1. Overview
Souleymane Diawara, born on December 24, 1978, is a Senegalese former professional footballer who primarily played as a defender. His distinguished career spanned over a decade, predominantly in French football, where he became known for his robust defensive play. Diawara represented prominent clubs such as Le Havre AC, FC Sochaux-Montbéliard, FC Girondins de Bordeaux, Olympique de Marseille, and OGC Nice, in addition to a brief spell with Charlton Athletic F.C. in England.
A notable achievement in his club career includes becoming the record holder for the most Coupe de la Ligue trophies, securing four titles with different clubs. He also achieved Ligue 1 championships with both Bordeaux and Marseille. Internationally, Diawara was a key member of the Senegal national team, making his debut in 2002 and participating in multiple Africa Cup of Nations tournaments. He retired from professional football in September 2015, leaving behind a legacy marked by consistent performance and significant team successes.
2. Early life and background
Souleymane Diawara was born on December 24, 1978, in Dakar, Senegal. He began his journey in football during his youth, laying the groundwork for his future professional career as a defender.
2.1. Birth and early career beginnings
Diawara's early years were spent in his native Senegal before he ventured into European football. His foundational experiences as a young player led him to Le Havre AC in France, where he commenced his professional career. On February 2, 1998, Diawara acquired French nationality through naturalization, a significant step that also influenced his playing career within France.
3. Club career
Souleymane Diawara spent the majority of his professional club career in France, with a short period in England. He was primarily known for his strong presence as a central defender.
Diawara's career statistics at various clubs are summarized in the following table:
| Club | Period | Appearances | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Le Havre AC | 1998-2003 | 104 | 2 |
| FC Sochaux-Montbéliard | 2003-2006 | 84 | 4 |
| Charlton Athletic F.C. | 2006-2007 | 23 | 0 |
| FC Girondins de Bordeaux | 2007-2009 | 63 | 2 |
| Olympique de Marseille | 2009-2014 | 154 | 9 |
| OGC Nice | 2014-2015 | 14 | 0 |
| Total | 1998-2015 | 442 | 17 |
3.1. Le Havre AC and FC Sochaux-Montbéliard
Diawara began his professional career with Le Havre AC, where he spent five seasons. During this period, he played two seasons in Ligue 1 (then known as Division 1) before the club was relegated to Ligue 2. He remained with Le Havre until 2003. In 2003, he made a move to FC Sochaux-Montbéliard, where he continued to develop his reputation as a formidable defender for three seasons. With Sochaux, Diawara notably secured his first major trophy, the Coupe de la Ligue, in the 2003-04 season.
3.2. Charlton Athletic and FC Girondins de Bordeaux
In 2006, Diawara transferred to English club Charlton Athletic F.C.. He spent one season with the club before returning to France in 2007 to join FC Girondins de Bordeaux. At Bordeaux, he played a crucial role in strengthening the team's central defense, often partnering with Marc Planus. His tenure at Bordeaux was highly successful, as the club achieved significant honours during his two-year stay, including a Ligue 1 title and another Coupe de la Ligue trophy.
3.3. Olympique de Marseille and OGC Nice
In July 2009, Diawara signed a four-year contract with French giants Olympique de Marseille. The transfer fee for his move was estimated at 7.00 M EUR. On August 8, he made his debut for his new club in a match against Grenoble Foot 38, which Marseille won 2-0. His time at Marseille was particularly fruitful, as he played a pivotal role in their successes. On April 23, 2011, Marseille secured the Coupe de la Ligue for the second consecutive year. With this victory, Souleymane Diawara made history by becoming the player with the most Coupe de la Ligue trophies, having won the competition four times: once with Sochaux in 2004, once with Bordeaux in 2009, and twice with Marseille in 2010 and 2011. After five successful seasons at Marseille, he transferred to OGC Nice in 2014, where he played for one season before retiring.
3.4. Retirement
After a career spanning over 17 years as a professional footballer, Souleymane Diawara announced his retirement from the sport in September 2015. His decision marked the end of a notable playing career predominantly characterized by his defensive prowess in French top-tier football.
4. International career
Souleymane Diawara had a significant international career representing the Senegal national football team. He was a consistent presence in the squad for a decade.
4.1. National team debut and tournament participation
Diawara made his debut for the Senegal national football team on November 19, 2002, in a friendly match against South Africa. Throughout his international career, he earned 48 caps for his country. He was an integral part of the Senegalese squad that participated in multiple editions of the Africa Cup of Nations, including the tournaments in 2004, 2006, 2008, and 2012. In the 2006 Africa Cup of Nations, Senegal notably achieved a fourth-place finish, which was their third time reaching that position in the tournament's history.
4.2. Disciplinary issues
In August 2006, Souleymane Diawara was dropped from the Senegal national team squad. This occurred ahead of a scheduled friendly match against Ivory Coast, with the reason for his exclusion officially cited as a breach of discipline.
5. Personal life and anecdotes
Beyond his professional career, Souleymane Diawara was known for some distinctive personal habits and long-standing relationships within the football community.
5.1. Notable anecdotes
One notable personal trait of Souleymane Diawara was his habit of consistently wearing black gloves during matches. This practice began after his transfer to FC Sochaux-Montbéliard, a city in France that experiences relatively cooler temperatures. Diawara maintained this habit regardless of the season or climate, even playing with gloves in warm conditions in Africa during matches with the Senegalese national team. It was not attributed to superstition but rather a personal habit.
Diawara also shared a long-standing and close friendship with fellow Senegalese footballer Mamadou Niang. They had previously played together in the youth system of Le Havre AC during the 1998-99 season, forming a strong bond. Their paths converged again in 2009 when Diawara transferred to Olympique de Marseille, reuniting them on the same team after a decade.
6. Honours
Souleymane Diawara garnered a significant number of honours during his club career, reflecting his impact as a defender for several successful teams. He also contributed to his national team's achievements.
6.1. Club honours
- FC Sochaux-Montbéliard
- Coupe de la Ligue: 2003-04
- FC Girondins de Bordeaux
- Ligue 1: 2008-09
- Coupe de la Ligue: 2008-09
- Trophée des Champions: 2008, 2009
- Olympique de Marseille
- Ligue 1: 2009-10
- Coupe de la Ligue: 2009-10, 2010-11
- Trophée des Champions: 2010, 2011
6.2. International honours
- Senegal
- Africa Cup of Nations fourth place: 2006
6.3. Individual honours
- Ligue 1 Team of the Year: 2008-09, 2009-10