El Hadji Diouf
El Hadji Ousseynou Diouf | |
|---|---|
| Born | January 15, 1981 Dakar, Senegal |
| Occupation | Professional footballer (retired) |
| Years active | 1998–2015 |
| Known for | Winger and forward for clubs including Liverpool, Bolton Wanderers, Sunderland, Blackburn Rovers, Rangers, Doncaster Rovers, Leeds United; Senegal national team player |
El Hadji Ousseynou Diouf (; born 15 January 1981) is a retired Senegalese professional footballer who mainly operated as a winger or forward during his career.
Diouf launched his professional journey in France, featuring for clubs such as Sochaux, Rennes, and Lens. Prior to the 2002 FIFA World Cup, he secured a move to Premier League side Liverpool, where he made a notable impression representing the Senegal squad. Subsequently, he competed in England’s highest division with Bolton Wanderers, Sunderland, and Blackburn Rovers. Diouf also spent time in the Scottish Premier League playing for Rangers. In 2011, he signed for Football League Championship outfit Doncaster Rovers but was released following the club’s drop in division. He later spent two seasons with Leeds United. Throughout his nine years representing Senegal internationally, Diouf earned 69 caps and netted 21 goals, while also being involved in several contentious episodes.
Early life
Originating from Dakar, Senegal, Diouf belongs to the distinguished Diouf family of the Serer ethnic heritage.
Early career
Diouf’s professional debut came with Sochaux-Montbéliard on 12 November 1998, contributing to a 2–1 victory against Bastia. He moved on to play for Rennes during the 1999–2000 season before spending two years at Lens located in the Pas-de-Calais area.
Liverpool
In June 2002, following an impressive World Cup campaign where Senegal advanced to the quarter-finals, Diouf transferred to English Premier League club Liverpool for an estimated £10 million. Liverpool’s manager at the time, Gérard Houllier, regarded him as an essential attacking player expected to help challenge champions Arsenal after finishing runners-up the previous season.
Diouf made a strong start at Liverpool, scoring twice during his debut at Anfield in a 3–0 triumph over Southampton on 24 August 2002. He was also part of the starting lineup when Liverpool defeated Manchester United in the 2003 Football League Cup Final.
Despite scoring again against Bolton Wanderers in March 2003, Diouf’s form deteriorated thereafter. A significant controversy arose during a UEFA Cup fixture versus Celtic, where he spat at a supporter. This incident led to a two-match suspension and a fine amounting to two weeks’ wages; additionally, Liverpool donated £60,000 to charity.
For the remainder of the 2002–03 season and throughout 2003–04, Diouf did not find the net again and accumulated 13 yellow cards along with one red card. His performances and demeanor caused disapproval among both fans and teammates. Defender Jamie Carragher later criticized Diouf’s low goal tally and commitment during training sessions. As a result, Diouf was loaned out to Bolton Wanderers at the beginning of the 2004–05 campaign. After scoring just six goals across 80 appearances for Liverpool—only three of which came in Premier League matches—he completed a permanent move to Bolton in the summer of 2005.
Bolton Wanderers
After a loan spell during the 2004–05 season, Bolton Wanderers secured Diouf's permanent transfer from Liverpool at the outset of the 2005–06 season. On 15 September 2005, he etched his name in the club's history by netting Bolton’s inaugural goal in European competition during a UEFA Cup encounter against Lokomotiv Plovdiv at the Reebok Stadium, helping secure a 2–1 triumph. Diouf quickly became a supporter favorite due to his dynamic and straightforward style of play. He announced his intention to depart Bolton following the conclusion of the 2007–08 campaign, closing his tenure at the Reebok Stadium with a goal against Sunderland on 3 May.
Sunderland
On 28 July 2008, Diouf joined Sunderland for a transfer fee of £2.63 million, committing to a four-year deal at the Stadium of Light. Then-manager Roy Keane welcomed Diouf’s signing, emphasizing his reputation as a formidable adversary. Despite initial optimism, Diouf was unable to find the net in sixteen appearances for the club.
