El Hadji Diouf

El-Hadji Diouf

Personal information
Full name	El-Hadji Ousseynou Diouf
Date of birth	15 January 1981 (1981-01-15) (age 30)
Place of birth	Saint-Louis, Senegal
Height	1.81 m (5 ft 11 in)
Playing position	Right Winger, Striker
Club information
Current club	Blackburn Rovers
Number	10
Youth career
	Rennes
0000–1998	Sochaux
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
1998–1999	Sochaux	15	(0)
1999–2000	Rennes	28	(1)
2000–2002	Lens	54	(18)
2002–2005	Liverpool	55	(3)
2004–2005	→ Bolton Wanderers (loan)	27	(9)
2005–2008	Bolton Wanderers	88	(12)
2008–2009	Sunderland	14	(0)
2009–	Blackburn Rovers	40	(4)
National team‡
2000–2009	Senegal	41	(21)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 20:45, 22 May 2010 (UTC). † Appearances (Goals). ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 15:24, 11 April 2010 (UTC)

El-Hadji Ousseynou Diouf (born 15 January 1981 in Saint-Louis) is a Senegalese footballer who currently plays as a forward but preferably as a right winger for English Premier League club Blackburn Rovers. Diouf is known for his versatility, and he can play on both wings and as a forward, he is also known for his controversies on and off the football field. He was selected by Pelé in the top 125 greatest living footballers.

Club career

Early career

Diouf started his career in France with Sochaux-Montbéliard. He made his first appearance in 2–1 win against Bastia on 12 November 1998, before moving to Stade Rennes for the 1999–00 season. He moved to Lens the following season, spending two years at the Pas-de-Calais club before moving to English club Liverpool in 2002. while at Liverpool in 2003, Diouf had a 2 month loan spell at low league Milton keynes dons, during his spell at the club, the loan was terminated after upsetting home grown players. This was due to simple 'name calling' of inbred. This put Diouf back into the Liverpool side.

Liverpool

Liverpool bought Diouf from Lens for £10 million, prior to Senegal's impressive 2002 World Cup run, despite having talks with Charlton. Then coach Gérard Houllier put his faith in Diouf and made the choice to sign him and not take up the option of permanently signing loan star Nicolas Anelka. Diouf was originally signed as a striker but ended up being utilised mainly on the right wing. Diouf scored just six goals in his first season including three in the Worthington Cup. Liverpool went on to defeat Manchester United 2–0 in the final at the Millennium Stadium that year, ensuring he got a medal after starting in the final.

In the 2003/04 season, he became the first Liverpool player to wear the number nine shirt to fail to score a goal in an entire season. He made 33 appearances and went over 14 months without a goal. Despite his impressive start to his Liverpool career where he scored a brace on his Anfield debut against Southampton F.C, he only managed 6 goals in 80 appearances, failing to live up to expectations. Toward the end of his spell at Liverpool new manager Rafael Benítez loaned Diouf to Bolton Wanderers on a season-long loan. During his time at Liverpool he was regarded as a total failure and according to Steven Gerrard's book he was not the signing Liverpool needed to take them up a level and win the league. Jamie Carragher also identified Diouf and his countryman Salif Daio as the worst 2 players he had seen at Anfield

Bolton Wanderers

Bolton Wanderers bought Diouf from Liverpool for an undisclosed fee at the start of the 2005–06 season, after they had loaned the player for the 2004–05 season. On 15 September 2005, Diouf scored Bolton's first ever goal in a European competition against Lokomotiv Plovdiv in a UEFA Cup match at the Reebok Stadium. Bolton went on to win the game 2–1. He was largely successful at Bolton and became a fans' favourite due to his flair and direct running. Diouf confirmed in an interview with the BBC that he would be leaving Bolton at the end of the 2007/08 season and that his goal against Sunderland on 3 May marked his last appearance at the Reebok Stadium.^[1]

