Papa Bouba Diop

Papa Bouba Diop (IPA: [dʒop]; born 28 January 1978) is a Senegalese former professional footballer. His preferred position was defensive midfield but he could also play as a centre back, where he previously played at Lens. Diop was considered a strong and aggressive player. His playing style and ability drew comparisons to Patrick Vieira. Diop's second of a total of 11 international goals for Senegal came in a 1–0 defeat of then-world champions France in the opening match of the 2002 FIFA World Cup, in Senegal's first ever match at the FIFA World Cup.

Papa Bouba Diop
Personal information
Full name Papa Bouba Diop[1]
Date of birth (1978-01-28) 28 January 1978
Place of birth Dakar, Senegal
Height 1.95 m (6 ft 5 in)
Playing position(s) Defensive midfielder, centre back
Youth career
1994–1995 Ndeffann Saltigue
1995–1996 ASC Diaraf
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1996–1999 ASC Diaraf
1999–2000 Vevey
2000–2001 Neuchâtel Xamax 19 (4)
2001–2002 Grasshoppers 29 (5)
2002–2004 Lens 47 (6)
2004–2007 Fulham 76 (8)
2007–2010 Portsmouth 53 (0)
2010–2011 AEK Athens 19 (1)
2011–2012 West Ham United 16 (1)
2012–2013 Birmingham City 2 (1)
Total 261 (26)
National team
2001–2008 Senegal 63 (11)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Club career

Early career

Diop was born in Rufisque, Dakar.[2] He began his football career with junior team Ndeffann Saltigue before joining ASC Diaraf of the Senegal Premier League in 1996.[3] He left Senegal for Switzerland, where he spent a few months with third-tier club Vevey before signing as a professional for Ligue Nationale A club Neuchâtel Xamax in the 2000 close season.[2][4] In December that same year, he joined fellow top-flight club Grasshoppers,[5] whom he helped to the championship title in his first half-season[6] and made his first appearance in UEFA competitions the next.[7] He moved to France in January 2002 to join Lens of Ligue 1 on a five-and-a-half-year contract.[8]

Fulham

After his impressive performances for Lens, Papa Boupa Diop signed with Premier League team Fulham for £6 million, signing a four-year deal in July 2004.[9][10] Diop made his debut against Manchester City on 14 August 2004, playing the full 90 minutes.[11] Diop scored his first goal for Fulham against Chelsea, scoring Fulham's only goal in a 4–1 home defeat.[11] In his first season at Fulham, Diop made such an impressive display for the club that he was named Fulham's Opta player of the season award for 2004/05.[12]

Former Fulham manager Lawrie Sanchez said that Diop had all the attributes to become one of the best midfielders in the Premiership. He said, "There's no reason why Bouba can't get himself up to being one of the best centre midfield players in the Premiership and that's where I see his long-term position. I've seen Diop play over the years and he has all the attributes to be a top-class midfielder".[13]

For his performances during the 2005–06 season, Diop was nominated for the Fulham "Player of the Year" award. Diop would then signed a new deal that will keep him until 2009.[14] Diop then said that he made a right decision to sign a contract with Fulham.[15] Diop became a fans' favourite.[9] In 2005, he was appointed as captain by Coleman.

An injury due to hamstring, foot, and back problems resulted in him missing part of the 2006–07 season and losing the captaincy to Danny Murphy. In January 2007 Wigan made a £5 million bid for the midfielder, but Diop decided against the move and stayed with Fulham, helping them to avoid relegation.[16][17]

After three years at Craven Cottage Fulham manager Lawrie Sanchez allowed Diop to move on and he transferred to Portsmouth on transfer deadline day.[18][19] Diop finished his Fulham career playing 84 matches, scoring nine goals.[20]

Portsmouth

Diop signed a five-year deal with Portsmouth for a fee of £3.5 million.[9] He made his debut against Liverpool on 15 September 2007 in a 0–0 draw.[21] Diop was a key player in Portsmouth's victorious 2008 FA Cup campaign, playing a solid, defensive game and making some crucial tackles against Cardiff City.