Blackburn Rovers
Diouf moved to Blackburn Rovers on 30 January 2009 for approximately £2 million, agreeing to a three-and-a-half-year contract and reuniting with former Bolton manager Sam Allardyce. Wearing the number 18 jersey, he opened his scoring account for Blackburn with a goal against Fulham on 11 March 2009, contributing to a 2–1 victory. Manager Allardyce later disclosed that the actual transfer fee was closer to £1 million. Diouf recorded his first home goal at Ewood Park on 12 September 2009 during a 3–1 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers. On 2 January 2010, he received a red card in an FA Cup fixture against Aston Villa. He scored a crucial equalizer against Chelsea on 21 March in a match that ended 1–1, influencing the Premier League title race. By the end of that season, Diouf had featured in 27 matches and scored three goals.
In August 2011, Blackburn's manager Steve Kean excluded Diouf from first-team activities and anticipated his exit before the transfer deadline. On 31 August, following disciplinary complications linked to his tardy return from pre-season, Diouf's contract was mutually terminated.
Loan to Rangers
Diouf joined reigning Scottish Premier League champions Rangers on loan until the close of the 2010–11 season on the final day of January’s transfer window in 2011. He made his debut on 2 February as a substitute during a 1–0 victory over Hearts at Ibrox. Four days later, he earned his first start in a Scottish Cup match that ended in a 2–2 draw against Celtic. Diouf netted his initial goal for Rangers on 24 February with a header in the 20th minute during a 2–2 draw against Sporting CP in the Europa League. His second goal arrived on 13 March in a Scottish Premier League match where Rangers defeated Kilmarnock 2–1. In March 2011, Diouf was part of the Rangers squad that secured the Scottish League Cup by overcoming Celtic with a 2–1 scoreline. Additionally, he received an SPL winners medal as Rangers recovered from a two-point deficit to clinch the league title by one point.
Doncaster Rovers
In October 2011, Diouf underwent a trial period with West Ham United, then managed by Sam Allardyce, who had previously coached him at both Bolton and Blackburn. However, on 28 October, West Ham opted against signing Diouf, citing concerns over his physical condition and his reputation, while also considering the views of the supporters.
On 31 October 2011, Diouf secured a short-term deal lasting three months with Doncaster Rovers. He netted two goals in a 3–2 victory against Ipswich on 5 November, earning the Man of the Match award. He captained Doncaster in a goalless draw versus Watford but was sidelined for subsequent matches due to injury. On 2 February 2012, he extended his contract by six months, with an option to prolong it by another year.
After Doncaster's relegation from The Championship, Diouf engaged in discussions with Leeds United in April 2012 about a possible transfer once his contract expired. Despite Leeds manager Neil Warnock’s earlier critical remarks about him, Diouf showed considerable enthusiasm about joining the club.
On 19 July 2012, Diouf was acquitted of assault allegations linked to an incident at a Manchester nightclub in April.
Leeds United
Diouf began a trial with Leeds United on 9 August 2012 and secured a non-contract agreement two days later. He made his first appearance as a substitute during a League Cup fixture against Shrewsbury Town on 11 August and soon after debuted in the league during a 1–0 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers. His initial start came on 25 August in a 2–1 win against Peterborough United.
He scored his inaugural goal for Leeds on 1 September in a thrilling 3–3 draw with his former team Blackburn Rovers, shortly before committing to a permanent contract through January 2013. Turning down more financially attractive offers, Diouf prioritized aiding Leeds’ push for Premier League promotion. On 25 September, he delivered an impressive performance in a 2–1 triumph over Premier League opponents Everton, earning commendation from manager Neil Warnock, who dubbed him his 'matador' and highlighted Diouf’s dedication to extending his contract.
