Sisoko joins Pune ISL side

Pune, Oct 1: Indian Super League (ISL) franchise FC Pune City on Saturday announced their marquee player, signing former Liverpool and Juventus star Mohamed Sissoko for this year's edition of the football tourment, subject to medical clearance.

The 31-year-old, the youngest marquee player of the ISL, was a part of the Liverpool side that won the Community Shield in 2006 and FA Cup in 2005-06. He also won consecutive UEFA Super Cup titles in 2004 and 2005, first with Valencia CF and then with Liverpool. He won the Spanish league with Valencia during the 2003-04 season.

Born in France, Sissoko opted to play for his ancestral country Mali making his intertiol debut in 2004. He started his youth career in 1998 with French club Auxerre. In 2003, the defensive midfielder moved to Spain representing Valencia CF on a free transfer.

Expressing his excitement on joining FC Pune City, Sissoko said,"The moment FC Pune City expressed their interest and discussed their plans, I knew this was the challenge I would love to take up. Coach Habas and FC Pune City magement showed full confidence in me and I will do everything in my abilities to fight for a place in starting XI for every game because FC Pune City team is so good and compact."

In the summer of 2005, the midfielder joined Liverpool in the English Premier League (EPL). From 2005-2008 at Merseyside, Sissoko was an integral part of the team that won the FA Cup in 2006. His exceptiol performance with the English club prompted European giants like Barcelo, CSKA Moscow and Juventus to show interest in him. But he chose to stay with Liverpool until 2008. IANS