Abel Xavier Biography

Name
Abel Xavier

Date of birth
November 30, 1972

Place of birth
Nampula, Mozambique

Abel Xavier Detailed Biography

Abel Lu�s da Silva Costa Xavier(born November 30, 1972 in Nampula, Mozambique) is a professional footballer and international for Portugal.

Xavier debuted in the Portuguese top division with Estrela da Amadora, which would later earn him a transfer to Lisbon giants SL Benfica. He helped the team lift the championship in 1994, and a season after, was traded to lowly Serie A side AS Bari. This stint with the Italian club started a series of quick 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 starting 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 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 Sylvain Wiltord near the post in the dying seconds of golden goal overtime with his hand. As Zinedine Zidane scored the penalty and put France in the final, several players, including Xavier, chased the linesman. While not sent-off for the penalty or the incident, Xavier was banned for nine months, later reduced to six. In the 2002 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 in the squad once the Dutchman was sold to PSV Eindhoven. Following the UEFA Cup tie against FC Xanthi, Xavier was administered a drugs test and failed. On November 23, 2005 he was found guilty of using a banned substance by a UEFA tribunal in Nyon, the tribunal decided to ban him from professional football for a period of 18 months. Xavier appealed the decision but on December 21 UEFA turned down the appeal.

Xavier is widely regarded as a utility back player but fits the role of a holding midfielder when the necessity arises. Although still regarded as one of the original stalwarts of the Portuguese National team, Xavier's reputation as a footballer has waned and he will, probably, largely be remembered as one of the many players who never fulfilled their potential.

Source: netglimse.com