Ousmane Dabo
{{Short description|French footballer (born 1977)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2020}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Ousmane Dabo
| image = Ousmane Dabo.jpg
| caption = Dabo with Lazio in 2008
| full_name = El Hadji Ousmane Dabo{{cite web |url=https://www.verif.com/dirigeants/El-DABO-J39410612/ |title=El Hadji Ousmane Dabo |website=Verif.com |access-date=23 February 2025 |language=fr}}
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1977|2|8|df=y}}{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.co.uk/football/player/_/id/156900/ousmane-dabo |title=Ousmane Dabo: Overview |publisher=ESPN |access-date=27 December 2020}}
| birth_place = Laval, France
| position = Midfielder{{Hugman|22719|access-date=27 December 2020}}
| currentclub =
| youthyears1 = 1982–1985
| youthclubs1 = Forcé
| youthyears2 = 1985–1990
| youthclubs2 = Laval
| youthyears3 = 1990–1995
| youthclubs3 = Rennes
| years1 = 1995–1998
| clubs1 = Rennes
| caps1 = 41
| goals1 = 2
| years2 = 1998–1999
| clubs2 = Inter Milan
| caps2 = 13
| goals2 = 0
| years3 = 1999
| clubs3 = → Vicenza (loan)
| caps3 = 13
| goals3 = 0
| years4 = 1999–2000
| clubs4 = Parma
| caps4 = 17
| goals4 = 0
| years5 = 2000–2001
| clubs5 = AS Monaco
| caps5 = 16
| goals5 = 0
| years6 = 2001
| clubs6 = → Vicenza (loan)
| caps6 = 17
| goals6 = 1
| years7 = 2001–2003
| clubs7 = Atalanta
| caps7 = 52
| goals7 = 4
| years8 = 2003–2006
| clubs8 = Lazio
| caps8 = 79
| goals8 = 3
| years9 = 2006–2008
| clubs9 = Manchester City
| caps9 = 13
| goals9 = 0
| years10 = 2008–2010
| clubs10 = Lazio
| caps10 = 46
| goals10 = 1
| years11 = 2011
| clubs11 = New England Revolution
| caps11 = 3
| goals11 = 0
| totalcaps = 310
| totalgoals = 11
| nationalyears1 = 2003
| nationalteam1 = France
| nationalcaps1 = 3
| nationalgoals1 = 0
}}
El Hadji Ousmane Dabo (born 8 February 1977) is a French former professional footballer who played as a midfielder.
Dabo played for Rennes, Inter Milan, Vicenza, Parma, Monaco, Atalanta, Lazio, Manchester City and New England Revolution. He represented France three times at full international level.
Early life
Dabo was born in Laval, Mayenne.{{cite news |url=https://www.lequipe.fr/Football/FootballFicheJoueur4244.html |title=Ousmane Dabo |newspaper=L'Équipe |location=Paris |access-date=27 December 2020 |language=fr}} His father Moussa Dabo was a player for the Senegalese national team and Stade Lavallois.{{cite web | url=http://tangofoot.free.fr/tango.php?id=76 | title=TangoFoot - Moussa DABO - Laval }}
Club career
=Early career=
Dabo started his career at Rennes, before he and team-mate Mikaël Silvestre were signed by Inter Milan in 1998.{{cite news | title=Fulham eye Dabo|work=BBC | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/f/fulham/2043619.stm| access-date=20 June 2007 | date=13 June 2002}} Dabo was not a regular first team player for Inter, and a few months later he was loaned out to Vicenza, where he made 13 Serie A appearances. Dabo spent the following season at Parma under Arrigo Sacchi, making sixteen appearances. In June 2000, Inter stated Silvestre and Dabo were bought for only ₤3 million and sold for ₤30 million.{{cite news|url=http://www.inter.it/aas/news/reader?L=it&N=47|title= CAMARA AL MARSIGLIA, ARRIVANO DUE GIOVANI |date=1 June 2000|access-date=26 February 2010|work=inter.it|language=it}} In June 2000 he changed clubs again, returning to the French league with Monaco in an exchange deal involving Sabri Lamouchi.{{cite web | title=One in one out for Monaco and Parma | work=Sky Sports | url=http://home.skysports.com/list.aspx?hlid=12290&plid=6688&clid=&cpid=8 | access-date=20 June 2007 }} {{dead link|date=March 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}{{Citation needed|date=February 2010}} Six months later he returned to Vicenza on loan,{{cite web | title=Dabo seals Vicenza switch | work=Sky Sports | url=http://home.skysports.com/list.aspx?hlid=32211&plid=6688&clid=&cpid=24 | access-date=20 June 2007 }} {{dead link|date=March 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} and in the close season made a permanent move to Atalanta.