013–2016 | clubs5 = [[FC Mulhouse|Mulhouse]] | caps5 = 65 | goals5 = 3 | totalcaps = 234 | totalgoals = 7 | nationalyears1 = 2006–2008 | nationalteam1 = [[Senegal national football team|Senegal]] | nationalcaps1 = 11 | nationalgoals1 = 0 | manageryears1 = 2016– | managerclubs1 = [[CS Sfaxien]] (sporting director) }}
'''Papa Malick Ba''' (born 11 November 1980) is a Senegalese former professional [[association football|footballer]] who played as a [[defensive midfielder]].<ref>{{NFT|8357}}</ref> He is contracted with [[Club Sportif Sfaxien|CS Sfaxien]] as director of football.<ref>[http://www.kawarji.com/actu-37193-cs_sfaxien_imed_ben_younes_nouvel_adjoint_de_clausen.html CS Sfaxien: Imed Ben Younes ny assistent Clausen]‚ kawarji.com, 13 March 2017</ref> Between 2006 and 2008 he made 11 appearances for the [[Senegal national football team|Senegal national team]].
==Career== ===Early years=== Ba was born in [[Pikine]], Senegal. He played his children's football with local club AS Pikine and between 1995 and 1997 his youth football with Juventus Dakar. When he was offered the chance to play professionally, he took it and joined the Tunisian club [[Club Sportif Sfaxien]] in 1997. He did not play any games until he was 19 and in his third season at the club. He started coming off the bench, impressing the fans after doing so. By his fourth season at the club, he was a first-team regular and was the team's main holding midfield player.{{citation needed|date=August 2020}} He then collected some valuable titles with the Tunisians, twice the [[Arab Club Champions Cup]] in 2000 and 2004, the [[Tunisian Coupe de la Ligue Professionnelle|Tunisian League Cup]] in 2003, the [[Tunisian Cup]] in 2004 and the [[2004–05 Tunisian Ligue Professionnelle 1|Tunisian championship]] in 2005.<ref name="fcb-aktuell-2016-Papa Malick Ba">{{cite web | last = FC Basel 1893 | author-link = | date = 13 January 2016 | url = https://www.fcb.ch/aktuell/news/alle-news/2016/01/papa-malick-ba-jetzt-halbprofi-in-mulhouse/ | title = Papa Malick Ba, jetzt Halbprofi in Mulhouse | format = | publisher = FC Basel 1893 AG | language = de | trans-title = Papa Malick Ba, now semi-pro in Mulhouse | access-date = 2022-11-16}}</ref>
===Basel=== It was reported that in 2004 numerous Swiss clubs had chased his signature, but Sfaxien turned down all offers initially. Eventually it was [[FC Basel]] and [[AJ Auxerre]] who were at loggerheads and there was a real tug of war for the services of the midfielder, who finally chose to accept a three-year contract with the reigning Swiss champions. He joined Basel's first team for their [[2005–06 FC Basel season|2005–06 season]] under head coach [[Christian Gross]], who started his seventh season with the club in that position. After playing in one test game, Ba played his [[Swiss Super League|domestic league]] debut for the club in the home game at the [[St. Jakob-Park]] on 30 July 2005, coming on as the substitute for the injured [[Murat Yakin]] at half time, as Basel won 2–1 against [[FC Zürich|Zürich]].<ref name="fcb-achiv-2005/06-H-FCB-FCZ">{{cite web | last = Verein "Basler Fussballarchiv” | author-link = | date = 30 July 2005 | url = https://www.fcb-archiv.ch/saison/spiele?command=detail&id=5314 | title = FC Basel - FC Zürich 2:1 (1:1) | format = | publisher = Verein "Basler Fussballarchiv” | access-date = 2022-11-16}}</ref> He scored his first goal for his new club in the home game in the [[St. Jakob-Park]] on 2 October. It was the last goal of the game as Basel won 5–1 against [[FC Thun|Thun]].<ref name="fcb-achiv-2005/06-H-FCB-FCT">{{cite web | last = Verein "Basler Fussballarchiv” | author-link = | date = 2 October 2005 | url = https://www.fcb-archiv.ch/saison/spiele?command=detail&id=5354 | title = FC Basel - FC Thun 5:1 (1:0) | format = | publisher = Verein "Basler Fussballarchiv” | access-date = 2022-11-16}}</ref>
