Birth Date:
6/28/1971
Nationality:
French
Position:
Goalkeeper
Height:
183
Weight:
 76

The son of a top-class rugby player, Fabien Barthez started his career in professional football with Toulouse FC, playing for them from 1989 to 1992.

He then joined Olympique Marseille, and won the European Cup at the end of his first season, 1992/93. The acrobatic goalkeeper won his first senior cap with France on 26 May 1994, in a 1-0 friendly win over Australia.

In 1995 Fabien joined AS Monaco, and helped them to win the French League Championship in 1997. In the following season, Barthez and Monaco knocked United out of the UEFA Champions League. The sides drew 0-0 in Monte Carlo and then 1-1 at Old Trafford to send the French side through on away goals.

In the summer of 1998, Barthez claimed the greatest prize of all, a World Cup winners' medal. The goalkeeper was instrumental in France's triumph on home soil, conceding only two goals in the final tournament.

He then won a second League Championship with AS Monaco in 1999/2000, but this was to be his last medal in France. On 31 May 2000, United confirmed they had signed Fabien for £7.8 million, a British record fee for a goalkeeper. The previous record, £4.5 million for Taibi, had also been set by United, nine months previously.

Fabien was a United player when he helped France to win the European Championships on 2 July 2000. He played in all but one of their Euro 2000 matches, making some crucial saves. France's 2-1 win over Italy in the final gave Fabien and his team-mates the distinction of being World and European Champions at the same time.

Fabien's next challenge, to win the Premiership in England, was duly accomplished towards the end of his first season with United, 2000/01. It was a season in which he excelled between the posts, to easily become the most popular successor to Peter Schmeichel.

Only five teams put more than one goal past Fabien during his first term at United - Chelsea (Charity Shield), West Ham, Anderlecht, Liverpool and Bayern Munich. No opposition team scored more than two against him.

"He (Fabien) is an extra-terrestrial, and better now than he ever was back in France," appraised Mikael Silvestre.

Midway through the 2000/01 season, Fabien was voted the World's Best Goalkeeper by the International Federation of Football History & Statistics, an award previously won by Schmeichel.

International stats correct at 26.4.01.

Did You Know?
An issue of 'Paris Match' magazine, featuring Fabien on the cover, sold 1.1 million copies. Only covers commemorating the deaths of Francois Mitterand and Princess Diana sold more.

Fabien's favourite other sport is motor rallying. He also enjoys swimming with dolphins.

Fabien's favourite music includes Phil Collins, Portishead, Charles Aznavour and The Lion King soundtrack.

Fabien's father Alain says eccentric behaviour on the sports field runs in the family. A former rugby player, Mr Barthez Senior refers to the trait as "the Barthezade."