Sunderland

Diouf signed for Sunderland on 28 July 2008, after Bolton agreed to a transfer fee of £2.6 million.^[2] He signed a four year contract at The Stadium of Light after undergoing a medical.^[3] Diouf revealed that he was happy to join Sunderland.^[4] Former Sunderland manager, Roy Keane, said he was happy that a player who "teams and supporters hate" had joined Sunderland, "El-Hadji has always been the kind of player opposition teams and supporters hate, a thorn in the side. That's why we're delighted to now have him in our squad."^[2]

Blackburn Rovers

Diouf signed for Blackburn Rovers for an undisclosed fee on 30 January 2009, signing a three-and-half-year deal after just 6 months at the Stadium of Light, rejoining former Bolton manager Sam Allardyce, after his short time with Sunderland.^[5] He wears the number 18 shirt. He scored his first goal for the club against Fulham at Craven Cottage on 11 March 2009 in a 2–1 win.^[6] During the summer transfer window, Rovers manager Sam Allardyce revealed that Diouf was acquired for only £1 million.^[7] Diouf scored his first home goal for Rovers at Ewood Park in the clubs 3–1 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers on 12 September 2009. On 2 January 2010, he was sent off in a 3–1 defeat to Aston Villa in the 3rd round of the FA Cup.^[8] On 21 March 2010, Diouf scored the equalising goal against Chelsea in a 1–1 draw at Ewood park which opened up the 2010 title race with Chelsea dropping vital points. He started the next two premier league games against Birmingham and Burnley, he then made his 40th appearance for the club at Fratton Park playing against rock bottom side Portsmouth in a 0–0 draw on 3 April 2010, prior to being substituted in the 76th minute for young Canadian winger Junior Hoilett.

Controversies

Diouf's professional career has been constantly overshadowed by controversy. During his time at Sochaux, he was involved in a succession of minor transgressions. This resulted in a move to Rennes. However, during his time at his new club Diouf, he was driving without a licence, and was involved in a car crash. Taking into account his age and evident remorse, the French courts sentenced Diouf to community service rather than prison.^[9] He later left Rennes for Lens, where he rebuilt his career.

During the start of his early Premier League career, Diouf was involved in several incidents where he spat at fans and opposition players. Once on 13 March 2003, whilst playing for Liverpool, he was involved in a incident when he was accused of spitting at Celtic fans during a televised UEFA Cup quarter final. His club fined him two weeks' wages,^[10] UEFA gave him a 2 match ban,^[11] and Diouf was charged with assault.^[12] Although Diouf initially pled not guilty,^[13] he later changed his plea to guilty, and was fined £5,000.^[14] Diouf issued a personal apology to the fan 2 days after the incident, and invited him to attend the second leg of the quarter final at Anfield as his personal guest in order to maintain the "special relationship" between the clubs.^[15] Whilst he was on loan at Bolton, Diouf was again charged by the police for spitting at Middlesbrough fans during a 1–1 draw in November 2004.^[16] Then, on 27 November 2004, Diouf spat in the face of Portsmouth player Arjan de Zeeuw.^[17] He was fined two weeks wages by Bolton and was banned for 3 games by the FA after pleading guilty to a charge of improper conduct. De Zeeuw said that spitting in the modern game "shouldn't happen. It is unsportsmanlike, ridiculous and cowardly... I am just very disappointed with him". Diouf's Bolton team-mate Gary Speed said "It's something that you can't defend. To be on the receiving end of that is probably the worst thing that can happen to you. It's something that nobody wants to see in football."^[18] Bolton manager Sam Allardyce later revealed that he considered sending Diouf to see a sports psychologist.^[19]

On 20 September 2009, Diouf was questioned by police after allegations that he had made a racial slur to a ball-boy during a match at Everton, calling him 'white boy'. Diouf defended his actions by saying Everton fans were racially abusing him, throwing bananas at him. However, this claim has to be taken with an ounce of scepticism, as (as put by Dara Ó Briain in The Guardian) "bananas are pretty traceable. They tend to leave a trail of bananas. And there seem to have been precious few bananas lying round".^[20] Police later confirmed there had been no evidence of racial abuse or bananas and it was even mentioned in the media that the club may seek compensation as a result of slander.

