Mahamadou Diarra

Mahamadou Diarra (born 18 May 1981) is Malian former professional footballer who played as a defensive midfielder. He served as captain for the Mali national team.

Mahamadou Diarra
Diarra in 2007.
Personal information
Full name Mahamadou Diarra
Date of birth (1981-05-18) 18 May 1981
Place of birth Bamako, Mali
Height 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in)
Playing position(s) Defensive midfielder
Youth career
1997–1998 Centre Salif Keita
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1998–1999 OFI 21 (2)
1999–2002 Vitesse 69 (9)
2002–2006 Lyon 123 (7)
2006–2011 Real Madrid 90 (3)
2011 Monaco 9 (0)
2012–2014 Fulham 23 (1)
Total 335 (22)
National team
2000–2012 Mali 71 (6)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Club career

OFI Crete

Diarra started his professional career at Greek club OFI at the age of 17, being signed together with his brother Harouna. After a single season at Greece and being watched by clubs such as Barcelona and Milan, he decided to join Dutch club Vitesse.[1]

Vitesse

Diarra made his debut for Vitesse on 13 August 1999. During his tenure at the club, his playing style was compared to Ruud Gullit and attracted interest from Juventus, then coached by Carlo Ancelotti.[2] During the summer of 2002, after receiving offers from many European clubs, Vitesse sold Diarra to Lyon by €4 million, although the player favoured a move to Ajax to rejoin his old manager Ronald Koeman.[1] Diarra played a total of 69 league matches and scored 9 times for the Arnhem-based club.[3]

Lyon

At Lyon, Diarra was a starter in each of his four seasons, playing alongside Michael Essien and Juninho Pernambucano in the midfield and helping his side to win the Ligue 1 in each of those seasons.

Real Madrid

After Real Madrid head coach Fabio Capello asked club president Ramón Calderón to sign "three players", "Diarra, Diarra and Diarra",[4] Real Madrid joined Manchester United in the race to sign the midfielder.[5] Lyon said that Diarra could not leave and put a €40 million price tag on him.[6] However, on 18 August 2006, Real Madrid agreed a fee of €26 million[7] and four days later, Diarra was unveiled at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium by Calderón and was assigned the number 6 shirt.

During the 2006–07 season, Diarra was a staple in Capello's two-defensive midfielder system. He appeared in 33 of Madrid's 38 matches, scoring three times. On 18 June 2007, with Real Madrid needing to win against Mallorca to win the Liga for the first time since 2003, Diarra scored an 81st-minute header to give Madrid a 2–1 lead. In the 84th minute, José Antonio Reyes scored a third goal to ensure Real Madrid were champions.[8]

Diarra played a pivotal role in the 2007–08 title defence under new head coach Bernd Schuster, and he established himself as the first-choice defensive midfielder, causing teammate Fernando Gago to play higher upfield. Real Madrid comfortably won the Liga, finishing eight points clear of second-placed Villarreal. Diarra had now been a league champion for six consecutive seasons, after winning Ligue 1 with Lyon between 2002–03 and 2005–06, and La Liga with Real Madrid in 2006–07 and 2007–08.[9]

In October 2008, while playing an international fixture for Mali against Chad, Diarra was stretchered off the field after receiving a blow to his knee. He was rested for a month and made his next appearance in late November, but was forced to undergo surgery after aggravating his knee injury, which ruled him out for the remainder of the 2008–09 season. In his absence, Real Madrid signed Lassana Diarra from Portsmouth as a replacement defensive midfielder, who was issued Diarra's number 6 shirt.[10][11] After recovering from injury, Diarra only started 8 further matches in two seasons for Real Madrid.[12] In January 2011, it was reported that Diarra would be leaving Real Madrid, and was linked to several clubs including Málaga.[13]

