Aly Dia (born 20 August 1965), commonly known as Ali Dia, is a Senegalese former professional footballer who played as a striker.

In November 1996, Dia convinced Graeme Souness, the Southampton manager, that he was the cousin of FIFA World Player of the Year and Ballon d'Or winner George Weah, which led to him signing a one-month contract with Southampton days later. Dia played only one match in his short spell at the club. He came on as a substitute in a league game, but was then himself substituted, only playing for 53 minutes. He was subsequently released, 14 days into his contract.

Career

After a playing career at the lower levels in France and Germany, and having already failed trials at Gillingham, Bournemouth and Rotherham United, playing once in a reserve game for the last, Dia joined non-league club Blyth Spartans, where he made only one substitute appearance – on 9 November 1996 in a Northern Premier League game against Boston United.

Days later, Dia was signed by Southampton manager Graeme Souness, after Souness received a phone call purporting to be from Liberian international and then-FIFA World Player of the Year George Weah. "Weah" told Souness that Dia was his cousin and had played for Paris Saint-Germain as well as 13 times for his country and should give him a chance at Southampton. None of this was true and the phone call to Souness was a hoax. Souness was convinced and, without any due diligence, Dia was signed on a one-month contract. However, it is disputed who made the initial call to Souness. Some sources state it was Dia's friend from university, and it has also been suggested that it was Dia himself who made the call. It was later reported that the same stunt had been pulled on Gillingham, who offered Dia a trial, but was let go by manager Tony Pulis who said that Dia was "rubbish". Harry Redknapp, then manager of West Ham United, also received the same call but dismissed it as "a wind-up". Leeds won the match 2–0. Le Tissier said: "He ran around the pitch like Bambi on ice; it was very embarrassing to watch."

Dia was released by Southampton two weeks into his contract. A day after his Gateshead debut, his George Weah hoax was revealed in the national media. A 2015 article from Bleacher Report stated that Dia had also successfully pulled the same ruse on FinnPa and VfB Lübeck. He left both clubs following poor playing performances. He received a Master of Business Administration from San Francisco State University in 2003. He was named at Number 1 in a list of "The 50 worst footballers" in The Times and on ESPN's ranking of the 50 worst transfers in Premier League history.

See also

References

  • Premier League Record
  • The Search for Ali Dia Legendary Football Hoaxster Turned Houdini (Menary, Steve: 15 October 2015)