Rabah Madjer facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Rabah Madjer

Madjer in 1987
Personal information
Full name	Rabah Mustapha Madjer
Date of birth	(1958-12-15) 15 December 1958 (age 66)
Place of birth	Hussein Dey, Algeria
Height	1.79 m (5 ft 10 in)
Position(s)	Striker
Youth career
1972–1973	Onalait Hussein Dey
1973–1978	NA Hussein Dey
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1978–1983	NA Hussein Dey	94	(58)
1983–1985	Racing Paris	50	(23)
1985	→ Tours (loan)	7	(2)
1985–1991	Porto	108	(50)
1988	→ Valencia (loan)	14	(4)
1991–1992	Qatar SC	9	(6)
Total		282	(143)
International career
1978–1992	Algeria	87	(28)
Managerial career
1993–1995	Algeria
1995–1997	Porto (youth)
1997–1998	Al Sadd
1998–1999	Al-Wakrah
1999	Algeria
2001–2002	Algeria
2005–2006	Al-Rayyan
2017–2018	Algeria
2017–2018	Algeria A'
Medal record Representing  Algeria Men's football Africa Cup of Nations Winner 1990 Algeria Runner-up 1980 Nigeria Third 1988 Morocco Third 1984 Ivory Coast
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Rabah Mustapha Madjer (Arabic: رابح مصطفى ماجر; born December 15, 1958) is a famous Algerian former football player. He was a fantastic striker, known for scoring many goals!

He became a huge star playing for Porto in the 1980s. Many people think he's one of the greatest Algerian footballers ever! During his six years with Porto, he won nine big titles. These included three national championships and the important 1987 European Cup.

Madjer played in two World Cups for his country, Algeria. He helped Algeria play in their first World Cup ever in 1982. After he stopped playing, he became a coach for several clubs. He also coached the Algerian national team many times.

Playing Career Highlights

Rabah Madjer started his football journey in Algeria. He moved to Europe in 1983 to play for Racing Club de France football Colombes 92 in France. After a season and a half, he played for another French team, Tours FC.

Joining FC Porto

Madjer joined FC Porto in Portugal for the 1985–86 season. The next year, he made history in the European Cup final. Porto played against Bayern Munich. Madjer scored a famous goal, an equalizer, making the score 1–1. Porto went on to win the game 2–1. He also helped set up the winning goal.

After this amazing year in 1987, Madjer won the African Player of the Year award. He also scored in the Intercontinental Cup that same year, which Porto also won.

Later Club Years

In 1988, Madjer almost joined Inter Milan but a past injury stopped the transfer. He then signed with La Liga team Valencia CF in Spain for a short time. He returned to Porto and played there for three more seasons.

Madjer stopped playing football in 1992. He was almost 34 years old. His last club was Qatar SC.

International Football for Algeria

Madjer played for the Algeria national team for 19 years. He played in the 1982 and 1986 FIFA World Cup World Cups. He is still one of Algeria's top goal scorers. He scored 28 goals in 87 games for his country.

He also helped Algeria win the Africa Cup of Nations in 1990. Algeria hosted the tournament and beat Nigeria twice. They won 5–1 in the opening match and 1–0 in the final.

Famous World Cup Goal

One of Madjer's most famous goals was in the 1982 World Cup. Algeria played against Germany. Madjer scored the first goal in the 53rd minute. Algeria won that game 2–1, which was a huge upset!

Life After Playing Football

After retiring as a player, Madjer started coaching. In 1993, he became the coach for the Algeria national team. He later coached youth teams at Porto.

He also managed clubs in Qatar, like Al Sadd SC and Al-Wakrah Sport Club. Madjer had a few more times as coach for the Algerian national team. His last time coaching Algeria was from 2017 to 2018.

After coaching, Madjer became a football analyst. He worked for Al-Jazeera Sports, which is now beIN Sports. In 2011, he became a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador. This means he helps promote peace and understanding around the world.

Personal Life

Rabah Madjer has a son named Lotfi. Lotfi is also a football player and has played for the Qatar youth team.

Honours and Awards

Madjer won many awards and titles during his career.

Club Honours

• Hussein Dey
  • Algerian Cup: 1978–79
  • African Cup Winners' Cup: Runner-up in 1978

• Porto
  • Primeira Liga (Portuguese League): 1985–86, 1987–88, 1989–90
  • Taça de Portugal (Portuguese Cup): 1987–88, 1990–91
  • Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira (Portuguese Super Cup): 1986, 1990
  • European Cup: 1986–87
  • Intercontinental Cup: 1987
  • European Super Cup: 1987

International Honours

• Algeria
  • Africa Cup of Nations: 1990
  • Afro-Asian Cup of Nations: 1991
  • African Games: 1978

Individual Awards

• Top goal scorer of the 1987–88 European Cup (4 goals)
• Africa Cup of Nations Team of the Tournament: 1982, 1990
• African Footballer of the Year: 1987
• Intercontinental Cup Most Valuable Player: 1987
• Best player of the Africa Cup of Nations: 1990
• MasterCard African Team of the 20th Century: 1998
• IFFHS World Player of the Century #62: 2000
• Arab Footballer of the 20th century: 2004
• Algerian Footballer of the 20th century: 2009 (with Lakhdar Belloumi)
• Algerian Footballer of the Year: Several awards
• African Footballer of the 20th century: Fifth place
• Golden Foot Legends Award: 2011
• IFFHS Legends: 2016

See also

In Spanish: Rabah Madjer para niños