Monaco

Diarra returned to French football after signing with Monaco on 27 January 2011.[14] He made his debut in a 0–0 draw against Marseille.[15][16] Diarra left Monaco after the club was relegated to Ligue 2 at the end of the 2010–11 season. After his departure, he remained without a club for the first half of the 2011–12 season and was linked with moves to the Middle East[17] and English Championship club Doncaster Rovers.[18]

Fulham

Diarra signed for Premier League side Fulham on 26 February 2012.[5] He agreed to a contract for the remainder of the 2011–12 season, with an option for the 2012–13 season.[5] He made his Fulham debut as a substitute against Wolverhampton Wanderers on 4 March, assisting the fifth goal in a 5–0 win. On 17 March, he made his first start for Fulham in a 3–0 home loss to Swansea City.[19] He scored his first goal for Fulham against Bolton Wanderers on 7 April 2012.[20]

After impressing manager Martin Jol throughout his 11 Premier League match, on 17 May, Diarra signed a new one-year contract at the club, keeping him at Craven Cottage until the end of the 2012–13 season.[21]

Diarra was one of 12 players released by Fulham at the end of the 2012–13 season.[22] Despite his release, Martin Jol remained positive on Diarra and vowed to help him over the summer to continue his rehabilitation.[23]

Diarra re-signed for Fulham on 26 March 2014 on a contract that expired at the end of the 2013–14 season in an ultimately unsuccessful attempt to help the club survive relegation.[24]

Later career

Diarra trained with Championship side Brentford throughout the 2016–17 season and made an appearance for the club's B team on 20 September 2016.[25][26][27]

Playing style

FourFourTwo magazine says, "Diarra provides aggression, tactical awareness, toughness and the discipline that other players simply lack."[4]

Personal life

Diarra is a practising Muslim. He observes fasting during the Islamic month of Ramadan,[28] he maintains that "every coach has respected my decision".[29]

Career statistics

Source:[30][31]

Club
Club Season League Cup League Cup Continental Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
OFI 1998–99 Alpha Ethniki 212————212
Vitesse 1999–2000 Eredivisie 16210—1[lower-alpha 1]0—182
2000–01 29430—2[lower-alpha 1]0—344
2001–02 24340———283
Total 69980—30—809
Lyon 2002–03 Ligue 1 28120107[lower-alpha 2]01[lower-alpha 3]0391
2003–04 271——10[lower-alpha 4]01[lower-alpha 3]1382
2004–05 33210319[lower-alpha 4]2—465
2005–06 31310109[lower-alpha 4]21[lower-alpha 3]0435
2006–07 40————40
Total 123740513543117013
Real Madrid 2006–07 La Liga 33340—10[lower-alpha 4]1—474
2007–08 300——6[lower-alpha 4]02[lower-alpha 5]0380
2008–09 9010—3[lower-alpha 4]02[lower-alpha 5]0150
2009–10 15020—3[lower-alpha 4]0—200
2010–11 3030—2[lower-alpha 4]0—80
Total 903100—241401284
Monaco 2010–11 Ligue 1 90————90
Fulham 2011–12 Premier League 111————111
2012–13 80————80
2013–14 40————40
Total 231————231
Career total 33522220516257143129
Notes
  1. Appearances in UEFA Cup
  2. Five appearances in UEFA Champions League and two in UEFA Cup
  3. Appearance in Trophée des Champions
  4. Appearances in UEFA Champions League
  5. Appearances in Supercopa de España

International
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Mali 200020
200120
2002112
200380
2004102
200531
200620
200771
2008101
200930
201070
201130
201210
Total697
List of international goals scored by Mahamadou Diarra
#DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
16 January 2002Ismailia Stadium, Ismailia, Egypt Egypt1–02–1Friendly
22–0
330 January 2004Stade El Menzah, Tunis, Tunisia Burkina Faso2–03–12004 African Cup of Nations
47 February 2004 Guinea2–12–1
55 June 2005Stade Amari Daou, Ségou, Mali Liberia4–14–12006 FIFA World Cup qualification
66 February 2007Stade Marville, Saint-Malo, France Lithuania2–13–1Friendly
725 March 2008Stade Sébastien Charléty, Paris, France France B3–13–2