{{cite news|url=http://archiviostorico.gazzetta.it/2001/giugno/30/Comandini_Sala_Dabo_Atalanta_grande_ga_0_0106305614.shtml|title=Comandini, Sala, Dabo: l' Atalanta si fa grande|date=30 June 2001|access-date=27 April 2010|author=Pietro Serina|language=it|work=La Gazzetta dello Sport}} At the Bergamo club he secured regular first team football, and in 2003 he gained a call-up to the France national team for the FIFA Confederations Cup, which Dabo described as "a surprise".{{cite web | title= Football. Ousmane Dabo ; " J'aurais pu couler " | work=L'Humanitie | url=https://www.humanite.fr/journal/2003-06-20/2003-06-20-374235| access-date=20 June 2007 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070604165542/http://www.humanite.fr/journal/2003-06-20/2003-06-20-374235 |archive-date = 4 June 2007|language=fr}}
=Lazio=
In summer of 2003 Dabo joined Lazio, along with team-mate Luciano Zauri,{{cite web|url=https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/025a-0eaad29a17c6-107a1d21b1ed-1000--lazio-pounce-for-atalanta-pair/|title=Lazio pounce for Atalanta pair|date=18 July 2003|access-date=26 February 2010|publisher=UEFA}} at first a co-ownership deal but raised to a total of €3.225 million and €5.65 million transfer fees after Lazio bought duo remain rights in June 2004.{{cite web|url=http://www.sslazio.it/cms/view/home/societa_/investor_relator/comunicati/16_10_06_bilancio_al_30_06_2006/s145/c904 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091007033607/http://www.sslazio.it/cms/view/home/societa_/investor_relator/comunicati/16_10_06_bilancio_al_30_06_2006/s145/c904 |url-status=dead |archive-date=7 October 2009 |title=bilancio al 30.06.2006 |date=16 October 2006 |access-date=26 February 2010 |language=it |work=SS Lazio }} Dabo became an important and popular part of the Lazio midfield due to his organised style of play, making 79 appearances for the club.{{citation needed|date=December 2020}}
=Manchester City=
After interest from a variety of Premier League clubs in 2006, Dabo joined Manchester City on a Bosman transfer, signing a three-year contract.{{cite news | title=Dabo quits Lazio to join Man City | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/man_city/5100914.stm |publisher=BBC Sport | date=21 June 2006 | access-date=1 April 2007}} Dabo cited a positive impression of the club arising from a friendly between Manchester City and Lazio at the City of Manchester Stadium as one of his main reasons for joining Manchester City.{{cite web | title=Dabo swayed by City fans | work=Manchester Evening News | url=http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/manchester_city/s/216/216385_dabo_swayed_by_city_fans.html| access-date=20 June 2007 }} His debut for the club came in the opening match of the season, a 3–0 Premier League defeat to Chelsea.{{cite web | title=Chelsea 3 : 0 Manchester City | work=Manchester City official website | url=http://www.mcfc.co.uk/default.sps?pageid=113&pagegid=%7BAA5FDAD7-7640-4CC3-93D4-57E09955208C%7D&eventid=42158&siteid=502| access-date=20 June 2007 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070824102716/http://www.mcfc.co.uk/default.sps?pageid=113&pagegid=%7bAA5FDAD7-7640-4CC3-93D4-57E09955208C%7d&eventid=42158&siteid=502 |archive-date = 24 August 2007}} On his third City appearance he received a red card for an aerial challenge with Reading's Steve Sidwell, and was suspended for three matches.{{cite news | title=Man City fail in Dabo card appeal |work=BBC | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/man_city/5339924.stm| access-date=20 June 2007 | date=14 September 2006}} However, a knee ligament injury sustained in training resulted in a much longer absence,{{cite web | title=Dabo faces lengthy break | work=Manchester Evening News | url=http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/manchester_city/s/224/224491_dabo_faces_lengthy_break.html| access-date=20 June 2007 }} and he did not make another appearance until mid-December. He then had a run of thirteen consecutive appearances, but was sidelined by injury. Upon his return to fitness he struggled to regain his place in the team, making only one further appearance in the 2006–07 season.{{citation needed|date=December 2020}}
