Philippe Albert
Encyclopedia
Philippe Julien Albert is a former Belgian
football
defender
. He played with R. Charleroi S.C.
, KV Mechelen, R.S.C. Anderlecht
and Newcastle United
in England
. Albert made 41 appearances for the Belgium national football team, and he played in the 1994 World Cup.
He started his career with Charleroi before moving to Mechelen where his performances won him Belgian Golden Shoe
and a move to Anderlecht. While playing at Anderlecht he won the Belgian League twice and helped his national side qualify for the World Cup.
He came to world wide attention at the 1994 World Cup, where he played in four of Belgium's matches, scoring in his first game against Netherlands
and in the second round match against Germany
, which Belgium lost 3–2. After his good performances he was purchased by Kevin Keegan
's Newcastle United for £2.6m. He was an immediate success in the side as he helped them win their first six league games of the 1994–95 season
, but he missed the later stages of the season through injury and Newcastle finished sixth – not even enough for a UEFA Cup
place.
He was issued with the number 27 shirt with Newcastle and coincidentally, signed for the club on his 27th birthday.
He claims he had a chance to move to Juventus or Fiorentina the year before but turned it down because he did not like the a hot climate or having to play on Sundays. Having been a fan of Liverpool and Kevin Keegan in his youth he choose to move to an attacking Newcastle team that had achieved 3rd in the Premier League the year before.
He was a cult hero at Newcastle United due to his less-than-defensive tendencies in "the Entertainers" central defence, would often make runs forward and be found roaming on the edge of the box. His most famous moment arguably being when he scored an audacious chip over Peter Schmeichel
in a 5–0 win over Manchester United
, whose manager Alex Ferguson
had been interested in signing him a year earlier.
Fans at Newcastle created a terrace chant for the player, singing "Phillipe,Phillipe Albert, everyone knows his name" to the words of the song used in the soundtrack to the 1970s children's TV series The Adventures of Rupert Bear
.
Injuries towards the end of the decade limited his first team chances, and he spent 13 games on loan to Fulham
(managed at the time by former Newcastle boss Kevin Keegan
) and scored twice during the 1998–99 season
, when they were promoted from Division Two as champions.
On leaving Newcastle in 1999, Albert returned to Belghis first club Charleroi for £600,000, spending one season before retiring from football.
He is now working as a pundit for Belgian TV.
Albert also runs a successful fruit and vegetable company in Belgium.
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
defender
Defender (football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
. He played with R. Charleroi S.C.
R. Charleroi S.C.
Sporting du Pays de Charleroi is a Belgian football club based in the city of Charleroi, in the province of Hainaut. Charleroi plays in the Belgian Pro League and their current spell at the highest level in Belgian football has started in the 1985–86 season...
, KV Mechelen, R.S.C. Anderlecht
R.S.C. Anderlecht
Royal Sporting Club Anderlecht, usually known as Anderlecht or RSCA , is a Belgian professional football club based in Anderlecht in the Brussels Capital Region. Anderlecht plays in the Belgian Pro League and is the most successful Belgian football team in European competitions as well as in the...
and Newcastle United
Newcastle United F.C.
Newcastle United Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear. The club was founded in 1892 by the merger of Newcastle East End and Newcastle West End, and has played at its current home ground, St James' Park, since the merger...
in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. Albert made 41 appearances for the Belgium national football team, and he played in the 1994 World Cup.
He started his career with Charleroi before moving to Mechelen where his performances won him Belgian Golden Shoe
Belgian Golden Shoe
In association football, the Belgian Golden Shoe is an award given in Belgium at the beginning of each civil year to the best footballer of the Belgian First Division for the past year. The trophy is sponsored by the Belgian newspaper Het Laatste Nieuws....
and a move to Anderlecht. While playing at Anderlecht he won the Belgian League twice and helped his national side qualify for the World Cup.
