Quick Facts
Biography
Lamine Diatta (born 2 July 1975) is a Senegalese footballer who plays as a defender.
Career
Born in Dakar, Senegal, Diatta moved to France when he was only one year old. He was the holding force in the centre of Senegal's defence, and is also tough in the air, which provides a threat in attacking set-pieces.
Before moving to Olympique Lyon in 2004, Diatta played 142 games for Stade Rennais, scoring 9 goals in that time. Before his time at Rennes, he was at Marseille, but never actually played a game for them. Diatta's first club was Toulouse FC. He spent one season there and played 25 games without scoring. In his first year (2004/2005) with Lyon he played 19 games. During his second year (2005/2006) at Lyon, he was troubled with injury and only makes 13 appearances also without goals. On August 2006, he left Lyon on free transfer in search for regular team football, settling at St. Étienne.
On 7 March 2008, after a week's trial at Newcastle United, Diatta agreed a short term deal until the end of the season after buying out his contract at Beşiktaş J.K.. The deal was finally confirmed by the club on 14 March after a week of confusion. He made his first team debut for Newcastle as a substitute in a Premier League match against Reading on 5 April but was released on 15 May.
Diatta joined Stoke City on trial in January 2009. On 20 March, however, he signed for Hamilton Academical on a short term deal until the end of the season.
After just one month, on 25 April, the 33-year-old Senegalese defender left Hamilton to join Al-Ahli Sports Club in Qatar.
Without a club since his release from Al-Ahli Sports Club he participated in trials in Singapore without being snapped up by a club.
He then joined Étoile Sportive du Sahel of the CLP-1 in Tunisia.
In December 2011 he signed a short term deal with Championship team Doncaster Rovers, where fellow countrymen El Hadji Diouf and Habib Beye also play for the club.
International
Diatta was also Senegal's captain. He played in all of Senegal's matches in the 2002 FIFA World Cup. Diatta has also played 71 games for his national side, scoring four goals.
Honours
- Winner of French Ligue 1 championship in 2005 and 2006 with Olympique Lyonnais.