Following Portsmouth's relegation, Diop was considered likely to be released. Portsmouth's administrator, Andrew Andronikou, stated that Diop would only be leaving for a fee of £1 million,[22] but Portsmouth eventually agreed to a €300,000 offer from AEK Athens in July 2010. He played 72 games for Portsmouth without scoring.[20]

AEK Athens

On 13 July 2010, Diop agreed terms with AEK Athens signing a two-year deal earning €900,000 per season,[23] despite interest from Fulham, Celtic and Paris Saint-Germain.[24]

After signing with AEK, Diop stated, "I am very pleased signing for AEK, my expectations are to win trophies, AEK is a huge club who plays in Europe consistently. I was very surprised with the way the AEK fans greeted me at the Venizelos airport and I hope I can do my best for the club"

Diop made his debut for AEK Athens against Dundee United on 19 August 2010.[25] He did not play the full 90 minutes as he was not fully fit recovering from his injuries. Diop scored his first Super League goal against PAOK F.C., the match finished 4–0 to AEK. Bouba Diop finished the season only playing 19 games due to constant injuries. On 30 April 2011, Diop won the Greek Cup with AEK in a 0–3 win against Atromitos and was a key player in the victory playing a very solid game. Diop also scored two goals against PAOK in the Superleague Greece play-off's giving AEK the 3–0 lead. Diop was also awarded the MVP award.

West Ham United

On 30 August 2011, West Ham announced the signing of Diop on a one-year deal. He joined on a free transfer after leaving AEK Athens. The deal included an option to sign for a further year.[9] He made his debut for West Ham on 1 October 2011 in a 2–2 away draw with Crystal Palace.[26] He scored his first and only goal for West Ham, against Barnsley on 17 December 2011. His goal proved to be the winner in a 1–0 win.[27] On 30 June 2012, Diop was released by West Ham on expiry of his contract.[28]

Birmingham City

In October 2012, he agreed terms to join former teammate Lee Clark's Birmingham City on a short-term contract, subject to successful application for a working visa, and the deal was completed on 19 October.[29] He then signed for a further month,[30] and finally made his Birmingham debut as a second-half substitute in a 1–1 draw away to Blackpool on 27 November. He was booked within minutes of entering the game.[31] With Hayden Mullins suspended and Jonathan Spector injured for the visit of Crystal Palace on 15 December,[32] Diop made his first start for Birmingham, alongside League debutant Callum Reilly in central midfield. He scored the equalising goal, a powerful header from Rob Hall's corner, as Birmingham came back from 2–0 down to draw,[33] and was rewarded with another month's contract.[34] He injured a hamstring soon afterwards, and despite his imminent return to fitness, the club's financial difficulties meant they could not offer him a further contract extension. He left the club in January 2013.[35]

International career

Bouba Diop got his first call up to the Senegal national squad in 1999, at the age of 21, while playing for Neuchâtel Xamax in the Swiss Super League. He is perhaps best known for scoring the first goal of 2002 FIFA World Cup against France, which resulted in the 1–0 defeat of the then reigning World champions and ultimately, their early elimination from the tournament, in which Senegal reached the quarter-finals.[9] He ended as his team's best scorer of the tournament with three goals, having also scored twice against Uruguay.[9] Diop has played 63 times for Senegal scoring 11 goals.

