Papa Bouba Diop

Papa Bouba Diop
Personal information
Full name Pape 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 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.


Pape "Papa" Bouba Diop (born 28 January 1978) is a retired Senegalese footballer.

His preferred position was defensive midfield but could also play as a centre back, where he previously played at Lens. His nickname is "The Wardrobe", given to him by Fulham fans, due to his height and large frame. Diop is well known for his strength and aggression, long-range shots, solid style of play and his leadership. His playing style and ability have drawn comparisons to Patrick Vieira.

Diop's second of a total of 11 international goals for Senegal launched his national team onto a global stage. The 1–0 defeat of then-world champions France was the opening match of the 2002 FIFA World Cup, and Senegal's first ever match at the FIFA World Cup.

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 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.

Statistics

Club

As of match played 15 January 2013.
Club statistics
Club Season League National Cup League Cup Europe Other Total
Division AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
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 184 7[lower-alpha 1]0 254
Total 295 70 365
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[38] Premier League 2963130––357
2005–06[39] Premier League 2220010––232
2006–07[40] Premier League 2301000––240
2007–08[41] Premier League 2000–––20
Total 7684140––849
Portsmouth 2007–08[41] Premier League 2505020––320
2008–09[42] Premier League 16000004[lower-alpha 3]01[lower-alpha 4]0210
2009–10[43] Premier League 1207000––190
Total 530120204010720
AEK Athens 2010–11[36][44][45] Superleague Greece 19160–5[lower-alpha 5]27[lower-alpha 6]1374
West Ham United 2011–12[46] Championship 1610000––161
Birmingham City 2012–13[47] 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. 1 2 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:[48]
National team Season Apps Goals
Senegal 2001 5 1
2002 14 5
2003 7 1
2004 14 3
2005 5 0
2006 11 1
2007 4 0
2008 3 0
Total 63 11
Source:
Papa Bouba Diop: International goals
Goal Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
2 7 February 2002 Stade Modibo Kéïta, Bamako, Mali  Nigeria 0–1 1–2 2002 African Cup of Nations
3 31 May 2002 Seoul World Cup Stadium, Seoul, South Korea  France 0–1 0–1 2002 FIFA World Cup
4 11 June 2002 Suwon World Cup Stadium, Suwon, South Korea  Uruguay 2–0 3–3 2002 FIFA World Cup
5 11 June 2002 Suwon World Cup Stadium, Suwon, South Korea  Uruguay 3–0 3–3 2002 FIFA World Cup
6 30 January 2004 Stade 15 Octobre, Bizerte, Tunisia  Kenya 2–0 3–0 2004 African Cup of Nations
9 20 June 2004 Stade de Kégué, Lomé, Togo  Togo 2–1 3–1 2006 WCQ
10 10 October 2004 National Complex (Liberia), Paynesville, Liberia  Liberia 0–1 0–3 2006 WCQ
11 3 February 2006 Harras El-Hedoud Stadium, Alexandria, Egypt  Guinea 1–1 2–3 2006 Africa Cup of Nations

