Papa Bouba Diop

Template:Short description Template:Redirect Template:EngvarB Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox football biography Papa Bouba Diop (28 January 1978Template:Spnd29 November 2020) was a Senegalese professional footballer. His preferred position was as a defensive midfielder, but he could also play as a centre-back, where he played at Lens. Diop was considered a physically strong and aggressive player. His playing style, position, and ability drew comparisons to former France holding midfielder Patrick Vieira.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Diop spent much of his career in England, where fans nicknamed him "The Wardrobe" for his stature.<ref name=kemble/> He played Premier League football for Fulham and Portsmouth, and won the FA Cup with the latter club in 2008. He also played top-flight football in Switzerland for Neuchâtel Xamax and Grasshoppers, in France for Lens and in Greece for AEK Athens.

Diop's second of a total of 11 international goals for Senegal came in a 1–0 victory over then-world champions France in the opening match of the 2002 FIFA World Cup, in Senegal's first match at the FIFA World Cup. He also played at four Africa Cup of Nations tournaments, finishing as runners-up in 2002.

Club career

Early career

Diop was born in Rufisque, Dakar.<ref name=salut>Template:Cite news</ref> He began his football career with junior team Ndeffann Saltigue before joining ASC Diaraf of the Senegal Premier League in 1996.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 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.<ref name=salut/><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In December that same year, he joined fellow top-flight club Grasshoppers,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> whom he helped win the championship title in his first half-season<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and made his first appearance in UEFA competitions the next.<ref name="EuroGC">Template:Cite web
Template:Cite web</ref> He moved to France in January 2002 to join Lens of Division 1 on a five-and-a-half-year contract.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Fulham

After his impressive performances for Lens, Diop signed with Premier League team Fulham for £6 million, signing a four-year deal in July 2004.<ref name="WHU" /><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Diop made his debut against Manchester City on 14 August 2004, playing the full 90 minutes.<ref name="Soccerbase0405">Template:Soccerbase season</ref> Diop scored his first goal for Fulham against Chelsea, scoring Fulham's only goal in a 4–1 home defeat.<ref name="Soccerbase0405" /> 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.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

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".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

For his performances during the 2005–06 season, Diop was nominated for the Fulham "Player of the Year" award. Diop would then sign a new deal keeping him until 2009.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Diop then said that he made a right decision to sign a contract with Fulham.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Diop became a fans' favourite.<ref name="WHU" />

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 Athletic made a £5 million bid for the midfielder, but Diop decided against the move and stayed with Fulham, helping them to avoid relegation.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

After Diop's three years at Craven Cottage Fulham manager Lawrie Sanchez allowed him to move on, and he transferred to Portsmouth on transfer deadline day.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Diop finished his Fulham career having played 84 matches for the side, scoring nine goals.<ref name="Soccerbase" />

Portsmouth

Diop signed a five-year deal with Portsmouth for a fee of £3.5 million.<ref name="WHU" /> He made his debut against Liverpool on 15 September 2007 in a 0–0 draw.<ref name="sb0708" /> 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,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> but Portsmouth eventually agreed to an undisclosed fee (reported as around £750,000) to transfer Diop to AEK Athens in July 2010.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He played 72 games for Portsmouth without scoring.<ref name="Soccerbase">Template:Soccerbase</ref>

AEK Athens

On 13 July 2010, Diop agreed terms with AEK Athens signing a two-year deal earning €900,000 per season,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> despite interest from Fulham, Celtic and Paris Saint-Germain.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Diop made his debut for AEK Athens against Dundee United on 19 August 2010 in a Europa League play-off first-leg game.<ref name=sbased>Template:Soccerbase season</ref> Diop appeared as a substitute at the 81st minute of the 1–0 victory.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Diop scored his first Super League goal against PAOK on 3 June 2011, the match finished 4–0 to AEK.<ref name="Soccerway"/><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Diop finished the season having played in only 19 league games.<ref name="Soccerway"/> On 30 April 2011, Diop won the Greek Cup with AEK in a 3–0 win against Atromitos.<ref name=greekcup/><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Diop also scored two goals against PAOK in the Superleague Greece play-offs giving AEK the 3–0 lead.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

