Happy Birthday, Fabien Barthez!
A captain and a legend of the Club. But before becoming a key part of AS Monaco’s history, Fabien Barthez had a challenging first season in 1995-1996 when he was limited by injuries, only playing 21 league games. It was not until 1996-1997 that he finally became a regular starter under Jean Tigana.
A captain who was twice champion of France
That second season saw AS Monaco crowned French champion for the sixth time in its history. Captain of the team, he played 36 Ligue 1 games (the second-most on the team, behind Sylvain Legwinski) and conceded only 29 goals. The native of Lavelanet then won the Trophée des Champions a few months later against OGC Nice (5-2).
A key part of a squad made up of big names like David Trezeguet, Willy Sagnol and Victor Ikpeba, he reached the semifinal of the Champions League that same season. The French international (87 caps) was also notably part of the XI that eliminated Manchester United in the quarterfinals of the Champions League. Then in 2000, under the orders of Claude Puel, he again won Ligue 1, featuring in 24 games.
World Champion with Henry and Trezeguet
If his record with AS Monaco is full, his international career was all the more so. In 1998, Fabien Barthez won the World Cup with the French team, notably beating Brazil in the final (3-0).
It was a title he shared with two of his club teammates, David Trezeguet and Thierry Henry. Two years later, he would win the European Championships, this securing a rare World Cup-Euro double. During these two competitions, he was the team’s starting ‘keeper in every match.
Numerous individual awards
He finally joined Manchester United in 2000 after winning the French leage and the Euros, leaving an indelible mark on the Principality club with 189 games played. An explosive and exceptionally talented goalkeeper, he also won plenty of individual awards with AS Monaco, including being elected European goalkeeper of the year in 1998 and 2000 or a place in the Ligue 1 team of the season during the same two campaigns.
On his 50th birthday, the entire Club wishes him a happy birthday!
