{{Portuguese name|da Silva|Costa}} {{short description|Portuguese football manager and former player}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2021}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Abel Xavier<!--Please discuss on talk page before changing name--> | image = | full_name = Abel Luís da Silva Costa Xavier | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=y|1972|11|30}}<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/team/squad/xavier/ |title=Abel Xavier |publisher=Liverpool F.C. |access-date=17 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021201100633/http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/team/squad/xavier/ |archive-date=1 December 2002}}</ref> | birth_place = Nampula, Mozambique | height = 1.89 m<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.premierleague.com/players/1701/Abel-Xavier/overview |title=Abel Xavier: Overview |publisher=Premier League |access-date=17 August 2022}}</ref> | position = Right-back | currentclub = | years1 = 1990–1993 | clubs1 = Estrela da Amadora | caps1 = 86 | goals1 = 5 | years2 = 1993–1995 | clubs2 = Benfica | caps2 = 46 | goals2 = 4 | years3 = 1995–1996 | clubs3 = → Bari (loan) | caps3 = 8 | goals3 = 0 | years4 = 1996–1998 | clubs4 = Real Oviedo | caps4 = 59 | goals4 = 0 | years5 = 1998–1999 | clubs5 = PSV | caps5 = 19 | goals5 = 2 | years6 = 1999–2002 | clubs6 = Everton | caps6 = 43 | goals6 = 0 | years7 = 2002–2003 | clubs7 = Liverpool | caps7 = 14 | goals7 = 1 | years8 = 2003 | clubs8 = → Galatasaray (loan) | caps8 = 11 | goals8 = 0 | years9 = 2003–2004 | clubs9 = Hannover 96 | caps9 = 5 | goals9 = 0 | years10 = 2005 | clubs10 = Roma | caps10 = 3 | goals10 = 0 | years11 = 2005–2007 | clubs11 = Middlesbrough | caps11 = 18 | goals11 = 1 | years13 = 2007–2008 | clubs13 = LA Galaxy | caps13 = 20 | goals13 = 0 | totalcaps = 332 | totalgoals = 13 | nationalyears1 = 1988–1989 | nationalteam1 = Portugal U16 | nationalcaps1 = 14 | nationalgoals1 = 1 | nationalyears2 = 1989 | nationalteam2 = Portugal U17 | nationalcaps2 = 6 | nationalgoals2 = 0 | nationalyears3 = 1988–1990 | nationalteam3 = Portugal U18 | nationalcaps3 = 9 | nationalgoals3 = 0 | nationalyears4 = 1990–1991 | nationalteam4 = Portugal U20 | nationalcaps4 = 9 | nationalgoals4 = 0 | nationalyears5 = 1991–1994 | nationalteam5 = Portugal U21 | nationalcaps5 = 21 | nationalgoals5 = 1 | nationalyears6 = 1993–2002 | nationalteam6 = Portugal | nationalcaps6 = 20 | nationalgoals6 = 2 | medaltemplates = {{Medal|Sport|Men's football}} {{medal|Country|{{fb|POR}}}} {{Medal|Comp|UEFA European Championship|}} {{Medal|B|2000 Belgium-Netherlands|}} {{MedalCompetition|FIFA U-20 World Cup}} {{Medal|W|1991 Portugal|}} {{Medal|Competition|UEFA European Under-21 Championship|}} {{Medal|Runner-up|1994 France|}} {{Medal|Competition|FIFA U-17 World Cup|}} {{Medal|3rd|1989 Scotland|}} {{Medal|Competition|UEFA European Under-17 Championship|}} {{Medal|W|1989 Denmark|}} | manageryears1 = 2013 | managerclubs1 = Olhanense | manageryears2 = 2014–2015 | managerclubs2 = Farense | manageryears3 = 2015 | managerclubs3 = Aves | manageryears4 = 2016–2019 | managerclubs4 = Mozambique }} '''Abel Luís da Silva Costa Xavier'''<!--Please discuss on talk page before changing name--> ({{IPA|pt|ɐˈβɛl ʃɐviˈɛɾ}}; born 30 November 1972) is a Portuguese football manager and former professional footballer who played as a right-back.
