Biography
Experienced central defender Abdoulaye Faye joined Hull City in July 2012, initially on a one year contract that was later extended to a second year. He slotted straight into the first team of newly appointed manager Steve Bruce and rapidly endeared himself to teammates and supporters with his full-throated commitment to crash tackles, thunderbolt headers and occasional goals. In early September 2012 he scored in three consecutive League victories that included matches against his former club Bolton Wanderers and a fine win at Leeds United’s Elland Road stadium. Bruce was able to pilot the Tigers to promotion by the end of the 2012/13 season and Faye was a critical part of that success.
Elevated to the Premier League, replacement defenders were acquired by the Tigers and Faye played infrequently, but despite losing a yard of pace he was adept and anticipation and interceptions. He played an important part in the early rounds of City’s FA Cup run that culminated in a Wembley final. Faye left the Tigers in May 2013 on expiry of his contract.
Abdoulaye Diagne-Faye was born and raised in the Rufisque suburb of bustling Senegalese capital Dakar. He played for two Dakar-based Senegalese league sides before his talent was spotted by French Ligue 1 side Lens, who acquired his services in July 2002. He debuted for Lens in August 2002 against SC Bastia and within a few weeks he was playing in a Champions League campaign against Milan, Deportivo la Coruna and Bayern Munich. He ended his first season at the Northern France side with 23 appearances and added a further 21 appearances the following term, taking his tally to 44 appearances in total for Lens. Faye spent the 2004/05 season in Southern France on loan at Ligue 1 rivals Istres FC where he made 28 appearances and turned in impressive performances that attracted the attention of English clubs.
In July 2005 Faye joined Premier League side Bolton Wanderers, initially on loan then permanently from December 2005. He made his debut against Newcastle United in August 2005 and quickly became a first choice centre back for Sam Allardyce’s side, scoring his first senior goal in December 2005 against Arsenal and helping the Trotters in their UEFA Cup campaign. He continued to impress during the 2006/07 season and when he played his last game for Bolton against Newcastle United in August 2007 he took his tally to three goals in 72 appearances.
With Allardyce having moved to become manager at Newcastle United in May 2007, rumours quickly circulated that Faye would follow his manager to St James’ Park. That move was completed at the end of August 2007 in return for a £2 million fee but by January 2008 Allardyce was gone and Faye, though still a first team choice for successor Kevin Keegan, was unsettled. He left Newcastle United in August 2008 after one goal for the Magpies in 24 appearances.
In August 2008 Faye joined newly promoted Premier League side Stoke City for a £2.25 million fee. Faye’s robust style of play suited the Potters’ manager Tony Pulis extremely well and for two seasons he was a key part of the Stoke City side that consolidated its place as a top flight club. He was used less frequently in the 2010/11 season and was an unused substitute for the May 2011 FA Cup Final that the Potters lost to Manchester City. This was Faye’s final involvement for Stoke City, he left the club in June 2011 having scored six goals in 84 appearances. In June 2011 Abdoulaye joined Championship side West Ham United, reuniting once again with former boss Sam Allardyce, in his sole season at Upton Park he made 29 appearances as the Hammers won promotion to the Premier League via the play-offs, though Faye had dropped out of the first team in early April 2012. He joined Hull City in July 2012.
After two years at Hull City Faye briefly signed for Malaysian side Sabah FC, scoring once in 21 appearances before drawing his playing career to a close in the summer of 2015.
Faye was a regular choice for the Senegal senior international side for many years. He made his international debut against Lesotho in September 2002, shortly after his move to France, and adding two more caps in subsequent weeks. After over a year out of the international squad Faye returned to the Senegal side in May 2004 and was a regular pick for the next four years, playing in the 2006 and 2008 editions of the African Cup of Nations finals and scoring goals in March 2005 against Liberia and January 2008 against Angola. He won his 37th and final cap for Senegal in May 2010 against Denmark.
Details
Nationality: Senegal
Date/Place of Birth: 26 February 1978, Dakar (Senegal)
Hull City First Game: 11 August 2012, Rotherham United H (League Cup 1st Round), 34 years, 167 days old
Hull City Final Game: 17 February 2014, Brighton & Hove Albion A (FA Cup Fifth Round), 35 years, 356 days old
Clubs
ASEC Ndiambour (1999-2001), Jeanne d’Arc (2001-2002), Lens (2002-2005), Istres (2004-2005, loan), Bolton Wanderers (2005, loan), Bolton Wanderers (2005-2007), Newcastle United (2007-2008), Stoke City (2008-2011), West Ham United (2011-2012), Hull City (2012-2014), Sabah FC (2014-2015)
Hull City Record
Career: 40 apps, 4 goals
Abdoulaye Faye| Season | LGE App | LGE Gls | FAC App | FAC Gls | FLC App | FLC Gls | EUR App | EUR Gls | OTH App | OTH Gls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012/13 | 28 (3) | 4 | – | – | 2 (0) | 0 | – | – | – | – |
| 2013/14 | 3 (0) | 0 | 3 (0) | 0 | 1 (0) | 0 | – | – | – | – |