Players - Abel Xavier

Abel Xavier
Birthdate: 30 November 1972
Birthplace: Nampula, Mozambique
Nationality: Portugal
Other clubs: Estrela Amadora (1987-1993), Benfica (1993-95), Bari (1995-96), Real Oviedo (1996-98), PSV Eindhoven (1998-99), Everton (1999-2002), Galatasaray (loan 2003), Hannover 96 (2004), AS Roma (2005), Middlesbrough (2005-07), LA Galaxy (2007-08)
Signed from: Everton
Signed for LFC: £750,000, 30.01.2002
International caps: Portugal 20/2 - 2002
Liverpool debut: 09.02.2002
Last appearance: 04.12.2002
Debut goal: 09.02.2002
Last goal: 09.04.2002
Contract expiry: 02.02.2004
Win ratio: 57.14% W:12 D:6 L:3
Games/goals ratio: 10.5
Games/assists ratio: 7
Total games/goals opposite LFC: 5 / 0
League games / goals / assists: 14 / 1 / 3
Total games / goals / assists: 21 / 2 / 3

Player Profile

Xavier had as colourful a career as his hairstyles suggested. He played in seven countries; Portugal, the Netherlands, Italy, Spain, England, Turkey and the USA. His international career was anything but usual as well. He played no less than 21 times for the Under-21s before making his bow with the senior team at twenty years of age. He played three more internationals in 1992-1993 but his fifth came five years later. He got to the semi-finals of Euro 2000 with Portugal but deep into extra-time, he handled the ball in the penalty area in the game against France and Zidane scored the deciding penalty. Xavier went ballistic and his remonstrations to the referee got him a six months suspension from international football. 

Nick Barmby crossed the great divide at Stanley Park in 2001 and Xavier became the second player in recent history to join Liverpool from Everton. Xavier made a decent start. He didn't score in 49 games for the Blues but it took him only 16 minutes to score on his debut for Liverpool at Ipswich. He became the seventy-fifth player in Liverpool's history to score on his debut but he was the first defender to do so since Alec Lindsay in 1969. Xavier enjoyed a good run in the side that Phil Thompson was managing in Houllier's absence and kept his place once Houllier returned. He was also in the starting line-up at the beginning of the 2002/03 season but then he dropped out of the first-team picture. Xavier was loaned out to Galatasaray in Turkey in January and Houllier stated emphatically he was not to return.

Xavier failed to guarantee a contract in Turkey, but in January 2004 he got himself a permanent move to Hannover 96 where his fitness was questioned and told to leave after only a three month's stay. AS Roma was next to try him out in January 2005 but he didn't impress and only played three games in the Seria A. Xavier returned to English football with Middlesbrough in August 2005. After failing a drugs test after the UEFA Cup tie against Greek club Xanthi on 29 September 2005 he was out of the game for 14 months. He had tested positive for an anabolic steroid. Xavier was still under contract at Boro and made 20 appearances in the 2005/06 season. Xavier's next stop was the USA where he played one year alongside David Beckham for Los Angeles Galaxy from 2007-2008. On 22 December 2009 Xavier announced his retirement from professional football. He subsequently converted to Islam and changed his name to Faisal Xavier. He said: 'It's an emotional goodbye and I hope to participate in something very satisfying in a new stage of my life. In moments of grief, I have found comfort in Islam. Slowly, I learned a religion that professes peace, equality, freedom and hope. These are foundations with which I identify.'"

Between 2013 and 2015 Xavier managed Olhanense, Farense and Desportivo Aves in Portugal. In January 2016 he was appointed as manager of the Mozambique national side but was let go in 2019 after coming close to qualifying for the Africa Cup of Nations. 
Appearances per season
Season League FA LC Europe Other Total
Totals 14 0 1 5 1 21
2001-2002 10 0 0 5 0 15
2002-2003 4 0 1 0 1 6
A more detailed look at the player's appearances
Apps Minutes Opponent
3 294 Ipswich Town
2 180 Newcastle United
2 180 Galatasaray
2 100 Blackburn Rovers
1 90 Everton
1 90 Southampton
1 90 Middlesbrough
1 90 Sunderland
1 90 Aston Villa
1 90 Fulham
1 90 Barcelona
1 90 Roma
1 77 Arsenal
1 75 Leverkusen
1 67 Tottenham
1 58 Chelsea
Total Started/substitutions
20 Started
2 On the bench
1 Substitute
5 Substituted
Total Venue
10 Away
10 Home
1 Neutral
Total Competition
14 Premier League
5 Champions League
1 Community Shield
1 League Cup
Total W D L Win % Manager
21 12 6 3 57.1% Gérard Houllier
Goals per season
Season League FA LC Europe Other Total
Totals 1 0 0 1 0 2
2001-2002 1 0 0 1 0 2
2002-2003 0 0 0 0 0 0
A more detailed look at the player's goalscoring
Total Opponent
1 Ipswich Town
1 Leverkusen
Total Started/substitutions
2 Started
0 Substitute
Total Competition
1 Champions League
1 Premier League
Total Goal minute period
1 16-30 minutes
1 31-45 minutes
Total Goal origin
2 Open play
Assists per season
Season League FA LC Europe Other Total
Totals 3 0 0 0 0 3
2001-2002 2 0 0 0 0 2
2002-2003 1 0 0 0 0 1
A more detailed look at the player's assists
Total Opponent
1 Ipswich Town
1 Blackburn Rovers
1 Fulham
Total Competition
3 Premier League
Total For player
1 Jari Litmanen
1 Danny Murphy
1 John Arne Riise
Milestone Appearances
# Date Against Stadium Competition
1 09.02.2002 Ipswich Town Portman Road League
Milestone Goals
# Minute Date Against Stadium Competition
1 16 09.02.2002 Ipswich Town Portman Road League
Related Articles
Abel Xavier converts to Islam and quits football at 37

The Portugal star now wants to go by the name of Faisal Xavier and will embark on humanitarian projects after failing to find a club.

Other Clubs
Club Season Club rank League apps League goals Total apps Total goals
Estrela Amadora 1990-1993 Portugal 1 and 2 85 5 85 5
Benfica 1993-1994 Portugal 1 24 1 32 1
Benfica 1994-1995 Portugal 1 21 3 26 3
AS Bari 1995-1996 Italy 1 8 0 8 0
Real Oviedo 1996-1997 Spain 1 27 0 27 0
Real Oviedo 1997-1998 Spain 1 31 0 31 0
PSV Eindhoven 1998-1999 Netherlands 1 19 2 24 2
Everton 1999-2000 England Premier League 20 0 24 0
Everton 2000-2001 England Premier League 11 0 12 0
Everton 2001-2002 England Premier League 12 0 14 0
Galatasaray 2002-2003 Turkey 1 11 0 11 0
Hannover 96 2003-2004 Germany 1 5 0 5 0
Roma 2004-2005 Italy 1 3 0 3 0
Middlesbrough 2005-2006 England Premier League 4 0 6 0
Middlesbrough 2006-2007 England Premier League 14 1 20 1
LA Galaxy 2007-2008 Major League Soccer 25 0 25 0
Total 320 12 353 12