WATCH: Europa League celebrate Malian legend Kanoute on his birthday

Malian football legend Freddie Kanoute was given a special honour on his birthday as the UEFA Europa League unveiled a compilation of his best goals in the competition to celebrate the ex-forward’s new age. 

Kanoute enjoyed a stellar 16-year career in Europe, winning the UEFA Cup, the predecessor to the Europa League on two occasions, both with Spanish giants Sevilla and in back-to-back seasons. 

The Malian was revered at the peak of his pomp with Sevilla and was named the African Footballer of the Year in 2007, following his second Europa League crown as well as the Copa del Rey and Supercopa de Espana. 

Kanoute also starred for Lyon, Tottenham, and West Ham during his playing career, winning the UEFA Intertoto Cup with the L’OL. 

The 38-time Malian International, who turned 46 this year has been retired from football for a decade now, but his exploits with Sevilla as one of the early protagonists of the Spanish side’s Europa League dominance has not been forgotten. 

The Europa League handle on X tweeted a congratulatory message accompanied with a video of the striker’s best goals in the competition for Sevilla during their back-to-back triumphs in the competition. 

A prolific marksman during his peak, Kanoute scored 10 goals in 21 games during Sevilla’s European double, and also scored 23 goals in 38 games for Mali’s senior national team after switching his international allegiance from France.