| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Amara Diané | ||
| Date of birth | 19 August 1982 | ||
| Place of birth | Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire | ||
| Height | 1.81 m (5 ft 11 1⁄2 in) | ||
| Playing position | Striker | ||
| Club information | |||
| Current club | Al-Nasr SC | ||
| Number | 11 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| ASEC Abidjan | |||
| – | FC Mantes | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 2000–2003 | US Roye | 34 | (26) |
| 2003–2005 | Reims | 69 | (27) |
| 2005–2006 | Strasbourg | 34 | (9) |
| 2006–2008 | Paris Saint-Germain | 71 | (16) |
| 2008–2010 | Al-Rayyan | 53 | (29) |
| 2010–2011 | Al-Gharafa | 11 | (5) |
| 2011– | Al-Nasr SC | 5 | (3) |
| National team‡ | |||
| 2006– | Cote d'Ivoire | 8 | (3) |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 17/12/2011. † Appearances (Goals). |
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Amara Diané (born August 19, 1982 in Abidjan) is an Ivorian football striker who plays for Emirati club Al-Nasr SC and the Côte d'Ivoire national team.
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At the start of his career Amara trained at the famous youth academy at Ivory Coast club ASEC Abidjan, before moving to the Parisian suburbs, where he joined French Club FC Mantes. Following his spell here, he moved to French fifth-tier club Roye in December 2000. In the 2002/2003 season, he found his feet, scored 26 goals in 34 games, and earning a transfer to Ligue 2 club Reims. After another fine season he was signed by Ligue 1 club RC Strasbourg. Another impressive season for the young striker followed, and after the eventual relegation of Strasbourg at the end of the season, he was linked with a number of clubs throughout Europe.[1] Eventually, Paris Saint-Germain paid £2,300,000 for his services, signing him on a 4 year deal.[2]
In May 2008 it was reported that English Premiership sides Newcastle United[3] and Portsmouth[4] were interested in signing the Ivorian, who was the seasons top scorer at his club in the 2007/08 Ligue 1 season. He scored two goals in PSG's last game of the season to ensure they stayed in the top flight of French football, in what would be his last game for the club.
In July 2008 Diané was transferred from PSG to Qatari club Al-Rayyan Sports Club for a fee believed to be in the region of €8 million.[5] He signed a contact worth €10 million over four years.Than he signed a contract with Al Gharafa Sports Club.Diané cited mainly financial reasons for he decision to move to Qatar stating “From now I want to ensure my family’s financial future. And only a Qatari club can permit me to do it.”[6]
On 26 October 2011, Diané switched team from Gharafa to UAE Pro-League side Al-Nasr SC for Ecuadorian striker Carlos Tenorio.[7]
He was called up to the Ivory Coast national team for their friendly against Senegal on 18 August 2006. However, due to a groin injury he missed out on playing, also missing the African Cup of Nations qualifier against Gabon where the Elephants won 5-0, with Arouna Koné scoring a hat trick. He was again called up to the national squad for the friendly against Sweden on 15 November 2006, along with fellow PSG player and former Cote d'Ivoire captain Bonaventure Kalou. However, he was an unused substitute in the game.
In March 2007 he was one of four players to receive a late call-up for the Ivorian's African Cup of Nations qualifier against Madagascar in Antananarivo, due to injuries to other members of the squad.[8] Amara made his presence felt in the tie against Madagascar with the third goal, and his first for the Elephants, in the teams 3-0 victory. Amara was named in the Elephants provisional squad for the 2008 African Cup of Nations in Ghana, but was left out of the final squad, with the Ivorian's wealth of attacking options limiting his chances.
| # | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March 25, 2007 | Antananarivo, Madagascar | Madagascar | 3-0 | Won | 2008 Africa Cup of Nations qualification | |
| November 21, 2007 | Doha, Qatar | Qatar | 6-1 | Won | Friendly |
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