Abel Xavier

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Abel Luís da Silva Costa Xavier, pron. IPA: [ɐ'bɛɫ ʃɐvi'ɛɾ], (born 30 November 1972 in Nampula, Mozambique, then a Portuguese province) is a professional footballer for Los Angeles Galaxy and a former international for Portugal.

[edit] Biography

Abel Xavier is a central defender and was a part of the squad for the Portugal national team that participated in U-17 world cup in Scotland.

Xavier debuted in the Portuguese top division with Estrela da Amadora. His play there earned him a transfer to Lisbon giants SL Benfica. He helped Benfica lift the league championship in 1994, and a season after, he moved to Serie A side AS Bari. This stint with the Italian club started a series of transfers across Europe: in 1996 Xavier was sent to Real Oviedo, then after two seasons he moved to PSV Eindhoven and then to Premiership club Everton, where he stayed for three years. Xavier was then sold to Merseyside rivals Liverpool where he stayed for two years, then started another set of one-year stints with Galatasaray (2002-2003), Hannover 96 (2003-2004) and finally AS Roma (2004-2005).

In the national team, Xavier missed Euro 96, but came back strong in Euro 2000, and became one of the key figures in the competition: not only due to playing some of his best football but also due to his eye-catching bleached hair and beard. In the semi-final against France he went from close to hero, as Fabien Barthez blocked what looked a sure goal, to a villain, when he deflected a shot by David Trezeguet near the post in the dying seconds of golden goal overtime with his hand. Zinedine Zidane scored the penalty and put France in the final. In the 2002 FIFA World Cup, he was part of the squad, but played only as a substitute in the final group stage match against Republic of Korea.

At the start of the 2005/2006 season Xavier was without a club but at the end of August signed for Middlesbrough F.C. to replace Michael Reiziger once the Dutchman was sold to PSV Eindhoven. Following the UEFA Cup tie against Skoda Xanthi, Xavier was administered a drugs test and failed. On 23 November 2005 he was found guilty of using the anabolic steroid Methandrostenolone (also known as dianabol). Although he has always denied any wrongdoing, the tribunal banned him from professional football for a period of 18 months. Xavier appealed the decision but on 21 December UEFA turned down the appeal. The ban got shortened to 12 months in June 2006, making him eligible to play again from November 2006. [1]

In the summer of 2006, Xavier began training with Middlesbrough and on 8 November 2006, was offered a contract with the club for the remainder of the 2006/2007 season.

On 14 May 2007, it was announced that he was to join Los Angeles Galaxy of Major League Soccer. He played in his first game with the Galaxy on 17 June 2007 against Real Salt Lake, registering an assist.

[edit] Honours

Winner

• 1993-94 Portuguese League Championship, with SL Benfica
• 1998-99 Dutch Super Cup, with PSV Eindhoven

Runner Up

• 2001-02 FA Premier League, with Liverpool FC
• 2002-03 Charity Shield, with Liverpool FC
• 2002-03 Turkish Premier Super League, with Galatasaray SK

[edit] Trivia

Trivia sections are discouraged under Wikipedia guidelines. The article could be improved by integrating relevant items and removing inappropriate ones.

• He is known for his eccentric hairstyles, one of which gaining the nickname of 'bogbrush' because of its resemblance to a toilet cleaning implement.
• Much-travelled, he has played for teams in Portugal, Italy, Spain, Holland, England, Turkey, Germany, and the United States
• Although many players have played for both Everton and Liverpool it is very rare for a player to be transferred directly from one to the other, partially due to the intense, yet largely friendly rivalry between the supporters of the two clubs. When Xavier made the move he became only the ninth first team player in a century to do so. As fate would have it Xavier, who never scored a goal during his three years on the blue half of Merseyside, scored in his first Merseyside derby for the reds.

[edit] See also

• List of current MLS players
• List of sportspeople sanctioned for doping offences

[edit] External links

• LA Galaxy Profile
• Abel Xavier career stats at Soccerbase
• FootballDatabase career stats
• SkySports.com - Abel back in Boro fold (08/11/06)

v • d • e Portugal squad - UEFA Euro 2000 Third Place 1 V. Baía • 2 J. Costa • 3 Rui Jorge • 4 Vidigal • 5 F. Couto • 6 P. Sousa • 7 Figo • 8 J. Pinto • 9 Sá Pinto • 10 Rui Costa • 11 S. Conceição • 12 P. Espinha • 13 Dimas • 14 Abel Xavier • 15 Costinha • 16 Beto • 17 P. Bento • 18 Pauleta • 19 Capucho • 20 Secretário • 21 Nuno Gomes • 22 Quim • Coach: H. Coelho

v • d • e Portugal squad - 2002 FIFA World Cup 1 V. Baía • 2 J. Costa • 3 A. Xavier • 4 Caneira • 5 F. Couto • 6 P. Sousa • 7 Figo • 8 J. Pinto • 9 Pauleta • 10 Rui Costa • 11 S. Conceição • 12 H. Viana • 13 J. Andrade • 14 P. Barbosa • 15 Nélson • 16 Ricardo • 17 P. Bento • 18 Frechaut • 19 Capucho • 20 Petit • 21 Nuno Gomes • 22 Beto • 23 Rui Jorge • Coach: A. Oliveira