Souleymane Diawara

Diawara acquired French nationality by naturalization on 2 February 1998. He began his career at Le Havre, spending two seasons in Division 1 before the club was relegated. He stayed at Le Havre until 2003, before signing for Sochaux. On 19 November 2002, he made his debut with the Senegalese national team against South Africa in a friendly match. In 2006, he was transferred to Charlton Athletic. The following year he joined Bordeaux to strengthen the central defense with Marc Planus. Represented the national team at the 2006 Africa Cup of Nations, where his team took 4th place for the third time in history. Diawara was dropped from the Senegal squad in August 2006, ahead of their friendly with Ivory Coast, due to a breach of discipline. In July 2009, he signed a four-year contract with Marseille, with the transfer fee estimated at €7 million. On 8 August, he participated in his first game for his new club against Grenoble, which Marseille won 2–0. On 23 April 2011, Marseille won the Coupe de la Ligue for the second consecutive year. Diawara thereby became the player holding the record for most Coupe de la Ligue trophies, having won his first with Sochaux in 2004, his second with Bordeaux and his third and fourth trophies with Marseille. In September 2015, Diawara announced his retirement from professional football.

Sochaux

Coupe de la Ligue: 2003–04 Bordeaux

Ligue 1: 2008–09 Coupe de la Ligue: 2008–09 Trophée des Champions: 2008 Marseille

Ligue 1: 2009–10 Coupe de la Ligue: 2009–10, 2010–11 Trophée des Champions: 2010, 2011 Senegal

Africa Cup of Nations fourth place: 2006 Individual

Ligue 1 Team of the Year: 2008–09, 2009–10