Xavier played for clubs in Portugal, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, England, Turkey and Germany before retiring with the LA Galaxy of Major League Soccer (MLS) in 2008. He represented both Merseyside rivals Everton and Liverpool in the Premier League. While at Middlesbrough he was the first Premier League player to test positive for performance-enhancing substances, and was banned for one year.
From his debut in 1993, Xavier played 20 games for the Portugal national team, and was selected in their squads for UEFA Euro 2000 and 2002 FIFA World Cup. He later became a manager for several Portuguese clubs and the Mozambique national team.
==Club career==
===Early career=== Xavier debuted in the Portuguese top division with Estrela da Amadora. His play there earned him a transfer to Lisbon club Benfica. He helped Benfica win the Portuguese league in 1994, and a season after, he moved to Serie A side Bari. This stint with the Italian club started a series of transfers across Europe: in 1996, Xavier was sent to Real Oviedo, then after two seasons he moved to PSV.
===Everton and Liverpool=== Xavier joined English Premier League club Everton in September 1999 on a £1.5 million transfer deal. He was sold to Everton's Merseyside rivals Liverpool on 30 January 2002 for £800,000. He was signed to bolster Liverpool's defence following Markus Babbel's absence through illness.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/l/liverpool/1787989.stm | title = Xavier completes Mersey move | publisher = BBC Sport | date = 30 January 2002| access-date = 14 August 2013 }}</ref> Xavier scored on his Liverpool debut against Ipswich Town.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_prem/1806743.stm |title=Liverpool six-hitters stun Ipswich |publisher=BBC |date=9 February 2002 |access-date=23 October 2009}}</ref> He also scored against Bayer Leverkusen in the UEFA Champions League.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/champions_league/1916648.stm |title=Liverpool suffer Euro woe |publisher=BBC |date=9 April 2002 |access-date=3 November 2009}}</ref> Liverpool ended the 2001–02 FA Premier League season as runners-up to Arsenal.
Xavier started the first four league games of the 2002–03 FA Premier League season but later argued with Liverpool manager Gérard Houllier and did not feature in any of the remaining games, though he did play in a League Cup tie against Ipswich in December.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2002/dec/05/match.sport5 |title=Liverpool spot-on to foil Ipswich |work=The Guardian |date=5 December 2002 |access-date=30 March 2017}}</ref> On 29 January 2003, he was loaned to Turkish side Galatasaray for the remainder of the season, with an option of a permanent move in the summer.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/2679473.stm|title= – Football – Eng Prem – Xavier moves to Galatasaray|publisher=BBC Sport|date=29 January 2003|access-date=13 July 2015}}</ref> Galatasaray did not take up the option to sign Xavier, who subsequently played for Hannover 96 (2003–04) and Roma in 2004–05.
