Wikipedia

Noureddine Naybet

Noureddine Naybet (Arabic: نور الدين نيبت; born 10 February 1970) is a Moroccan former professional footballer who played as a central defender. He played in Spain for Deportivo de La Coruña and in Portugal for Sporting CP, as well as in France for FC Nantes and in England for Tottenham Hotspur. He is considered one of the best defenders in La Liga of his generation. Naybet spent the longest and most successful period of his career with Deportivo La Coruña in Spain's La Liga, from 1996 to 2004. He was named the 44th greatest African player of all time by the African football expert Ed Dove.[1]

Noureddine Naybet
Naybet in 2019
Personal information
Date of birth (1970-02-10) 10 February 1970 (age 54)
Place of birth Casablanca, Morocco
Height 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)
Position(s) Centre back
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1989–1993 Wydad Casablanca 85 (4)
1993–1994 Nantes 34 (1)
1994–1996 Sporting CP 64 (5)
1996–2004 Deportivo La Coruña 211 (11)
2004–2006 Tottenham Hotspur 30 (1)
Total 424 (22)
International career
1992 Morocco U23 3 (1)
1990–2006 Morocco 115 (4)
Medal record
Representing  Morocco
Africa Cup of Nations
Runner-up 2004 Tunisia
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Naybet played a record 115 matches for the Morocco national team scoring four goals, representing the country in two World Cups and six Africa Cup of Nations tournaments.[2]

Early life

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Born in Casablanca on 10 February 1970, the young toddler, addicted to football, spent much of his time teasing the ball, in the streets of Derb Chorfa. Already talented and hardworking, he was quickly spotted by the Étoile de Casablanca, where he only stayed a week before joining Wydad Casablanca.[3]

Club career

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Wydad

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Naybet began his professional career playing for Wydad, being part of the squads that won three Botola championships as well as the 1992 edition of the CAF Champions League.[4]

Nantes and Sporting

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From 1993 to 1996 he represented FC Nantes (France) and Sporting CP (Portugal), being always an important first-team member and winning one domestic cup in each country. He played the 1995 Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira in 2 legged match against Porto, the first match ended in a 0–0 tie, as-well the second match ended in a 2–2 tie. Naybet found the net in the 42nd minute. Sporting won the replay match in a 3–0 victory.[5]

Deportivo de La Coruña

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In the 1996 summer Naybet signed a four-year deal with Spain's Deportivo de La Coruña, for roughly €1.6 million.[6] He made his La Liga debut on 31 August 1996, playing the full 90 minutes in a 1–1 home draw against Real Madrid.[7]

Naybet scored a career best four goals in the 1997–98 season, but the Galicians could only finish in 12th position. He was still an undisputed starter in 1999–2000 – often partnering Argentine Gabriel Schürrer – as the club conquered the first league in its history.

He won one La Liga league title in 1999–2000 La Liga,[8] one Copa del Rey[9] and two Spanish Super Cup.[10]

In the 2000–01 UEFA Champions League, Deportivo passed the first round qualification with ease, In the second round they were placed with Galatasaray, AC Milan, and PSG. In his first qualification match Deportivo managed to defeat PSG 3-1 with Naybet scoring the equaliser after going 1-0 down.[11] They advanced to the knockout stages and reached the quarter-finals of the Champions League, being knocked out by Leeds United.[12]

In the 2001–02 UEFA Champions League, Naybet played a major role in the group stages playing in Deportivo's first match against Olympiacos which ended in a tie. They defeated Manchester United in their second match, 2–1, with Naybet scoring the winning goal in the last minute.[13] They qualified top of their group and to the knockout stages, defeating Arsenal 2–0 in the round of 16.[14] They were defeated by Manchester United in the quarter-final on a 5–2 aggregate.[15]

Naybet started in all his 13 UEFA Champions League appearances in the 2003–04 campaign,[16] helping Dépor to the semi-finals of the competition. In the last-four's second leg, at home against FC Porto, he was sent off by Pierluigi Collina after two bookable offenses, and the tie ended 1–0 in favour of the Portuguese team, who later went on to win the competition.[17]

Tottenham Hotspur

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On 12 August 2004, aged 34, Naybet joined Tottenham Hotspur for a reported fee of £700,000.[18][19] He netted his first and only goal for Spurs on 13 November, in a 5–4 North London derby loss to Arsenal at White Hart Lane.[20]

After only three games in 2005–06, under new manager Martin Jol, Naybet was released and retired from football. In June 2005, however, he had renewed his contract for a further season.[21]

He spent most of his 17-year professional career with Deportivo La Coruña, appearing in 284 competitive games and winning four major titles, including the 2000 national championship. He also competed in France, Portugal and England.[22]

International career

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Naybet was a Moroccan international for 16 years, gaining his first cap on 9 August 1990 in a 0–0 friendly draw in Tunisia.

