Rabah Madjer

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Algerian footballer (born 1958)

title: "Rabah Madjer" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["1958-births", "living-people", "people-from-hussein-dey-(commune)", "algerian-men's-footballers", "men's-association-football-forwards", "algerian-ligue-professionnelle-1-players", "na-hussein-dey-players", "ligue-1-players", "ligue-2-players", "racing-club-de-france-football-players", "tours-fc-players", "primeira-liga-players", "fc-porto-players", "la-liga-players", "valencia-cf-players", "qatar-stars-league-players", "qatar-sc-players", "algeria-men's-youth-international-footballers", "algeria-men's-international-footballers", "1982-fifa-world-cup-players", "1986-fifa-world-cup-players", "1980-african-cup-of-nations-players", "1982-african-cup-of-nations-players", "1984-african-cup-of-nations-players", "1986-african-cup-of-nations-players", "1990-african-cup-of-nations-players", "1992-african-cup-of-nations-players", "africa-cup-of-nations–winning-players", "olympic-footballers-for-algeria", "footballers-at-the-1980-summer-olympics", "african-games-gold-medalists-for-algeria", "african-games-gold-medalists-in-football", "algerian-expatriate-men's-footballers", "expatriate-men's-footballers-in-france", "expatriate-men's-footballers-in-portugal", "expatriate-men's-footballers-in-spain", "expatriate-men's-footballers-in-qatar", "algerian-expatriate-sportspeople-in-france", "algerian-expatriate-sportspeople-in-portugal", "algerian-expatriate-sportspeople-in-spain", "algerian-expatriate-sportspeople-in-qatar", "african-footballer-of-the-year-winners", "algerian-football-managers", "algeria-national-football-team-managers", "2002-african-cup-of-nations-managers", "expatriate-football-managers-in-qatar", "footballers-at-the-1978-all-africa-games", "21st-century-algerian-people", "uefa-champions-league–winning-players", "uefa-champions-league-top-scorers", "20th-century-algerian-sportsmen"] description: "Algerian footballer (born 1958)" topic_path: "science/astronomy" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rabah_Madjer" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Algerian footballer (born 1958) ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox football biography"]

FieldValue
nameRabah Madjer
imageFC Porto (in verband met wedstrijd om Super Cup tegen Ajax) speler Madjer (l) e, Bestanddeelnr 934-1340 (cropped).jpg
upright0.8
captionMadjer in 1987
fullnameRabah Mustapha Madjer
birth_date
birth_placeHussein Dey, Algeria
height1.79 m
positionStriker
youthyears11972–1973
youthyears21973–1978
years11978–1983
years21983–1985
years31985
years41985–1991
years51988
years61991–1992
totalcaps282
nationalyears11978–1992
manageryears11993–1995
manageryears21995–1997
manageryears31997–1998
manageryears41998–1999
manageryears51999
manageryears62001–2002
manageryears72005–2006
manageryears82017–2018
manageryears92017–2018
::

| name = Rabah Madjer | image = FC Porto (in verband met wedstrijd om Super Cup tegen Ajax) speler Madjer (l) e, Bestanddeelnr 934-1340 (cropped).jpg | upright = 0.8 | caption = Madjer in 1987 | fullname = Rabah Mustapha Madjer | birth_date = | birth_place = Hussein Dey, Algeria | height = 1.79 m | position = Striker | currentclub = | youthyears1 = 1972–1973 | youthclubs1 = Onalait Hussein Dey | youthyears2 = 1973–1978 | youthclubs2 = NA Hussein Dey | years1 = 1978–1983 | clubs1 = NA Hussein Dey | caps1 = 94 | goals1 = 58 | years2 = 1983–1985 | clubs2 = Racing Paris | caps2 = 50 | goals2 = 23 | years3 = 1985 | clubs3 = → Tours (loan) | caps3 = 7 | goals3 = 2 | years4 = 1985–1991 | clubs4 = Porto | caps4 = 108 | goals4 = 50 | years5 = 1988 | clubs5 = → Valencia (loan) | caps5 = 14 | goals5 = 4 | years6 = 1991–1992 | clubs6 = Qatar SC | caps6 = 9 | goals6 = 6 | totalcaps = 282 | totalgoals = 143 | nationalyears1 = 1978–1992 | nationalteam1 = Algeria | nationalcaps1 = 87 | nationalgoals1 = 28 | manageryears1 = 1993–1995 | managerclubs1 = Algeria | manageryears2 = 1995–1997 | managerclubs2 = Porto (youth) | manageryears3 = 1997–1998 | managerclubs3 = Al Sadd | manageryears4 = 1998–1999 | managerclubs4 = Al-Wakrah | manageryears5 = 1999 | managerclubs5 = Algeria | manageryears6 = 2001–2002 | managerclubs6 = Algeria | manageryears7 = 2005–2006 | managerclubs7 = Al-Rayyan | manageryears8 = 2017–2018 | managerclubs8 = Algeria | manageryears9 = 2017–2018 | managerclubs9 = Algeria A' | medaltemplates =

Rabah Mustapha Madjer (; born 15 December 1958) is an Algerian former professional footballer who played as a striker.