===Middlesbrough=== At the start of the 2005–06 season, Xavier was without a club but at the end of August, he signed for Middlesbrough to replace Michael Reiziger after the Dutchman was sold to PSV.<ref>{{cite news |title=Boro race to complete Xavier deal |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/m/middlesbrough/4164240.stm |access-date=25 September 2019 |publisher=BBC Sport |date=31 August 2005}}</ref>
Following the UEFA Cup tie against Skoda Xanthi on 29 September, Xavier was administered a drugs test and failed.<ref>{{cite news |title=Xavier case on 23 November |url=https://www.uefa.com/news-media/news/01af-0e6d2487366d-571c46bcbbb0-1000--xavier-case-on-23-november/ |access-date=25 September 2019 |publisher=UEFA |date=11 November 2005}}</ref> On 23 November 2005, he was found guilty of using the anabolic steroid methandrostenolone (also known as dianabol), and banned from professional football for 18 months.<ref name=guardian>{{cite news |last1=Walker |first1=Michael |title=Eighteen-month drug ban for Xavier may end Boro player's career |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2005/nov/24/newsstory.sport2 |access-date=25 September 2019 |work=The Guardian |date=24 November 2005}}</ref> He said that the substance came from anti-virus medicine that he had imported from the United States.<ref name=guardian/> While other players had failed tests for recreational substances, Xavier became the first Premier League player to be found guilty of using performance-enhancing drugs.<ref>{{cite news |title=Xavier appeals against drugs ban |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/m/middlesbrough/4464224.stm |access-date=25 September 2019 |publisher=BBC Sport |date=29 November 2005}}</ref> The suspension caused him to miss Middlesbrough's run to the 2006 UEFA Cup final. Xavier remained employed by the club and unsuccessfully appealed the decision; in January 2006 he said that he would take UEFA to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.<ref>{{cite news |title=Xavier vows to contest drugs ban |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/m/middlesbrough/4627074.stm |access-date=25 September 2019 |publisher=BBC Sport |date=19 January 2006}}</ref>
Xavier's ban was shortened to 12 months in June 2006, making him eligible to play again from November 2006.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.uefa.com/uefa/Keytopics/kind=64/newsId=435881.html |title=Xavier suspension reduced |access-date=19 July 2008 |date=11 July 2006 |publisher=UEFA |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071022181820/http://www.uefa.com/uefa/Keytopics/kind%3D64/newsId%3D435881.html |archive-date=22 October 2007 }}</ref> In the summer of 2006, he began training again with Middlesbrough, and on 8 November 2006, was offered a contract with the club for the remainder of the 2006–07 season.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.skysports.com/story/0,,11680_2394903,00+en-USS_01DBC.html |title=Abel back in Boro fold |publisher=Sky Sports |date=8 November 2006 |access-date=24 July 2013 |first=Alex |last=Livie |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140310225742/http://www.skysports.com/story/0%2C%2C11680_2394903%2C00%2Ben-USS_01DBC.html |archive-date=10 March 2014}}</ref> He scored his first Boro goal on 20 January 2007 in a 5–1 win against Bolton Wanderers at the Riverside Stadium.<ref>{{cite news | url= https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_prem/6258705.stm |title=Middlesbrough 5-1 Bolton |publisher=BBC |date=20 January 2007 |access-date=23 October 2009 |first=Paul |last=Fletcher}}</ref>
===LA Galaxy=== On 14 May 2007, it was announced that Xavier was to join the LA Galaxy of Major League Soccer (MLS). He played in his first game with the Galaxy on 17 June 2007 at home against Real Salt Lake, setting up fellow new signing Edson Buddle in a 3–2 win.<ref>{{cite news|title=RSL finds offense but loses to LA, 3-2|url=http://www.ksl.com/?nid=294&sid=1363617|access-date=10 March 2014|newspaper=KSL|date=17 June 2007}}</ref>
Xavier was waived by Los Angeles on 18 July 2008. Later, in an interview to an online football site, Xavier criticised Galaxy manager Ruud Gullit and the league itself.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://la.galaxy.mlsnet.com/news/team_news.jsp?ymd=20080718&content_id=173908&vkey=pr_lag&fext=.jsp&team=t106 | title = Dominguez added to Galaxy roster | access-date= 19 July 2008 | date = 18 July 2008 | publisher = la.galaxy.mlsnet.com}}{{Dead link|date=July 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.goal.com/en-us/news/1110/major-league-soccer/2008/07/22/786270/mccarthys-musings-xavier-speaks-out-against-gullit | title = McCarthy's Musings: Xavier Speaks Out Against Gullit | date = 22 July 2008 | website = goal.com | access-date = 24 July 2013 | first = Kyle | last = McCarthy}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.goal.com/en/Articolo.aspx?ContenutoId=787644 | title = McCarthy's Musings: More from Xavier and Welcome to Toronto | date = 23 July 2008 | website = goal.com | access-date = 24 July 2013 | first = Kyle | last = McCarthy}}</ref> In December 2009, Xavier quit professional football.