As Swiss champions, Basel entered the [[2005–06 UEFA Champions League|2005–06 Champions League]] third qualifying round. However, they were drawn against [[Fußball-Bundesliga|German Bundesliga]] club [[SV Werder Bremen|Werder Bremen]] and they lost 4-2 on aggregate.<ref name="Uefa-2005-Bremen-FCB">{{cite web | last = uefa.com | authorlink = | date = 25 August 2005 | url = https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/01ac-0e6cfaa90887-3ab324ed2f44-1000/ | title = Bremen break Basel resolve | format = | publisher = [[UEFA]] | access-date = 2020-11-16}}</ref> Subsequently Basel dropped into the [[2005–06 UEFA Cup]], where against [[NK Široki Brijeg]] in the first round, they sealed a 6–0 aggregate win to qualify for the Group stage. Here Basel was then drawn into Group E, alongside [[RC Strasbourg|Strasbourg]], [[A.S. Roma|Roma]], [[Red Star Belgrade]] and [[Tromsø IL|Tromsø]]. Basel qualified for the knock-out stage and in the round of 32 Basel was drawn against [[AS Monaco FC|AS Monaco]], this was won 2-1 on aggregate. In the round of 16 Basel was drawn against [[RC Strasbourg|Strasbourg]] winning 4-2 on aggregate. In the quarter-finals, drawn against [[Middlesbrough F.C.|Middlesbrough]] they won the first leg 2–0, but Middlesbrough fought back to win the return match 4–1 and the tie 4–3 on aggregate. Ba played in all 14 European games.<ref name="Uefa-Uefa-2005/06-middlesbroughfcb">{{cite web | last = uefa.com | author-link = | date = 6 April 2006 | url = https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/news/01b4-0e6d7c2bf3ca-ec278c32ab6d-1000/ | title = Middlesbrough savour late drama | format = | publisher = [[UEFA]] | access-date = 2022-11-16}}</ref> Basel had started the season well and were joint leaders of the championship with [[FC Zürich|Zürich]] right until the last day of the league campaign. On the final day of the league season FCB played at home against FCZ. A last-minute goal from Zürich's [[Iulian Filipescu]] meant the final score was 1–2 in favour of the away team and it gave FCZ their first national championship since 1980–81. The title for Basel was lost on goal difference.<ref name="rsssf-Switzerland 2005/06">{{cite web | first = Daniel Dalence and Antonio Zea | last = Karel Stokkermans | authorlink = | year = 2006 | url = https://www.rsssf.org/tablesz/zwit06.html | title = Switzerland 2005/06 | publisher = Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation | accessdate = 2022-11-16}}</ref>
Ba won the [[Uhrencup|Uhren Cup]] with Basel in 2006 in advance of the new season.<ref name="rsssf-Uhrencup-2006">{{cite web | last = Garin| first = Erik | author-link = | year = 2018 | url = https://www.rsssf.org/tablesu/uhren.html| title = Coupe Horlogère – Uhren Cup (Switzerland) | format = | publisher = Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation| access-date = 2022-11-16}}</ref> FC Basel's European campaign started in the first qualifying stage of the [[2006–07 UEFA Cup]], here they beat [[Kazakhstan|Kazakhi]] side [[FC Tobol]] 3–1 on aggregate. In the second qualifying round they were drawn against [[FC Vaduz]] from [[Liechtenstein]], narrowly progressing on the [[away goals rule]] after a 2–2 aggregate draw. In the first round Basel won 7–2 on aggregate against [[FK Rabotnički]] to qualify for the group stage. Here Basel played their first match at home against [[Feyenoord]], which ended in a 1–1 draw. Their second was away and FCB lost 3–0 against [[Blackburn Rovers F.C.