Demba Savage (born 17 June 1988) is a Gambian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder. A right winger, who can also operate on the left wing or as a striker, he is mostly known for his blazing speed and dribbling skills.

Demba Savage
Personal information
Date of birth (1988-06-17) 17 June 1988 (age 36)
Place of birth Banjul, Gambia
Height 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Position(s) Winger
Youth career
Warriors FC
Rico FC
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2003–2004 Gambia Ports Authority (12)
2006–2008 KPV 32 (8)
2008–2012 Honka 74 (21)
2012−2015 HJK 107 (42)
2016 Häcken 19 (3)
2017−2018 HJK 24 (6)
2018 BB Erzurumspor 12 (2)
2018−2021 Honka 74 (10)
2022 TPS 20 (3)
International career
2008–2016 Gambia 15 (2)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 8 October 2022

Career

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Club

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Savage started playing football on the streets of Banjul as a boy. In his school, Saint Mary's, he became a star player. After finishing secondary school, he played for Warriors FC and Rico FC. In the 2003–04 season, he played for Gambia Ports Authority and was the GFA League First Division top scorer with 12 goals.[1]

In 2006, he signed for Finnish second tier club KPV. In his first season, he mostly played with KPV's reserve team, but in 2007, he took his place in the first team.

In August 2008, he was loaned to the Finnish Premier Division side FC Honka.[2] Honka used its option for a permanent move after the season.

On 7 February 2012 the reigning Finnish champions, HJK, announced that they had signed Savage along with teammate Rasmus Schüller.[3] Qualified for the Europa League group stages 2014 with HJK with a 5–4 aggregate victory over SK Rapid Wien.

On 28 October 2015, Savage signed for Swedish Allsvenskan side BK Häcken,[4] following HJK teammate Rasmus Schüller who had signed for BK Häcken earlier in the month.[5]

On 27 February 2017, Savage returned to HJK on a two-year contract.[6]

On 1 April 2022, Savage joined TPS on a one-year deal.[7]

International

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In June 2008, Savage debuted in Gambia's national team in a World Cup qualification match against Liberia. He has also played in Gambia's youth national teams.

Career statistics

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Club

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As of match played 19 December 2017[8]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup League Cup Continental Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
HJK 2012 Veikkausliiga 30 12 0 0 5 0 5 0 40 12
2013 28 11 2 0 6 4 2 1 38 16
2014 24 11 3 0 3 0 10 3 40 14
2015 25 8 1 2 1 0 3 0 30 10
Total 107 42 6 2 15 4 20 4 148 52
Häcken 2016 Allsvenskan 19 3 5 4 2 0 26 7
HJK 2017 Veikkausliiga 24 6 3 0 4 0 31 6
Career total 150 51 14 6 15 4 26 4 205 65

Honours

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Individual

References

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  1. ^ Gambian league 2003/2004
  2. ^ "FC Honka - Uutiset: Honka vahvisti keskikenttäänsä Demba Savagella". Archived from the original on 3 September 2008. Retrieved 30 August 2008.
  3. ^ HJK signs Savage and Schüller Archived 2017-10-07 at the Wayback Machine (in Finnish)
  4. ^ "Demba Savage klar för Häcken!". BK Häcken (in Swedish). 28 October 2015. Archived from the original on 29 October 2015. Retrieved 28 October 2015.
  5. ^ "Finsk landslagsman klar för Häcken!". BK Häcken (in Swedish). 7 October 2015. Archived from the original on 8 October 2015. Retrieved 28 October 2015.
  6. ^ "Taiturimainen laitahyökkääjä Demba Savage palaa Klubiin". hjk.fi (in Finnish). HJK Helsinki. 27 February 2017. Retrieved 1 March 2017.
  7. ^ "80 MAALIA VEIKKAUSLIIGASSA ISKENYT DEMBA SAVAGE VAHVISTAA TPS:N HYÖKKÄYSTÄ" (Press release) (in Finnish). TPS. 1 April 2022. Retrieved 4 April 2022.
  8. ^ Demba Savage at Soccerway
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