Vakoun Issouf Bayo’s incredible performance

Watford’s Vakoun Issouf Bayo completed the rare achievement today of scoring four times in a single game. The Hornets’ 6-2 thrashing of Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough showed the Hertfordshire side and their Ivorian striker’s true potential, as Bayo had scored just once this season prior to the fixture. So who is he?

Vakoun Issouf Bayo. pic.twitter.com/q62VPTci8T

— Watford Football Club (@WatfordFC) November 2, 2024

Who is Bayo?

Bayo is just one of the countless players to have been transferred between the Pozzo family’s owned clubs - Udinese and Watford - but before he came to England he was a true journeyman. The forward has played in his native Ivory Coast, Tunisia, Slovakia, Scotland, France and Belgium. At the age of 27, his career has never seemed to fully get going, with some of his best seasons being a 10-goal 20/21 campaign for Toulouse in France’s second tier and an 18-goal 18/19 season for Slovakian side, Dunajská Streda.

Other than Watford and Udinese, he has also notably played for Celtic, although his move to Glasgow was unsuccessful, as he failed to make more than nine appearances in the Scottish top flight. Bayo was drafted in at Watford following their relegation from the Premier League in 2022 and stayed at the club until this summer when he was transferred to Udinese because of his ambitions to play top-flight European football (as he is yet to debut in one of the top five leagues despite playing European football with Celtic and Dunajská Streda). Due to the striker still being in Tom Cleverley’s plans for the 24/25 season though, he was loaned straight back for one last dance in the Championship.

✂️ ⬇️ Stop what you’re doing and watch former Celtic striker Vakoun Issouf Bayo’s incredible scissor kick goal for Watford today.pic.twitter.com/8cAKnCX9Xw

— Josh McCafferty (@Joshmcc_05) August 24, 2024

Bayo can also boast a call up to Ivory Coast’s senior international squad, despite only earning two caps off the bench, playing for 15 minutes, it is still an achievement not many can say they’ve accomplished.

What does Bayo offer to Watford?

After his four goals against Wednesday, Bayo’s tally for the season is now 5, already bettering his first season at the club (4 goals) and almost equalling his previous goals record in the Championship from last season (6 goals). Standing at six foot the forward has aerial presence and athletic ability, the last missing piece for Bayo is becoming a prolific goalscorer. If today’s four-goal haul was anything to go off though, this season could finally be a turning point.

Vakoun Issouf Bayo, you absolute tank 😍#WatfordFC You Hornsss!!!! 🐝🐝

6 away goals!!! Love to see it!#SHWWAT #Hornets pic.twitter.com/fLectvX9BB

— Roberto Hollis (FPL Yellow Army) (@RobertoHollis9) November 2, 2024