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.<ref name="WHU">Template:Cite web</ref> He made his debut for West Ham on 1 October 2011 in a 2–2 away draw with Crystal Palace.<ref name=WHUDebut>Template:Cite web</ref> 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.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He made 16 appearances for West Ham in the league and was a popular member of the squad. Although not a team member on the day, Diop celebrated on the pitch with the team as they won promotion to the Premier League via the 2012 Football League Championship play-off final at Wembley Stadium on 19 May 2012.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> On 30 June 2012, Diop was released by West Ham on expiry of his contract.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

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.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He then signed for a further month,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> 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.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> With Hayden Mullins suspended and Jonathan Spector injured for the visit of Crystal Palace on 15 December,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> 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,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and was rewarded with another month's contract.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> 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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

International career

Bouba Diop received 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 was part of their squad that finished runners-up at the 2002 Africa Cup of Nations in Mali, and scored the opening goal of a 2–1 win over Nigeria in the semi-finals.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

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 defending world champions and, ultimately, their early elimination from the tournament, in which Senegal reached the quarter-finals.<ref name="WHU" /> He ended as his team's best scorer of the tournament with three goals, having also scored twice against Uruguay.<ref name="WHU" /> Diop celebrated his goal against France by running to the corner of the pitch, laying his shirt on the floor, and having his teammates dance around it.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Diop played at three more Africa Cup of Nations tournaments: in 2004 he scored in a 3–0 group win over Kenya in Tunisia,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and in 2006 he netted in a 3–2 victory against Guinea in the quarter-finals.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> His last appearances were in a group-stage elimination in Ghana in 2008, in which Senegal manager Henryk Kasperczak resigned during the tournament due to the team's ill discipline.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Diop played 63 times for Senegal, scoring 11 goals.<ref name=int/>

During the 2022 World Cup, Senegal dedicated their win over Ecuador to Diop on the second anniversary of his death.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Style of play

His manager at Fulham, Chris Coleman, described him as a player with "great feet, scores goals, defends well, tackles, has got good pace", and that his "stature and ability" were unique in the Premier League at the time, similar to that of Patrick Vieira.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Former Manchester United midfielder Paul Scholes described him as one of the most "awkward" players he had played against, and noted that "you get involved physically with him and you're wasting your time".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> During his playing career in England, Diop was nicknamed "The Wardrobe" for his stature (he was Template:Convert in height).<ref name=kemble/>

Death

Diop died in Paris on 29 November 2020<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> following a long illness.<ref name=kemble/><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> It was reported by L'Équipe that he had ALS.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Diop's funeral was held in Dakar on 4 December before burial in his hometown. In attendance were his widow Marie-Aude, their son and daughter, President Macky Sall and teammates from the 2002 World Cup.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Career statistics

Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			National cup		League cup		Europe		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Neuchâtel Xamax	2000–01<ref name="Soccerway">Template:Soccerway</ref>	Ligue Nationale A	19	4					–				19	4
Grasshoppers	2000–01<ref name=Soccerway/>	Ligue Nationale A	11	1					–				11	1
	2001–02<ref name="EuroGC" /><ref name=Soccerway/>	Ligue Nationale A	18	4					7<ref group=lower-alpha>2 appearances in UEFA Champions League, 5 in UEFA Cup</ref>	0			25	4
	Total		29	5					7	0			36	5
Lens	2001–02<ref name=SiteRCL>Template:Cite web</ref>	Ligue 1	5	0	0	0	–		–		–		5	0
	2002–03<ref name=SiteRCL/>	Ligue 1	16	3	0	0	0	0	4<ref group=lower-alpha>Appearance(s) in UEFA Champions League</ref>	0	–		20	3
	2003–04<ref name=SiteRCL/>	Ligue 1	26	3	0	0	2	0	6<ref group=lower-alpha name=UEFACup>Appearance(s) in UEFA Cup</ref>	2	–		34	5
	Total		47	6	0	0	2	0	10	2	–		59	8
Fulham	2004–05<ref name="Soccerbase0405" />	Premier League	29	6	3	1	3	0	–		–		35	7
	2005–06<ref>Template:Soccerbase season</ref>	Premier League	22	2	0	0	1	0	–		–		23	2
	2006–07<ref>Template:Soccerbase season</ref>	Premier League	23	0	1	0	0	0	–		–		24	0
	2007–08<ref name=sb0708>Template:Soccerbase season</ref>	Premier League	2	0	0	0	–		–		–		2	0
	Total		76	8	4	1	4	0	–		–		84	9
Portsmouth	2007–08<ref name=sb0708/>	Premier League	25	0	5	0	2	0	–		–		32	0
	2008–09<ref>Template:Soccerbase season</ref>	Premier League	16	0	0	0	0	0	4<ref group=lower-alpha name=UEFACup/>	0	1<ref group=lower-alpha>Appearance in FA Community Shield</ref>	0	21	0
	2009–10<ref>Template:Soccerbase season</ref>	Premier League	12	0	7	0	0	0	–		–		19	0
	Total		53	0	12	0	2	0	4	0	1	0	72	0
AEK Athens	2010–11<ref name=Soccerway/><ref>Template:Cite web Select season and competition via dropdown menu.</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	Superleague Greece	19	1	6	0	–		5<ref group=lower-alpha>Appearances in qualification play-offs</ref>	2	7<ref group=lower-alpha>Appearances in UEFA Europa League</ref>	1	37	4
West Ham United	2011–12<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	Championship	16	1	0	0	0	0	–		–		16	1
Birmingham City	2012–13<ref>Template:Soccerbase season</ref>	Championship	2	1	0	0	0	0	–		–		2	1
Career total			261	26	22	1	8	0	26	4	8	1	325	32

International

Appearances and goals by national team and year<ref name=int>Template:NFT</ref>

National team	Year	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

Scores and results list Senegal's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Diop goal.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

List of international goals scored by Papa Bouba Diop

No.	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1	8 November 2001	Jeonju World Cup Stadium, Jeonju, South Korea	Template:Fb	1–0	1–0	Friendly
2	2 February 2002	Stade Modibo Kéïta, Bamako, Mali	Template:Fb	1–0	2–1	2002 Africa Cup of Nations
3	27 March 2002	Stade Léopold Sédar Senghor, Dakar, Senegal	Template:Fb	1–0	2–1	Friendly
4	31 May 2002	Seoul World Cup Stadium, Seoul, South Korea	Template:Fb	1–0	1–0	2002 FIFA World Cup
5	11 June 2002	Suwon World Cup Stadium, Suwon, South Korea	Template:Fb	2–0	3–3	2002 FIFA World Cup
6				3–0
7	10 September 2003	Denka Big Swan Stadium, Niigata, Japan	Template:Fb	1–0	1–0	2003 Kirin Challenge Cup
8	30 January 2004	Stade 15 Octobre, Bizerte, Tunisia	Template:Fb	2–0	3–0	2004 Africa Cup of Nations
9	20 June 2004	Stade de Kégué, Lomé, Togo	Template:Fb	1–2	1–3	2006 FIFA World Cup qualification
10	10 October 2004	Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex, Monrovia, Liberia	Template:Fb	1–0	3–0	2006 FIFA World Cup qualification
11	3 February 2006	Harras El Hodoud Stadium, Alexandria, Egypt	Template:Fb	1–1	3–2	2006 Africa Cup of Nations

Honours

Grasshoppers

• Swiss Super League: 2000–01<ref name=kemble>Template:Cite news</ref>

Portsmouth

• FA Cup: 2007–08;<ref name=kemble/> runner-up: 2009–10<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

AEK Athens

• Greek Cup: 2010–11<ref name=greekcup>Template:Cite news</ref>

Senegal

• Africa Cup of Nations runner-up: 2002<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

External links

• Template:Soccerbase
• Template:NFT player
• Profile, stats and pictures of Bouba Diop