Ali Dia (footballer)
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Aly Dia | ||
| Date of birth | 20 August 1965 | ||
| Place of birth | Dakar, Senegal | ||
| Height | 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) | ||
| Playing position | Striker | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1988–1989 | Beauvais | ||
| 1989–1990 | Dijon | ||
| 1990–1991 | La Rochelle | ||
| 1991–1992 | Saint-Quentin | ||
| 1993–1994 | Châteaubriant | ||
| 1995 | FinnPa | 5 | (0) |
| 1995 | PK-35 | 3 | (1) |
| 1995 | VfB Lübeck | 2 | (0) |
| 1996 | Blyth Spartans | 1 | (0) |
| 1996 | Southampton | 1 | (0) |
| 1996–1997 | Gateshead | 8 | (2) |
| 1997 | Spennymoor United | ||
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. |
|||
Aly Dia (born 20 August 1965), commonly known as Ali Dia, is a Senegalese former professional footballer who played as a striker.
In November 1996, Dia convinced then-manager of Southampton, Graeme Souness, that he was the cousin of FIFA World Player of the Year and Ballon d'Or winner George Weah, which led to him signing a one-month contract with Southampton days later. Dia played only one match in his short spell at the club. He came on as a substitute in a league game, but was then himself substituted. He was subsequently released, 14 days into his contract.
After a playing career at the lower levels in France and Germany, and having already failed trials at Port Vale, Gillingham and Bournemouth, Dia joined non-league club Blyth Spartans, where he made only one substitute appearance – on 9 November 1996 in a Northern Premier League game against Boston United.
Days later, Dia was signed by Southampton manager Graeme Souness, after Souness received a phone call purporting to be from Liberian international and former FIFA World Player of the Year, George Weah. "Weah" told Souness that Dia was his cousin, had played for Paris Saint-Germain, and had played 13 times for his country. None of this was true, and the phone call to Souness was made by a fellow university student of Dia's, suggesting that he should give Dia a chance with Southampton. Souness was convinced, and Dia was signed on a one-month contract.
...
Wikipedia