Alou Diarra

Lore & Background

Diarra primarily played as a defensive midfielder, but could also deputise as a centre-back if necessary. He was described as a player who is 'strong, athletic and very powerful' and possesses a 'combative edge' similar to former French international Patrick Vieira. He began his career playing for clubs based in Seine-Saint-Denis, such as Aulnay and hometown club Villepinte. In 1997, he joined Louhans-Cuiseaux and made his professional debut with the club in the 1999–2000 season while the club was playing in the second division. In 2000, Diarra was recruited by German club Bayern Munich. He spent two years playing on the club's reserve team, Bayern Munich II. In 2002, he was signed by compatriot Gérard Houllier to play for English club Liverpool. Diarra's stint at the club was deemed a disappointment as he spent both years at the club on loan in France playing for Le Havre, Bastia and Lens. After a successful 2004–05 season with Lens, Diarra made a permanent return to France joining the club from Liverpool on a permanent deal. He spent two seasons at the club amassing over 70 appearances before signing with the then five-time defending champions Lyon. At Lyon, Diarra struggled for playing time and left the club to join Bordeaux after one year. He did earn a winner's medal as a result of the club winning the 2006–07 Ligue 1 title. With Bordeaux, Diarra was ever-present within the team under manager Laurent Blanc. He was a prominent figure on the Bordeaux team that won the league and league cup double in the 2008–09 season. Diarra has also won two Trophée des champions while playing for the club. Diarra was also a France international from 2004 until 2012. Prior to playing at senior level, he played at under-20 and under-21 level. With the under-20 team, Diarra played on the team that participated in the 2001 FIFA World Youth Championship. He made his senior international debut in October 2004 in a friendly match against the Republic of Ireland. Diarra has participated in both the 2006 and 2010 editions of the FIFA World Cup. In the 2006 competition, he appeared in a group stage match against Togo and the final match against Italy as a substitute. In the 2010 edition, Diarra captained France for the first time in the team's final group stage match against South Africa.

Reader's Guide

Diarra began his football career at hometown club Aulnay. After six years in Aulnay, Diarra moved back to his birth city to join Villepinte. In 1997, Diarra was signed to an amateur contract by professional club Louhans-Cuiseaux who were playing in Ligue 2. In the 1998–99 season, Diarra was promoted to the club's reserve team. On 15 April 2000, Diarra made his professional debut in a 2–1 defeat to Toulouse. During the summer of 2000, Diarra was signed by German club Bayern Munich. He was immediately placed onto the club's reserve team, Bayern Munich II. Diarra was promoted to the senior team for the 2001–02 season by manager Ottmar Hitzfeld. He made the bench for the 2001 Intercontinental Cup match against Boca Juniors but did not feature. After the season, Diarra rejected a new three-year contract citing limited playing time. On 9 July 2002, Liverpool confirmed signing Diarra from Bayern Munich. He agreed to a five-year contract and was loaned to Le Havre. He later had loan stints at Bastia and Lens. After a successful 2004–05 season with Lens, Diarra made a permanent return to France joining Lens from Liverpool. He spent two seasons at Lens before signing with Lyon. At Lyon, he struggled for playing time and left to join Bordeaux after one year. With Bordeaux, he was ever-present under Laurent Blanc and won the league and league cup double in 2008–09.

Did You Know?

• Diarra was born in Villepinte to Malian parents and has three younger brothers and one sister.
• One of his brothers, Zanké, is also a footballer and plays for French club Quevilly in the Championnat National.
• On 28 May 2010, ahead of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, Diarra departed the national team's training camp to be beside his wife as she gave birth to his second child.
• Bayern Munich's general manager Uli Hoeneß called Diarra's rise to prominence 'one of the seven wonders of the world'.