Aliou Cissé

Born in Ziguinchor, he began his career with Lille OSC before moving onto CS Sedan and then Paris Saint-Germain. He also spent the majority of the 2001–02 season on loan at Montpellier Herault SC. In the summer of 2002 Cissé captained the Senegal national team which reached the quarter-finals of the 2002 World Cup, beating holders France en route.

Impressive performances for his country led to a transfer to English club Birmingham City for the 2002–03 season. Cissé made his debut at Arsenal on the opening day of the season, but was sent off. Though the sending-off was rescinded, he went on to pick up five yellow cards in six games, picking up ten yellow cards before the New Year.

Despite this poor discipline, Cissé was impressive for his club, until an injury in February ruled him out for the rest of the season. He was then late in returning to pre-season training in July 2003, leading to manager Steve Bruce placing him on the transfer list.

Cissé got himself back into the first team picture, but his relationship with Bruce continued to go sour, and after Christmas he only played three more games that season. At the end of the season he signed for Portsmouth for £300,000 on a two-year contract, beating off strong competition from Premiership rivals Bolton Wanderers.

In 2002, Cissé lost several members of his family in the MV Le Joola ferry disaster off the coast of Gambia.

His transfer from Birmingham City to Portsmouth in August 2004 is one of those about which the Stevens inquiry report in June 2007 expressed concerns:

“Agent Willie McKay acted for Portsmouth in the transfer of Cisse and, for the same reason as above” (still awaiting clarification) “the inquiry is not prepared to clear these transfers at this stage.”

Cissé signed for French Ligue 2 side Nîmes Olympique, from CS Sedan Ardennes in September 2008.