He reached stardom as a Porto player during the 1980s, being widely regarded as one of the best Algerian football players of all time. In his six-year spell with that club, he won nine major titles, including three national championships and the 1987 European Cup.

One of the most prolific Algeria internationals in number of games and goals, Madjer played in two World Cups with his national team, helping it to its first ever participation in 1982. Having taken up coaching immediately after retiring, he managed several clubs, and also had several spells with the Algeria national team.

Club career

Born in the Algiers district of Hussein Dey of Kabyle origin (Tigzirt), Madjer started his European career in 1983, moving to Racing Club de France football Colombes 92 from local NA Hussein Dey. He stayed there for one and a half seasons, finishing 1984–85 with another French side, Tours FC.

Madjer arrived at FC Porto in 1985–86 and, the following campaign, entered the club's history books in the final of the European Cup against Bayern Munich, scoring the 1–1 equalizer in a memorable final, which eventually ended 2–1 to the Portuguese, and also setting up the winner of Juary. Pelé is believed to have said of this goal: "It would have been the greatest goal I have ever seen, if he had not looked back at it." He also netted in the club's Intercontinental Cup conquest the same year.

After that stellar 1987, Madjer won the [[African Footballer of the Year|Ballon d'or Africain]], but was not allowed to compete for the European Golden Ball as he was not born in the region. In the first part of 1987–88 he scored ten times from only 11 appearances. In the summer 1988 he moved to Inter Milan but the medical exams detected a serious thigh muscle injury that the player had in the past and the contract was never officially signed (despite the initial announcement and the official photos already taken).

After being close to transferring to Bayern Munich, Madjer signed for La Liga's Valencia CF in January 1988, returning to his previous team after only a few months for a further three seasons. Johan Cruyff had also attempted to sign Madjer for AFC Ajax at the time the clubs met in the 1987 European Super Cup. Cruyff was unhappy with his own club's board, believing that they leaked details of the transfer which caused Porto to pull out of the deal.

Madjer retired from the game in 1992 at the age of nearly 34, after a brief stint with Qatar SC.

International career

Madjer played for the Algeria national team for 19 years, and was present at the 1982 and 1986 FIFA World Cup finals. He retired as the nation's top goalscorer at 28, in 87 caps, having also won the Africa Cup of Nations in 1990 as the hosts incidentally beat Nigeria twice, in the opening match 5–1 and the final 1–0.

Madjer's most famous goal came in Algeria's 2–1 win over Germany in the 1982 World Cup, when he opened the scoring in the 53rd minute.

Post-playing career

In 1993, Madjer began coaching the Algeria national team but after failing to qualify for two 1994 major competitions, the World Cup and the CAN, he resigned, returning to Porto as a youth coordinator.

He subsequently managed Qatari clubs Al Sadd SC (1997–1998) and Al-Wakrah Sport Club (1998–1999).

After a quick spell with the Algeria national team in 1999, Madjer returned two years later, only to resign with aggravation in the 2002 summer.

In 2005 he was appointed coach of Qatari club Al Rayyan SC.

He controversially returned to the post of Algeria national team coach in October 2017, his first managerial work for over a decade, after Lucas Alcaraz failed to take the team to the 2018 FIFA World Cup. The following June he was dismissed, having won twice in seven games of which six were friendlies.

After his coaching spells, Madjer started a career as a professional analyst in Qatar, for Al-Jazeera Sports (beIN Sports now).

In 2011 he became a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador.

Personal life

Madjer's son Lotfi is also a footballer and represented Qatar at youth level.

