Noureddine Naybet facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Noureddine Naybet

Naybet in 2019
Personal information
Date of birth	(1970-02-10) 10 February 1970 (age 55)
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

Noureddine Naybet (Arabic: نور الدين نيبت; born 10 February 1970) is a Moroccan former professional footballer. He played as a central defender, which means he was a key player in the team's defense. Naybet played for big clubs in Spain, Portugal, France, and England. Many people think he was one of the best defenders in the Spanish league, La Liga, during his time.

He spent the longest and most successful part of his career with Deportivo La Coruña in Spain, from 1996 to 2004. An expert on African football, Ed Dove, even called him the 44th greatest African player of all time. Naybet also played a record 115 matches for the Morocco national team, scoring four goals. He represented his country in two World Cups and six Africa Cup of Nations tournaments.

Early Life and Football Dreams

Noureddine Naybet was born in Casablanca, Morocco, on February 10, 1970. As a young boy, he loved playing football. He spent many hours kicking the ball around in the streets of Derb Chorfa. His talent and hard work were quickly noticed by a local team called Étoile de Casablanca. He only stayed there for a week before joining Wydad Casablanca, a much bigger club.

Club Career Highlights

Naybet played for several important football clubs throughout his career. He was known for his strong defense and leadership on the field.

Starting Strong at Wydad

Naybet began his professional journey with Wydad Casablanca. During his time there, the team won three Botola championships, which is Morocco's top football league. They also won the CAF Champions League in 1992, a major tournament for African clubs.

Adventures in France and Portugal

From 1993 to 1996, Naybet played for FC Nantes in France and then Sporting CP in Portugal. He was always an important player in the starting team for both clubs. He helped Nantes win a domestic cup and Sporting CP win another. In 1995, he even scored a goal in the 1995 Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira final for Sporting, helping them win the trophy.

Success with Deportivo La Coruña

In the summer of 1996, Naybet moved to Spain to play for Deportivo de La Coruña. He quickly became a key player for the team. He made his debut in La Liga, Spain's top league, on August 31, 1996.

Naybet was a regular starter when Deportivo La Coruña made history in the 1999–2000 La Liga season. They won their first-ever league title! He also helped the team win the Copa del Rey (Spanish Cup) once and the Spanish Super Cup twice.

He played a big part in Deportivo's success in the UEFA Champions League, which is Europe's biggest club competition. In the 2000–01 UEFA Champions League, Deportivo reached the quarter-finals. The next season, in the 2001–02 UEFA Champions League, Naybet scored a winning goal against Manchester United. Deportivo again reached the quarter-finals. In the 2003–04 UEFA Champions League, he helped the team reach the semi-finals, which was a huge achievement.

Time at Tottenham Hotspur

In 2004, when he was 34, Naybet moved to England to join Tottenham Hotspur. He scored his only goal for the club in a thrilling 5–4 match against their rivals, Arsenal. After playing for Tottenham for two seasons, Naybet decided to retire from football in 2006.

International Career for Morocco

Noureddine Naybet was a very important player for the Moroccan national team for 16 years. He played his first game for his country in 1990.

He represented Morocco in the 1992 Summer Olympics. He also played in two FIFA World Cup tournaments, in 1994 and 1998. In both World Cups, Morocco was eliminated in the group stage.

Naybet played in all six matches of the 2004 Africa Cup of Nations, helping the Atlas Lions (Morocco's national team nickname) finish as runners-up in Tunisia. He briefly retired from international football but returned for the 2006 Africa Cup of Nations. After retiring, he later became an assistant manager for the national team in 2007.

Playing Style

Naybet was known as a strong and smart central defender. He had all the physical and mental skills needed to be excellent at the heart of a team's defense. He was a reliable player who could read the game well and stop opposing attackers.

Personal Life

Noureddine Naybet is a Muslim. He observed fasting during the month of Ramadan, even when it happened during the football season.

Honours and Achievements

Naybet won many trophies and awards during his career.

Wydad Casablanca

• Botola: 1989–90, 1990–91, 1992–93
• Moroccan Throne Cup: 1989
• CAF Champions League: 1992
• Afro-Asian Cup: 1993
• Arab Club Champions Cup: 1989
• Arab Super Cup: 1992

Sporting CP

• Taça de Portugal: 1995
• Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira: 1995

Deportivo La Coruña

• La Liga: 1999–2000; runner-up 2000–01, 2001–02
• Copa del Rey: 2001–02
• Supercopa de España: 2000, 2002

Morocco

• Africa Cup of Nations runner-up: 2004
• Hassan II Trophy runner-up: 2000
• Hassan II Trophy 3rd place: 1996

Individual Awards

• Africa Cup of Nations Team of the Tournament: 1998
• IFFHS All-time Africa Men's Dream Team
• IFFHS All-time Morocco Men's Dream Team
• IFFHS CAF Men Team of the Century

See also

In Spanish: Noureddine Naybet para niños

• List of men's footballers with 100 or more international caps