Player Profile

Xavier had as colourful a career as his hairstyles suggested. He played in seven countries; Portugal, the Netherlands, Italy, Spain, England, Turkey and the USA. His international career was anything but usual as well. He played no less than 21 times for the Under-21s before making his bow with the senior team at twenty years of age. He played three more internationals in 1992-1993 but his fifth came five years later. He got to the semi-finals of Euro 2000 with Portugal but deep into extra-time, he handled the ball in the penalty area in the game against France and Zidane scored the deciding penalty. Xavier went ballistic and his remonstrations to the referee got him a six months suspension from international football. 

Nick Barmby crossed the great divide at Stanley Park in 2001 and Xavier became the second player in recent history to join Liverpool from Everton. Xavier made a decent start. He didn't score in 49 games for the Blues but it took him only 16 minutes to score on his debut for Liverpool at Ipswich. He became the seventy-fifth player in Liverpool's history to score on his debut but he was the first defender to do so since Alec Lindsay in 1969. Xavier enjoyed a good run in the side that Phil Thompson was managing in Houllier's absence and kept his place once Houllier returned. He was also in the starting line-up at the beginning of the 2002/03 season but then he dropped out of the first-team picture. Xavier was loaned out to Galatasaray in Turkey in January and Houllier stated emphatically he was not to return.

Xavier failed to guarantee a contract in Turkey, but in January 2004 he got himself a permanent move to Hannover 96 where his fitness was questioned and told to leave after only a three month's stay. AS Roma was next to try him out in January 2005 but he didn't impress and only played three games in the Seria A. Xavier returned to English football with Middlesbrough in August 2005. After failing a drugs test after the UEFA Cup tie against Greek club Xanthi on 29 September 2005 he was out of the game for 14 months. He had tested positive for an anabolic steroid. Xavier was still under contract at Boro and made 20 appearances in the 2005/06 season. Xavier's next stop was the USA where he played one year alongside David Beckham for Los Angeles Galaxy from 2007-2008. On 22 December 2009 Xavier announced his retirement from professional football. He subsequently converted to Islam and changed his name to Faisal Xavier. He said: 'It's an emotional goodbye and I hope to participate in something very satisfying in a new stage of my life. In moments of grief, I have found comfort in Islam. Slowly, I learned a religion that professes peace, equality, freedom and hope. These are foundations with which I identify.'"

Between 2013 and 2015 Xavier managed Olhanense, Farense and Desportivo Aves in Portugal. In January 2016 he was appointed as manager of the Mozambique national side but was let go in 2019 after coming close to qualifying for the Africa Cup of Nations.