1. He’s from Dakar
El Hadji Malick Diouf was born in the Senegalese capital, Dakar, on 28 December 2004. Online reports suggested Diouf was born in the port city of Ziguinchor, but this is incorrect information. As a boy, he enjoyed watching Real Madrid and Brazil left-back Marcelo and has worn the No12 shirt throughout his career in recognition of his hero.
2. He moved to Norway as a teenager
El Hadji Malick Diouf began his football career at the Galaxy Football Academy and then Académie Mawade Wade, which was founded by former Senegal manager Mawade Wade in Dakar. In February 2023, at the age of 18, he joined Norwegian Eliteserien club Tromsø IL following a successful five-day trial.
3. He netted a shootout penalty on his Tromsø debut
El Hadji Malick Diouf debuted for Tromsø IL in a COVID-delayed Norwegian Cup fourth-round win at IK Start in March 2023, being introduced as an 88th-minute substitute and scoring a penalty as his team won 5-4 in a shootout to progress to the quarter-finals. He scored another penalty as Tromsø won another shootout at Tromsdalen in the Norwegian Cup second round on 1 June 2023.
4. He had an eventful afternoon in Trondheim!
El Hadji Malick Diouf scored his first senior goal in Tromsø’s 2-1 Eliteserien defeat at Rosenborg in Trondheim on 16 July 2023. The wing-back had an eventful 21 minutes on the pitch, being introduced as a substitute on 63 minutes, scoring an equaliser with a header on 69, being booked for taking off his shirt in celebration on 70 and sent-off for a second bookable offence, a foul, on 84.
5. He helped Tromsø return to Europe
In his single season with Tromsø IL in 2023, El Hadji Malick Diouf played 21 times, scored three goals, registered one assist and helped the club finish third in the Eliteserien table and qualify for Europe for the first time in nine years. Of the 15 Eliteserien games he played, Tromsø won eight, drew two and lost just five.
6. He scored on his Slavia Prague debut - twice!
El Hadji Malick Diouf joined Czech First League club Slavia Prague in January 2024 and scored on his debut in a First League win at Karvina, and again on his Czech Cup debut in a quarter-final defeat by rivals Sparta Prague. He made his European bow for the club in a UEFA Europa League round of 16 tie at AC Milan on 7 March 2024 and was sent-off for a mistimed challenge on Christian Pulisic in the first half. He started all eight UEFA Europa League group-stage ties for Slavia last season, registering an assist for Ivan Schranz in a 2-2 draw at Malmö FF on matchday eight.
7. He won the Czech title last term
El Hadji Malick Diouf played as a left wing-back as Slavia Prague won the Czech First League title in dominant style in 2024/25. Diouf scored five goals in the first eight matches and finished the campaign with seven goals and three assists in 24 regular-season league appearances, ending on the losing side on just three occasions.
8. He’s roared for the Lions of Teranga
El Hadji Malick Diouf made his senior debut for the Senegal national team on 9 September 2024 in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Burundi at the Bingu National Stadium in Malawi. He has never lost in six appearances for his country, with his most-recent cap coming in a 3-1 friendly win over England in Nottingham in June 2025.
