Rabah Madjer

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Madjer scores the equalizer with his back-heel for FC Porto in the 1987 European Cup final
Madjer scores the equalizer with his back-heel for FC Porto in the 1987 European Cup final

Rabah Madjer (Arabic: رابح ماجر‎) (born February 15, 1958 in Hussein Dey) is a former Algerian footballer, playing as a striker, who reached stardom as a FC Porto player during the 1980s, and is considered the greatest Algerian football player of all time.

Madjer played for the Algerian national team for 14 years, from 1978 to 1992, and was present at the 1982 and 1986 FIFA World Cup finals. He's still the top scorer of the national team, with 40 goals in 87 games. His most famous goal came in Algeria's 2-1 win over West Germany in the 1982 World Cup, when he opened the scoring in the 53rd minute.

He started his european career in 1983, playing for RCF Paris, for one and a half season, then for half a season with Tours FC. He arrived at FC Porto in 1985/86, and the next season, scored the equalizer with a back-heel to help give Porto the 1986-87 European Cup title over Bayern Munich in one of the most memorable finals. Pele is believed to have said of this goal "It would have been the greatest goal i have ever seen, if he had not looked back at it." He also scored and won the Intercontinental Cup, the same year, and the title of National Champion for 1987/88. He moved to Valencia C.F. that year, lasting only a few months, and returned to F.C. Porto until his retirement in 1990/91.

After retiring, Madjer started a football manager career. He coached the Algerian national team, FC Porto's reserves, and Qatar clubs Al Saad, Al Wakrah, and Al Rayyan. He was also the coach of an African all-star selection to play against a team of the "rest of the world".[citation needed]

He started a career as a commentator in Qatar, for the local channel Al-Jazeera Sports.


Flag of Algeria Algeria squad - 1982 FIFA World Cup Flag of Algeria

1 Cerbah | 2 Guendouz | 3 Kouici | 4 Kourichi | 5 Merzekane | 6 Bencheikh | 7 Assad | 8 Fergani | 9 Bensaoula | 10 Belloumi | 11 Madjer | 12 Larbes | 13 Yahi | 14 Zidane | 15 Dahleb | 16 Mansouri | 17 Horr | 18 Maroc | 19 Tlemcani | 20 Bourebbou | 21 Amara | 22 Bentaala | Coach: Khalef

Flag of Algeria Algeria squad - 1986 FIFA World Cup Flag of Algeria

1 Drid | 2 Guendouz | 3 Chebal | 4 Kourichi | 5 Liegeon | 6 Kaci Said | 7 Assad | 8 Maroc | 9 Menad | 10 Belloumi | 11 Madjer | 12 Bensaoula | 13 Harkouk | 14 Zidane | 15 Sadmi | 16 Mansouri | 17 Ben Khalidi | 18 Benmabrouk | 19 Chaib | 20 Megharia | 21 El Hadi | 22 Amara | Coach: Saadane