Ivorian · Oumé, Ivory Coast · Born 5 August 1985Ivorian footballer who won the 2012 Champions League with Chelsea and starred for Ivory Coast in their 2015 Africa Cup of Nations triumph.
Salomon Armand Magloire Kalou was born on 5 August 1985 in Oumé, Ivory Coast, the younger brother of fellow professional footballer Bonaventure Kalou, who also played for Feyenoord and later became mayor of the Ivorian town of Vavoua. Salomon followed his brother's path, joining ASEC Mimosas before moving to the Netherlands to sign with Feyenoord in 2003. Kalou became a key attacking player for Feyenoord, scoring 35 goals in 67 appearances across two seasons, form that attracted Chelsea, who signed him in 2006. He spent six seasons in England, winning the Premier League, the Champions League in 2012, four FA Cups, and the League Cup, establishing himself as a versatile forward capable of playing across multiple attacking positions. Kalou moved to Lille in 2012 before a lucrative move to Germany's Hertha BSC in 2014, where he spent six seasons and became one of the club's most reliable performers, scoring 53 goals in 172 appearances. He later played for Brazilian club Botafogo before finishing his career in Iraq. Kalou earned dozens of caps for Ivory Coast between 2007 and 2017, forming part of the country's golden generation alongside Didier Drogba and the Touré brothers, representing his country at multiple World Cups and Africa Cup of Nations tournaments during a period of sustained talent for Ivorian football.
Key player in Chelsea's golden era and Ivory Coast's AFCON triumph
He played in the 2012 Champions League final and was part of the Ivory Coast squad that won the Africa Cup of Nations in 2015.
Did You Know?How They Played
Pacey, versatile forward capable of playing across the front line
Lasting Impact
Versatile forward who helped establish Ivory Coast as African football power
Career Honours
- Premier League 2x
- Champions League 2012
- FA Cup 4x
- League Cup 1x
- AFCON 2015
- Premier League 2010
- Premier League 2015
| Club | Period | Fee | Apps | Goals | Shirt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feyenoord | 2003–2006 | — | 67 | 35 | #11 |
| Excelsior | 2004–2004 | loan | 11 | 4 | — |
| Chelsea | 2006–2012 | — | 156 | 36 | #7 |
| Lille | 2012–2014 | — | 67 | 30 | — |
| Hertha BSC | 2014–2020 | — | 151 | 48 | — |
| Botafogo | 2020–2021 | — | 25 | 1 | — |
| Arta/Solar7 | 2022–2024 | — | 3 | 0 | — |
 Ivory Coast | — | — | 104 | 28 | — |
Ivorian Athletes