Diouf recorded a brace in a 3–2 victory against Bristol City on 29 September and was appointed captain during a 2–2 draw with Bolton Wanderers on 2 October. He played a key role in Leeds’ advancement to the League Cup quarter-finals by scoring in a commanding 3–0 win over Premier League side Southampton on 30 October. His fifth goal of the season came from the penalty spot in a 2–2 draw versus Brighton on 2 November.
On 14 December 2012, Diouf agreed to an extension lasting eighteen months, keeping him at Leeds through the end of the 2013–14 season. He netted his seventh goal of that campaign against Brighton on 27 April but also received his first red card following an inappropriate goal celebration.
In May 2013, despite assertions from Guinea-based club AS Kaloum claiming they had signed Diouf, both he and Leeds refuted these reports, affirming his commitment to remain at the club. A shin infection prevented him from participating throughout the entire pre-season of the 2013–14 year.
By August 2013, Diouf was placed on the transfer list. In December, he missed multiple matches due to undisclosed personal matters and to attend funerals for former mentor Bruno Metsu and ex-South African President Nelson Mandela.
Diouf made his final appearance for Leeds by starting in a 1–1 draw against Ipswich Town on 28 January 2014. He was released from his contract on 16 May 2014.
Sabah FA
In November 2014, Diouf committed to a one-year deal with Malaysian outfit Sabah FA, competing in the Malaysia Premier League, and was appointed as the team's captain. Nevertheless, he generated controversy after publicly comparing Sabah unfavorably to their rivals Johor Darul Takzim II F.C., revealing a willingness to establish a JDT academy on his own property in Senegal and even offer his services to JDT without pay, admiring the club's vision. Sabah labeled his remarks as "unprofessional," resulting in Diouf being stripped of the captaincy in July 2015.
International career
Diouf made his international debut in April 2000 facing Benin, ultimately earning 69 caps and netting 21 goals for Senegal. He was instrumental in Senegal’s 2002 FIFA World Cup journey, helping guide the team to the quarter-finals with memorable victories against France and Sweden, and earned a spot on the World Cup All-Star squad. Additionally, he contributed to Senegal’s run to the final of the 2002 African Cup of Nations, where they finished as runners-up to Cameroon.
In 2004, Diouf was handed a four-match suspension from international duty due to verbally abusing a referee. That same year, he was included in the prestigious FIFA 100, a list of the 125 greatest living footballers curated by Pelé for FIFA’s centennial celebrations. Diouf briefly stepped away from international play in 2007 citing administrative problems but was soon recalled by coach Henryk Kasperczak.
In 2011, disciplinary issues led to a five-year ban from representing Senegal; however, this sanction was shortened in 2012, allowing his return. Despite being eligible, he was excluded from several important squads amid claims that the federation feared his presence. Diouf’s influence on African football was further recognized as he earned the African Footballer of the Year award twice.
In France
Throughout his career, Diouf has been involved in numerous controversies. While at Sochaux, he encountered several minor incidents before transferring to Rennes, where he was convicted for driving without a licence and implicated in a car accident. Due to his youth and expressions of remorse, French courts sentenced him to community service.
In England
During his initial years in the Premier League, Diouf faced multiple allegations of spitting at both supporters and opponents. In 2002, he was accused of spitting at West Ham United fans while warming up for Liverpool; although police found no criminal offense, they confirmed that he spat on the ground. In March 2003, he spat towards Celtic fans during a UEFA Cup quarter-final match, leading Liverpool to impose a two-week wage fine, UEFA to hand him a two-match suspension, and legal assault charges which resulted in a guilty plea and a £5,000 fine.
In November 2004, while on loan at Bolton Wanderers, Diouf faced charges for spitting at an 11-year-old Middlesbrough supporter and subsequently spat at Portsmouth player Arjan de Zeeuw. Bolton penalized him with a two-week wage deduction and the Football Association issued a three-match ban following his guilty plea. Manager Sam Allardyce contemplated referring him for sports psychology support.
