PAPA BOUBA DIOP

Born: 28 January 1978, Dakar, Senegal
Former clubs: Espoir Dakar, Diaraaf Dakar, Vevey Sports, Neuchatel Xamax, Grasshoppers, RC Lens, Fulham, Portsmouth, AEK Athens 

A tall, powerful and vastly-experienced presence, Papa Bouba Diop is a Senegal international of undoubted pedigree.

Nicknamed 'The Wardrobe' due to his physical size and uncompromising style, Diop has played professionally in his homeland, Switzerland, France, England and Greece.

A seasoned professional, Diop came to the world's attention at the 2002 FIFA World Cup and still has plenty of miles left in the tank.

2011/12

Joined West Ham United on a one-year contract with an option to extend for a further 12 months on 30 August 2011...Made his West Ham United debut in the 2-2 npower Championship draw at Crystal Palace on 1 October 2011...Scored his first West Ham United goal by heading the winnner in the 1-0 home npower Championship victory over Barnsley on 17 December 2011...Suffered a hamstring injury in the 2-1 home npower Championship victory over Nottingham Forest on 21 January 2012...Totalled 16 npower Championship appearances, including 14 starts, and scored one goal.

International career

Has been an important member of the Senegal squad for a decade, making 63 senior appearances and scoring eleven goals...Scored the winner in Senegal's shock 1-0 victory over holders France in Seoul and twice more in a 3-3 draw with Uruguay in Suwon as Senegal reached the quarter-finals of the 2002 FIFA World Cup in Korea/Japan...Has also appeared in three CAF Africa Cup of Nations tournaments, helping Les Lions de la Teranga to fourth place in 2006.

Before West Ham United

Impressed at Espoir Dakar, Diaraaf Dakar and Vevey Sports in Senegal before being snapped up by Swiss Super League club Neuchatel Xamax at the age of 18 in 1996...Moved on to Grasshoppers Club Zurich in 2000, where he won the Swiss Super League title and appeared in the UEFA Champions League...French side RC Lens splash out more than £1m to take him to the Stade Felix Bollaert in summer 2002...Played more than 70 league matches for Les Sang et Or and scored twice in ten UEFA Champions League and UEFA Cup appearances...Joined Fulham for £6m in July 2004...Made an immediate impression on the Premier League with his athleticism, tough tackling and long-range shooting...Quickly became a popular figure among the Craven Cottage faithful, scoring nine goals in 84 appearances over three seasons in west London...Moved on to Portsmouth for £3.5m in summer 2007, helping the club to lift the FA Cup in 2008 and appearing four times in the UEFA Europa League...Joined Greek side AEK Athens in July 2010, winning the Greek Cup during his sole season with the club.

Any other business

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