Profile of Djimi Traore on Famous Like Me

Djimi Traore (born March 1, 1980 in Laval) is a French-born Malian football player, who can play as a left back or as a centre back. He currently plays for Liverpool, having been signed by former manager Gérard Houllier for £500,000 in February 1999.

Traore started his career at home club Laval, before moving on to Liverpool. His career at Liverpool has had some ups and downs - he played for most of the 2002-03 season, deputising for the injured Stéphane Henchoz, having been on loan with French club Lens the previous season.

He spent the 2003-04 season, Houllier's last at the club, in the reserve team, of which he was captain, and almost left Liverpool for their Merseyside neighbours Everton on the 2004 transfer deadline day but remained at Anfield, where he has played mostly as left back this season.

Traore is another player whose career seems to have been revitalised by Rafael Benitez. Previously, the defender had been continually exposed for being poor positionally, and seemed reticent to attack. Now he shows more willingness to support the left winger as well as improved positional play.

While Traore was poor in the first half of the 2004-05 Champions League Final against AC Milan (as indeed were most of the Liverpool team), he improved substantially in the second half (as indeed did most of the Liverpool team). His greatest moment was clearing a shot from Andriy Shevchenko off the goal-line. Traore now has a UEFA Champions League winners medal, becoming the first Malian to ever achieve this feat.

Honours

• 2001/02 Charity Shield
• 2002/03 League Cup
• 2004/05 UEFA Champions League

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