September 2009 saw Diouf questioned over allegations of using racial slurs towards a ball-boy during an Everton fixture. Diouf claimed provocation from both the ball-boy and Everton fans; however, police found insufficient evidence.
In April 2010, Diouf was arrested on motoring-related offenses in Manchester.
After Blackburn Rovers’ FA Cup victory against Queens Park Rangers in January 2011, QPR manager Neil Warnock accused Diouf of mocking an injured player and described him as "lower than a sewer rat."
Diouf failed to report for Blackburn Rovers’ pre-season tour in Austria in July 2011; with his whereabouts unknown at the time, the club initiated disciplinary proceedings.
In April 2012, Diouf and five others were detained following a nightclub altercation in Manchester that left one individual seriously hurt; Diouf was released on bail.
A controversial red card was issued to Diouf in April 2013 at Elland Road after he made offensive gestures toward Brighton supporters during an away match.
In Scotland
During February 2011, Diouf became involved in a widely publicized conflict with Celtic Captain Scott Brown after multiple on-field incidents in the Scottish Cup fifth round. This included Brown’s memorable celebration aimed directly at Diouf following an equalizing goal.
On 2 March 2011, Diouf was among three Rangers players who received red cards in the Scottish Cup fifth round replay, resulting from a sideline confrontation with Neil Lennon and protests against the match official. Subsequently, in April 2011, the Scottish Football Association imposed a £5,000 fine on him and issued a formal warning concerning his behavior.
After football
By the year 2017, Diouf had settled in Dakar where he fulfilled roles as a goodwill ambassador for the government and as a sports advisor to Senegalese President Macky Sall. Additionally, he managed a sports-focused newspaper and ran a fitness center.
Club
| Club | Season | League | National cup | League cup | Continental | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Sochaux-Montbéliard | 1998–99 | Division 1 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | — | 18 | 12 | ||
| Rennes | 1999–2000 | Division 1 | 28 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 2 | — | 38 | 4 | |
| Lens | 2000–01 | Division 1 | 28 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | — | 32 | 9 | |
| 2001–02 | Division 1 | 26 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 27 | 10 | |||
| Total | 54 | 18 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | — | 59 | 19 | |||
| Liverpool | 2002–03 | Premier League | 29 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 47 | 6 |
| 2003–04 | Premier League | 26 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | — | 33 | 0 | ||
| Total | 55 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 7 | 3 | 13 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 80 | 6 | ||
| Bolton Wanderers | 2004–05 | Premier League | 27 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 32 | 9 | ||
| 2005–06 | Premier League | 20 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 27 | 4| | |||||
| 2006–07 | Premier League | 33 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 35 | 5 | |||
| 2007–08 | Premier League | 34 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 2 | — | 42 | 6 | ||
| Total | 114 | 21 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 12 | 3 | — | 136 | 24 | |||
| Sunderland | 2008–09 | Premier League | 14 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 16 | 0 | ||
| Blackburn Rovers | 2008–09 | Premier League | 14 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 14 | 1 | ||
| 2009–10 | Premier League | 26 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 27 | 3 | |||
| 2010–11 | Premier League | 20 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 21 | 0 | |||
| Total | 60 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 62 | 4 | ||||
| Rangers (loan) | 2010–11 | Scottish Premier League | 15 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 | — | 22 | 2 | |
| Doncaster Rovers | 2011–12 | Championship | 22 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||
| - | ||||||||||||||
International Career
| National team | Year | Appearances | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Senegal | 2000 | 3 | 0 |
| 2001 | 10 | 11 | |
| 2002 | 15 | 2 | |
| 2003 | 8 | 3 | |
| 2004 | 6 | 0 | |
| 2005 | 7 | 4 | |
| 2006 | 7 | 0 | |
| 2007 | 3 | 2 | |
| 2008 | 11 | 2 | |
| Overall Total | 70 | 24 | |
- Senegal's score is listed first; the score column shows the match score immediately following each Diouf goal.
