Biography
Who is Abou Diaby?
Early life and beginnings
Vassiriki Abou Diaby was born in the 10th arrondissement of Paris, France. He grew up in a housing development located in the northeastern suburb of Aubervilliers. As a child, he became interested in football after watching the French team win the 1998 FIFA World Cup. He was particularly inspired by Patrick Vieira, whom he considered a monument to French football. Outside of football, he also participated in activities like basketball and boxing.
He began his organized football training with his hometown club, CM Aubervilliers, in December 1996. After two years there, he moved to the semi-professional club Red Star Paris. In 1999, he was selected to attend the prestigious INF Clairefontaine academy. He remained at the academy for four years while also continuing his training with Red Star Paris. During his time at Clairefontaine, he appeared in a documentary series titled A la Clairefontaine, which followed top young players.
Professional debut and Auxerre career
Before finishing his time at Clairefontaine, he joined the professional club Paris Saint-Germain for one year. However, a clerical error meant he became a free agent, allowing him to sign with the academy of Auxerre. He joined the club ahead of the 2002–03 season. In his first year, he helped his youth team win the under-16 league title for the Bourgogne region.
During the 2003–04 season, he played for both the under-19 and reserve teams. He made his professional debut on August 14, 2004, coming on as a substitute in a league match against Rennes. He later played in the UEFA Cup for the club. He scored his first professional goal on September 10, 2005, during a match against Rennes. Eventually, he left the club following a strategic sale.
Years at Arsenal
In January 2006, Abou Diaby signed a long-term contract with the English club Arsenal for an undisclosed fee. He made his club debut shortly after on January 21, 2006, in a match against Everton. He scored his first goal for the team on April 1, 2006, in a 5–0 victory over Aston Villa.
His time at the club was frequently affected by recurring injuries. Despite these challenges, he played for the team until 2015. After he was released by Arsenal, he signed with the French Ligue 1 side Marseille. He eventually retired from professional football in February 2019.
International play and personal interests
Abou represented France at several youth levels, including the under-19 and under-21 teams. He was a member of the squad that won the 2005 UEFA European Under-19 Football Championship. He made his debut for the senior national team in March 2007 during a qualifying match against Lithuania. He was also part of the French squad that competed in the 2010 FIFA World Cup, where he started all three group stage matches.
Beyond his athletic achievements, he developed an interest in several academic subjects while growing up, including philosophy, science, and religion. While at the Auxerre youth academy, he also took a course in accountancy at age 17.
Birthday and age
Abou Diaby was born on May 11, 1986, which makes Abou 40 years old today. That birthday falls under the Taurus sign. Abou shares the date with 34 other famous people.
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