|Blackburn Rovers]]. At home against [[AS Nancy]] the match was drawn 2–2 and the final game ended with a 3–1 defeat against [[Wisła Kraków]]. Basel ended the group stage in the last position in the table and was eliminated. Ba played in nine of these ten matches, missing only the very first game due to an injury.<ref name="Uefa-UC-2000/01-Wisla Krakow-FCB">{{cite web | last = uefa.com | author-link = | date = 30 November 2006 | url = https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/match/85047--wisla-krakow-vs-basel/ | title = Wisla Krakow SSA - FC Basel 3:1 (1:1) | format = | publisher = [[UEFA]] | access-date = 2022-11-16}}</ref> At the end of the [[2006–07 Swiss Super League|2006–07 Super League season]] Basel was runners-up, one point behind championship winners [[FC Zürich|Zürich]]. Ba had 33 appearances in the 36 league matches<ref name="rsssf-Switzerland 2006/07">{{cite web | first = Erik Garin | last = Karel Stokkermans | author-link = | year = 2018 | url = https://www.rsssf.org/tablesz/zwit07.html | title = Switzerland 2006/07 | format = | publisher = Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation | language = | access-date = 2022-11-16}}</ref> In the Swiss Cup Basel advanced to the final, beating FC Liestal in the first round, [[FC Lugano|Lugano]], [[FC Baulmes]], [[FC Aarau|Aarau]] and [[FC Wil|Wil]] in the semi-final. In the final they played [[FC Luzern|Luzern]] and won 1–0 thanks to a penalty goal in the third minute of added time.<ref name="sfv-cup-2006/07-FCB-FCL">{{cite web | last = Swiss Football Verband (SFV) | author-link = | date = 28 May 2007 | url = https://www.football.ch/sfv/schweizer-cups/schweizer-cup/statistik-und-resultate.aspx/oid-1/s-2007/ | title = FC Basel - FC Luzern 1:0 (0:0)) | format = | publisher = Swiss Football Verband (SFV) internet | access-date = 2022-11-16}}</ref>
In the third match of the 2007–08 season, Ba suffered an injury and was out of the game for four months. Nevertheless, at the end of the season he won the [[Double (association football)|Double]] with the club. They won the [[2007–08 Swiss Super League|League]] Championship title with four points advantage over second placed [[BSC Young Boys|Young Boys]].<ref name="rsssf-Switzerland 2007/08">{{cite web | first = Erik Garin | last = Karel Stokkermans | author-link = | year = 2018 | url = https://www.rsssf.org/tablesz/zwit08.html | title = Switzerland 2007/08 | format = | publisher = Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation | language = | access-date = 2022-11-16}}</ref> In the [[2007–08 Swiss Cup|Swiss Cup]] via FC Léchelles, [[SC Binningen]], [[Grasshopper Club Zürich|Grasshopper Club]], [[FC Stade Nyonnais|Stade Nyonnais]] and in the semi-final [[FC Thun|Thun]], Basel advanced to the final. But Ba missed all these games due to his injury. However, he was fit to play in the final and winning this 4–1 against [[AC Bellinzona]] they won the competition.<ref name="sfv-cup-2007/08-ACB-FCB">{{cite web | last = Swiss Football Verband (SFV) | author-link = | date = 6 April 2008 | url = https://www.football.ch/sfv/schweizer-cups/schweizer-cup/statistik-und-resultate.aspx/oid-1/s-2008/ | title = AC Bellinzona - FC Basel 1:4 (0:1) | format = | publisher = Swiss Football Verband (SFV) internet | access-date = 2022-11-16}}</ref>