In April 2010, Diouf was again arrested and charged with motoring offences in Manchester.^[21]

International career

Diouf's international career started in April 2000 against Benin. He has earned 41 international caps and scored 16 goals for his country. He played for Senegal in their 2002 FIFA World Cup campaign and was elected to the World Cup All-Star team, after leading Senegal to the quarter-finals and victories over France (1–0) and Sweden (2–1). Senegal eventually lost 1–0 in extra time to Turkey. He was also part of the Senegal team who were the runners-up in the 2002 African Nations Cup. Diouf was banned from international football for four matches in 2004 for a verbal assault on referee Ali Bujsaim.^[22]

In 2004, he was named to the FIFA 100, a list of the 125 greatest living footballers selected by Pelé in conjunction with FIFA's centenary celebrations. In October 2007, Diouf retired from international football, stating he had been frustrated by organisational problems with the side.^[23] However, Senegal coach Henri Kasperczak announced later in the month that he would name Diouf in the next squad.^[24]

On 3 April 2009 he retired from the Senegal national football team after 41 games^[25].

Personal life

Diouf is married and has a daughter, Kenza. His older brother Dame Diouf is a retired professional footballer. ^[26].

Career statistics

^[27]

Honours

Club

Liverpool

• League Cup: 2002–03

References

External links

• Player profile at LFChistory.net
• Bolton Wanderers Profile at Burnden Aces
• El Hadji Diouf career stats at Soccerbase
• ESPN Profile

Awards and achievements
Preceded by Samuel Kuffour	BBC African Footballer of the Year 2002	Succeeded by Jay-Jay Okocha

Senegal squad – 2002 FIFA World Cup 1 Sylva • 2 Daf • 3 Sarr • 4 Malick Diop • 5 N'Dour • 6 Cissé (c) • 7 H. Camara • 8 Traoré • 9 S. Camara • 10 Fadiga • 11 Diouf • 12 Faye • 13 Diatta • 14 Moussa N'Diaye • 15 Diao • 16 Diallo • 17 Coly • 18 Thiaw • 19 Bouba Diop • 20 S. N'Diaye • 21 Beye • 22 Cissokho • 23 Makhtar N'Diaye • Coach: Metsu

Senegal squad – 2004 African Cup of Nations 1 Sylva • 2 Daf • 3 Faye • 4 Malick Diop • 5 Diawara • 6 Cissé • 7 Camara • 8 N'Diaye • 9 Kamara • 10 Sakho • 11 Diouf • 12 Mendy • 13 Diatta • 14 N'Doye • 15 Diao • 16 Diallo • 17 Coly • 18 Niang • 19 Bouba Diop • 20 Diagne-Faye • 21 Beye • 22 Cissokho • Coach: Stéphan

Senegal squad – 2006 Africa Cup of Nations Fourth Place 1 Sylva • 2 Daf • 3 N'Daw • 4 Diakhaté • 5 Diawara • 6 Barry • 7 H. Camara • 8 Niang • 9 S. Camara • 10 Ba • 11 E. Diouf • 12 A. Faye • 13 Diatta • 14 Mendy • 15 Kamara • 16 M. Diouf • 17 Coly • 18 Dramé • 19 Bouba Diop • 20 Diagne-Faye • 21 Beye • 22 N'Diaye • 23 Djiba • Coach: Sarr

Senegal squad – 2008 Africa Cup of Nations 1 Sylva • 2 Sonko • 3 N'Daw • 4 Sarr • 5 Diawara • 6 I. Faye • 7 Camara • 8 Niang • 9 Gueye • 10 N'Doye • 11 Diouf • 12 Bayal Sall • 13 Diatta • 14 Papa Waigo • 15 Kamara • 16 C. N'Diaye • 17 Sougou • 18 Mendy • 19 Bouba Diop • 20 Diagne-Faye • 21 Beye • 22 Ba • 23 Coundoul • Coach: L. N'Diaye