Fabien Barthez

Fabien Alain Barthez (born 28 June 1971 in Lavelanet, France) is the current goalkeeper for the French Ligue 1 football club Olympique de Marseille. With the French national team, he won the {{Wc|1998}} and {{Ec2|2000}}.

Related Topics:
28 June - 1971 - Lavelanet - France - Goalkeeper - Ligue 1 - Football - Olympique de Marseille - French national team

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He made his first division debut for Toulouse on 21 September 1991, against Nancy. He joined Olympique Marseille in 1992, and won both the French championship and the Champions League at the end of his first season in Marseille. However, OM 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 unrelated financial irregularities.

Related Topics:
Toulouse - 21 September - 1991 - Nancy - Olympique Marseille - 1992 - Champions League - Match fixing - 1994

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On 26 May 1994, he won his first cap for France against Australia. In the 1998 World Cup triumph, he conceded two goals in seven games in his home country. Barthez was also well-known during the tournament for letting teammate and good friend Laurent Blanc kiss his head before the start of every match, supposedly for good luck. Two years later, Barthez was again the starter as his country won Euro 2000. He played on France's World Cup team again in 2002, when they were knocked out in the first round, and in {{Ec2|2004}}, when they were knocked out in the quarterfinals.

Related Topics:
26 May - France - Australia - Laurent Blanc - 2002

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In 1995, Barthez joined AS Monaco and won the French title in 1997 and 2000. He joined Manchester United for GBP 7.8 million in 2000 and won English Premier League championships with United in 2001 and 2003.

Related Topics:
1995 - AS Monaco - French - 1997 - 2000 - Manchester United - GBP - English Premier League - 2001 - 2003

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Well known for being eccentric, he started out well for Manchester United. However, numerous blunders, including a notorious one against Deportivo La Coruña, has led to people making many jokes of him. Though he is regarded as a goalkeeper with great skills, Sir Alex Ferguson, manager of United, eventually decided to replace him.

Related Topics:
Deportivo La Coruña - Alex Ferguson - Manager

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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 Olympique 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 Olympique Marseille soon afterwards. On 27 April, Olympique de Marseille and Barthez agreed to a two-year contract which will keep him at the club until spring 2006.

Related Topics:
October 2003 - American - Tim Howard - Old Trafford - 2003 - 04 - FIFA - Transfer window - 1 January - 27 April - 2006

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Barthez is currently involved in a controversy due to his actions during a friendly match between OM and a Moroccan club on 12 February 2005. 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.

Related Topics:
Moroccan - 12 February - 2005 - Sent off - Referee - 21 April - French Football Federation

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