Salif Diao
Salif Diao (2009)
Salif Alassane Diao ( born February 10, 1977 in Kédougou ) is a Senegalese football player.
Career
AS Monaco and more
Salif Diao was born in Kédougou. He went at an early age to France, where he learned the craft footballer in the youth of the AS Monaco. There he was in the season of 1999/ 00 Ligue 1 champions
In 1996, he spent a year on loan to SAS Epinal, but there he completed only two games. After the end of the loan period to 2000 he played for AS Monaco. Then he decided to move to CS Sedan, where he was able to secure a regular place and played there until 2002.
Liverpool FC
In 2002, the big breakthrough came in international football and so he moved to the English top club Liverpool FC. His transfer fee to have amounted to approximately EUR 7.5 million ( five million pounds). The decisive factor for the transfer Diao 's for Liverpool FC gave the good games at the Soccer World Cup 2002 in Japan and South Korea, this convinced the Liverpool manager Gérard Houllier. It was used as a defensive midfielder, although he had previously acted preferentially on the position of the right midfielder. Therefore, he could not show his strengths as expected, although he prepared many goals on this position by his long and accurate passes. His first goal for Liverpool he scored in the Champions League match against Spartak Moscow. In the league, he scored only one goal and that 's 1-0 win against Leeds United in October 2008. Both he and his compatriot El Hadji Diouf, who were both changed together after the World Cup to Liverpool, their expectations did not meet and quickly labeled as incorrect purchases.
Under Rafael Benitez he played his usual position, but after several poorer games, he was replaced by Xabi Alonso in the game against Fulham. At the time it was 0-2 behind and Diao was not entirely innocent of two goals against. Once replaced, Liverpool turned the game even on a 4:2. Although he did not play for months, he was taken to the Champions League final in Istanbul in 2005 that Liverpool furious after 0-3 down won on penalties against AC Milan. The Liverpool fans made their displeasure customer because Diao has been seeing on most photos taken with the trophy, though he has not contributed the least to it. His only use he graduated in the group stage against Olympiakos Piraeus. His last goal for Liverpool, he scored in the 2004/05 season in the Carling Cup against FC Millwall and his last game he graduated in January 2005 against Norwich City.
Loan period at Birmingham City FC & Portsmouth
In January 2005, Diao was awarded to Birmingham City, but after only two games he was injured severely and therefore Birmingham did not notice the option to buy. After Rafael Benitez much younger Mohamed Sissoko committed, Diao was clear that his career at Liverpool was terminated.
For the 2005/06 season he scored just as a reserve player and he had his shirt number 15 give to the then new signing Peter Crouch. In August 2005, he was awarded for one year with option to purchase at the Portsmouth, but fell for most of the season due to injuries from. Just as Birmingham City, FC Portsmouth, the call option did not perceive by his many injuries and Diao returned to Liverpool.
In June 2006, he negotiated with Charlton Athletic, but after he had failed the medical examination, Charlton Athletic broke off negotiations.
Stoke City
On 10 October 2006 Diao was awarded for six months at Stoke City. He was there one of the most experienced players on the team and held the team together. Some fans his style of play has been compared to that of Claude Makélélé because he took out the pace of the game. They also claim that Stoke City again "resurrected " and that this had you to thank for the performance of Salif Diao. On 25 January 2007, the loan period was extended for another six months and Stoke City took the call option right after.
In December 2007, he signed a new six - month contract.
In June 2009 he signed a one year contract and thus remained at the Britannia Stadium. In February 2010, he scored his first goal for Stoke City against his former club Portsmouth FC. It was only the second league goals in his career and his first goal for nearly six years.
National
Diao is 39 times the national team of Senegal. He also took part in the Football World Cup 2002 in Japan and South Korea.
Achievements
- Coupe de France: 1997/98
- Ligue 1 1999/ 00
- Champions League: 2005
- Promotion to the Premier League: 2007/ 08