Ben Oumar Sy
# Ben Oumar Sy

"Ben" Oumar Sy (8 January 1926 – 25 August 2001) was a Malian footballer and football manager. He was the first ever manager for Stade Malien and the Mali national team.

## Career

Sy began playing football with Jeanne d'Arc in French Sudan in the 1940s, and with them won the French West African Cup twice in 1953 and 1956 before retiring shortly after. He received the nickname "Ben" in reference to the then famed Moroccan-French footballer Larbi Benbarek.

In 1960, his old club Jeanne d'Arc and l’Espérance de Médine merged creating Stade Malien, and Sy was appointed their first ever manager. In 1961, he helped Stade Malien win the first ever Malian Cup in 1961. In 1965, he took the team to the final of the first ever CAF Champions League in 1965, where they lost to Oryx Douala.

In 1962, he was also appointed the first ever manager for the Mali football team after their independence in 1960. He managed the Mali national team and Stade Malien simultaneously for 4 years. After taking the team to the 1965 All-Africa Games, in 1966 he left the team to focus on Stade Malien. He managed Stade Malien until 1975, when he retired.

Sy died on August 25, 2001, at the age 75. He was buried the next day, and on the same day Stade Malien won their 16th Malian Cup.

The Super Coupe National du Mali is formally named after him, as is the best sports high school in Mali Lycée Sportif Ben Omar Sy.

## Honours

### Player

Jeanne d'Arc

* French West African Cup: 1953, 1956

### Manager

Stade Malien

* Malian Cup: 1961, 1963, 1970, 1972
* Malian Première Division: 1969–1970
