Mamadou Diallo: Bio, Net Worth, Wife, Other Details About The Former Footballer

• Mamadou Diallo was a professional football player who played for the Senegal national team before focusing on his Major Soccer League career.
• ‘Big Mama’ as he was nicknamed, had an intimidating big build and was a major goal scorer who got away from being penalized for a tackle while with Tampa Bay.
• Now he is about $5 million rich and a married man, father, and realtor whose kids have chosen to follow his path and play in the United States of America.

Mamadou Diallo is a former professional football player who played for the Senegal team. He used to play the ‘Forward’ position and prior to his retirement, he was linked with a lot of teams across a couple of continents.

By 16/17 he had already been part of a football team and began his journey to professional football playing. At 22, he left Dakar to play for a Club in Morocco called ‘Marrakech’ in 1994. Diallo’s first registered team was the Sotra FC which he joined in 1988 and stayed till 1991.

Upon his retirement in the early 2000s, the renowned player had made over 300 game appearances for both his national team and the clubs he played for.

Mamadou started his Major League Soccer (MLS) career with Tampa Bay Mutiny. He however retired while with Djoliba AC, a Malian football club and one of the country’s biggest teams.

Who Is Mamadou Diallo?

Born on the 28th of August 1971, in Dakar, Senegal, Mamadou Diallo was a Senegalese football player who was opportune to travel to so many countries playing for different countries and clubs. Diallo hailed from a humble background and had to work in a sewing factory as well as a construction firm to make ends meet.

Having had a passion for the sport since the age of 9, Mamadou started playing football at that age. He would play wherever he was and with whatever he had close to him and sometimes, with whomever he had close like neighbors and friends in school.

Mamadou Diallo was the second child out of 8 children. The former football player reportedly had his basic education before ditching school for football at the age of 14. He grew up with sisters but there wasn’t a mention of any brother. One of his sisters has a boutique and hair salon in Senegal where Diallo shops and has his haircuts at.

Diallo had his basic education was because his mother Mrs. Aime Diallo insisted on him going to school. She was never a fan of him playing football and would scold or beat Diallo whenever he returned home from playing football. Unfortunately, Diallo never liked school and would always opt for football.

He got promoted to higher classes in school because he did well as a football player and his teachers felt it was good enough to keep him in the school. His impressive football skills were of great value to his school and so they continued to pass Diallo.

On another hand, Mamadou’s father, Salif Diallo was into construction. He, unfortunately, died sometime in the late 1990s. Mr. Salif liked football and had no problem with his son playing the sport.

How Much Does The Former Senegalese Player Have In Net Worth?

Though he had a short stint in his professional career, Diallo Mamadou was able to, due to his impressive skills and abilities, amass a good amount of money. His net worth is estimated to be within the range of $3 million to $5 million.

Diallo had enough money from his career playing football around the world that he was able to start a business before his retirement from football. His business afforded him his dream house in Dakar and also a three-story house where his family lives.

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Who Is Mamadou Diallo’s Wife?

Mamadou got married to his wife named Fatu in the late 1990s and by 2000, they were already soon-to-be-parents expecting their first child together. Upon his move to the United States to play for Tampa Bay, he moved with his family and this was the first time he was able to live with his wife since they got married.

Prior to them moving in together, Fatu would remain in Dakar while her husband toured different countries playing. A couple of years later, they welcomed another son.

When he was about to retire from professional football, his wife was in the United States with his two sons.

Here Are 7 Other Noteworthy Facts About Diallo Mamadou

1. Why He Was Nicknamed ‘Big Mama’

Mamadou was nicknamed ‘Big Mama’ by his Mutiny teammates when he joined the club after they watched the movie ‘Big Mama’s House. The name stuck over the years and meant something deeper for the Senegalese player.

However, the name also described how the player was built. Standing at a height of 6 feet and 3 inches, he weighed quite some k.gs as well and was usually a huge ‘obstacle’ to tackle.

An example was given of when Mario Gori tried to tackle him and only ended up hurting himself and even had to undergo knee surgery for the tackle. Big Mama, however, did not even feel the tackle nor notice what had happened.

2. Diallo Mamadou Played Football In 12 Countries

Big mama will continue to be remembered for playing professional football on not less than 4 continents throughout his active years. Diallo played in the following countries:

• United States of America
• Morocco
• Switzerland
• Saudi Arabia
• Malaysia
• South Africa
• Mali
• Germany
• Turkey
• Sweden
• Norway
• Senegal

3. Mamadou Diallo Was A Goal Scoring Machine

It is important to start by saying that ‘Mama’ scored a total of 47 goals in 74 appearances for MLS. Additionally, he scored a total of 21 goals of 46 appearances for his national team.

Often referred to as a dominant offensive force, he scored a total of 26 goals in the year 2000 while with the MLS team, Tampa Bay Mutiny. With this, he only fell short of the Roy Lassiter record of ‘best in the league goals’ by one goal.

This feat earned him the league’s scoring title as well as a spot on the MLS Best 11 squad. By his second year with the team, he had netted 35 goals out of 50 appearances.

He was also known to get emotional and frustrated whenever he missed a chance at a goal.

4. Though He Committed What Was Called The ‘Crime Of The Century’ He Wasn’t Penalized For It

On the 16th of August 2000, Diallo was involved in an incident that almost cost him his career. It was a game against the MetroStars and he collided with the Metro goalkeeper, Ammann Mike. This collision led to the goalie’s ribs being broken and a puncture to his lungs causing him to be stretched out of the field. Ammann remained in the hospital for 5 days and he refers to Mamadou as one player he despises.

However, the referee did not think the tackle was intentional and did not book the Mutiny player. Although a lot of people; fans, players, and Mike himself believed Diallo should have been penalized for it.

Years later, Big Mama still feels uncomfortable talking about the incident and insists it was unintentional.

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5. Diallo Holds The Record For ‘Most Offsides’ In A Season

Former professional player, Diallo Mamadou was known for having one of the highest numbers of offsides during his career. Despite scoring 26 goals, in that season, he was also caught offside a total of 82 times. This has been an unbroken record since the year 2000.

6. After Retiring From Football, Mamadou Went Into Real Estate

As earlier stated, Big Mama may have had a short professional career stint but it did not stop him from acquiring enough money to get him through retirement. The Senegalese retired from playing in 2006/2007 at the age of 28.

While he was still active in the game, he made certain to invest in lands and properties back home in Senegal. As a result of this, upon his retirement, Diallo went back to his home country and became a landlord. He then focused on the real estate business, leasing out his houses.

However, he also made arrangements that offered his family and relatives apartments to live in free of charge as part of his quota giving back to his beginnings.

From the last count, Diallo Mamadou had about three other houses in Dakar which he put out for rent. This information was a couple of years ago and by now, he must have increased the number of houses.

7. He Still Has Interest In Football

Mamadou Diallo retired from professional football at a very young age without being forced due to injury. He made the unanimous decision to find and settle for a more consistent life.

Known to have toured most parts of the world, Big Mama opted to retire and have a more stable life and job. He chose real estate but never really left football. Claiming he regretted leaving the United States as he loved it there, he still has a foot in the MLS. One of his greatest desires was to bring the MLS to Africa and so he still felt connected to football.

His two older sons who follow in his footsteps showed prospects of playing for the MLS. The oldest of the ‘Big Mama’ boys play the forward position while the younger one plays the number 10. They both have dreams of playing in the United States and so would be part of the Major League Soccer like their dad.

Both being born in the United States and having US citizenship, won’t be a difficult feat to achieve for the young Diallo boys.

Complete profile of Mamadou Diallo