==International career== Xavier was a part of the Portugal squad which came third at the 1989 FIFA U-16 World Championship in Scotland.
Xavier's full international debut for senior team came on 31 March 1993, away in Switzerland in qualification for the 1994 FIFA World Cup.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://eu-football.info/_match.php?id=9894 | title = Football MATCH: 31.03.1993 Switzerland v Portugal | publisher = eu-football.info | date = 31 March 1993 | access-date = 14 August 2013}}</ref> He played three more matches in the unsuccessful qualification campaign that year and did not play for Portugal again until 1998.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://eu-football.info/_player.php?id=23110 | title = Football PLAYER: Abel Xavier | publisher = eu-football.info| access-date = 14 August 2013}}</ref>
Xavier was selected for UEFA Euro 2000 and became one of the key figures in the competition, not only due to playing some of his best football but also due to a distinctly bleached-blonde hairstyle with a matching beard. In the semi-final against France, he went from close to hero, as France goalkeeper Fabien Barthez blocked what looked a sure goal, to a villain, when he deflected a shot by Sylvain Wiltord near the post in the dying seconds of golden goal extra time with his hand. Zinedine Zidane scored the penalty and put France in the final. Xavier was initially given a nine-month ban from football for his vociferous protests against referee Günter Benkö's decision to award the penalty,<ref>{{cite news| url = http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/soccer/world/2000/euro2000/news/2000/07/02/portugal_penalty_ap/| title = Portuguese players suspended, federation fined| access-date = 29 October 2010| date = 2 July 2000| publisher = CNN Sports Illustrated| archive-date = 3 November 2012| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121103133644/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/soccer/world/2000/euro2000/news/2000/07/02/portugal_penalty_ap/| url-status = dead}}</ref> but it was eventually reduced to six months.<ref>{{cite news | url = https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/1029796.stm| title = Referees under attack | access-date= 29 October 2010 | date = 18 November 2000 | publisher = BBC Sport}}</ref> In the 2002 World Cup, he was part of the squad but played only as a substitute in the final group stage match against South Korea in his final of 20 international appearances.
==Managerial career== In July 2013, Xavier signed to be manager of Portuguese top division club Olhanense for the upcoming 2013–14 Primeira Liga season.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.publico.pt/desporto/noticia/abel-xavier-e-o-novo-treinador-do-olhanense-1599530 | title = Abel Xavier é o novo treinador do Olhanense | language = pt | publisher = publico.pt | date = 7 July 2013 | access-date = 14 August 2013}}</ref> He was sacked by the club on 28 October 2013, despite beating Arouca in his last match to reach 11th in the table.<ref>{{cite news|title=Olhanense despede Abel Xavier|url=http://www.publico.pt/desporto/noticia/olhanense-despede-abel-xavier-1610601|access-date=10 March 2014|newspaper=O Publico|date=28 October 2013}}</ref><ref name="zerozero.pt_1">{{cite web | url = http://www.zerozero.pt/noticia.php?id=146972 | title = Abel Xavier apresentado como treinador do Farense | trans-title = Abel Xavier presented as Farense coach | language = pt | work=ZeroZero | date = 2 December 2014 | access-date = 3 December 2014 | first = Álvaro | last = Gonçalves}}</ref>
In December 2014, Xavier signed for another team from the Algarve, Farense of the Segunda Liga.<ref name="zerozero.pt_1" /> He left his position on 28 May, after leading his team to the 11th position.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.zerozero.pt/noticia.php?id=155723|title=Abel Xavier deixa Farense|trans-title=Abel Xavier leaves Farense|work=ZeroZero|language=pt|date=28 May 2015|access-date=13 July 2015}}</ref>
