Cheick Tioté facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Cheick Tioté

Tioté representing the Ivory Coast in 2012
Personal information
Full name	Cheick Ismaël Tioté
Date of birth	(1986-06-21)21 June 1986
Place of birth	Yamoussoukro, Ivory Coast
Date of death	5 June 2017(2017-06-05) (aged 30)
Place of death	Beijing, China
Height	1.80 m
Playing position	Defensive midfielder
Youth career
1998–2005	FC Bibo
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
2005–2008	Anderlecht	4	(0)
2007–2008	→ Roda JC (loan)	26	(2)
2008–2010	Twente	58	(1)
2010–2017	Newcastle United	139	(1)
2017	Beijing Enterprises Group	11	(0)
Total		238	(4)
National team
2009–2015	Ivory Coast	55	(1)
Honours Representing  Ivory Coast Men's football Africa Cup of Nations Runner-up 2012 Eguatorial Guinea-Gabon
Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals).

Cheick Ismaël Tioté (born 21 June 1986 – died 5 June 2017) was a professional footballer from Ivory Coast. He played as a defensive midfielder, a player who helps protect the defense and win the ball back.

Cheick started his football journey playing for a youth team in his hometown. He later played for several clubs in Europe, including Anderlecht in Belgium and FC Twente in the Netherlands. He became well-known during his time at Newcastle United in England, where he played for over six years. In 2017, he moved to China League One club Beijing Enterprises Group. Sadly, he passed away in June 2017 at the age of 30 during a training session.

Tioté also proudly represented his country, the Ivory Coast, 55 times. He played in two FIFA World Cups and four Africa Cup of Nations tournaments, helping his team win the 2015 edition.

Early Life and First Steps in Football

Cheick Tioté was born in Yamoussoukro, a city in the Ivory Coast. He loved football from a young age, playing barefoot street football when he was only 10 years old. He didn't even own a pair of football boots until he was 15! He played youth football for a local team called FC Bibo.

Cheick grew up in Abidjan and decided early on that football was his dream. He worked incredibly hard to achieve his goal of becoming a professional player.

Club Career Highlights

Anderlecht and Roda JC

In 2005, a Belgian club called Anderlecht noticed Cheick's talent and signed him. He spent some time in their reserve team before making his first team debut. He even played in the UEFA Champions League, a major European competition.

In the 2007–08 season, Cheick went on loan to Roda JC in the Netherlands. There, he quickly became a fan favorite and scored his first professional goals.

Twente's League Title

Tioté playing for FC Twente, 2008

In 2008, Cheick joined another Dutch club, Twente. He signed a four-year contract. He quickly became an important player for the team.

In his second season, 2009–10, Cheick scored his first goal for Twente. That year was very special because Twente won their first ever league title! Cheick played a big part in this historic win. During his two years at Twente, he was known as a strong and determined midfielder.

Life at Newcastle United

Tioté playing for FC Twente, 2009

On 26 August 2010, Cheick moved to England to play for Premier League club Newcastle United. He was very excited to join such a famous club. He quickly became a favorite among the fans.

On 5 February 2011, Cheick scored his only goal for Newcastle in an amazing match against Arsenal. Newcastle was losing 4–0 at halftime, but they made an incredible comeback to draw 4–4, with Cheick scoring a fantastic long-range shot. A few weeks later, he signed a new long-term contract, showing his commitment to the club.

He continued to be a key player for Newcastle, known for his tough tackling and energy in midfield. He helped the team achieve good results and was even made captain for some matches.

Moving to China

In February 2017, Cheick decided to try a new challenge and joined China League One side Beijing Enterprises Group. He played 11 matches for the club before his sudden passing.

International Career for Ivory Coast

Tioté playing for the Ivory Coast in 2012

Cheick Tioté made his debut for the Ivory Coast in 2009. He played in the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations and the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.

In 2012, he played in the final of the tournament, where Ivory Coast lost in a penalty shootout. He scored his first international goal in 2013 during the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations.

A big moment for Cheick and his country came in the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations. Even though he got injured during the tournament, his team went on to win the competition, making them champions of Africa!

Personal Life

Cheick Tioté was a devoted Muslim and observed fasting during the Islamic month of Ramadan. He had two children with his wife, Madah.

In 2012, when Newcastle United announced a new sponsor, Cheick and some of his teammates initially chose not to wear the sponsor's name on their shirts due to their religious beliefs. This issue was later resolved.

Death

On 5 June 2017, Cheick Tioté tragically passed away in Beijing, China, after suffering a cardiac arrest during a training session. He was only 30 years old.

Many of his former teammates and managers shared their sadness and paid tribute to him. Demba Ba, a former Newcastle teammate, was one of the first to express his condolences. His former managers, like Rafael Benítez and Alan Pardew, praised him as a true professional and a great player.

A memorial service was held in Beijing, attended by his teammates from Beijing Enterprises Group and Papiss Cissé, another former Newcastle player. His body was then flown back to the Ivory Coast for a private funeral. He was given a military funeral in Abidjan, attended by his national teammates and important politicians. To honor him, Beijing Enterprises Group retired his number 24 shirt.

Career Statistics

Club

Source:

International

International goals

Scores and results list the Ivory Coast's goal tally first.

Goal	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1	3 February 2013	Royal Bafokeng Stadium, Rustenburg, South Africa	Nigeria	1–1	1–2	2013 Africa Cup of Nations

Honours

Tioté, standing next to Serge Aurier, celebrates winning the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations with the Ivory Coast national team

Anderlecht

• Belgian League: 2005–06, 2006–07
• Belgian Super Cup: 2006

Twente

• Eredivisie: 2009–10
• Dutch Super Cup: 2010

Ivory Coast

• Africa Cup of Nations: 2015

See also

In Spanish: Cheick Tioté para niños