Fabien Barthez

Fabien Barthez

Barthez with Olympique de Marseille in 2006
Personal information
Full name Fabien Alain Barthez
Date of birth (1971-06-28) 28 June 1971
Place of birth Lavelanet, France
Height 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)[1]
Playing position Goalkeeper
Youth career
1986–1990 Toulouse
Senior career*
Years Team Apps† (Gls)†
1990–1992 Toulouse 26 (0)
1992–1995 Marseille 106 (0)
1995–2000 AS Monaco 143 (0)
2000–2004 Manchester United 92 (0)
2003–2004 → Marseille (loan) 20 (0)
2004–2006 Marseille 54 (0)
2006–2007 Nantes 14 (0)
Total 455 (0)
National team
1994–2006 France 87 (0)

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.

† Appearances (goals)

Fabien Alain Barthez[1] (French pronunciation: ​[fa.bjɛ̃ baʁ.tɛz]; born 28 June 1971)[1] is a retired French footballer who won honours as a goalkeeper with Marseille, Manchester United and the French national team, with whom he won the 1998 FIFA World Cup and Euro 2000 and reached the final of the 2006 World Cup. He shares the record for the most World Cup finals clean sheets with Peter Shilton, with 10. In club football he won the Champions League as well as several Ligue 1 and Premier League titles.

Club career

Marseille

Born in Lavelanet, France, Barthez made his first division debut for Toulouse on 21 September 1991, against Nancy. He joined Marseille in 1992, and won both the French championship and the Champions League at the end of his first season in Marseille. The 1993 victory made him the youngest goalkeeper to win a Champions League title until Iker Casillas did so in 2000. However, Marseille would be stripped of their domestic title, though not of the Champions League crown, due to their involvement in a domestic match fixing scandal, and a year later (1994) would suffer a forced relegation to the second division due to a related financial bankruptcy. He stayed with the club in Division 2 for the 1994–95 season despite many offers from elite French clubs.[2]

AS Monaco

In 1995, Barthez joined AS Monaco and won Ligue 1 titles in 1997 and 2000. He also played in Jean Tigana's talented Monaco side which famously put his future club Manchester United out of the Champions League in 1998 on away goals after a 1–1 draw at Old Trafford.[3]

Manchester United

As a result of Barthez's success in the World Cup and the Euros, he caught the attention of Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson, who was searching for a star goalkeeper to replace the recently departed Peter Schmeichel, as Ferguson did not think that the previous season's keeper, Mark Bosnich was a long-term replacement. Barthez joined United for £7.8 million in 2000.[4] He was later reunited with national team-mate Laurent Blanc who joined Manchester United in 2001.[5] The Barthez-Blanc head-kissing ritual was performed at the start of Champions League matches.

Well known for being eccentric,[6] Barthez started out well for Manchester United. His first season was a triumph as he answered all the questions about how he would handle rainy Manchester compared to sunny Monaco. Barthez performed brilliantly throughout the season and became a crowd favourite. The fans loved his eccentric behaviour, his taunting dribbles and step-overs past opposing strikers, and most importantly, his remarkable reaction saves. Very often it was critical saves that kept United from defeat or dropping valuable points, helping United to the 2000–01 FA Premier League title, their third in a row. A memorable incident happened when Manchester United faced Leeds United in March 2001. Barthez deliberately kicked out with his foot at Ian Harte, who fell to the floor, on the edge of six yard box, and the referee awarded a penalty to Leeds. Harte stepped up but Barthez made a low, one-handed save to his right.[7] The only blemish in his first season was his failed attempt at "psyching out" West Ham United's Paolo Di Canio in the FA Cup Fourth Round; Di Canio beat the offside trap, while Barthez stood still with his hand up expecting the referee to blow his whistle, or Di Canio to stop.[8] Di Canio continued and scored the only goal of the game,[9][10] and later said it was "better to score and then see whether the goalkeeper is right or wrong".[11]