In July 2015, Xavier signed a one-year deal with another team in the second division, Desportivo das Aves.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.abola.pt/nnh/ver.aspx?id=5592413|title=Abel Xavier é o novo treinador do Aves|trans-title=Abel Xavier is Aves' new coach|work=A Bola|language=pt|date=9 July 2015|access-date=13 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150713180942/http://www.abola.pt/nnh/ver.aspx?id=5592413|archive-date=13 July 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> He was fired in early September after a series of poor results.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.record.xl.pt/futebol/nacional/liga-honra/aves/detalhe/abel-xavier-despedido-973028.html |title=Abel Xavier despedido |trans-title=Abel Xavier fired |work=Record |language=pt |date=4 September 2015 |access-date=11 November 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151020023158/http://www.record.xl.pt/futebol/nacional/liga-honra/aves/detalhe/abel-xavier-despedido-973028.html |archive-date=20 October 2015}}</ref>
On 26 January 2016, he signed a two-year contract as coach of the Mozambique national team, starting work on 1 February.<ref name=mozambique>{{cite web | url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/35408438 | title = Mozambique appoint Abel Xavier as new national coach | website = BBC Sport | date = 26 January 2016 | access-date = 26 January 2016}}</ref> In December 2017, with his contract due to expire, he had it extended until the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Gleeson |first1=Mark |title=Abel Xavier to continue as coach of Mozambique and develop football |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/42413996 |access-date=25 September 2019 |publisher=BBC Sport |date=19 December 2017}}</ref> After conceding an added-time goal to Guinea, the Black Mambas missed out on the tournament in Egypt but he was assured of a new deal by the Mozambican Football Federation; this offer was rescinded after a poor performance at the 2019 COSAFA Cup in South Africa.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Gleeson |first1=Mark |title=Matine takes over from Xavier as new Mozambique coach |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/49078493 |access-date=25 September 2019 |publisher=BBC Sport |date=22 July 2019}}</ref>
==Personal life== Xavier was born in Mozambique, which was then a Portuguese colony, and moved to Portugal as a child.<ref name=mozambique/> He settled in Jamor in the western suburbs of Lisbon, where he lived in poverty.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Simões de Abreu |first1=Alexandra |title=Vivi na pobreza no Jamor, convivi com o Beckham, jantei com o Cruise e o De Niro em LA, mas guardo roupa suja do pó vermelho de Moçambique |trans-title=I lived in poverty in Jamor, I lived alongside Beckham, I dined with Cruise and De Niro in LA, but I keep clothes dirty with the red dust of Mozambique|url=https://tribunaexpresso.pt/a-casa-as-costas/2019-01-20-Vivi-na-pobreza-no-Jamor-convivi-com-o-Beckham-jantei-com-o-Cruise-e-o-De-Niro-em-LA-mas-guardo-roupa-suja-do-po-vermelho-de-Mocambique |access-date=25 September 2019 |work=Tribuna Expresso |date=20 January 2019 |language=pt}}</ref> He grew up in a strict Catholic background.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.gazettelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/reflection-abel-xavier-colourful-character-12327660 |title=On Reflection: Abel Xavier – a colourful character who was no stranger to controversy |author=Anthony Vickers |work=Teesside Gazette |date=15 December 2016 |access-date=21 September 2018}}</ref> On retiring from his playing career, Xavier converted to Islam.