Bernard Diomède

Diomède's career began with Auxerre. After playing at youth level for the club, he made his Division 1 debut in 1992. He played in the first team for eight years, under Guy Roux Auxerre won the Division 1 and Coupe de France double in 1996. The winger scored 30 goals in 175 Ligue 1 matches for Auxerre. In June 2000, Diomède was signed for £3m by then Liverpool manager Gérard Houllier. Making his debut against Sunderland, Diomède appeared to have scored with an overhead kick, but the goal was not given even though replays showed that the ball had crossed the line. However, he did not settle in England, and only played five matches for Liverpool. In January 2003, he was loaned out to Ajaccio, newly promoted in France's Ligue 1, until the end of his contract. After his spell at Liverpool had come to an end, he joined the Ligue 2 team Créteil, and then Clermont Foot in the Championnat National (3rd division).

Diomède was capped eight times for the France national team, but never scored. He received his first cap in a friendly against Spain on 28 January 1998. At the 1998 World Cup he started in three matches, against Saudi Arabia and Denmark in the group stage and against Paraguay in the round of 16. He was unable to regain his place in the France national team after the 1998 World Cup.

Diomède was born in Saint-Doulchard, Cher, to parents of Guadeloupean descent.

Player

Auxerre

Division 1: 1995–96 Coupe de France: 1995–96 France

FIFA World Cup: 1998 Orders

Knight of the Legion of Honour: 1998 Officer of the National Order of Merit: 2013

Managerial

France U19

UEFA European Under-19 Championship runner-up: 2024