Philippe Albert
Albert in 2014
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Philippe Julien Albert | ||
| Date of birth | 10 August 1967 | ||
| Place of birth | Bouillon, Belgium | ||
| Height | 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in) | ||
| Playing position | Defender | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1986–1988 | Charleroi | 65 | (7) |
| 1988–1991 | KV Mechelen | 87 | (5) |
| 1991–1994 | Anderlecht | 50 | (9) |
| 1994–1999 | Newcastle United | 96 | (8) |
| 1998–1999 | → Fulham (loan) | 13 | (2) |
| 1999–2000 | Charleroi | 14 | (1) |
| Total | 325 | (32) | |
| National team | |||
| 1987–1989 | Belgium U21 | 4 | (0) |
| 1987–1997 | Belgium | 41 | (5) |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. |
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Philippe Julien Albert (born 10 August 1967) is a former Belgian footballer who played as a defender. He played for Charleroi, KV Mechelen and Anderlecht in his native Belgium, and for English clubs Newcastle United and Fulham. It was at Newcastle that he became known as an attack-minded centre-back for his forward runs from defence in the team dubbed as "the Entertainers".
Albert made 41 appearances for the Belgium national team from 1987 to 1997, and represented his country at the 1990 and 1994 World Cups.
Albert started his career with Charleroi before moving to KV Mechelen where his performances won him Belgian Golden Shoe and a move to Anderlecht. While playing at Anderlecht, he won the Belgian League twice and helped his national side qualify for the 1994 World Cup.
Albert's exploits at the World Cup earned him a £2.6 million transfer to Kevin Keegan's Newcastle United; he was issued the number 27 shirt, and completed the transfer on his 27th birthday. He later claimed he turned down moves to Italian clubs Juventus and Fiorentina the year before as he did not like the hot climate or having to play on Sundays, and moved to Newcastle as he was a fan of Keegan and the team he played for, Liverpool, in his youth. He was an immediate success in the side as he helped them win their first six league games of the 1994–95 season, but missed the later stages of the season through injury and Newcastle finished sixth – not even enough for a UEFA Cup place. He became a cult hero at Newcastle United due to his less-than-defensive tendencies in "the Entertainers'" central defence, would often make runs forward and be found roaming on the edge of the opposition box. His most famous moment arguably came when he scored an audacious chip from 20 yards over Peter Schmeichel in a 5–0 win over Manchester United on 20 October 1996.
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