As his contract expired, Basel offered him an extension, up until 2010 with an option for 2011, but the Senegalese hesitated. His wife had completed an economics degree and wanted to start her working life.<ref name="fcb-aktuell-2016-Papa Malick Ba" /> During his three seasons with the club, Ba played a total of 135 games for Basel scoring a total of three goals. 79 of these games were in the [[Swiss Super League]], seven in the [[Swiss Cup]], 26 in the UEFA competitions ([[UEFA Champions League|Champions League]] and [[UEFA Cup]]) and 23 were friendly games. He scored two goals in the domestic league and the other was scored during the test games.<ref name="fcb-achiv-Papa Malick Ba">{{cite web | last = Verein "Basler Fussballarchiv” | authorlink = | year = 2016 | url = https://www.fcb-archiv.ch/spieler?command=detail&id=1200 | title = Papa Malick Ba - FCB statistics | format = | publisher = Verein "Basler Fussballarchiv” | accessdate = 2022-11-16}}</ref>
===Later years=== After being unemployed for more than six months, Ba found a new club. On 16 February 2009 it was announced that Ba had signed for [[FC Dinamo București]] of Romania on a free transfer. He played nine [[Liga I|league]] and two [[Cupa României|cup]] games for them and then he left the club to return to France.<ref name="20min-Ba-Romania">{{cite web | last = (si) | author-link = | date = 16 February 2009 | url = https://www.20min.ch/story/papa-malick-ba-nach-rumaenien-300899302825 | title = Papa Malick Ba nach Rumänien | format = | trans-title = Papa Malick Ba to Romania | publisher = 20min.ch | language = de | access-date = 2022-11-16}}</ref>
On 28 August 2009, he left Dinamo București to join [[FC Nantes]]. His contract with Nantes expired in June 2012<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.foot-national.com/flashes-10313.html|title=Nantes : Signature de Pape Malick Ba|last=foot-national.com|date=29 August 2009|work=Foot National|access-date=15 May 2018|language=fr|archive-date=2 September 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090902150527/http://www.foot-national.com/flashes-10313.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>
In January 2013 Ba joined [[FC Mulhouse]], at that time in the [[Championnat National 2]], the fourth tier of French football, as a semi-professional player.<ref name="fcb-aktuell-2016-Papa Malick Ba" />
===International=== He was a [[Senegal national football team|Senegalese international]] and participated in the [[2008 Africa Cup of Nations]].
==Honours== '''Sfaxien''' * [[Arab Champions League]]: [[2000 Arab Club Champions Cup|2000]], [[2003–04 Arab Champions League|2004]] * [[Tunisian Cup]]: 2004 * [[Tunisian Ligue Professionnelle 1]]: [[2004–05 Tunisian Ligue Professionnelle 1|2005]]
'''Basel''' * [[Swiss Super League]]: [[2007–08 Swiss Super League|2007–08]] * [[Schweizer Cup|Swiss Cup]]: 2006–07, [[2007–08 Swiss Cup|2007–08]] * [[Uhrencup|Uhren Cup]]: 2006
==References== {{Reflist}}
==Sources== * Die ersten 125 Jahre. Publisher: Josef Zindel im Friedrich Reinhardt Verlag, Basel. {{ISBN|978-3-7245-2305-5}} * [https://www.fcb-archiv.ch/home Verein "Basler Fussballarchiv" Homepage]
{{Senegal Squad 2008 Africa Cup of Nations}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ba, Papa Malick}} [[Category:1980 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:CS Sfaxien players]] [[Category:Senegalese men's footballers]] [[Category:Senegal men's international footballers]] [[Category:2008 Africa Cup of Nations players]] [[Category:FC Basel players]] [[Category:Swiss Super League players]] [[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Romania]] [[Category:Liga I players]] [[Category:FC Dinamo București players]] [[Category:FC Nantes players]] [[Category:Ligue 2 players]] [[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in France]] [[Category:Senegalese expatriate sportspeople in Romania]] [[Category:Men's association football midfielders]] [[Category:21st-century Senegalese sportsmen]]