Sounders FC Signs Djimi Traore

[Modo]

Sounders FC Signs Djimi Traore

Posted by: Sounders FC Public Relations
02/23/2013​

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The former Champions League winner with Liverpool has signed with the Sounders.

RENTON, WASH. - Seattle Sounders FC has signed defender Djimi Traore, the club announced today. Traore will be added to the roster pending receipt of his P-I Visa and ITC. Per Major League Soccer and club policy, terms were not disclosed.

Traore, 32, played professionally for 16 years in Europe, including seven seasons for English Premier League side Liverpool. Traore becomes the first UEFA Champions League winner to join Sounders FC, beating Milan in a penalty shootout in the 2005 final. He most recently played for Marseille in France, making 11 appearances from 2011-12 and winning the 2012 Coupe de la Ligue title.
“Djimi has a great deal of experience and has played in the top leagues in Europe,” said Sounders FC Sporting Director Chris Henderson. “He’s a very good defender and makes smart decisions with the ball coming out the back. Djimi brings us confidence and leadership in the back.”
Traore began his career for Laval of France in 1996. After three seasons, he signed with Liverpool where he played from 1999-2006. Traore made 150 appearances across all competitions for Liverpool, including 88 in the English Premier League. He was the first Malian player to win the UEFA Champions League, and he also won the 2006 FA Cup, 2005 Super League and the 2003 English League Cup.
Following his stint with Liverpool, Traore joined Charlton Athletic of England’s league championship from 2006-07 and signed with Portsmouth in 2007, winning the 2008 FA Cup. He has been capped 10 times by Mali, scoring one goal.
Sounders FC hosts the Montreal Impact in the season opener on Saturday, March 2. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. PT on the Xbox Pitch at CenturyLink Field.
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What a legend.

 

[LeTallecWiz]

Good luck to him.

 

[Rafiagra]

Shame about the photo. It looks like he's just got skinned. Can't imagine that happening...

 

[white-sox]

1 Champions League, two FA Cups, 1 Super League and an English League Cup!! wow.
The world's greatest opportunist/lucky bastard??

 

[juniormember]

Shame about the photo. It looks like he's just got skinned. Can't imagine that happening...

He was great with those sliding tackles when he did get skinned though.

 

[Modo]

his last ditch tackles were amazing.

 

[Richey]

his last ditch tackles were amazing.

Yes, but if he hasn't been so fucking awful he wouldn't have had to make so many.

It feels bad being too harsh on him given that he was in the CL winning side but honestly, he remains one of the few players whose inclusion in the side would fill me with dread.

 

[My_Blood_Bleeds_Red]

Say what you like but he's a winner. 😱

 

[hamstrung_pigeon]

And saved what looked like a certain goal in the CL final.

 

[Gary25]

Traore was unfairly ridiculed during his time here imo.

Ok, he was a dodgy defender to put it kindly but he had many a good game for us as well which was conveniently overlooked.

More importantly, unlike players like Diouf, Cheyrou and Aquilani(to name but 3) he actually cared about the shirt and gave his all.

 

[refugee]

He was awful, but he was in the Champions league team and that makes him a legend.

 

[RedStar]

Traore was unfairly ridiculed during his time here imo.

Ok, he was a dodgy defender to put it kindly but he had many a good game for us as well which was conveniently overlooked.

More importantly, unlike players like Diouf, Cheyrou and Aquilani(to name but 3) he actually cared about the shirt and gave his all.

Yes but almost every aspect of his game other than pace was atrocious, he was the worst decision maker Ive ever seen, he was terrifying and not in a good way

 

[Squiggles]

I've never doubted his heart or commitment, just his footballing ability, which is backed up by the level of football he's currently playing.

When a player is one of the reasons why winning the CL is labeled a "miracle" you know he's shite.

 

[Molbystwin]

And saved what looked like a certain goal in the CL final.

Red-emption in Excelsis, him and Smicer and Dudek. If any of them ever walk into my local they wont pay for a drink. FACT.

 

[themn]

So, no-one has noticed that Modo is having another dig at Carra with this thread ?

 

[Holle]

1 Champions League, two FA Cups, 1 Super League and an English League Cup!! wow.
The world's greatest opportunist/lucky bastard??

No chance.

That's still Christian Karembeu. We won almost everything sitting on the bench with both club and national team.

 

[Modo]

So, no-one has noticed that Modo is having another dig at Carra with this thread ?

No it's about people saying that everyone who played in the CL final that year are legends ie Smicer. Some say that Biscan is a legend in that case Traoré is a legend as well.
It's called sarcasm.

 

[themn]

No it's about people saying that everyone who played in the CL final that year are legends ie Smicer. Some say that Biscan is a legend in that case Traoré is a legend as well.
It's called sarcasm.

Oh.

 

[gkmacca]

My most vivid memory is of him being in the final and Gerrard running towards him gesturing to leave the ball for him. Over and over again.

 

[My_Blood_Bleeds_Red]

Bambi.

Ahhh....memories. No wait, more like nightmares...

 

[StevieM]

Does anyone remember the time Benitez played him on the left wing?

 

[Modo]

Does anyone remember the time Benitez played him on the left wing?

Yes, I do. But our squad was shit and we were competing in three competitions.

 

[refugee]

Does anyone remember the time Benitez played him on the left wing?

I don't. I imagine my mind has repressed it.

 

[Shadey]

Bambi.

Ahhh....memories. No wait, more like nightmares...

Burnley

 

[Woland]

The best thing about this galoot was his song.

 

[Pesam]

Konchesky has forced me to undergo a complete re-appraisal Djimi's career with us.

Shocking to think Djimi was nowhere near our worst left back in "recent" times.......Bjornebye, Harkness, Konchesky, etc.

I am a big fan of Enrique's simply because for the first time in over 20 years we have a regular left back who seems to know what he's doing.