The 2001–02 season was split into two parts for him. The first half was a nightmare. The Frenchman seemed to be taking some unnecessary risks outside his penalty area, and his antics began to have consequences that allowed unneeded goals for opposing teams. He was at fault for two goals in a 3–2 home defeat by Deportivo La Coruña in October 2001.[12] Ferguson said how "eventually he will get caught out" and it wouldn't happen again.[13] But another couple of late errors against Arsenal in a 3–1 defeat at Highbury the following month put much pressure on Barthez, with two goals gifted to Thierry Henry.[14] There was much speculation as to what was the source of Barthez's decline, and critics such as the BBC's Phil McNulty urged him to be dropped.[15] However, Sir Alex Ferguson had faith in his goalkeeper and stuck by him. Consequently, in the second half of the season, Barthez repaired his reputation with consistent, solid performances and the spectacular saves that he was famous for. His turn in fortunes was shown in a 2–2 draw with Derby County at Pride Park. Derby forward Malcolm Christie looked to have sealed his hat-trick, but referee Steve Dunn controversially disallowed the goal, ruling that kicked the ball out of Barthez's hands.[16]

He was also noted for playing mind games before opposition players took a penalty. The first time this occurred was in November 2001 when Leicester City came to Old Trafford. As Muzzy Izzet prepared to take a penalty, Barthez stood aside from the goal, with his hands behind him on the post.[17] Izzet, tired of waiting, slotted the ball in the bottom corner, but referee Andy D'Urso made him retake the penalty, this time with Barthez in goal. Izzet went the same way, but Barthez denied him with a fine save to his right.[18] An almost identical incident happened less than a year later in October 2002, when Barthez was unhappy about the awarding of a penalty to Fulham, and so went from post to post banging his boots, and refused to be in goal for the penalty. This time he was booked for his antics by referee Mike Dean, and so he then he took his place between the posts and made it work again by saving Steed Malbranque's spot kick.[19]

The 2002–03 season ended with another Premier League crown for United. The season was a mixed bag for Barthez. One highlight was a fabulous save to deny Dietmar Hamann's 30-yard rocket at Anfield against Liverpool, as United held on to win 2–1. In other games, he let goals go past him that shouldn't have. Barthez was also widely criticized in United's exit to Real Madrid in the Champions League, especially for Ronaldo's opener which beat him at the near post.[20] It would prove to be his last ever game with United as Sir Alex Ferguson's patience had finally run out. Barthez was dropped for the final three games of the season, with Roy Carroll taking his place.

Return to Marseille

In October 2003, after American newcomer Tim Howard won the starting goalkeeper's job from Barthez, United agreed to release Barthez from his contract at Old Trafford after the 2003–04 season, and also agreed to loan Barthez out to Marseille for the remainder of that season. However, FIFA blocked the loan deal on the grounds that it was not agreed upon within the international transfer window. The two clubs agreed on a loan deal after the transfer window reopened on 1 January 2004, and Barthez joined Marseille soon afterwards. On 27 April, Marseille and Barthez agreed to a two-and-a-half-year contract which would keep him at the club until spring 2006.

Barthez was involved in a controversy during a friendly match between OM and Morocco's Wydad Casablanca on 12 February 2005.[21] With 10 minutes left, an OM player was sent off, and a brawl erupted between players on the pitch. Barthez was reported for spitting on the Moroccan referee. On 21 April, Barthez was summoned to a hearing before the disciplinary committee of the French Football Federation; the following day, he received a six-month suspension, with the last three months being suspended. In an unusual move, the federal council of the FFF appealed the suspension, arguing that the punishment should have been for a minimum of six full months. Eventually, his suspension was extended to six full months due to political pressures.

Retirement

On 8 August 2006, Barthez announced he was still hoping to play professional football for another two years, insisting he was also looking to continue his career in the French international setup. His ideal scenario would have been a return to first club Toulouse, where he could be close enough to allow him to take care of his sick mother. But he said if he did not have a club by 31 August he would not carry on with football. On 5 October 2006 it was confirmed that he had retired from football, having failed to agree a return to Toulouse. Barthez commented: "The only club I wanted to go to was not so happy to have me. It happens and you have to live with it."[22]

Comeback

Barthez playing for Nantes against St. Etienne in 2006.

