FLW looks back at the goals that Souleymane Doukara scored against Nottingham Forest during his time at Leeds United.
During the 2013/14 season, Leeds managed to stay afloat in the Championship largely due to the goal-scoring prowess of Ross McCormack, who was subsequently transferred to Fulham for a sum close to £11 million during the transfer window.
That summer, under the ownership of Massimo Cellino, the managerial reins shifted from Brian McDermott to David Hockaday, whose previous managerial experience was limited to Conference side Forest Green Rovers.
The proceeds from McCormack’s sale were channeled into the acquisition of no fewer than 15 players, with additional signings made during the January transfer window. Interestingly, most of these signings hailed from Italy’s Serie A, B, and C leagues rather than domestic sources.
However, few of these signings left a positive mark at the club, with the exception of current captain Liam Cooper, who proved to be a successful acquisition in the long run.
Among the signings made during that period were Tommaso Bianchi, Casper Sloth, Zan Benedicic, Adryan, and Doukara, but many of them failed to make a significant impact during their time at Elland Road, with more infamous than famous outcomes.
Doukara was among the notorious “sicknote six,” a group that also included players such as Mirco Antenucci, Edgar Cani, Giuseppe Bellusci, Marco Silvestri, and Dario Del Fabro.
During the final weeks of the 2014/15 season, Leeds manager Neil Redfearn was informed that six members of his first-team squad were either injured or unavailable for a match against Charlton Athletic. Conflicting reports emerged at the time regarding whether these players were genuinely injured or if they were staging a protest against the club and Redfearn. The ensuing chaos surrounding this incident was characteristic of Massimo Cellino’s tumultuous tenure as Leeds chairman.
While Doukara and some others eventually recovered, the episode left a bitter taste for many supporters. Doukara made 27 appearances in his first season but went on to feature 27 and 39 times in the following two campaigns, with the latter season including a push for the playoffs under Garry Monk.
| Souleymane Doukara’s Leeds United career stats (all comps) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Manager(s) | Appearances | Goals | Assists |
| 2014/15 | Dave Hockaday, Neil Redfearn, Darko Milanic | 27 | 7 | 3 |
| 2015/16 | Uwe Rosler Steve Evans | 27 | 5 | 2 |
| 2016/17 | Garry Monk | 39 | 6 | 4 |
During Garry Monk’s tenure and Doukara’s final season with Leeds, he experienced a shining moment by scoring one of the most remarkable and iconic goals in the club’s recent memory.
On January 25th, 2017, Doukara delivered a powerful long-range volley, securing a crucial goal in a 2-0 victory over Nottingham Forest at Elland Road. Remarkably, this goal occurred with Doukara’s first touch of the ball after entering the game as a substitute. The strike drew immediate comparisons to the legendary goals scored by Leeds icon Tony Yeboah, particularly his famous volleys against Liverpool and AFC Wimbledon.
Predictably, Doukara’s exceptional goal was awarded Goal of the Season at Leeds United’s end-of-season awards. While many may have already witnessed this memorable moment, it continues to stand out as a testament to Doukara’s skill and impact during his time at the club.
On this day in 2017… 🗓️
Souleymane Doukara did this for Leeds…
One of the greatest goals in Championship history 😱#LUFCpic.twitter.com/D2vT5SJ8ON
— Second Tier podcast (@secondtierpod) January 25, 2024
Doukara’s Leeds United legacy
While many Leeds fans hold fond memories of Doukara for his memorable goal, there’s also a lingering sense of disappointment stemming from his behavior in 2015. Since departing West Yorkshire, Doukara’s career has taken an interesting trajectory.
Before his time at Leeds, Doukara began his professional journey in Italy. However, following his stint with Leeds, he embarked on a journey across various clubs in Turkey, Greece, Cyprus, and Saudi Arabia.
The 32-year-old striker has played for several clubs including Ankaraspor Kulübü, Antalyaspor, Al-Ettifaq FC, Giresunspor, Levadiakos, and Gençlerbirliği S.K. Despite his travels, Doukara now finds himself playing for Turkish Cypriot side Mağusa Türk Gücü Spor Kulübü, having signed for them in the summer.
Doukara’s departure from Leeds occurred through mutual consent in 2017, but since then, he has represented seven different clubs, reflecting the somewhat nomadic nature of his career post-Leeds.