Career statistics

Club
Club statistics
Club Season League National Cup League Cup Europe Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Neuchâtel Xamax 2000–01[36] Ligue Nationale A 194–194
Grasshopper 2000–01[36] Ligue Nationale A 111–111
2001–02[7][36] Ligue Nationale A 1847[lower-alpha 1]0254
Total 29570365
Lens 2001–02[37] Ligue 1 5000–––50
2002–03[37] Ligue 1 16300004[lower-alpha 2]0–203
2003–04[37] Ligue 1 26300206[lower-alpha 3]2–345
Total 4760020102–598
Fulham 2004–05[11] Premier League 2963130––357
2005–06[38] Premier League 2220010––232
2006–07[39] Premier League 2301000––240
2007–08[21] Premier League 2000–––20
Total 7684140––849
Portsmouth 2007–08[21] Premier League 2505020––320
2008–09[40] Premier League 16000004[lower-alpha 3]01[lower-alpha 4]0210
2009–10[41] Premier League 1207000––190
Total 530120204010720
AEK Athens 2010–11[36][42][43] Superleague Greece 19160–5[lower-alpha 5]27[lower-alpha 6]1374
West Ham United 2011–12[44] Championship 1610000––161
Birmingham City 2012–13[45] Championship 210000––21
Career total 26126221802648132532
  1. 2 appearances in UEFA Champions League, 5 in UEFA Cup
  2. Appearance(s) in UEFA Champions League
  3. Appearance(s) in UEFA Cup
  4. Appearance in FA Community Shield
  5. Appearances in qualification play-offs
  6. Appearances in UEFA Europa League

International
Source:[46]
National team Season Apps Goals
Senegal 200151
2002145
200371
2004143
200550
2006111
200740
200830
Total6311

International goals
Scores and results list Senegal's goal tally first.[47]
NoDateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1.8 November 2001Jeonju World Cup Stadium, Jeonju, South Korea South Korea1–01–0Friendly
2.2 February 2002Stade Modibo Kéïta, Bamako, Mali Nigeria1–02–12002 Africa Cup of Nations
3.27 March 2002Stade Léopold Sédar Senghor, Dakar, Senegal Bolivia1–02–1Friendly
4.31 May 2002Seoul World Cup Stadium, Seoul, South Korea France1–01–02002 FIFA World Cup
5.11 June 2002Suwon World Cup Stadium, Suwon, South Korea Uruguay2–03–32002 FIFA World Cup
6.3–0
7.10 September 2003Denka Big Swan Stadium, Niigata, Japan Japan1–01–02003 Kirin Challenge Cup
8.30 January 2004Stade 15 Octobre, Bizerte, Tunisia Kenya2–03–02004 Africa Cup of Nations
9.20 June 2004Stade de Kégué, Lomé, Togo Togo1–21–32006 FIFA World Cup qualification
10.10 October 2004Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex, Monrovia, Liberia Liberia1–03–02006 FIFA World Cup qualification
11.3 February 2006Harras El Hodoud Stadium, Alexandria, Egypt Guinea1–13–22006 Africa Cup of Nations

Honours

Grasshopper Club Zürich

Portsmouth

AEK Athens

  • Greek Cup: 2010–11

West Ham United

  • Football League Championship play-offs: 2012

Senegal

gollark: ξ ις θε στυπιδεστ λεττερ.
gollark: νο.
gollark: νοτ κορρεκτ.
gollark: υου ἀρε δυμβ.
gollark: γρεεκ βεστ λανγυαγε

References
  1. Hugman, Barry J., ed. (2009). The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2009–10. Mainstream. p. 119. ISBN 978-1-84596-474-0.
  2. Odiet, Olivier (9 September 2000). "Bouba Diop: 'Notre salut passe par la solidarité'" [Bouba Diop: 'Our salvation comes through solidarity'] (PDF). L'Impartial (in French). La Chaux-de-Fonds. p. 21.
  3. Papa Bouba, Diop. "The Early Years (1983–1999)". Autobiography. Icons Worldwide. Archived from the original on 5 July 2010.
  4. Poli, Raffaele (4 July 2009). "Un procédé courant" [A common method] (PDF). L'Express (in French). Neuchâtel. p. 22.
  5. Berdat, Jean-François (9 December 2000). "Diop à Grasshopper" (PDF). L'Express. Neuchâtel. p. 23.
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  48. https://www.theguardian.com/football/2002/feb/11/newsstory.sport3
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