On 17 December 2006, Barthez announced his return to football by signing a contract with French Ligue 1 side FC Nantes Atlantique,[23] who were lacking an experienced goalkeeper following Mickaël Landreau's move to Paris Saint-Germain the previous summer. Serb goalkeeper Vladimir Stojković, originally recruited to replace Landreau, failed to impress and left Nantes at the winter break following a rift within the squad.

On 29 April, Nantes chairman Rudi Roussillon announced that following an altercation with a Nantes fan, Barthez had left the city with his family. The next day, Barthez confirmed that he had quit the team,[24] and the club terminated his contract. Barthez denied that he was planning to retire, and in an article for French daily L'Équipe, he said that he was looking for another contract for at least two years. Since then Barthez has been linked with numerous clubs but nothing has ever materialised and he had to face never playing professional football again.

Luzenac

In 2012, Barthez became the honorary president of Championnat National team US Luzenac, where he personally picked Quentin Westberg and Nicolas Dieuze to sign for the club.[25]

International career

Early international career

On 26 May 1994, he won his first cap for France against Australia. Though Barthez was understudy to Bernard Lama at Euro 1996 – at which France reached the semi-finals – he gained the number one goalkeeping position shortly afterwards and would not relinquish it for a decade.

1998 World Cup

Main article: 1998 FIFA World Cup

In the 1998 World Cup which was hosted by his home country, Barthez conceded only two goals in seven games and won the Yashin Award as the best goalkeeper of the tournament.[26] Barthez was also well known during the tournament for letting teammate and good friend Laurent Blanc kiss his shaved head before the start of every match, supposedly for good luck. Barthez was an integral part of his national team's inaugural triumph which also made it the first time in 20 years that a host had won the World Cup; the highlight being a 3–0 clean sheet against defending champions Brazil in the finals. During the game, Barthez made a spectacular save on Brazilian superstar Ronaldo, doing his trademark leap/step-over the attacking striker to grab the ball, which injured Ronaldo in the process. Barthez was afterwards one of the most popular national players in France, second to Zinedine Zidane.

2000 European Championship

Two years later, Barthez was again the starter as his country won Euro 2000. It was the first time in over twenty years that a national team held both the World Cup and Euro titles, a feat last accomplished by West Germany in 1974. After that triumph, France held the top position in the FIFA World Rankings system from 2001 to 2002.

2002 and 2004 World Cup and Euro

He played on France's World Cup team again in 2002 in which they exited in the first round without winning a game or scoring a goal. He was also the starter in Euro 2004, saving David Beckham's penalty shot in the round robin, but France went out in the quarterfinals to eventual winners Greece.

2006 World Cup

Main article: 2006 FIFA World Cup

His place as starting goalkeeper in France's 2006 FIFA World Cup Campaign, in the face of a substantial public campaign in support of Grégory Coupet, was surprising to many, even more so given Coupet's flawless performance in the remainder of the World Cup qualifying campaign after Barthez's suspension. The decision was met with derision in the French press and also led to Coupet's walking out of the national squad before the tournament, though he was to return one day later. The move was viewed by some as a desire to keep the veterans of France's 1998 World Cup victory on the team. L'Equipe reported after the World Cup that Barthez would have walked out of the squad had he not been named the starter.

France had a slow start in the group stage, drawing their first two games and putting their playoff chances at risk. Fortunately, Barthez's team found their form and won their final round robin match 2–0 to advance to the next stage, where they upset heavily favoured Spain 3–1 in the round of 16.

In defeating Brazil, 1–0 on 1 July 2006, Barthez, having made only one save in the game, became the first keeper to blank the Brazilian team in consecutive World Cup finals matches, the first being the 1998 final (3–0). France is now one of only four nations (along with Italy, Argentina and the Netherlands) to have shut Brazil out twice in the World Cup finals, and the first to have done it in consecutive matches, both times with Barthez in goal.

Barthez again kept a clean sheet in the semi-final against Portugal (with Zinédine Zidane's penalty shot the winning goal), though he appeared in questionable form. A few minutes from time, he spectacularly spilled a free-kick which Luís Figo recovered, heading over the bar although unchallenged. He did, however, redeem himself in injury time when a French defender fumbled the ball, enabling a Portuguese player to mount a last-moment attack. Barthez scrambled out of the net and blocked the first shot.

