Hamburg's New Star Striker

The 23-year-old from the Ivory Coast has found the net more often than anyone else in the Bundesliga's young season with three goals in three games. Having drawn all those matches and having gone out of the German Cup, Hamburg's start to this season has been disappointing. Without Sanogo, it would have been disastrous.

Sanogo was born in 1982 in the Ivorian town of Dimbokro. After playing six years in the Middle East, he debuted in the Bundesliga last season for Kaiserslautern. He scored 10 goals in 24 matches for the Red Devils, providing one of the few bright spots in a side that eventually got relegated.

An Afterthought Pays Off

Signing Sanogo was something of an afterthought for Hamburg. The Northern German club only decided to pay Kaiserslautern's 3.8 million euros ($ 4.8 million) asking price in late July - after failing to secure the services of bigger names like Milan Baros. Many doubted whether he's be able to establish himself at one of the Bundesliga's biggest sides.

But Sanogo has silenced his critics. A great leaper, he's a constant threat in the air, and he's equally good with both feet. He's also proving consistent, scoring in each of Hamburg's Bundesliga games. He's even nicknamed "Jürgen" -- after Germany soccer legend Jürgen Klinsmann.

Hamburg are delighted with the way their new signing has fit in -- both on and off the field. "He's a very straightforward guy," Hamburg coach Thomas Doll told the Bundesliga's official website. "As a father of two, he knows what it means to take on responsibility."

And as if to underscore his central role for his new club, Sanogo scored again in Hamburg's German Cup match on Saturday -- although Hamburg went on to lose 4-3. He's only played once for Ivory Coast's national squad. But if his recent form continues, soccer fans can look forward to Sanogo pairing up with Ivorian superstar Didier Drogba on a much more regular basis.