He came to world wide attention at the 1994 World Cup, where he played in four of Belgium's matches, scoring in his first game against Netherlands
Netherlands national football team
The Netherlands National Football Team represents the Netherlands in association football and is controlled by the Royal Dutch Football Association , the governing body for football in the Netherlands...
and in the second round match against Germany
Germany national football team
The Germany national football team is the football team that has represented Germany in international competition since 1908. It is governed by the German Football Association , which was founded in 1900....
, which Belgium lost 3–2. After his good performances he was purchased by Kevin Keegan
Kevin Keegan
Joseph Kevin Keegan, OBE is a former international footballer and former manager of the England national football team and several English clubs, most notably Newcastle United....
's Newcastle United for £2.6m. He was an immediate success in the side as he helped them win their first six league games of the 1994–95 season
1994-95 in English football
-Premiership:Blackburn Rovers ended their 81-year wait for the league title thanks to the strike partnership of Alan Shearer and Chris Sutton which scored a total of more than 50 league goals. Manchester United would have made it three league titles in a row if they had been able to turn a 1-1 draw...
, but he missed the later stages of the season through injury and Newcastle finished sixth – not even enough for a UEFA Cup
UEFA Cup
The UEFA Europa League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1971 for eligible European football clubs. It is the second most prestigious European club football contest after the UEFA Champions League...
place.
He was issued with the number 27 shirt with Newcastle and coincidentally, signed for the club on his 27th birthday.
He claims he had a chance to move to Juventus or Fiorentina the year before but turned it down because he did not like the a hot climate or having to play on Sundays. Having been a fan of Liverpool and Kevin Keegan in his youth he choose to move to an attacking Newcastle team that had achieved 3rd in the Premier League the year before.
He was a cult hero at Newcastle United due to his less-than-defensive tendencies in "the Entertainers" central defence, would often make runs forward and be found roaming on the edge of the box. His most famous moment arguably being when he scored an audacious chip over Peter Schmeichel
Peter Schmeichel
Peter Bolesław Schmeichel MBE is a retired Danish professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper, and was voted the "World's Best Goalkeeper" in 1992 and 1993...
in a 5–0 win over Manchester United
Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
, whose manager Alex Ferguson
Alex Ferguson
Sir Alexander Chapman "Alex" Ferguson, CBE is a Scottish association football manager and former player, currently managing Manchester United, where he has been in charge since 1986...
had been interested in signing him a year earlier.
Fans at Newcastle created a terrace chant for the player, singing "Phillipe,Phillipe Albert, everyone knows his name" to the words of the song used in the soundtrack to the 1970s children's TV series The Adventures of Rupert Bear
The Adventures of Rupert Bear
The Adventures of Rupert Bear was a live-action/puppet television series, based on the Mary Tourtel character Rupert Bear, produced by ATV Network, and aired from 28 October 1970 to 24 August 1977 on the ITV network, with 156 11-minute episodes produced over four series...
.
Injuries towards the end of the decade limited his first team chances, and he spent 13 games on loan to Fulham
Fulham F.C.
Fulham Football Club is a professional English Premier League club based in southwest London Fulham, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. Founded in 1879, they play in the Premier League, their 11th current season...
(managed at the time by former Newcastle boss Kevin Keegan
Kevin Keegan
Joseph Kevin Keegan, OBE is a former international footballer and former manager of the England national football team and several English clubs, most notably Newcastle United....
) and scored twice during the 1998–99 season
1998-99 in English football
-Premier League:Manchester United overcame close competition from Arsenal, Aston Villa and Chelsea to win their fifth Premiership title in seven seasons thanks to the comeback of Roy Keane after his long-term injury and a transfer raid totalling nearly £30 million which netted Aston Villa striker...
, when they were promoted from Division Two as champions.
On leaving Newcastle in 1999, Albert returned to Belghis first club Charleroi for £600,000, spending one season before retiring from football.
He is now working as a pundit for Belgian TV.
Albert also runs a successful fruit and vegetable company in Belgium.