During the final against Italy he briefly captained his team for the remainder of the second period of extra time after Zidane was sent off. During the penalty shootout, neither he nor his Italian counterpart Gianluigi Buffon made a save, and France striker David Trezeguet's missed shot ultimately proved decisive.

Motorsport career

After retiring from football in 2007, Barthez began a career in motorsport in 2008. He began competing at selected events in the Porsche Carrera Cup France that year with the team SOFREV Auto Sport Promotion. He also competed at two events in the THP Spider Cup. In 2009, he raced in a number of various motorsport series such as the French GT Championship, Bioracing Series and the Caterham Sigma Cup France as well as the Porsche Carrera Cup France. He continued to race in the FFSA GT Championship in 2010 and picked up his first podium in race 1 at Dijon-Prenois. In the 2012 season he won his first race in the FFSA series at the Circuito de Navarra in race two and finished seventh in the championship. In 2013 he was crowned French GT Champion alongside Morgan Moullin-Traffort, driving a Ferrari.[27]

In 2013 he also competed in the newly re-branded FIA GT Series alongside Gérard Tonelli in the Gentleman Trophy class with SOFREV ASP driving a GT3-spec Ferrari 458 Italia.

In February 2014 it was announced that Barthez would be entered into the 2014 24 Hours of Le Mans, driving Sofrev ASP's Ferrari 458.[28] Barthez and his co-drivers finished 29th overall and ninth in LMGTE Am class.

Honours

Club

Marseille
AS Monaco
Manchester United

International

Individual

Orders

Records

Statistics

Club Season League Cup League Cup Europe Other[32] Total
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Toulouse 1990–91 0000––0000
1991–92 26000––00260
Total 26000––00260
Marseille 1992–93 30000–10000400
1993–94 37010–4000420
1994–95 39000––00390
Total 106010–140001210
AS Monaco 1995–96 21010––00220
1996–97 36060––00420
1997–98 300120–10000520
1998–99 32060–-00380
1999–2000 240120–-00360
Total 1430370–100001900
Manchester United 2000–01 300100012010440
2001–02 320100015010490
2002–03 300204010000460
2003–04 000000000000
Total 9204040370201390
Marseille (loan) 2003–04 200110––00310
Marseille 2004–05 30050––00350
2005–06 240120––00360
Total 740280––001020
Nantes 2006–07 16000––00160
Total 14000––00140
Career total 455070040610205920

[33]

France national team
YearAppsGoals
199410
199510
199620
199750
1998120
199980
2000100
200150
200290
200390
2004100
200530
2006110
Total860

Racing record

FIA GT Series results

Year Class Team Car 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Pos. Points
2013 Gent. SOFREV Auto Sport Promotion Ferrari NOG
QR
15
 NOG
CR
20
 ZOL
QR		 ZOL
CR		 ZAN
QR		 ZAN
QR		 SVK
QR		 SVK
CR		 NAV
QR		 NAV
CR		 TBA
QR		 TBA
CR		 4th 31

24 Hours of Le Mans results

Year Team Co-drivers Car Class Laps Pos. Class
Pos.
2014 France Team Sofrev ASP France Anthony Pons
France Soheil Ayari		 Ferrari 458 Italia GT2 GTE
Am		 325 29th 9th