Honours

Club

Lyon

Real Madrid

National

Mali

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References
  1. http://www.kentudezenog.nl/mahamadou-diarra-1981/
  2. https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11923/2200931/no-diarra-contact-say-vitesse
  3. https://pt.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/newsid=292344.html
  4. "Lassana Diarra: Talentspotter". 1 February 2006. Retrieved 23 March 2017.
  5. "Mahamadou Diarra to join Fulham until end of the season". BBC Sport. 27 February 2012.
  6. "Where Will Diarra Go? Lyon, Manchester United, or Real Madrid? - Soccerlens". 13 July 2006. Retrieved 20 September 2016.
  7. https://esporte.uol.com.br/futebol/ultimas/2006/08/18/ult59u103801.jhtm
  8. "Real Madrid C.F. - Official Web Site - Real Madrid 3-1 Mallorca". 6 December 2013. Archived from the original on 6 December 2013. Retrieved 20 September 2016.CS1 maint: BOT: original-url status unknown (link)
  9. "Fulham sign former Real Madrid midfielder Mahamadou Diarra subject to visa - Goal.com". 27 February 2012. Retrieved 20 September 2016.
  10. "Real Madrid unveil new boy Diarra". BBC News. 22 December 2008.
  11. "Lassana Diarra". Archived from the original on 3 January 2015. Retrieved 23 March 2017.
  12. "Mahamadou Diarra Player Profile - ESPN FC". Retrieved 20 September 2016.
  13. "Mahamadou Diarra set to leave Real Madrid for Malaga - report - Goal.com". 26 January 2011. Retrieved 20 September 2016.
  14. "Monaco signs Mahamadou Diarra from Real Madrid". CBC News. 27 January 2011.
  15. "Ligue 1 round-up". Sky Sports. 30 January 2011.
  16. "Monaco agrees deal to sign midfielder Mahamadou Diarra from Real Madrid". The Canadian Press. 27 January 2011. Retrieved 27 January 2011.
  17. "Mahamadou Diarra Offered Lucrative Middle East Option". 24 September 2011. Retrieved 20 September 2016.
  18. "Doncaster eye Diarra & Piquionne". BBC News. 5 October 2011.
  19. "Team News: Diarra handed first start". Retrieved 20 September 2016.
  20. "Bolton 0 - 3 Fulham". BBC. 7 April 2012. Retrieved 7 April 2012.
  21. "Diarra Extension Confirmed". Fulham FC. Retrieved 17 May 2012.
  22. "Summer transfer window: Ins and Outs". Premier League. Archived from the original on 30 June 2016. Retrieved 7 June 2013.
  23. "Jol: Diarra Staying Positive". Fulham Official Website. 4 May 2013. Retrieved 20 April 2014.
  24. "Diarra Rejoins Fulham". Fulham FC. Retrieved 26 March 2014.
  25. Moore, Tom (9 September 2016). "Former Real Madrid and Lyon star training with Brentford". Retrieved 20 September 2016.
  26. FC, Brentford. "Brentford v Leyton Orient friendly match report". Retrieved 20 September 2016.
  27. Moore, Tom (23 March 2017). "Former Real Madrid star has become an important man at Brentford". getwestlondon. Retrieved 23 March 2017.
  28. "Ramadan Fasting For Real Madrid Trio Lassana, Benzema and Diarra". Dadyal Online. 22 August 2009. Retrieved 31 December 2012.
  29. Din, Tusdiq (24 August 2009). "Exclusive: I Can Keep Fasting In Ramadan Even When I Am Playing – Fredi Kanoute". The Guardian. Retrieved 1 January 2013.
  30. "Mahamadou Diarra". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmerman. Retrieved 10 August 2018.
  31. "Mahamadou Diarra". thefinalball.com. Retrieved 10 August 2018.
  32. https://www.fifa.com/u20worldcup/archive/nigeria1999/teams/team=1888280/index.html
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