THE 21st CENTURY ONLINE AWARDS NOMINEES FOR BEST FOOTBALL [SOCCER PLAYER] OF THE DECADE [CENTURY].

Joshua KING Bolatunji Imahfidon
Apr 4, 2021
1 min read

Papa Bouba diop.

Date of birth - 28 January 1978

Place of birth - Dakar, Senegal

Date of death - 29 November 2020 (aged 42)

Place of death - Paris, France

Height - 1.95 m (6 ft 5 in)

Position(s) - Defensive midfielder, centre back.

[right midfielder, defensive midfielder, central midfielder] - senegal.

Papa Bouba Diop (28 January 1978 – 29 November 2020) was a Senegalese professional footballer.

His preferred position was defensive midfield but he could also play as a centre back, where he previously played at Lens. Diop was considered a strong and aggressive player. His playing style and ability drew comparisons to Patrick Vieira.

Diop spent much of his career in England, where fans nicknamed him "The Wardrobe" for his stature. He played for Fulham and Portsmouth in the Premier League, and won the FA Cup with the latter club in 2008. He also played top-flight football in Switzerland for Neuchâtel Xamax and Grasshopper, in France for Lens and in Greece for AEK Athens.

Diop's second of a total of 11 international goals for Senegal came in a 1–0 victory over then-world champions France in the opening match of the 2002 FIFA World Cup, in Senegal's first match at the FIFA World Cup. He also played at four Africa Cup of Nations tournaments, finishing as runners-up in 2002.