Career statistics

Club

::data[format=table title="Appearances and goals by club, season and competition{{citation needed|date=December 2024}}"] | Club | Season | League | National cup | League cup | Continental | Other | Total | Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Total | 94 | 58 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 104 | 62 | Total | 50 | 23 | 10 | 2 | — | — | –||60 | 25 | Total | 108 | 46 | 11 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 23 | 14 | 5 | 2 | 138 | 71 | Career total | 282 | 139 | |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---| | Hussein Dey | 1978–79 | National 1 | | | | | — | 6 | 1 | – | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1979–80 | | | | | — | 4 | 3 | – | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1980–81 | | | | | — | — | – | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1981–82 | | | | | — | — | – | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1982–83 | | | | | — | — | – | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Racing Paris | 1983–84 | Ligue 2 | 27 | 20 | 5 | 0 | — | — | — | 32 | 20 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1984–85 | French Division 1 | 23 | 3 | 5 | 2 | — | — | – | 28 | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Tours (loan) | 1984–85 | French Division 1 | 7 | 2 | | | — | — | – | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Porto | 1985–86 | Primeira Liga | 19 | 12 | 2 | 1 | — | — | 2 | 0 | 23 | 13 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1986–87 | 20 | 6 | 6 | 4 | — | 6 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 33 | 14 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1987–88 | 11 | 8 | 0 | 0 | — | 4 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 16 | 15 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1988–89 | 24 | 6 | 2 | 3 | — | 3 | 1 | — | 29 | 10 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1989–90 | 26 | 13 | 1 | 1 | — | 6 | 2 | — | 33 | 16 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1990–91 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | 4 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 13 | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Valencia (loan) | 1987–88 | La Liga | 14 | 4 | 0 | 0 | — | — | – | 14 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Qatar | 1991–92 | Qatar Stars League | 9 | 6 | | | — | — | – | 9 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | ::

International

:Scores and results list Algeria's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Madjer goal.

::data[format=table title="List of international goals scored by Rabah Madjer[https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/madjer-intlg.html Mustapha Rabah Madjer – International Appearances]; at RSSSF"]

No.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
120 June 198019 Juin 1965, Oran, Algeria3–13–11982 World Cup qualification
220 July 1980Dinamo Stadium, Minsk, Soviet Union2–03–01980 Summer Olympics
310 April 198119 Juin 1965, Oran, Algeria3–05–11982 African Cup of Nations qualification
44–0
51 May 198117 Juin, Constantine, Algeria1–04–01982 World Cup qualification
630 August 198119 Juin 1965, Oran, Algeria1–07–01982 African Cup of Nations qualification
72–0
830 October 198117 Juin, Constantine, Algeria2–12–11982 World Cup qualification
925 April 19825 Juillet, Algiers, Algeria1–11–1Friendly
1028 April 19825 Juillet 1962, Algiers, Algeria2–02–0Friendly
1116 June 1982El Molinón, Gijón, Spain1–02–11982 FIFA World Cup
128 April 19835 Juillet 1962, Algiers, Algeria4–06–21984 African Cup of Nations qualification
136–0
1426 April 1983Stade de l'Amitié, Cotonou, Benin1–11–11984 African Cup of Nations qualification
1510 June 19835 Juillet 1962, Algiers, Algeria1–03–0Friendly
1628 August 19835 Juillet 1962, Algiers, Algeria1–02–01984 African Cup of Nations qualification
1717 March 1984Félix Houphouët-Boigny, Abidjan, Ivory Coast1–03–11984 African Cup of Nations
1813 July 19855 Juillet 1962, Algiers, Algeria2–02–01986 World Cup qualification
1918 August 19855 Juillet 1962, Algiers, Algeria3–03–01986 African Cup of Nations qualification
206 October 1985El Menzah, Tunis, Tunisia1–11–41986 World Cup qualification
2118 October 19855 Juillet 1962, Algiers, Algeria1–03–01986 World Cup qualification
2214 March 1986Alexandria Stadium, Alexandria, Egypt1–02–31986 African Cup of Nations
2327 March 19875 Juillet 1962, Algiers, Algeria1–01–01988 African Cup of Nations qualification
247 January 198919 Mai 1956, Annaba, Algeria3–03–01990 World Cup qualification
2525 June 1989National Sports Stadium, Harare, Zimbabwe2–02–11990 World Cup qualification
2625 August 198919 Mai 1956, Annaba, Algeria1–01–01990 World Cup qualification
272 March 19905 Juillet 1962, Algiers, Algeria1–05–11990 African Cup of Nations
282–0
::