He competed in the 1992 Summer Olympics.[citation needed]

He proceeded to appear for his country in two FIFA World Cups, playing two games in 1994 and three in 1998 as both editions ended in group stage elimination.[23]

Naybet played all six contests in the 2004 African Cup of Nations, helping the Atlas Lions finish second in Tunisia.[24] In early January 2006, five months after announcing his international retirement after falling out of favour with coach Ezzaki Badou,[25] he returned to the national team just ahead of the 2006 Africa Cup of Nations.[26]

In August 2007, Naybet was named assistant manager under Henri Michel.[27]

Style of play

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"When I was in Deportivo La Coruna, I played with 3 Moroccan players.” He added, "I played with Naybet, who for me is among the top 5 defenders I've seen in my life. He's an amazing player. I also know Salaheddine Bassir and Mustapha Hadji.

He was a well-rounded centre-back who boasted all of the physical attributes as well as the mental attributes to excel in the heart of the defence for major European sides.[29]

Personal life

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A devout Muslim, Naybet observed fasting during the month of Ramadan, even when it coincided with the football season.[30]

Career statistics

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International

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As of match played 28 January 2006
Appearances and goals by national team and year[31]
National team Year Apps Goals
Morocco 1990 4 0
1991 4 0
1992 7 0
1993 8 0
1994 7 0
1995 3 0
1996 6 0
1997 7 2
1998 12 1
1999 7 0
2000 9 1
2001 9 0
2002 8 0
2003 6 0
2004 9 0
2005 3 0
2006 16 0
Total 115 4
Scores and results list Morocco's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Naybet goal.
List of international goals scored by Noureddine Naybet[31]
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1 31 May 1997 Stade Moulay Abdellah, Rabat, Morocco   Ethiopia 3–0 4–0 1998 African Cup of Nations qualification
2 16 August 1997 Stade Mohamed V, Casablanca, Morocco   Gabon 1–0 2–0 1998 FIFA World Cup qualification
3 23 December 1998 Agadir, Morocco   Bulgaria 1–0 4–1 Friendly
4 6 June 2000 Stade Mohamed V, Casablanca, Morocco   France 1–2 1–5 Hassan II Trophy

Honours

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Wydad Casablanca[32][33]

Sporting CP

Deportivo La Coruña[35]

