Name: Abdoulaye Faye
Position: Centre Back/Centre Midfield
Date of Birth: 26/2/1978
Nationality: Senegalese
Place of Birth: Dakar
Squad Number: 25
Nickname: Abdy, Abby, Big Faye, Happiness, Senegalese Colossus #3
Former Clubs: ASEC Ndiambour, Jeanne d’Arc, RC Lens, Istres, Bolton, Newcastle
Joined Stoke: 2008 (£2.25 million)
Very occasionally, a footballer comes along who means so much more to his club’s fans than just watching him play. Even more rarely a player will find a club where they are truly happy to play, the atmosphere, welcome of the fans and camaraderie of it eclipsing any thoughts of personal promotion. Abdoulaye Faye fits both these categories. In short, he is a hero.
A strong, calm and stylish and surprisingly pacy centre back, he is probably the best player to have pulled on a Stoke shirt since the glory days of the early 1970s. In just one season with the club to date, he has left a deep lasting impression on the fans with his top quality performances and clear passion.
Too many defenders are simply over-pumped brutes, who are in the side solely to win headers and hoof the ball. While Faye is more than capable of doing this with the best of them, there is far more to his game that just that. He teases strikers with moments of skill in possession at the back, and supports his teammates with surging runs from midfield, all of which making him a very entertaining player to watch.
On top of this, consciously or not, when he is done entertaining his fans with his football, he continues to do so with his passionate celebrations. On scoring a last minute equaliser away at Newcastle in December 2008, rather than showing respect for his former club, he charged the full length of the St. James’ Park pitch with his finger to his lips to celebrate in front of the jubilant Stoke fans. At the final whistle at home against Blackburn four months later, Stoke’s win having virtually confirmed survival, he ran a lap of honour of the Britannia Stadium, clear delight etched on his dominant features. These are just two of the wonderful moments Abdoulaye Faye has given us, and are two of the most vivid memories I now hold from years of watching Stoke City.
Soon to be announced as the new club captain and the reigning player of the year, all we can do is hope that he continues to play for Stoke for many years to come.
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