==Confrontation with Joey Barton==
On 1 May 2007, Dabo was assaulted by his team mate Joey Barton at City's training ground. Dabo stated that he had been hit several times, and had to go to hospital after suffering injuries to his head during the incident, including a suspected detached retina.[https://web.archive.org/web/20070717030208/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?view=DETAILS&grid=A1YourView&xml=/sport/2007/05/03/sfnmac03.xml Barton branded a 'coward' by Dabo], The Telegraph. Retrieved on 3 May 2007. Dabo requested that the police press charges against Barton,[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/manchester/6627567.stm Police get Barton 'attack' report], BBC News. Retrieved on 5 May 2007. and as a result, on 16 May 2007, Barton was arrested and questioned by Greater Manchester Police. Barton pleaded guilty to the assault.
[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/manchester/6660503.stm Barton arrested over assault], BBC News. Retrieved on 2 July 2007. Barton later claimed on 8 April 2011 that, in fact it was Dabo who started the fight, and he was merely defending himself.[http://nz.sports.yahoo.com/football/news/article/-/9164551/newcastle-midfielder-barton-slaughters-ex-man-city-rival-dabo/], Yahoo News. Retrieved on 8 April 2011. After Barton signed for Marseille on 1 September 2012 on a season-long loan, Dabo questioned the arrival of the Englishman at the Rhone club and called his former teammate a coward for constantly hitting him when he was face down on the floor.{{cite web|url=http://www.footmercato.net/ligue1/transferts/om-ousmane-dabo-charge-joey-barton_91457|title=OM : Ousmane Dabo charge Joey Barton !|date=3 September 2012 }}
=Return to Lazio=
He was put on the transfer list by Sven-Göran Eriksson along with team mates Danny Mills and Paul Dickov. Mills and Dickov both ended up going out on loans, but Dabo remained at the club. After just playing the League Cup game on 29 August 2007, he finally re-signed for Lazio on 30 January 2008, cost only €263,000. He signed a contract until 30 June 2010. On 13 May 2009, he scored the winning penalty in a penalty shoot-out to give Lazio a 6–5 win after a 1–1 draw, over Sampdoria in the 2009 Coppa Italia Final.{{cite web|url=http://goal.com/en/news/10/italy/2009/05/13/1263642/lazio-edge-sampdoria-on-penalties-to-claim-fifth-coppa-italia|title=Lazio Edge Sampdoria On Penalties To Claim Fifth Coppa Italia|date=13 May 2009|work=goal.com|access-date=14 May 2009}}
=New England Revolution=
After seven months without a club, Dabo signed with Major League Soccer club New England Revolution on 8 February 2011.{{cite news| url=http://www.boston.com/sports/soccer/articles/2011/02/08/dabo_set_to_join_revolution/ | work=The Boston Globe | first=Frank | last=Dell'Apa | title=Dabo set to join Revolution | date=8 February 2011}} He made his MLS debut on 7 May 2011 in a game against the Colorado Rapids.{{cite web| url = http://www.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2011-05-07-new-england-revolution-vs-colorado-rapids/rosters| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110513110843/http://www.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2011-05-07-new-england-revolution-vs-colorado-rapids/rosters| archive-date = 2011-05-13| title = 2011-05-07: New England Revolution vs. Colorado Rapids {{!}} MLSsoccer.com}}
Dabo retired from football on 18 July 2011 after struggling with injuries throughout the 2011 MLS season.{{Cite web |url=http://www.revolutionsoccer.net/news/2011/07/ousmane-dabo-retires |title=Ousmane Dabo retires | New England Revolution |access-date=18 July 2011 |archive-date=14 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120314111149/http://www.revolutionsoccer.net/news/2011/07/ousmane-dabo-retires |url-status=dead }}
Career statistics
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition{{WorldFootball.net | ousmane-dabo | Ousmane Dabo }} | ||||||||
| rowspan="2"|Club
!rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|Cup{{efn|Includes Coupe de France, Coupe de la Ligue, Coppa Italia, FA Cup, EFL Cup and Supercoppa Italiana.}} !colspan="2"|Continental{{efn|Includes UEFA Champions League, UEFA Cup and UEFA Intertoto-Cup.}} !colspan="2"|Total | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| rowspan="4"|Rennes
|1995–96 |rowspan="3"|Division 1 |5 | 0 | 2 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | 7 | 0 | ||
| 1996–97
|24 | 1 | colspan="2"|– | 2 | 0 | 26 | 1 | ||
| 1997–98
|12 | 1 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | 13 | 1 | ||
| colspan="2"|Total
!41 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 46 | 2 | |
| rowspan="3"|Inter Milan
|1998–99 |rowspan="2"|Serie A |5 | 0 | 3 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | 8 | 0 | ||
| 1999–00
|8 | 0 | 2 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | 10 | 0 | ||
| colspan="2"|Total
!13 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 0 | |
| Vicenza (loan)
|1998–99 |Serie A |13 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | 13 | 0 | |||
| Parma
|1999–00 |Serie A |17 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | 1 | 0 | 18 | 0 | ||
| Monaco
|2000–01 |Division 1 |16 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 22 | 1 | |
| Vicenza (loan)
|2000–01 |Serie A |17 | 1 | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | 17 | 1 | |||
| rowspan="3"|Atalanta
|2001–02 |rowspan="2"|Serie A |21 | 0 | 3 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | 24 | 0 | ||
| 2002–03
|31 | 4 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | 32 | 4 | ||
| colspan="2"|Total
!52 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 56 | 4 | |
| rowspan="4"|Lazio
|2003–04 |rowspan="3"|Serie A |19 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 23 | 0 | |
| 2004–05
|29 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 37 | 1 | |
| 2005–06
|31 | 2 | 4 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | 35 | 2 | ||
| colspan="2"|Total
!79 | 3 | 11 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 97 | 3 | |
| Manchester City
|2006–07 |13 | 0 | 5 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | 18 | 0 | ||
| rowspan="4"|Lazio
|2007–08 |rowspan="3"|Serie A |13 | 0 | 2 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | 15 | 0 | ||
| 2008–09
|21 | 1 | 5 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | 26 | 1 | ||
| 2009–10
|12 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 18 | 0 | |
| colspan="2"|Total
!46 | 1 | 9 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 59 | 1 | |
| New England
|2011 |MLS |3 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | 3 | 0 | |||
| colspan="3"|Career total
!310 | 11 | 39 | 1 | 18 | 0 | 367 | 12 |
{{notelist}}
Honours
Lazio
- Coppa Italia: 2003–04, 2008–09{{citation needed|date=December 2020}}
- Supercoppa Italiana: 2009{{citation needed|date=December 2020}}
France
- FIFA Confederations Cup: 2003{{citation needed|date=December 2020}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category}}
- {{FFF player}}
{{France squad 2003 FIFA Confederations Cup}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Dabo, Ousmane}}
Category:Footballers from Laval, Mayenne
Category:French men's footballers
Category:Men's association football midfielders
Category:Stade Lavallois players
Category:Stade Rennais FC players
Category:Parma Calcio 1913 players
Category:Manchester City F.C. players
Category:New England Revolution players
Category:Premier League players
Category:Major League Soccer players
Category:France men's youth international footballers
Category:France men's under-21 international footballers
Category:France men's international footballers
Category:2003 FIFA Confederations Cup players
Category:FIFA Confederations Cup–winning players
Category:French expatriate men's footballers
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in England
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Italy
Category:Expatriate men's soccer players in the United States
Category:French expatriate sportspeople in England
Category:French expatriate sportspeople in Italy
Category:French expatriate sportspeople in the United States