Honours

Hussein Dey

Porto

International

Individual

References

References

  1. [https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/africa/3196013.stm African legends: Rabah Madjer]; [[BBC Sport]], 1 September 2003
  2. (March 2025)
  3. Peter Law. (1 September 2003). "African legends: Rabah Madjer". BBC Sport.
  4. (2021-04-06). "SportMob – FC Porto Best Players of All Time".
  5. [https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/01d8-0e7125ba5b40-bea3dcf78153-1000--madjer-calls-on-porto-to-do-it-again/ Madjer calls on Porto to do it again]; UEFA, 2 April 2009
  6. (27 May 1987). "1986/87: Madjer inspires Porto triumph". UEFA.
  7. (9 December 2004). "Porto, snow and Tokyo". UEFA.
  8. (13 December 2012). "Madjer lobs Porto to glory in the snow". FIFA.
  9. [https://www.rsssf.org/tablest/toyota87.html Intercontinental Club Cup 1987]; at [[Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. RSSSF]]
  10. [https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/afrpoy87.html African Player of the Year 1987]; at RSSSF
  11. Granello, Licia. (22 June 1988). "L'Inter rinuncia a Madjer". La Repubblica.
  12. Chiesa, Carlo F.. (February 2000). "Regine del mondo - La storia della Coppa Intercontinentale". Action Group S.r.l..
  13. "My Turn: The Autobiography". Pan Macmillan.
  14. "Rabah Madjer: The Fennec who conquered Europe {{!}} Goal.com".
  15. (17 June 1982). "Argelia, con fútbol disciplinado, humilló a la poderosa Alemania". [[ABC (newspaper).
  16. (14 October 2008). "Madjer the magnificent". FIFA.
  17. (17 July 2002). "Madjer shuts door on Algeria". BBC Sport.
  18. (21 December 2005). "Madjer to coach Qatari club". BBC Sport.
  19. (30 October 2017). "Former players rally behind Algeria coach Madjer". BBC Sport.
  20. (25 June 2018). "Algeria part ways with coach Rabah Madjer". BBC Sport.
  21. (10 October 2011). "Algerian soccer great Rabah Madjer to become UN Goodwill Ambassador". [[United Nations]].
  22. "Rabah Madjer". UNESCO.
  23. (June 27, 2020). ""اختار تمثيل قطر".. ضجة في الجزائر بسبب ابن رابح ماجر". الحرة.
  24. [https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/madjer-intlg.html Mustapha Rabah Madjer – International Appearances]; at RSSSF
  25. (20 June 1980). "Algérie 3–1 Sierra Leone". DZFoot.
  26. (20 July 1980). "Algérie 3–0 {{sic". DZFoot.
  27. (10 April 1981). "Algérie 5–1 Mali". DZFoot.
  28. (1 May 1981). "Algérie 4–0 Niger". DZFoot.
  29. (30 August 1981). "Algérie 7–0 Burkina Faso". DZFoot.
  30. (30 October 1981). "Algérie 2–1 Nigéria". DZFoot.
  31. (25 April 1982). "Algérie 1–1 Perou". DZFoot.
  32. (28 April 1982). "Algérie 2–0 Irlande". DZFoot.
  33. (16 June 1982). "Algérie 2–1 RF Allemagne". DZFoot.
  34. (8 April 1983). "Algérie 6–2 Bénin". DZFoot.
  35. (26 April 1983). "Bénin 1–1 Algérie". DZFoot.
  36. (10 June 1983). "Algérie 3–0 Ouganda". DZFoot.
  37. (28 August 1983). "Algérie 2–0 Sénégal". DZFoot.
  38. (17 March 1984). "Algérie 3–1 Egypte". DZFoot.
  39. (13 July 1985). "Algérie 2–0 Zambie". DZFoot.
  40. (18 August 1985). "Algérie 3–0 Kenya". DZFoot.
  41. (6 October 1985). "Algérie 1–1 Tunisie". DZFoot.
  42. (18 October 1985). "Algérie 3–0 Tunisie". DZFoot.
  43. (14 March 1986). "Cameroun 3–2 Algérie". DZFoot.
  44. (27 March 1987). "Algérie 1–0 Tunisie". DZFoot.
  45. (7 January 1989). "Algérie 3–0 Zimbabwe". DZFoot.
  46. (25 June 1989). "Zimbabwe 1–2 Algérie". DZFoot.
  47. (25 August 1989). "Algérie 1–0 Côte d'Ivoire". DZFoot.
  48. (2 March 1990). "Algérie 5–1 Nigéria". DZFoot.
  49. (15 May 1998). "Ramos, Balboa named to MasterCard CONCACAF 20th Century team.". Soccer Times.
  50. "Legends". Golden Foot.
  51. (25 January 2016). "IFFHS announce the 48 football legend players". IFFHS.

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