Morocco

Individual

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "The 50 Greatest African Players of All Time". Bleacher Report. 25 September 2013. Archived from the original on 19 June 2022. Retrieved 26 September 2013.
  2. ^ "Noureddine Naybet - Century of International Appearances". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 5 March 2023. Retrieved 15 January 2022.
  3. ^ "Noureddine Naybet". www.football-the-story.com (in French). Archived from the original on 14 January 2022. Retrieved 15 January 2022.
  4. ^ "African Club Competitions 1992". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 5 October 2018. Retrieved 15 January 2022.
  5. ^ "FC Porto 0-3 Sporting :: Supertaça 1995 :: Ficha do Jogo :: zerozero.pt". www.zerozero.pt (in Portuguese). Archived from the original on 15 January 2022. Retrieved 15 January 2022.
  6. ^ "El Deportivo presenta a Naybet y Songo'o" [Deportivo presents Naybet and Songo’o] (in Spanish). Mundo Deportivo. 15 July 1996. Archived from the original on 17 November 2015. Retrieved 16 November 2015.
  7. ^ "Afortunado" [Lucky] (in Spanish). Mundo Deportivo. 1 September 1996. Archived from the original on 17 November 2015. Retrieved 16 November 2015.
  8. ^ "Spain 1999/2000 (Top Three Levels)". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 3 August 2022. Retrieved 15 January 2022.
  9. ^ "Spain Cups 2001/02". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 21 July 2022. Retrieved 15 January 2022.
  10. ^ "Spain - List of Super Cup Finals". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 21 May 2016. Retrieved 15 January 2022.
  11. ^ "PSG dumped by Deportivo". 21 November 2000. Archived from the original on 15 January 2022. Retrieved 15 January 2022.
  12. ^ "On this day: Leeds United 3-0 Deportivo La Coruña". www.leedsunited.com. 4 April 2020. Archived from the original on 15 January 2022. Retrieved 15 January 2022.
  13. ^ "Deportivo stun Man Utd". 25 September 2001. Archived from the original on 28 December 2002. Retrieved 15 January 2022.
  14. ^ "Arsenal vs. Deportivo La Coruña - Football Match Summary - March 12, 2002 - ESPN". ESPN.com. Archived from the original on 15 January 2022. Retrieved 15 January 2022.
  15. ^ "UEFA Champions League, UEFA Cup 2001-02". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 8 February 2009. Retrieved 15 January 2022.
  16. ^ "UEFA Champions League, UEFA Cup 2003-04". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 14 July 2022. Retrieved 15 January 2022.
  17. ^ "Derlei decisive as Porto progress". UEFA.com. 4 May 2004. Archived from the original on 3 July 2015. Retrieved 16 November 2015.
  18. ^ "Depo [sic]'s Naybet is set to join Spurs". CNN. 11 August 2004. Archived from the original on 30 July 2014. Retrieved 22 October 2013.
  19. ^ "Spurs sign Naybet". BBC Sport. 12 August 2004. Archived from the original on 17 November 2015. Retrieved 16 November 2015.
  20. ^ "Tottenham 4–5 Arsenal". BBC Sport. 13 November 2004. Archived from the original on 1 August 2017. Retrieved 17 August 2009.
  21. ^ "Naybet to sign new Spurs contract". BBC Sport. 12 June 2005. Archived from the original on 17 November 2015. Retrieved 16 November 2015.
  22. ^ "Top 5: The Legendary Moroccan Players in La Liga | Goal.com". www.goal.com. Archived from the original on 15 January 2022. Retrieved 15 January 2022.
  23. ^ "Noureddine Naybet – Century of International Appearances". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 5 March 2023. Retrieved 29 May 2005.
  24. ^ "Tunisia win Cup of Nations". BBC Sport. 14 February 2004. Archived from the original on 12 May 2019. Retrieved 16 November 2015.
  25. ^ "Morocco's Naybet quits". BBC Sport. 12 August 2005. Archived from the original on 6 June 2014. Retrieved 16 November 2015.
  26. ^ "Naybet earns surprise Morocco call". BBC Sport. 10 January 2006. Archived from the original on 17 November 2015. Retrieved 16 November 2015.
  27. ^ "Naybet assistent-bondscoach Henri Michel" [Naybet assistant to national coach Henri Michel] (in Dutch). Maghreb Magazine. 20 August 2007. Archived from the original on 23 October 2013. Retrieved 22 October 2013.
  28. ^ "سكالوني: "النيبت من بين أفضل 5 مدافعين شاهدتهم في حياتي"". www.elbotola.com (in Arabic). Retrieved 19 January 2022.
  29. ^ "African Legends Cup of Nations: Kuffour vs Naybet | Goal.com". www.goal.com. Archived from the original on 4 April 2022. Retrieved 19 January 2022.
  30. ^ "Naybet puts faith first". BBC Sport. 10 October 2004. Archived from the original on 17 November 2015. Retrieved 16 November 2015.
  31. ^ a b "Noureddine Naybet - Century of International Appearances". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 5 March 2023. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
  32. ^ "Nourreddine Naybet – Maroc". footballdatabase.eu. Archived from the original on 21 October 2020. Retrieved 28 October 2020.
  33. ^ "Noureddine Naybet :: Noureddine Naybet M. ::". playmakerstats.com.
  34. ^ "Afro-Asian Club Championship". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 14 February 2023. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
  35. ^ "Naybet, Noureddine Naybet – Footballer". bdfutbol.com. Archived from the original on 1 November 2020. Retrieved 28 October 2020.
  36. ^ "African Nations Cup 2004". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 13 October 2022. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
  37. ^ "IFFHS". IFFHS. 29 May 2021. Archived from the original on 3 June 2021. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
  38. ^ "IFFHS". IFFHS. 1 March 2022. Archived from the original on 5 March 2022. Retrieved 3 March 2022.
  39. ^ "IFFHS". iffhs.com. Archived from the original on 25 October 2022. Retrieved 25 October 2022.
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