El Hadji Diouf

El-Hadji Ousseynou Diouf (Arabic language: الحج ديوف) (born 15 January, 1981) is a Senegal football (soccer)er. He plays for Bolton Wanderers F.C. and Senegal national football team.

Career

Early career

Diouf started his career in France with FC Sochaux-Montbéliard – making his first appearance in 2-1 win against Bastia on 12 November 1998 – before moving to Stade Rennais FC for the 1999-2000 season. He moved to RC Lens the following season, spending two years at the Pas-de-Calais club before moving to England club Liverpool F.C. in 2002.

Liverpool

Liverpool bought the player from Lens for Pound sterling10,000,000 prior to Senegal's impressive Football World Cup 2002 run, beating holders France national football team as well as Sweden and getting to the quarter final. Diouf was named African Footballer of the Year in February 2003 for the second year running, for helping Senegal come runner-up in 2002 African Nations Cup and the achievement in the 2002 FIFA World Cup.

Bolton

Bolton Wanderers bought Diouf from Liverpool for an undisclosed fee at the start of the 2005-06 in English football, after they had Loan (football) the player for the 2004-05 in English football.
On September 15, 2005, El Hadji Diouf scored Bolton's first ever goal in a European competition against PFC Lokomotiv Plovdiv in a UEFA Cup match at the Reebok Stadium. Bolton went on to win the game 2-1. He has largely been a huge success at Bolton and has become a fans' favourite due to his flair and direct running, he remains an integral part of the Bolton side. Despite courting some controversy in a 1-0 home defeat to Portsmouth F.C] in November 2004 when he spat at Portsmouth captain Arjan de Zeeuw, his goal in a 1-1 draw in the reverse fixture at Fratton Park ultimately earned Bolton European qualification for the first time.

When Diouf scores Wanderers fans sing: "Sha la la la la la la la DIOUF DIOUF, Sha la la la la la la la DIOUF DIOUF, Sha la la la la la la la, EL HADJI DIOUF WILL SPIT ON YOU" (ammarillo tune)

International career

Diouf's international career started in April 2000 against Benin national football team; Diouf has earned 41 international cap (sport) and scored 16 goals for his country. Diouf played for Senegal in their 2002 Fifa World Cup campaign and was elected to the World Cup All-Star team, after leading Senegal to the quarterfinals and victories over France (1-0) and Sweden (2-1). Senegal eventually lost 1-0 in overtime to Turkey. He was banned from international football for four matches in 2004 for a verbal assault on referee Ali Bujsaim.
In 2004, he was named to the FIFA 100, a list of the 125 greatest living footballers selected by Pelé in conjunction with FIFA's centenary celebrations.