Honours

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. 1 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.
  6. ↑ Zea, Antonio; Stokkermans, Karel; Garin, Erik (7 September 2006). "Switzerland 2000/01". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation (RSSSF). Retrieved 19 December 2012.
  7. 1 2 "UEFA Champions League: Grasshopper-Club". UEFA. Retrieved 10 October 2012.
    "UEFA Europa League: Grasshopper-Club". UEFA. Retrieved 10 October 2012.
  8. ↑ "Senegalese international Bouba Diop signs for Lens". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved 19 December 2012.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Hammers snap up Papa". West Ham United. Retrieved 30 August 2011.
  10. ↑ "Bouba Diop Signs". Fulham Official Website. 27 July 2004. Retrieved 13 April 2014.
  11. 1 2 "Pape Bouba Diop | Season 2004/2005". Soccer Base. Retrieved 31 August 2011.
  12. ↑ "OPTA Player of the Season". Fulham Official Website. 24 May 2005. Retrieved 13 April 2014.
  13. ↑ "Diop tipped for the top – Fulham Football Club News from". football.co.uk. 31 August 2010. Retrieved 31 August 2011.
  14. ↑ "Diop signs new deal". Fulham Official Website. 7 April 2006. Retrieved 13 April 2014.
  15. ↑ "Papa Bouba Diop". Fulham Official Website. 12 June 2006. Retrieved 13 April 2014.
  16. ↑ "Papa Bouba Diop Bio, Stats, News – Football / Soccer – - ESPN Soccernet". ESPN FC. 28 January 1978. Retrieved 31 August 2011.
  17. ↑ "Coleman's Diop Hope". Fulham Official Website. 19 January 2007. Retrieved 13 April 2014.
  18. ↑ "Sanchez allows Bouba Diop to move on". Daily Mail. 20 August 2007. Retrieved 31 August 2011.
  19. ↑ "POMPEY SIGN DIOP FROM FULHAM | Sporting Life – Sports News | Live Football Scores, Live Racing Results, Football Transfer News". Sporting Life. Retrieved 31 August 2011.
  20. 1 2 "Pape Bouba Diop | Age 33". Soccer Base. Retrieved 31 August 2011.
  21. ↑ "Pape Bouba Diop | Season 2007/2008". Soccer Base. Retrieved 31 August 2011.
  22. ↑ "Pompey warn AEK over Diop | Portsmouth News, Fixtures, Results, Transfers". Sky Sports. 23 June 2010. Retrieved 31 August 2011.
  23. ↑ "AEK Athens Snap Up Papa Bouba Diop". Insidefutbol.com. 12 July 2010. Retrieved 31 August 2011.
  24. ↑ "Η συμφωνία με Πόρτσμουθ". Aek365.gr. 10 July 2010. Retrieved 31 August 2011.
  25. ↑ "Pape Bouba Diop | Season 2010/2011". Soccer Base. Retrieved 31 August 2011.
  26. ↑ Mail, Simon. "Arsenal goalkeeper makes West Ham debut at Crystal Palace". thisislocallondon.co.uk. Retrieved 3 October 2011.
  27. ↑ "West Ham 1–0 Barnsley". BBC. 17 December 2011. Retrieved 23 March 2012.
  28. ↑ "Six players depart West Ham". Sky Sports. 23 May 2012. Retrieved 23 May 2012.
  29. ↑ "Papa Boupa Diop has signed for Birmingham until 17 November". Sky Sports. 19 October 2012. Retrieved 28 November 2012.
  30. ↑ "Birmingham City: Papa Bouba Diop extends Blues deal". BBC Sport. 20 November 2012. Retrieved 28 November 2012.
  31. ↑ Tattum, Colin (28 November 2012). "Blues battle for a point at Blackpool". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 28 November 2012.
  32. ↑ Evans, Gregg (14 December 2012). "Birmingham City v Crystal Palace: Team news". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 16 December 2012.
  33. ↑ "Blues 2 Palace 2". Birmingham City F.C. 15 December 2012. Retrieved 16 December 2012.
  34. ↑ "Birmingham City: Papa Bouba Diop signs one-month contract". BBC Sport. 18 December 2012. Retrieved 18 December 2012.
  35. ↑ "Papa exits Blues". Birmingham City F.C. 17 January 2013. Retrieved 17 January 2013.
  36. 1 2 3 4 "P. Diop". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved 19 December 2012.
  37. 1 2 3 "Papa Bouba Diop". sitercl.com. Retrieved 19 December 2012.
  38. ↑ "Games played by Pape Bouba Diop in 2004/2005". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 19 December 2012.
  39. ↑ "Games played by Pape Bouba Diop in 2005/2006". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 19 December 2012.
  40. ↑ "Games played by Pape Bouba Diop in 2006/2007". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 19 December 2012.
  41. 1 2 "Games played by Pape Bouba Diop in 2007/2008". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 19 December 2012.
  42. ↑ "Games played by Pape Bouba Diop in 2008/2009". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 19 December 2012.
  43. ↑ "Games played by Pape Bouba Diop in 2009/2010". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 19 December 2012.
  44. ↑ "A.E.K.". Superleague Greece. Retrieved 10 October 2012. Select season and competition via dropdown menu.
  45. ↑ "2010/11 UEFA Europa League: AEK Athens FC". UEFA. Retrieved 10 October 2012.
  46. ↑ "Games played by Pape Bouba Diop in 2009/2010". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 19 December 2012.
  47. ↑ "Games played by Pape Bouba Diop in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 19 December 2012.
  48. ↑ Papa Bouba Diop at National-Football-Teams.com. Retrieved 18 December 2012.
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