A product of the famous Auxerre youth system, Djibril Cissé got his first taste of Ligue 1 action as a 17-year-old in 1999 but it was 2000-01 season that he exploded onto the French football scene, scoring eight goals in 25 League games.

The following year Auxerre Coach Guy Roux gambled on building his side around a talented, fashion-conscience 20-year-old that appeared to change hair colour as often as he changed his socks.

Of course, those that know French football know that Guy Roux was no fool and Cissé didn’t let him down.

Auxerre developed a formidable counterattacking football that over the course of the 2001-02 season which revolved around one basic rule: give the ball to Djibril. Cissé topped the Ligue 1 scoring charts with 22 goals in just 29 games and found himself on the plane to Japan and South Korea with Les Bleus.

Blisteringly quick and possessing a ferocious shot, Cissé also gained something of a reputation for scoring spectacular goals. Volleys, headers, bicycle kicks and thunderous free-kicks… they flowed from the multi-coloured boots of Cissé during his six seasons in Bourgogne.

However, 2004 was a bittersweet year for Cissé. He finished top scorer in France for the second time, scoring an impressive 26 goals in his last season with Auxerre which also brought a Coupe de France winners’ medal from the Stade de France. However Cissé was sent off for violent conduct during an Under-21 international against Portugal and received a four-match ban from FIFA which effectively ruled him out of France’s Euro 2004 squad.

His disappointment soon had a new focus as he broke his right leg after just a handful of matches for his new club Liverpool. The horrific break threatened to end his career – there was even talk of amputation at one point – but Cissé determination saw him back on the playing field before the season’s end. And what an end it was.

Liverpool were crowned Kings of Europe with their heart-stopping penalty shootout win over AC Milan. Cissé scored a penalty in the thrilling shoot-out, an amazing comeback less than nine months after being carried off the field on a stretcher.

Cissé has played 25 times for France, scoring eight goals, but faces tough competition for a starting role behind proven international strikers Thierry Henry and David Trezeguet.