<ref name=Islam /> He said that he was initiated into the faith by a brother of the monarch of the United Arab Emirates in 2009, who gave him the name Faisal. Xavier said "You can call me Abel, you can call me Faisal or Abel ‘Faisal’ Xavier. Deep down, I wanted to keep the same name, but be recognised by a historical name in Islam".<ref>{{cite news |last1=Tavanez |first1=Melissa |title=Abel 'Faisal' Xavier: "Desde que me converti ao islamismo sinto-me mais livre, mais aberto"|trans-title=Abel 'Faisal' Xavier: "Since I converted to Islam I feel freer, more open"|url=https://caras.pt/famosos/2010-02-02-abel-faisal-xavier-desde-que-me-converti-ao-islamismo-sinto-me-mais-livre-mais-aberto/#&gid=0&pid=1 |access-date=30 August 2023 |work=Caras |date=2 February 2010 |language=Portuguese}}</ref>
From 2011 to 2014, Xavier was in a relationship with actress Oceana Basílio.<ref>{{cite news |title=Abel Xavier confirma fim da relação com Oceana Basílio|trans-title=Abel Xavier confirms end of relationship with Oceana Basílio |url=https://lifestyle.sapo.pt/fama/noticias-fama/artigos/abel-xavier-confirma-fim-da-relacao-com-oceana-basilio |access-date=25 September 2019 |publisher=SAPO |date=26 March 2015 |language=pt}}</ref> In February 2017, with debts of €1.5 million, bankruptcy proceedings were initiated against him.<ref>{{cite news |title=Abel Xavier enfrenta processo de insolvência|trans-title=Abel Xavier faces bankruptcy proceedings |url=https://www.dn.pt/sociedade/interior/abel-xavier-enfrenta-processo-de-insolvencia-5673369.html |access-date=25 September 2019 |work=Diário de Notícias |date=17 February 2017 |language=pt}}</ref>
== Career statistics ==
=== Club === {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition<ref>{{cite news|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191208084819/https://www.foradejogo.net/player.php?player=197211300001|title=Abel Xavier|work=ForaDeJogo|access-date=3 November 2017}}</ref> |- !rowspan="2"|Club !rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|National cup{{efn|Includes Taça de Portugal, Copa del Rey, KNVB Cup, FA Cup, Turkish Cup, Coppa Italia, U.S. Open Cup}} !colspan="2"|League cup{{efn|Includes Football League Cup}} !colspan="2"|Continental !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total |- !Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals |- |rowspan="5"|Estrela Amadora |1989–90 |Primeira Divisão |1||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||1||0 |- |1990–91 |Primeira Divisão |22||0||1||0||colspan="2"|—||3{{efn|name=ECWC}}||0||0||0||26||0 |- |1991–92 |Segunda Divisão |29||0||1||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||30||0 |- |1992–93 |Segunda Divisão |34||5||5||2||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||39||7 |- !colspan="2"|Total !86!!5!!7!!2!!colspan="2"|—!!3!!0!!0!!0!!96!!7 |- |rowspan="3"|Benfica |1993–94 |Primeira Liga |24||1||0||0||colspan="2"|—||8{{efn|name=ECWC|Appearances in European Cup Winners' Cup}}||1||1{{efn|name=SCO|Appearance(s) in Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira}}||0||33||2 |- |1994–95 |Primeira Liga |22||3||2||0||colspan="2"|—||5{{efn|name=UCL|Appearances in UEFA Champions League}}||0||3{{efn|name=SCO}}||0||32||3 |- !colspan="2"|Total !46!!4!!2!!0!!colspan="2"|—!!13!!1!!4!!0!!65!!5 |- |Bari |1995–96 |Serie A |8||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||8||0 |- |rowspan="3"|Real Oviedo |1996–97 |La Liga |27||0||4||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||31||0 |- ||1997–98 |La Liga |32||0||1||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|–||33||0 |- !colspan="2"|Total !59!!0!!5!!0!!colspan="2"|—!!colspan="2"|—!!colspan="2"|—!!64!!0 |- |PSV |1998–99 |Eredivisie |19||2||0||0||colspan="2"|—||7{{efn|name=UCL}}||0||1{{efn|Appearance in Johan Cruyff Shield}}||0||27||2 |- |rowspan="4"|Everton |1999–2000 |Premier League |20||0||2||0||1||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||23||0 |- |2000–01 |Premier League |11||0||1||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||12 ||0 |- |2001–02 |Premier League |12||0||1||0||1||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||14||0 |- !colspan="2"|Total !43!!0!!4!!0!!2!!0!!colspan="2"|—!!colspan="2"|—!!49!!0 |- |rowspan="3"|Liverpool |2001–02 |Premier League |10||1||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||5{{efn|name=UCL}}||1||colspan="2"|—||15||2 |- |2002–03 |Premier League |4||0||0||0||1||0||0||0||1{{efn|Appearance in FA Community Shield}}||0||6||0 |- !colspan="2"|Total !14!!1!!0!!0!!1!!0!!5!!1!!1!!0!!21!!2 |- |Galatasaray (loan) |2002–03 |Süper Lig |11||0||1||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||12||0 |- |Hannover |2003–04 |Bundesliga |5||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||5||0 |- |Roma |2004–05 |Serie A |3||0||1||0||colspan="2"|—||0||0||colspan="2"|—||4||0 |- |rowspan="3"|Middlesbrough |2005–06 |Premier League |4||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||2{{efn|Appearances in UEFA Cup}}||0||colspan="2"|—||6||0 |- |2006–07 |Premier League |14||1||6||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||20||1 |- !colspan="2"|Total !18!!1!!6!!0!!0!!0!!2!!0!!colspan="2"|—!!26!!1 |- |rowspan="3"|LA Galaxy |2007 |Major League Soccer |10||0||1||0||colspan="2"|—||5{{efn|Appearances in North American SuperLiga}}||0||colspan="2"|—||16||0 |- |2008 |Major League Soccer |10||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||10||0 |- !colspan="2"|Total !20!!0!!1!!0!!colspan="2"|—!!5!!0!!colspan="2"|—!!26!!0 |- !colspan="3"|Career total !332!!13!!27!!2!!3!!0!!35!!2!!6!!0!!403!!17 |}
{{notelist}}
=== International === {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |+ Appearances and goals by national team and year !National team!!Year!!Apps!!Goals |- |rowspan="6"|Portugal |1993||4||0 |- |1998||5||0 |- |1999||2||1 |- |2000||4||1 |- |2001||2||0 |- |2002||3||0 |- !colspan="2"|Total!!20!!2 |}
:''Scores and results list Portugal's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Xavier goal.''
{| class="wikitable sortable" |+ List of international goals scored by Abel Xavier !scope="col"|No. !scope="col"|Date !scope="col"|Venue !scope="col"|Opponent !scope="col"|Score !scope="col"|Result !scope="col"|Competition |- {{Ig match | n =1 | d1=14 October 1998 | st=Tehelné pole| ci= Bratislava| co=Slovakia | o=Slovakia | sc=3–0 | fr=3–0 | comp=Euro 2000 qualifying}} {{Ig match | n =2 | d1=9 October 1999 | st=Estádio da Luz (1954)| ci=Lisbon| co=Portugal | o=Hungary | sc=3–0 | fr=3–0 | comp=Euro 2000 qualifying}} |}
=== Managerial === {{updated|23 March 2019}}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center" |- !rowspan="2"| Team !rowspan="2"| From !rowspan="2"| To !colspan="6"| Record |- !{{Tooltip|G|Games managed}} !{{Tooltip|W|Games won}} !{{Tooltip|D|Games drawn}} !{{Tooltip|L|Games lost}} !{{Tooltip|Win %|Winning percentage}} !{{Tooltip|Ref.|Reference}} |- | Olhanense | 7 July 2013 | 28 October 2013 {{WDL|10|3|2|5}} | |- | Farense | 1 December 2014 | 28 May 2015 {{WDL|27|11|6|10}} | |- | Desportivo Aves | 9 July 2015 | 4 September 2015 {{WDL|6|0|2|4}} | |- | Mozambique | 26 January 2016 | 22 July 2019 {{WDL|13|4|5|4}} | |- ! colspan="3"| Total {{WDLtot|56|18|15|23}} !— |}
==Honours== '''Estrela da Amadora''' *Segunda Liga: 1992–93
'''Benfica''' *Primeira Liga: 1993–94 *Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira runner-up: 1994
'''PSV''' *Johan Cruijff Shield: 1998
'''Liverpool''' *Football League Cup: 2002–03<ref name=Islam>{{cite web|url=https://www.aa.com.tr/en/sports/former-portugal-defender-xavier-rediscovers-himself-thanks-to-islam/2570761|title=Former Portugal defender Xavier rediscovers himself thanks to Islam|website=Anadolu Agency|date=23 April 2022|accessdate=19 June 2023}}</ref>
