PLAYER PROFILE

  • PHOTOS
Realmadrid.com requires you to have the Flash Plugin installed. Please download it here.
  • BIO
  • PERSONAL
  • HONOURS
  • STATISTICS
  • CAREER
Mahamadou Diarra
Place of Birth: 
Bamako, Mali
Date of Birth: 
18/05/1981
Position: 
Midfielder
Weight: 
80 kg
Height: 
182.2 cm
Nationality: 
Malian

Mahamadou Diarra was born in Bamako, Mali on 18 May 1981. The six foot, 168-pound midfielder began his football career in the CSK Bamako youth system and hit the big time in 1998 when called to play for the First Team. European football opened its doors to Diarra soon thereafter, and OFI Crete was the first European team to give him an audition at the start of 1998/99 season. He didn’t disappoint and went on to sign his first professional contract. Shining in the small Cyprus league was hard for the Mali native, who signed for Dutch club SBV Vitesse Arnhem shortly after the season came to a close.

Adjusting to Dutch football was hard at first, but the Vitesse manager and former Barcelona star Ronald Koeman took Diarra under his wing to help him improve his technique. The usually-mediocre side went on to finish sixth and fifth in the Eredivisie the two following seasons (2000/01 and 2001/02).

In 2001 Diarra signed with France's Olympique Lyonnais for €3.8 million. His arrival coincided with Lyon’s explosion onto the Ligue 1 scene. The team won four consecutive league titles and French Super Cups and earned international respect by defeating numerous European heavyweights including Real Madrid.

International career

Diarra first caught the attention of European scouts when he led Mali to a third-place finish in the 1999 FIFA World Youth Championship. He was soon called up by the Malian national team, with whom he played to a fourth-place finish in the 2002 African Cup of Nations. Diarra was named Best Young Player of the competition.

Mahamadou Diarra
Place of Birth: 
Bamako, Mali
Date of Birth: 
18/05/1981
Position: 
Midfielder
Weight: 
80 kg
Height: 
182.2 cm
Nationality: 
Malian
Diarra learned how to play football on the streets of Bamako, where he “dribbled the ball past motorcycles.”

He is a man of faith and holds his religion, his traditions and his country in the highest regard. He celebrates Ramadan on a yearly basis and “every coach has respected my decision,” says Diarra, “They are difficult days during which one needs to eat, but it only lasts one month. I have another ten to play well.”

Diarra donates a large portion of what he earns to Mali with the hope of building a better future for his fellow citizens.
Mahamadou Diarra
Place of Birth: 
Bamako, Mali
Date of Birth: 
18/05/1981
Position: 
Midfielder
Weight: 
80 kg
Height: 
182.2 cm
Nationality: 
Malian
  • La Liga: 2006/07, 2007/08 
  • Trophée Des Champions: 2003, 2005, 2006
  • Ligue 1: 2002/03, 2003/04, 2004/05, 2005/06
     
Statistics
Liga Española 1ª División 2008-09Champions League 2008-09Copa del Rey 2008-09
Games931
Home Matches Played520
Away Matches Played411
Matches Started721
Matches Subbed In210
Matches Subbed Out101
Minutes Played64925073
Minutes Played Starter62318973
Minutes Played Sub26610
Home Minutes Played2711560
Away Minutes Played3789473
Goals Scored000
Headers Scored000
Penalty Kicks Scored000
Free Kicks Scored000
Goals w/ Right Foot000
Goals w/ Left Foot000
Goals as Starter000
Goals as Sub000
Home Goals Scored000
Away Goals Scored000
Goals Conceded000
Penalty Kicks Conceded000
Free Kicks Conceded000
Home Goals Conceded000
Away Goals Conceded000
Crosses Into Big Box622
Crosses Into Small Box000
Crosses Shot on Goal000
Fouls Committed942
Fouls Drawn1742
Offside100
Shots861
Home Shots on Goal560
Away Shots on Goal301
Penalty Kicks Taken000
Free Kicks on Goal100
Headers on goal230
Shots w/ Right Foot421
Shots w/ Left Foot210
Shots on Goal310
Shots Off Post000
Yellow Cards200
Yellow Cards Provoked by Opponent100
Red Cards000
Red Cards for Double Yellow000
Red Cards Provoked by Opponent000
Scoring Percentage000
On-Goal Percentage38170
Assists310
Assists w/ Goal000
Turnovers53114
Steals48181
Balls Saved Under Posts000
Corners400
Penalties Committed000
Penalties Received000
Penalties Saved000
Total Passes50417954
Passes Completed43216648
Passes Incompleted72136
Mahamadou Diarra
Place of Birth: 
Bamako, Mali
Date of Birth: 
18/05/1981
Position: 
Midfielder
Weight: 
80 kg
Height: 
182.2 cm
Nationality: 
Malian
  • OFI Crete (1998/99)
  • Vitesse (1999-02)
  • Olympique Lyonnais (2002-06)
  • Real Madrid (2006-present)
  • La Liga debut: 27 August 2006
    Match: Real Madrid 0-0 Villarreal
  • Real Madrid debut: 27 August 2006
    Match: Real Madrid 0-0 Villarreal
  • International for Mali
     
Fondo de pantalla
CURRENT NEWS