ASC Kaani Gui (???),
Socheaux (France), Rennes (France), Lens (France), Liverpool FC
(England), Bolton Wanderers FC (England)
Honours
-
Biography
El-Hadji Diouf (born 15 January 1981) is a Sengalese footballer.
He plays for Bolton Wanderers F.C. and the Senegal national
team.
Liverpool F.C. bought Diouf from the French club Lens for
£10,000,000 in summer 2002, just after Senegal's impressive 2002
World Cup run, beating holders France and getting to the quarter
final. Diouf was named African Player of the Year in February
2003 for the second year running, for helping Senegal come
runner up in African Nations Cup and the achievement in the
World Cup. Diouf took the number 9 shirt at Liverpool after
Robbie Fowler's departure to Leeds United and Nicolas Anelka
left for Manchester City after failing to impress Gérard
Houllier on a loan spell. Diouf had to contend with Milan Baros
and Emile Heskey for the place up front next to Michael Owen,
whilst dealing with suspensions and fines, such as the spitting
incident against Celtic in the UEFA Cup semifinal. After
Houllier was sacked in the summer of 2004, new manager Rafael
Benitez saw a bad egg in him and loaned him out to Bolton at the
start of the 2004-05 season.
Since then, Diouf has been involved in several other
controversies,such as spitting in Ajran De Zeeuw's (Portsmouth
FC captain) face which led to the Diouf cult being formed by
Matthew Burkmar and Gary Thomasson. but his current manager Sam
Allardyce has stood by him and is actively trying to help him
curb his bad on-field behaviour.
His international career started in April 2000 against Benin;
Diouf has earned over 30 international caps and scored over 15
goals for his country. 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.
