Ex-Liverpool forward El Hadji Diouf named sporting director of Senegalese club Guediawaye FC

Former Liverpool man El Hadji Diouf has been named sporting director of ambitious Senegalese second-tier club Guediawaye FC.

The 39-year-old, who was never far from controversy during and after his Premier League career, retired from football in 2015 but has continued to work in the game in an ambassadorial role.

Diouf will now link-up with Guediawaye with the aim of helping the Dakar-based side gain promotion to the Senegal Premier League.

The club have a long-term project in place and hope to establish themselves as a top-flight side.

'We have new mechanisms in place to move forward, with a management team, a college for the management of the club.' club communication chief Malick Sy told Lesolei.sn.

'In the college, the novelty is the creation of a position of Sports Director for which we negotiated and obtained the appointment of El Hadj Ousseynou Diouf.'

Sy also said the club are eyeing a place in a continental competition in three years’ time, with a five-year target of having a full training centre.

As well as playing for Liverpool, Diouf spent time at Blackburn, Bolton, Leeds United, Sunderland, Doncaster and Rangers. He also had spells in France and finished his career with Malaysian side Sabah FC.

Gerard Houllier first brought the forward to England with Liverpool signing him for £10million in 2002.

However, Diouf struggled in Merseyside with just six goals in his first season and none in his second. He also had a furious fall-out with captain Steven Gerrard.

Controversy followed Diouf around throughout his career in England and Scotland with incidents involving spitting at fans, drink-driving and mocking injured players.

Diouf had much more success at international level. He was part of golden generation that helped Senegal finish as runners-up at the 2002 Africa Cup of Nations, before helping the country stun France at the 2002 World Cup.

Since his retirement, Diouf has assisted Senegal coach Aliou Cisse with the training of the national team on a part-time basis.