# Kara Mbodji

Serigne Modou Kara Mbodji (born 22 November 1989), commonly known as Kara or Kara Mbodji, is a Senegalese professional footballer who plays for the Senegal national team. He can be deployed as a defender, defensive midfielder or in the central midfield.

## Club career
### Tromsø

At the age of 15, Mbodji joined the Diambars academy in Dakar, Senegal. On 2 February 2010, he joined Norwegian club Tromsø IL. During his three seasons in the Norwegian Premier League, he was awarded best player of his team and twice second best player of the Championship.

### Genk

On 31 December 2012, Mbodji joined KRC Genk for a fee of €1.4 million. After regularly starting for Genk in defence and winning the 2012–13 Belgian Cup, his contract was extended until June 2018.

### Anderlecht

On 7 August 2015, he joined R.S.C. Anderlecht for a fee of €4.5 million, signing a four-year deal until June 2019. In August 2017, he agreed a contract extension with the club until 2020. In his time at the club he made 97 appearances scoring 7 goals.

### Nantes

On 30 August 2018, one day before the closing of the 2018 summer transfer window, Mbodji moved to Ligue 1 side FC Nantes on loan for the 2018–19 season. Nantes also secured an option to sign him permanently. His loan ended early, in January 2019, with Mbodji citing lack of playing time.

### Al-Sailiya

On 20 July 2019, Al-Sailiya signed Kara Mbodji for three season from Anderlecht.

## International career

Mbodji was a part of the Senegal team for the 2012 Olympic Games. He was included in the Senegal national football team's squad for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations and scored in a 1–1 draw with South Africa in the team's second group match.
In June 2018 he was named in Senegal's 23-man squad for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

## Career statistics
### Club

    As of 7 February 2024
| Club | Season | League | League | League | National Cup | National Cup | Continental | Continental | Other | Other | Total | Total |
| Club | Season | Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Tromsø | 2010 | Tippeligaen | 22 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 24 | 0 |
| Tromsø | 2011 | Tippeligaen | 26 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | — | — | 31 | 5 |
| Tromsø | 2012 | Tippeligaen | 22 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 1 | — | — | 29 | 4 |
| Tromsø | Total | Total | 70 | 8 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 1 | — | — | 84 | 9 |
| Genk | 2012–13 | First Division | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 2 | 12 | 2 |
| Genk | 2013–14 | First Division | 26 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 10 | 2 | 8 | 0 | 47 | 2 |
| Genk | 2014–15 | First Division | 24 | 2 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 6 | 0 | 31 | 2 |
| Genk | 2015–16 | First Division | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 0 |
| Genk | Total | Total | 54 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 10 | 2 | 22 | 2 | 92 | 6 |
| Anderlecht | 2015–16 | First Division | 24 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 1 | 8 | 1 | 41 | 3 |
| Anderlecht | 2016–17 | First Division A | 21 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 8 | 1 | 36 | 4 |
| Anderlecht | 2017–18 | First Division A | 12 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 20 | 0 |
| Anderlecht | 2018-19 | First Division A | 9 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 8 | 0 | 17 | 0 |
| Anderlecht | Total | Total | 66 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 21 | 1 | 26 | 2 | 114 | 7 |
| Nantes (loan) | 2018–19 | Ligue 1 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 1 | 0 | 8 | 0 |
| Nantes (loan) | Total | Total | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 1 | 0 | 8 | 0 |
| Al-Sailiya | 2019-20 | Qatar Stars League | 22 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 24 | 2 |
| Al-Sailiya | 2020-21 | Qatar Stars League | 17 | 2 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 8 | 1 | 27 | 3 |
| Al-Sailiya | 2021-22 | Qatar Stars League | 18 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 8 | 0 | 28 | 0 |
| Al-Sailiya | Total | Total | 57 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 17 | 2 | 79 | 5 |
| Career total | Career total | Career total | 253 | 17 | 19 | 0 | 39 | 4 | 66 | 6 | 377 | 27 |
* ↑ Appearances in the Norwegian Football Cup, the Belgian Cup, the Coupe de France, and the Emir Cup
* 1 2 3 4 5 Appearances in the Europa League
* 1 2 3 4 5 Appearances in the Belgian First Division playoffs
* ↑ Seven appearances in the Belgian First Division playoffs, and one appearance in the Belgian Super Cup
* ↑ Appearances in the UEFA Champions League
* ↑ One appearance in the Belgian First Division A playoffs, and one appearance in the Belgian Super Cup
* ↑ Appearances in the Coupe de la Ligue
* ↑ Appearances in the AFC Champions League
* ↑ Appearances in the Qatari Stars Cup
* ↑ Five appearances in the Qatari Stars Cup, and three appearances in the Qatar FA Cup
* ↑ Six appearances in the Qatari Stars Cup, one appearance in the Qatar FA Cup, and one appearance in the Qatari Stars League relegation play-off

### International

    As of 8 June 2018
Senegal :
| Year | Apps | Goals |
| 2011 | 1 | 0 |
| 2012 | 1 | 0 |
| 2013 | 3 | 0 |
| 2014 | 7 | 1 |
| 2015 | 10 | 1 |
| 2016 | 6 | 0 |
| 2017 | 12 | 2 |
| 2018 | 1 | 0 |
| Total | 41 | 4 |
    Scores and results list Senegal's goal tally first
| Goal | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
| 1. | 19 November 2014 | Stade Léopold Sédar Senghor, Dakar, Senegal | Botswana | 1–0 | 3–0 | 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualification |
| 2. | 23 January 2015 | Estadio de Mongomo, Mongomo, Equatorial Guinea | South Africa | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2015 Africa Cup of Nations |
| 3. | 15 January 2017 | Stade de Franceville, Franceville, Gabon | Tunisia | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2017 Africa Cup of Nations |
| 4. | 14 November 2017 | Stade Léopold Sédar Senghor, Dakar, Senegal | South Africa | 2–1 | 2–1 | 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification |

## Honours
### Club

Genk
* Belgian Cup: 2012–13
Anderlecht
* Belgian First Division A: 2016–17
* Belgian Super Cup: 2017
Al-Sailiya SC
* Qatari Stars Cup: 2020-21, 2021-22