Djimi Traore: Defender. 1999-2006 Date of birth: 1/3/1980
1st team games: 141
1st team goals: 1
Birthplace: Laval
Honours with Liverpool: Worthington Cup 2003, Champions League 2005, FA Cup 2006.
PROFILE
Djimi Traore left Liverpool just before the start of the 2006/2007 season to begin a new career at Charlton Athletic.
The Mali international will be remembered as one of the heroes of Istanbul and he made a goal-line clearance in the Champions League final against AC Milan.
Traore was signed by Gerard Houllier from Laval in France in 1999. After establishing himself at centre half during the 2002/03 season when he deputised for the injured Stephane Henchoz, Traore then fell out of favour with Gerard Houllier in 2003/04 and spent most of the time in the reserve team.
He was set for a move to Everton just before the start of the 2004/2005 season but new manager Rafael Benitez blocked the transfer and he ended up with a Champions League winners medal. Traore had an excellent Champions League campaign for Liverpool and his sliding last ditch tackles won him admirers during that campaign.
The highly rated Traore was one of the most sought after youngsters in Europe when Houllier paid Laval £500,000 for him in February 1999 as the manager claimed AC Milan, Paris St Germain and Lazio were just a number of top clubs who courted Traore's signature. Houllier had described the player as having great potential and a big player for the future.
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