Rabah Madjer

Mustapha Rabah Madjer (Arabic: رابح ماجر‎) (born December 15, 1958 in Hussein Dey, Algiers) is a former Algerian footballer.

A skilled striker, he reached stardom as a F.C. Porto player during the 1980s, and is widely regarded as one of the best Algerian football players of all time.^[1][2]

Club career

Madjer started his European career in 1983–84, moving to RCF Paris from NA Hussein Dey. He stayed there during one 1/2 seasons, finishing the 1984–85 campaign with another French side, Tours FC.

Madjer arrived at F.C. Porto in 1985–86 and, the next season, entered the club's history books in the European Cup final against FC Bayern Munich, scoring the 1–1 equalizer in a memorable final, which eventually ended 2–1 to the Portuguese.^[3] Pelé is believed to have said of this goal: "It would have been the greatest goal I have ever seen, if he had not looked back at it." He also scored in the club's Intercontinental Cup conquest the same year.^[4]

After that stellar 1987, Madjer won the Ballon d'or Africain,^[5] but was not allowed to compete for the European Golden Ball as he was not born in the region.

Having won, as an influential offensive element, the 1988 national title, Madjer signed with great expectations to Spanish League's Valencia CF in July 1988, but lasted only a few months with the Che, returning to Porto for a further two 1/2 seasons, and retiring in 1992 after a brief stint with Qatar SC.

International career

Madjer played for the Algerian national team for 14 years, and was present at the 1982 and 1986 FIFA World Cup finals. He retired as the nation's top goalscorer at 31, in 87 caps, having also won the African Cup of Nations in 1990, as the hosts incidentally beat Nigeria twice, in the opening match 5–1 and the final 1–0.

Madjer's most famous goal came in Algeria's 2–1 win over Germany in the 1982 World Cup, when he opened the scoring in the 53rd minute. In 1993, he began coaching the national team but, after failing to qualify for two 1994 major competitions, the World Cup and the CAN, resigned, returning to Porto as a youth coordinator.^[1]

After a quick spell in 1999, Madjer returned to years later, only to resign with aggravation in the 2002 summer.^[6] He also managed Qatari clubs Al-Wakrah Sports Club and Al-Rayyan Sports Club.^[7]

Honours

Club

• Algerian Cup: 1978–79
• European Cup: 1986–87
• UEFA Super Cup: 1987
• Intercontinental Cup: 1987
• Portuguese League: 1987–88
• Portuguese Cup: 1987–88, 1990–91
• Portuguese Supercup: 1986, 1991

Country

• African Cup of Nations: 1990; Runner-up 1980

Individual

• African Footballer of the Year: 1987

Post-retirement

After his coaching spells, Madjer started a career as a professional analyst in Qatar, for Al-Jazeera Sports.

References

External links

• Stats and profile at Zerozero
• Biography at Blogportista (Portuguese)
• BDFutbol profile
• NationalFootballTeams data

v • d • e Algeria squad – 1982 FIFA World Cup 1 Cerbah • 2 Guendouz • 3 Kouici • 4 Kourichi • 5 Merzekane • 6 Bencheikh • 7 Assad • 8 Fergani • 9 Bensaoula • 10 Belloumi • 11 Madjer • 12 Larbes • 13 Yahi • 14 Zidane • 15 Dahleb • 16 Mansouri • 17 Horr • 18 Maroc • 19 Tlemçani • 20 Bourebbou • 21 Amara • 22 Bentaala • Coach: Khalef & Mekloufi

v • d • e Algeria squad – 1986 FIFA World Cup 1 Drid • 2 Guendouz • 3 Chebal • 4 Kourichi • 5 Liegeon • 6 Kaci Said • 7 Assad • 8 Maroc • 9 Menad • 10 Belloumi • 11 Madjer • 12 Bensaoula • 13 Harkouk • 14 Zidane • 15 Sadmi • 16 Mansouri • 17 Ben Khalidi • 18 Benmabrouk • 19 Chaib • 20 Megharia • 21 El Hadi • 22 Amara • Coach: Saadane