Biography
Who is Aruna Dindane?
Early life and career
Aruna Dindane was born in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire. He began his football path with the local team ASEC Mimosas. This club provided the foundation for his professional skills before he moved to Europe. He secured a transfer to the Belgian club R.S.C. Anderlecht in the summer of 2000.
His time in Belgium proved highly successful. He helped Anderlecht win the Belgian First Division Championship in 2001 and 2004. Also, the team secured the Belgian Supercup in 2000 and 2001. In 2003, his performance earned him the Ebony Shoe for the best player of African origin in the league. That same year, he received the Belgian Golden Shoe as the best overall player in the competition. He later received a Swan D'Or Award in November 2004 for a series of consecutive hat-tricks.
Playing in France and England
In June 2005, the striker signed with the French club RC Lens. He continued his career in France before moving to English football. In August 2009, he joined the Premier League side Portsmouth on a one-year loan deal. He made a strong impact quickly by scoring his first goal in a League Cup match against Carlisle United on 22 September 2009.
His time at Portsmouth included well-known moments, such as scoring a hat-trick against Wigan Athletic on 31 October 2009. He also scored a header against Burnley in December of that year. During his loan, he dealt with complex club administration issues, specifically regarding a potential transfer fee payment to his parent club, Lens. He was briefly left out of the squad to avoid triggering this payment clause but later played in the FA Cup semi-final against Tottenham Hotspur on 11 April 2010.
International play and later career
Aruna Dindane made his international debut for Ivory Coast on 9 April 2000 against Rwanda. Over his career, he accumulated 67 caps and scored 17 goals. He represented his nation at four Africa Cup of Nations tournaments and two FIFA World Cups. During the 2006 World Cup, he scored two goals in a 3-2 victory over Serbia and Montenegro. He also played in the 2010 FIFA World Cup, starting matches against Portugal and Brazil.
Following his time in England, he played for clubs in Qatar, including Al-Duhail SC, Al-Gharafa, and Al-Sailiya. In 2013, he attempted a return to English football with Crystal Palace but was released before the end of the season without making a senior appearance. After retiring from professional play, he worked as the general secretary for the Ivorian Footballers Association.
Birthday and age
Aruna Dindane was born on November 26, 1980, which makes Aruna 45 years old today. That birthday falls under the Sagittarius sign. Aruna shares the date with 46 other famous people.
Explore more
