| Intro | Scottish footballer |
| Is |
Athlete Football player Association football player |
| From | United Kingdom |
| Type | Sports |
| Gender | male |
| Birth | 12 March 1985, Alexandria, West Dunbartonshire, Scotland, United Kingdom |
| Age: | 35 years |
Alexander Kevin “Zander” Diamond (born 12 March 1985 in Alexandria) is a Scottish professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Mansfield Town. Diamond began his career with Scottish Premier League club Aberdeen, before moving to Oldham Athletic in 2011. On 20 February 2014, he joined Northampton Town on a 93-day emergency loan. He won twelve caps for Scotland under-21s.
Club career
Aberdeen
Diamond graduated from the youth team in his first full season and made his League debut against Dundee United at Tannadice, coming on as a substitute at half time in 2003–04 season. He made his first start for the club in a Scottish League Cup match v Dumbarton on September 2004. Later in the same season, he scored his first senior goal for the club in a 3–1 win against Kilmarnock at Pittodrie. He won the “Young Player of the Month” award for February. In the 2005–06 season, Jimmy Calderwood was appointed Aberdeen manager. He quickly tied Diamond down on a long-term contract after his partnership with Aberdeen captain Russell Anderson helped the club narrowly miss out on European qualification.
However, in season 2007–08, Aberdeen qualified for the UEFA cup group section after beating Dnipro on away goals. They were drawn in Group B against Panathanaikos, Lokomotiv Moscow, Atletico Madrid and FC Copenhagen. Diamond scored in the 1–1 draw against Lokomotiv Moscow, Branislav Ivanovic scoring the equaliser. After qualifying from the group, they faced Bayern Munich in the last 32, drawing 2–2 at Pittodrie in the first leg. They went out on aggregate 7–3 after a 5–1 defeat in the Allianz Arena.
On 18 January 2009, he achieved the feat of scoring twice against Celtic in an SPL match at Pittodrie which Aberdeen won 4–2. Diamond made 249 appearances for Aberdeen, scoring 19 goals.
Oldham Athletic
On 13 July 2011, Diamond signed a one-year contract with Oldham Athletic. His first goal for the club on 30 July 2011 came with a headed goal against Fleetwood Town in a pre–season friendly, which Oldham Athletic won, 1–0. He made his competitive club debut on the first day of the 2011–12 season, starting the Football League match against Sheffield United.
Burton Albion
On 5 June 2012, Diamond signed with League Two club Burton Albion.
He made his debut against Sheffield United at Bramall Lane in the first round of the League Cup, which Burton won on penalties. Diamond scored his first goal for the club in a 6–2 home win against AFC Wimbledon. After finishing 4th, the highest in the clubs history in the Football League, they were beaten in the playoffs by eventual winners Bradford City. On 26 May, Burton called him back to play in their Play-Off Final game against Fleetwood Town. He started on the bench but came on as a sub.
Northampton Town
On 21 February 2014, Diamond joined League Two side Northampton Town on loan for the remainder of the 2013–14 season.
On 7 May 2014, Diamond signed a three-year contract for the Cobblers after a successful loan spell with the club. The move became effective at the start of pre-season.
Mansfield Town
Diamond joined Mansfield Town on 12 May 2017.
International career
Diamond has captained the Scottish under-21 international side, winning 12 caps and scoring once, between 2004 and 2006.
Career statistics
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | League Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Aberdeen | 2002–03 | Scottish Premier League | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2003–04 | Scottish Premier League | 19 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 26 | 2 | |
| 2004–05 | Scottish Premier League | 29 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 31 | 4 | |
| 2005–06 | Scottish Premier League | 33 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 37 | 0 | |
| 2006–07 | Scottish Premier League | 21 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 21 | 0 | |
| 2007–08 | Scottish Premier League | 26 | 3 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 1 | 41 | 5 | |
| 2008–09 | Scottish Premier League | 28 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 32 | 4 | |
| 2009–10 | Scottish Premier League | 16 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 3 | |
| 2010–11 | Scottish Premier League | 32 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 41 | 1 | |
| Total | 205 | 16 | 23 | 1 | 13 | 1 | 7 | 1 | 248 | 19 | ||
| Oldham Athletic | 2011–12 | League One | 23 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 31 | 2 |
| Burton Albion | 2012–13 | League Two | 37 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 44 | 5 |
| 2013–14 | League Two | 10 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 11 | 1 | |
| Total | 47 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 55 | 6 | ||
| Northampton Town | 2013–14 | League Two | 14 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 1 |
| 2014–15 | League Two | 21 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 23 | 1 | |
| 2015–16 | League Two | 39 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 42 | 2 | |
| 2016–17 | League One | 39 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 45 | 0 | |
| Total | 113 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 125 | 4 | ||
| Mansfield Town | 2017–18 | League Two | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Career total | 388 | 26 | 36 | 3 | 23 | 1 | 12 | 0 | 459 | 30 | ||