Ibrahim Tall

Ibrahim Tall (born 23 June 1981) is a Senegalese international footballer who plays for FC Meyrin. He is a versatile defender capable of playing either right back or centre back.

Club Career

Early career

Tall was born in Aubervilliers, Paris. He started his career with CS Louhans-Cuiseaux before moving to FC Sochaux-Montbeliard in 2002. He soon became a regular for the Montbeliard club, making over 70 first team appearances and helping them to win the 2004 Coupe de la Ligue. He also participated in the Montbeliard club's runs to the 2004 UEFA Cup quarter-finals and the 2003 Coupe de la Ligue Final.

Hearts

Tall moved to Hearts in August 2005 in controversial circumstances, with tabloids speculating that he was signed by club owner Vladimir Romanov, against the wishes of then head coach George Burley. Commenting on the signings of Tall and Brazilian Samuel Camazzola, Burley himself would only admit that the situation was "not ideal". Tall then appeared to become the victim of internal club politics as, despite his reported £8,000 per week salary, he spent the first 7 months of his Hearts career either sitting on the bench or in the stand.

An injury to Jose Goncalves and the omission from the team of Andy Webster, due to a contract dispute with the club, eventually allowed Tall to make his competitive debut, as a substitute, in the 2–0 victory over Kilmarnock on 15 April. After this, he formed a solid defensive partnership with club captain Steven Pressley during the final weeks of the 2005–06 season and ended it on a positive note, when he collected his first senior medal as Hearts defeated Gretna in the Scottish Cup final.

On 26 July, Tall scored his first competitive goal for Hearts, in the club's first game in Europe's elite club competition, the UEFA Champions League. His strike against Bosnian club NK Siroki Brijeg helped his side to a 3–0 aggregate victory.

On 15 May 2008, it was announced that Tall had left Hearts.