'''Portugal U17''' *UEFA European Under-16 Championship: 1989 *FIFA U-16 World Cup third-place: 1989
'''Portugal U18''' *UEFA Under-18 Championship runner-up: 1990
'''Portugal U20''' *FIFA U-20 World Cup: 1991
==See also== * List of doping cases in sport
==References== {{reflist|30em}}
==External links== * [https://www.liverpoolfc.com/info/abel-xavier Profile] at the Liverpool F.C. website * {{FPF national player}} * {{FIFA player}} * {{UEFA player}}
{{Navboxes colour |title=Portugal squads |bg=#B50000 |fg=gold |bordercolor=#006600 |list1= {{Portugal squad UEFA Euro 2000}} {{Portugal squad 2002 FIFA World Cup}} }} {{Navboxes |title=Managerial positions |list1= {{S.C. Farense managers}} {{C.D. Aves managers}} {{Mozambique national football team managers}} }}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Xavier, Abel}} Category:1972 births Category:Living people Category:People from Nampula Category:Portuguese men's footballers Category:Mozambican men's footballers Category:Portugal men's international footballers Category:Portugal men's youth international footballers Category:Portugal men's under-21 international footballers Category:Portuguese people of Mozambican descent Category:Men's association football full-backs Category:C.F. Estrela da Amadora players Category:S.L. Benfica footballers Category:SSC Bari players Category:La Liga players Category:Real Oviedo players Category:PSV Eindhoven players Category:Everton F.C. players Category:Liverpool F.C. players Category:Galatasaray S.K. footballers Category:Hannover 96 players Category:Serie A players Category:AS Roma players Category:Middlesbrough F.C. players Category:LA Galaxy players Category:Premier League players Category:UEFA Euro 2000 players Category:2002 FIFA World Cup players Category:Mozambican emigrants to Portugal Category:Portuguese sportspeople in doping cases Category:Doping cases in association football Category:Bundesliga players Category:Primeira Liga players Category:Eredivisie players Category:Süper Lig players Category:Major League Soccer players Category:Portuguese Muslims Category:Converts to Sunni Islam from Roman Catholicism Category:Portuguese expatriate men's footballers Category:Mozambican expatriate men's footballers Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Italy Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Germany Category:Expatriate men's footballers in England Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Turkey Category:Expatriate men's footballers in the Netherlands Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Spain Category:Expatriate men's soccer players in the United States Category:Portuguese expatriate sportspeople in Italy Category:Portuguese expatriate sportspeople in Germany Category:Portuguese expatriate sportspeople in England Category:Portuguese expatriate sportspeople in Turkey Category:Portuguese expatriate sportspeople in the Netherlands Category:Portuguese expatriate sportspeople in Spain Category:Portuguese expatriate sportspeople in the United States Category:Mozambican expatriate sportspeople in Italy Category:Mozambican expatriate sportspeople in Germany Category:Mozambican expatriate sportspeople in England Category:Mozambican expatriate sportspeople in Turkey Category:Mozambican expatriate sportspeople in the Netherlands Category:Mozambican expatriate sportspeople in Spain Category:Mozambican expatriate sportspeople in the United States Category:Portuguese football managers Category:S.C. Olhanense managers Category:S.C. Farense managers Category:C.D. Aves managers Category:Primeira Liga managers Category:Liga Portugal 2 managers Category:Mozambique national football team managers Category:Black Portuguese sportspeople Category:Portuguese football commentators Category:Mozambican Muslims