Lamine Diatta

Lamine Diatta

Personal information
Full name	Lamine Diatta
Height	1.84 m (6 ft 1⁄2 in)
Position(s)	Defender
Team information
Current team	Newcastle United
Number	15
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 10 July 2006

Lamine Diatta (born July 2, 1975 in Dakar) is a Senegalese footballer who currently plays for Newcastle United. Diatta moved to France when he was only 1 year old. He is 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.

Diatta played in all of Senegal's matches in the 2002 FIFA World Cup. 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. Over his whole career, Diatta has played 199 club games, scoring 9 goals. On August 2006, he left Lyon on free transfer in search for regular team football, settling at St. Étienne. He has also played 26 games for his national side, scoring one goal.

On March 7, 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 March 14 after a week of confusion.

On April 5 2008 he made his first team début for Newcastle as a substitute in the Premier League match against Reading.

Honours

• Winner of French Ligue 1 championship in 2005 and 2006 with Olympique Lyonnais.