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 Hugman, Barry J., ed. (2003). The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2003/2004. Queen Anne Press. p. 38. ISBN 9-781852-916510.
  2. ↑ Dupuis, Maxime (6 October 2006). "Barthez en dix dates". Eurosport.fr. Eurosport. Retrieved 28 April 2011.
  3. ↑ "Monaco and bust for sorry United". The Independent. 19 March 1998. Retrieved 30 December 2014.
  4. ↑ "Man Utd confirm Barthez signing". BBC Sport (BBC). 31 May 2000. Retrieved 3 January 2014.
  5. ↑ "Man Utd seal Blanc deal". BBC Sport (BBC). 30 August 2001. Retrieved 3 January 2014.
  6. ↑ Lawton, James (27 November 2001). "Fabien Barthez: The goalkeeper's fear of losing it". The Independent (London: Independent Print). Retrieved 2 April 2010.
  7. ↑ "Barthez survives to save United". The Telegraph (Telegraph Media Group). 3 May 2001. Retrieved 3 January 2014.
  8. ↑ "Di Canio: Barthez did not fool me". BBC Sport (BBC). 29 January 2001. Retrieved 3 January 2014.
  9. ↑ "Di Canio sinks Man Utd". BBC Sport (BBC). 28 January 2001. Retrieved 3 January 2014.
  10. ↑ Lacey, David (29 January 2001). "Di Canio takes his chance". The Guardian (Guardian News and Media). Retrieved 3 January 2014.
  11. ↑ "Di Canio - Barthez didn't confuse my brain". The Guardian (Guardian News and Media). 29 January 2001. Retrieved 3 January 2014.
  12. ↑ "Champions League: United exposed by Barthez blunders". The Telegraph (Telegraph Media Group). 17 October 2001. Retrieved 3 January 2014.
  13. ↑ "Champions League: Ferguson gets tough on Barthez". The Telegraph (Telegraph Media Group). 18 October 2001. Retrieved 3 January 2014.
  14. ↑ "Barthez errors gift Arsenal win". BBC Sport (BBC). 25 November 2001. Retrieved 3 January 2014.
  15. ↑ "Fabien's follies". BBC Sport (BBC). 26 November 2001. Retrieved 3 January 2014.
  16. ↑ "Derby thwart Man Utd". BBC Sport (BBC). 3 March 2002. Retrieved 3 January 2014.
  17. ↑ "Ferguson strikes back". BBC Sport (BBC). 18 November 2001. Retrieved 3 January 2014.
  18. ↑ "Barthez stunt foxes Izzet". The Telegraph (Telegraph Media Group). 17 November 2001. Retrieved 3 January 2014.
  19. ↑ "United survive by playing the joker". The Guardian (Guardian News and Media). 21 October 2002. Retrieved 3 January 2014.
  20. ↑ "Ferguson defends decision". BBC Sport (BBC). 24 April 2003. Retrieved 2 April 2010.
  21. ↑ Da Costa, Philippe (6 October 2006). "Barthez, l'atypique". Eurosport.fr. Eurosport. Retrieved 28 April 2011.
  22. ↑ "Barthez announces his retirement". BBC Sport (BBC). 5 October 2006. Retrieved 2 April 2010.
  23. ↑ "Struggling Nantes lure Barthez from retirement". ESPN FC (ESPN Internet Ventures). 16 December 2006. Retrieved 3 January 2014.
  24. ↑ "Barthez quits Nantes after attack". BBC Sport (BBC). 30 April 2007. Retrieved 3 January 2014.
  25. ↑ "Fabien Barthez inspires tiny Luzenac to dream big". ESPN (BBC). 15 January 2014. Retrieved 30 January 2014.
  26. ↑ "1998 FIFA World Cup France". FIFA.com. FIFA. Retrieved 28 April 2011.
  27. ↑ "Former United star Barthez wins French GT Series". ESPN (UK). 29 October 2013. Retrieved 3 June 2014.
  28. ↑ Tremayne, Sam (3 June 2014). "Sebastien Loeb gets slot as 2014 Le Mans 24 Hours entry revealed". autosport.com. Retrieved 3 June 2014.
  29. ↑ http://www.rsssf.com/miscellaneous/franpoy.html
  30. ↑ "France honors World Cup winners – Government gives Legion of Honor to players, coaches". CNN/SI. 1 September 1998. Retrieved 20 July 2006.
  31. ↑ "Décret du 24 juillet 1998 portant nomination à titre exceptionnel". JORF 1998 (170): 11376. 25 July 1998. PREX9801916D. Retrieved 10 March 2009.
  32. ↑ Includes other competitive competitions, including the FA Community Shield, UEFA Super Cup, Intercontinental Cup, FIFA Club World Cup
  33. ↑ "Fabien Barthez". National Football Teams. Retrieved 28 April 2011.

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