As captain of Strasbourg, Habib Diarra, a 20-year-old complete midfielder, established himself as a key player in Ligue 1. His competitive spirit, which earned him the nickname “Mister Angry” from the coach Liam Rosenior, is one of his main qualities. Rosenior, who arrived this summer, named Diarra captain for his leadership skills and dynamism on the field.
Born in Guédiawaye in Senegal, Diarra began his football career in France before joining the Racing Academy at 15. Proud of his role as captain, he embodies natural leadership within a young team. Before he turned 21, he had already played 73 matches in Ligue 1, scoring 8 goals. His compatriot Kader Mangane highlights his maturity and encourages Diarra to improve his statistics.
Off the field, Diarra is passionate about manga and the Snowfall series. Aware of the importance of “invisible preparation”, he hired a personal chef to optimize his performance. Inspired by Cristiano Ronaldo, he aims for longevity at the highest level. A Senegalese international with 7 caps, he chose this path after playing with the French youth teams. He learns alongside experienced players like Idrissa Gueye.
Diarra describes himself as a “box-to-box midfielder” with strong offensive ability. Under contract with Strasbourg until 2028, he plans to one day play in the Premier League despite requests from European clubs like Juventus and Everton. This season, Strasbourg, under his leadership, scored 19 goals in 9 matches but also conceded 17.
Senegal
