From prolific striker in Senegal, Turkey and Russia, to being marginalised by Ronald Koeman at Everton and relegated with Morecambe, Oumar Niasse has had a checkered career to say the least. Now the 33-year-old is back in the north west playing non-league football.
Niasse’s began is career in Senegal at the age of 18 for US Ouakam, and he was a prolific goal scorer with 102 goals in 154 games
Five prolific years ensued – with him dispatching 102 goals in 154 games as the club won Senegal’s Ligue 2 and Premier League.
He was sent out on loan to Norwegian club Brann and also made his international debut.
Pride in representing his country for the first time January 2013, was tempered by injury that meant just just three appearances in Norway. He turned down a a contract with Saint-Etienne, and for Turkish club, Akhisar Belediyespor – where he appeared in every league fixture and scored 15 goals in all competitions.
No surprise then he was hot property in Europe and signed for Lokomotiv Moscow.
In a season-and-a-half with the club, Niasse scored 19 goals in 42 appearances.
The most crucial of those goals was an equaliser in the 2015 Russian Cup Final – leading to them beating Kuban Krasnodar. Four days later, his first international goals elevated his cult status.
Following a prolific start to his 2015-16 campaign, he signed for Roberto Martinez’s Everton.
However, after just 152 minutes of game time and Martinez’s departure, Niasse found himself surplus to requirements.
New manager Ronald Koeman struggled to off load him in the summer so he ended up “playing with the kids” and was demoted to the club’s under-23s.
After just one appearance, Niasse’s and Koeman’s wishes were granted, the £13.5million rated striker was sent out on loan again, this time to Hull City.
Niasse’s time at the Tigers, despite relegation from the Premier League, proved to be fruitful – with five goals from 19 appearances. There was even more career uncertainty when the Championship side chose not to make his move a permanent one.
With the Championship outfit opting not to make his move permanent, so he got another chance under Koeman who was under pressure himself now and despite a frosty relationship. He scored vital goals, before the Dutchman was sacked, and under Sam Allardyce, who steered Everton towards an eighth-place finish.
On the back of nine goals in 25 appearances, Niasse again found himself out of favour and, following Premier League relegation at Cardiff, his time with Everton was up.
A period without appearances at Huddersfield saw his career decline –after a brief spell at Burton Albion, last season he was relegated into League 2 with Morecambe.
Now he finds himself at resurgent Macclesfield who have won 2 promotions under the ownership of Robert Smethurst and with Robbie Savage as a board member, the Silkmen are in contention for more success.
Niasse still has a chance to make himself a a hero and resuscitate his career, in the twilight of his career.