| Goal No. | Date | Location | Opponent | Score after goal | Final result | Competition | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1–3 | 10 March 2001 | Stade Léopold Sédar Senghor, Dakar, Senegal | Namibia | 1–0 to 3–0 | 4–0 victory | 2002 FIFA World Cup qualifiers | |
| 4–5 | 24 March 2001 | Stade Léopold Sédar Senghor, Dakar, Senegal | Uganda | 1–0 to 3–0 | 3–0 win | 2002 African Cup of Nations qualification | |
| 6–8 | 21 April 2001 | Stade Léopold Sédar Senghor, Dakar, Senegal | Algeria | 1–0 to 3–0 | 3–0 result | 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification | |
| 9–10 | July 2001 | (Dakar and Windhoek) | (Morocco and Namibia) | (1–0 and 2–0) | (1–0 and 5–0) | 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification | |
| 11–12 | 4 October 2001 – 4 February 2002 | (Lens, France & Bamako, Mali) | (Japan & DR Congo) | (1–0 and 2–0) | (2–0 and 2–0) | (Friendly matches & 2002 African Cup of Nations) | |
| 13–16 | May 2002 – November 2003 | (Riyadh, Saudi Arabia & Dakar) | (Saudi Arabia, Gambia, Lesotho, Ivory Coast) | (various scores) | (various outcomes) | (Friendly matches & African Cup of Nations qualifiers) | |
| 17–20 | March – October 2005 | (Dakar, Senegal; Konkola Stadium, Zambia) | (Liberia, Zambia, Mali) | (various scores) | (various results) | ( 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification (CAF) ) | |
| 21–22 | August – September 2007 | (London, UK & Dakar) | (Ghana & Burkina Faso) | (1–1 & 5–1) | (1–1 & 5–1) | (Friendly match & Africa Cup of Nations qualification) | |
| 23–24 | June 2008 | (Monrovia & Dakar) | (Liberia) | (1–0 & 2–0) | (2–2 & 3–1) | (2010 FIFA World Cup qualification) |
Honours
Liverpool
Rangers
- Scottish Premier League champion: 2010–11
- Scottish League Cup winner: 2010–11
Senegal
- Runner-up in the Africa Cup of Nations: 2002
Individual Accolades
- Awarded African Footballer of the Year in 2001 and 2002
- Recipient of the BBC African Footballer of the Year in 2002
- Selected for the FIFA World Cup All-star team in 2002
- Included in the prestigious FIFA 100 list
External links
- Pages with script errors
- Articles with short description
- Articles with hCards
- No local image but image on Wikidata
- 1981 births
- Living people
- Footballers from Dakar
- Footballers from Saint-Louis, Senegal
- Men's association football forwards
- Senegalese men's footballers
- Senegalese Muslims
- Serer sportspeople
- Senegal men's international footballers
- Senegalese expatriate men's footballers
- Expatriate men's footballers in France
- Expatriate men's footballers in England
- FC Sochaux-Montbéliard players
- Stade Rennais FC players
- RC Lens players
- Liverpool F.C. players
- Bolton Wanderers F.C. players
- Sunderland A.F.C. players
- Blackburn Rovers F.C. players
- Rangers F.C. players
- Doncaster Rovers F.C. players
- Leeds United F.C. players
- Sabah F.C. (Malaysia) players
- Ligue 1 players
- Premier League players
- English Football League players
- Scottish Premier League players
- Malaysia Premier League players
- African Footballer of the Year winners
- FIFA 100
- Senegalese expatriate sportspeople in England
- 2002 FIFA World Cup players
- 2004 African Cup of Nations players
- 2006 Africa Cup of Nations players
- 2008 Africa Cup of Nations players
- 2002 African Cup of Nations players
- Expatriate men's footballers in Scotland
- Senegalese expatriate sportspeople in Scotland
- 21st-century Senegalese sportsmen