Diouf, El Hadji

[TLW]

Written by Dave Usher

EL HADJI DIOUF PROFILE         Date of Birth - 28/10/85 Nationality - Senegalise Games - 80 Goals - 6 Position - Winger/Forward Cost - £10m Club Hons (Lpool) - 2003 League Cup Intnl Hons - Senegal Caps Other Clubs - Sochaux, Rennes, Lens, Bolton

In terms of value for money El Hadji Diouf has to be the worst signing in Liverpool's history. Unquestionably talented, on his day the Senegal man really looked the part. Unfortunately those 'days' were very few and far between.

Having dazzled the world in the Japan and Korea in the 2002 World Cup, Gerard Houllier opted to splash out £10m on the player dubbed 'The Serial Killer' rather than turn the loan signing of Nicolas Anelka into a permanent deal.

It was claimed that Houllier was worried about Anelka's behaviour and attitude, although the former Arsenal man had behaved impeccably in six months at Anfield.

Diouf himself had something of a reputation as wild man. Houllier put this down to the recklessness of youth and insisted he had no fear about the temperament of the man who inspired Senegal to a shock win over World Campions France in the opening game of the 2002 tournament.

It started well enough for Diouf, with two goals on his home debut against Southampton. But it went downhill from there. Subbed after a disappointing display in Valencia, when he was selected ahead of Michael Owen, Diouf was criticised by Houllier, who claimed that 'maybe the game was too big for him.'

After that, the two time African Footballer of the Year struggled to get in the team up front, and eventually found himself converted into a right winger.

He had some success in the role, most notably when he produced an excellent display in the Worthington Cup final triumph over Manchester United in Cardiff. Diouf tormented Silvestre that day, and was showing signs of blossoming into a good player.

His work rate was admirable, and although it didn't make up for a lack of goals and assists, it did mean that the fans cut him some slack. At leat he was working for the team.

Overall, his first season wasn't too bad, although given the high expectations after his world cup showing, many fans were disappointed with his contribution, especially given his hefty price tag.

He was also involved in an unsavoury spitting incident in a UEFA Cup tie at Cletic, when he was fined two weeks wages and summoned before a Glasgow court of law after spitting into the crowd.

But if his first season was reasonable, his second was dreadful. It all started well enough, and in the opening month or so of the campaign Diouf was arguably the reds' best player.

But as the African Nations Cup drew closer, Diouf's form got worse. His love of the Liverpool nightlife wasn't helping either, and when he reported back late from representing Senegal in the African Nations, Houllier banished him from the squad for a few games.

He won his place back, but continued to frustrate with ineffective displays, and when the reds were knocked out of the UEFA Cup in Marseille, Diouf angered the travelling fans by being seen grinning and high-fiving opposing players and French journalists.

The fact he'd been linked with a summer move to Marseille merely rubbed further salt in the wound.

Diouf's goalscoring record is absolutely abysmal. He managed six goals in his first season, but none in his second. Even worse, in the time between his last goal for the reds and the end of the 2003.04 season, he picked up about 18 bookings, and was subbed on numerous occasions before he was sent off.

Rafa Benitez arrived in the summer of 2004, and wanted nothing to do with Diouf. A season long loan deal was agreed with Bolton, where Diouf showed glimpses of the form which had made him such an exciting prospect.

However, the other side of his character was showing itself all too frequently, and three times in the opening months of the campaign he was involved in spitting incidents.

Unquestionably talented, Diouf has become one of the most reviled figures in the Premiership, and when Bolton offered to make his loan deal permanent, Rafa Benitez almost bit their hand off. The reds took a massive loss on Diouf, but they just wanted him out of the club in the end.