Who the Hell is Abel Xavier and What’s He Doing With the Galaxy?

By: Laurie | May 15th, 2007

Yeesh, I spend one day traveling and all hell breaks loose.

Remember just a week ago, when I was talking about the absurd Barthez-to-Galaxy rumor? I said that there were three requirements for a player to be linked to the Galaxy.

1) Is he over 30?
2) Is he European?
3) Is he currently in what we might euphemistically call a “transitional phase” of his career?

Well, that particular rumor had no substance, but this one is apparently no longer in the rumor phase. Abel Xavier, who can play either as right back or center back, has “come to terms” with the Galaxy. He’ll be eligible to join the team when the next transfer window opens on June 15.

Let’s see. Over thirty? Yup. He’s thirty-four. European? Does Portuguese count? And “transitional phase”? Last week’s news was that he was unable to come to terms with Middlesbrough.

In the immortal words of Bob, “This one fits into the what the f*ck? category.”

Xavier is a 34-year-old Portuguese defender with 20 international caps to his name. His resume includes stops at Estrela Amadora, Benfica, Bari, Real Oviedo, PSV, Everton, Liverpool, Galatasaray, Hannover 96, Roma and Middlesbrough. In other words, he has played everywhere and he has managed to do so despite having to sit out a year after testing positive for steroids following a UEFA Cup match in 2005.

Let’s see. What else can we find out about our new boy Abel? Let’s check with Wikipedia, shall we?

Xavier is widely regarded as a utility back player but fits the role of a holding midfielder when the necessity arises. Although still regarded as one of the original stalwarts of the Portuguese National team, Xavier’s reputation as a footballer has waned and he will, probably, largely be remembered as one of the many players who never fulfilled his potential as well as for his eccentric hairstyles.

And what does Alexi Lalas have to say about Abel?

“Abel brings immense experience and a wonderful personality to our team,” said LA Galaxy President and General Manager Alexi Lalas. “He’s a great defender and we’re excited that he’s coming to LA.”

Because hell, yeah. Immense experience, wonderful personality and hairstyles are everything. While we’re at it, let’s bring in Dennis Rodman.

(And is this the sign that Chris Albright is on his way out the door?)

Some Related Galaxy Posts:

Category: Player News, Team News

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glyconerd

He can be the Denis Rodman of the MLS!
Laurie

My opinion: If we're going for aging defenders, we should have signed my all-time favorite centerback, Lilian Thuram. Not that we could afford him. But he's had a rough go of it at Barca this year, and I think he could still carve up MLS in a big way.

Hey, a gal can dream, can't she?
Doug

... and, no, I don't know if Albright is out or not. Just speculating.
Doug

Laurie, I'm sort of ambivalent about Albright. On the one hand, he's a good player and good right backs are hard to find in MLS. On the other hand, its too bad we have a salary cap but its our reality. I am going by Jone's article, I would love to see El Pescadito back in the Galaxy side. We need someone to create chances up front and that's what Carlos does. We don't necessarily need a right back who sometimes gets off a good cross and sometimes makes good runs up the flank.

Xavier will be the best distributor out of the back that we have. That's for sure and that's what we so dearly need. Plus, he'll know not to pass to Martino.

I can see this happening sometime in July: Xavier making a critical defensive stop and distributing out to Vagenas. Faster than the other team can react, Vagenas makes the critical pass to Beckham who in turn sends the ball into the box. Donovan is there and takes the ball to the left out past a defender who's frantically trying to get back. He slots it into the box for El Pescadito to slam it home. Brilliant! ... and Martino is just crossing midfield ... sorry I had to put it in.
Laurie

Doug, do you know for a fact that Albright's out? I just got back from a week away and I am SO out of touch with everything that's going on. Do you have a new source, or just hope and the Grahame Jones article?

And I knew I could count on you for a Martino comment. Thanks for not disappointing. Can I take this to mean you didn't vote for him for Goal of the Week? ;-)
Doug

Xavier will be the best thing that happened to LA's back line in several seasons. Albright's out and hopefully Martino with him.
Laurie

"Maybe Albright is going to start playing more in the midfield, like how he started the season?"

Hannah, this occurred to me also. The thing was, I remember thinking that game (where Albright played the first half at midfield) got so much better when Albright moved back to rightback. I didn't analzye it enough to try to decide whether or not the problem had been Albright at midfield or Russell at rightback, so this could still work. But I'm still not sure Albright's the problem.
Diane

Fans probably just want Galaxy management to take a break from its planning to milk every cent it can out of China, and worry about why we are the second or third worst team in the league.
I liked your review of the players after the last match, Laurie, and it doesn't sound like one new acquisition is the answer, [A REAL QUESTION:] or that beefing up that position is the place to spend the money? And how can there be ADDITIONAL acquisitions after this, as rumored...the whole rules and money issue is exhausting...
Ian

Abel was definitely a mid-range player in Europe, but I'm not at all convinced he can't do well here. I haven't heard any amounts on the deal yet, but if he wasn't TOO expensive, I think it's a good move. Not a great move, but give him a chance - in any case, he and Becks can do each other's hair before matches. Stores in LA are already double-stocking peroxide in anticipation ...
Clint

Abel Xavier is well known? Really? I only recognize him on TV by his retarded hair and his horrible defense (think Titus Bramble but with more arm flailing).

Good post, Laurie. My suspicion is that the 99.9% of Galaxy fans who have no clue who Abel is will be grateful they are getting an ex-Liverpool AND ex-Roma player (until they actually see him play, unfortunately).
Charly

Owww but MLS is not a pension for old european soccer players ??

++
Charly
Laurie

It's true, Rami! I know nothing about anything about soccer! My guilty secret has been revealed at last!!

Wait, I don't think I've ever actually claimed to know anything, so there's no secret here to be revealed. So I guess I'll continue blogging as usual. Because, well, dammit, I love the game.

Oh, and by the way, I Wiki every player, always, even the ones I'm very familiar with. I highly recommend it as a source of information for anybody, provided it's taken with a grain of salt. (Exhibit A: The Spice Girls site claims something along the line of their being one of the greatest groups of all time. But get past that and there are a lot of interesting details.)

The reason the site has value is that it is generally updated by fanatical fans (or anti-fans)who know all the details about any given entry subject, and you can come up with some interesting little tidbits that normal people would otherwise never know.

As Bob says, Cheers.
Hannah

Maybe Albright is going to start playing more in the midfield, like how he started the season? Interesting signing though.
Rami

Why are you a player you clearly know nothing about? On that note, the fact that you had to wiki a player who is actually pretty well known (for the steroids, the hair, and the defense believe it or not) shows your soccer knowledge isn't exactly up to par. Abel Xavier will be remembered mostly by Portuguese fans for having caused his team to go out in the semi finals of Euro 2000 against France when he handled the ball in the penalty box. Figo took his shirt off and walked off the field before Zidane had expertly dispatched the penalty kick. Step your game up.
Clint

Abel is crazy but will be interesting to watch in MLS. I always thought of him as a class C player when he played throughout England. To see a mid-range talent (vs. a Cooke who was a D grade at best, yet is one of the top players for the Rapids) who is overripe play will be a good barometer for the quality of the league this year.