THC Science

Mahamadou Diarra
Personal information
Full name	Mahamadou Diarra
Height	1.82 m (5 ft 11+1⁄2 in)
Position(s)	Defensive midfielder
Team information
Current team	Real Madrid
Number	6
Youth career
1997–1998	Centre Salif Keita
Senior career*
Years	Team
1998–1999	OFI
1999–2002	Vitesse
2002–2006	Lyon
2006–	Real Madrid
International career‡
2001–	Mali
	*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 12 December 2010; ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 02 July 2010

Mahamadou Diarra (born 18 May 1981 in Bamako) is a Malian footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for Real Madrid and is captain of the Mali national team.

Biography

Early career

Diarra started his career with Greek side OFI Crete. He played for French club Olympique Lyonnais (Lyon) from 2002 until 2006, winning four Ligue 1 titles. He was known for his strength in the midfield.

Real Madrid

Real Madrid coach Fabio Capello asked President Ramón Calderón to sign three players, "Diarra, Diarra and Diarra".^[1] Real Madrid joined in the race to sign Diarra, along with Manchester United. Lyon said that Diarra will not leave and put a €40 million price tag, which matched the price Chelsea paid Lyon for Michael Essien in the summer 2005.^[2] On 18 August 2006, Real Madrid agreed a fee of €26 million. On 22 August, he was unveiled at the Santiago Bernabeu by Real Madrid president Ramón Calderón, and was assigned the number 6 shirt, which had been worn by Iván Helguera in the previous season.

In 2006-07, Diarra was a staple player in Real Madrid coach Fabio Capello's 2-defensive midfielder system. He lost his first team spot at one point, when he and Antonio Cassano were caught on camera making fun of Capello during a training session. He played a pivotal role in the 2007-08 league success under new coach Bernd Schuster, and established himself as the first-choice defensive midfielder, causing teammate Fernando Gago to play higher up field.

In October 2008, while playing an international fixture against Chad, Diarra was stretchered off the field after receiving a blow to his knee. He was rested for a month and made his next appearance in late November, but was forced to undergo surgery after he aggravated his knee injury once more, ruling him out for the rest of the season. After enjoying two successful seasons, he was de-registered from Real Madrid's first team and his number 6 shirt was given to new signing Lassana Diarra. Lass took over as the starting defensive midfielder and Diarra began the 2009-10 season as his backup.

Since Madrid bought Mesut Özil and Sami Khedira, Diarra has struggled to get into the squad under Jose Mourinho. General Manager Jorge Valdano said that Diarra is likely to leave the club. ^[3] Diarra has been linked with numerous European clubs, including Liverpool, Fiorentina, Juventus, Fenerbahce, Galatasaray, Tottenham Hotspur and Málaga ^[4]^[5]^[6]^[7]

International career

Diarra first represented Mali at the youth levels. He was in the squad that took 3rd place at the 1999 FIFA World Youth Championship in Nigeria. Having impressed at the U-20 tournament, Diarra was given his debut in 2001 and is currently the team captain. He won the award for Best Young Player at the 2002 African Cup of Nations.

International goals

Goal	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1.	January 30, 2004	Stade El Menzah, Tunis, Tunisia	Burkina Faso	1–2	1-3	2004 African Cup of Nations
2.	February 07, 2004	Stade El Menzah, Tunis, Tunisia	Guinea	2-1	2-1	2004 African Cup of Nations

Personal

Diarra is a Muslim. ^[8]

Career statistics

(correct as of 22 December 2010 )

Club	Season	League		Cups		Continental		Total
Club	Season	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Lyon	2002-03	25	0	5	1	8	0	38	1
	2003-04	28	1	1	1	10	0	39	2
	2004-05	36	2	3	1	9	2	48	5
	2005-06	32	3	5	1	8	2	45	6
	2006-07	2	0	0	0	0	0	2	0
	Total	123	6	14	4	35	4	172	14
Real Madrid	2006-07	33	3	2	0	7	1	42	4
	2007-08	30	0	2	0	6	0	38	0
	2008-09	9	0	1	0	3	0	13	0
	2009-10	15	0	2	0	3	0	20	0
	2010-11	3	0	3	0	2	0	8	0
	Total	90	3	10	0	21	1	121	4
Career Total		213	9	24	4	56	5	293	18

Honours

Club

Lyon

French Ligue 1: 2002–03, 2003–04, 2004–05, 2005–06
Trophée Des Champions: 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006

Real Madrid

References

External links

Template:Persondata

[1] ttp://talentspotter.fourfourtwo.com/player/mahamadoudiarra-8288.aspx

[2] ttp://soccerlens.com/where-will-diarra-go-lyon-manchester-united-or-real-madrid/297/

[3] ttp://www.goal.com/en/news/11/transfer-zone/2010/08/24/2085938/jorge-valdano-reveals-mahamadou-diarra-is-likely-to-leave

[4] ttp://www.goal.com/en/news/11/transfer-zone/2010/08/25/2087180/liverpool-want-real-madrid-midfielder-mahamadou-diarra-as-javier-

[5] ttp://www.goal.com/en/news/11/transfer-zone/2010/08/23/2083943/fenerbahce-galatasaray-battle-for-real-madrid-midfielder

[6] ttp://www.goal.com/en/news/11/transfer-zone/2010/09/21/2129169/fiorentina-join-juventus-in-race-to-sign-real-madrid

[7] Málaga looking for Diarra Template:Es icon

[8] ttp://www.goal.com/en/news/12/spain/2009/08/22/1454134/ramadan-fasting-for-real-madrid-trio-lassana-benzema-and

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@@ Line 46: / Line 46: @@
 | 2. || February 07, 2004 || [[Stade El Menzah]], [[Tunis]], Tunisia || {{fb|GUI}} || '''2'''-1 || 2-1 || [[2004 African Cup of Nations]]
 |}
-==Playing style==
-Diarra is a midfield destroyer who finds it unusual when he does not control a game in the midfield. Combined with good passing and ability to read the game, Diarra has become one of the best [[holding midfielder]]s in world football.<ref>http://africanfootball.mtnfootball.com/live/content.php?Item_ID=25240</ref><ref>http://bleacherreport.com/articles/449410-tactical-analysis-structuring-real-madrids-defense-under-mourinho</ref><ref>http://talentspotter.fourfourtwo.com/player/mahamadoudiarra-8288.aspx</ref>
 ==Personal==