Previous Clubs:
FC Metz, Newcastle United, Fulham FC
Debut:
31/01/2004 v Southampton (H) 3-2 (Premiership)
Farewell:
Transferred to Everton, 01/09/2008, £Undisclosed
Passed Away:
Biography
Louis Laurent Saha was born in Paris, France, on 8 August 1978. A quick, powerful and technically gifted centre-forward, he represented Manchester United between January 2004 and September 2008, winning two Premier League titles, the League Cup and the UEFA Champions League.
Saha was raised in the Parisian suburb of Évry and developed his footballing ability at the respected Clairefontaine national academy. He later joined Metz, making his professional debut for the French club during the 1997/98 season.
In January 1999, Metz allowed Saha to join Newcastle United on loan. He scored twice during his short stay, including a goal against Blackburn Rovers in the FA Cup, and appeared as a substitute as Newcastle were defeated by Manchester United in the 1999 FA Cup final.
Saha returned to Metz and enjoyed an impressive 1999/2000 campaign, scoring regularly in European competition. Fulham manager Jean Tigana subsequently brought him back to England in a transfer worth approximately £2.1 million.
The striker made an immediate impact at Craven Cottage. He scored 27 league goals during the 2000/01 season as Fulham won the First Division championship with 101 points. Saha finished as the division’s leading scorer, was selected in the PFA Team of the Year and helped secure the club’s promotion to the Premier League.
His pace, strength and ability with either foot allowed him to make a successful transition to the top flight. Saha scored on Fulham’s Premier League debut against Manchester United in August 2001 and was named the competition’s Player of the Month following an excellent start to the season.
After two campaigns affected by injuries and fluctuating form, Saha returned to his best during the first half of 2003/04. He scored 15 goals in 22 appearances, including two as Fulham recorded a memorable 3–1 victory over Manchester United at Old Trafford in October 2003.
Sir Alex Ferguson identified Saha as the mobile and versatile striker United needed. After considerable negotiations with Fulham, Manchester United completed his signing on 23 January 2004 for approximately £12.8 million.
Saha made an outstanding start to his Old Trafford career. He scored after only 18 minutes of his debut against Southampton on 31 January 2004, helping United win 3–2. A week later, he scored twice in a thrilling 4–3 victory away to Everton.
He also scored on his return to Craven Cottage and produced a late equaliser against Arsenal at Highbury. Saha completed his first half-season with seven goals from 14 appearances, although he was cup-tied and therefore unable to participate in United’s successful 2004 FA Cup campaign.
His progress was repeatedly interrupted by injuries during the following season. Problems involving his knee, hamstring and Achilles restricted him to 22 appearances and two goals in 2004/05. The arrival of Wayne Rooney and the continued presence of Ruud van Nistelrooy also created intense competition for places.
Saha returned to make an important contribution during the 2005/06 season. He became United’s principal striker in the League Cup and finished as the tournament’s leading scorer with six goals.
He scored in both legs of the semi-final against Blackburn Rovers before starting the final against Wigan Athletic at Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium. Saha scored United’s second goal as Ferguson’s side recorded a convincing 4–0 victory, securing his first major honour with the club.
His performances persuaded Ferguson to select him ahead of Van Nistelrooy for the final and for several important matches during the second half of the campaign. Van Nistelrooy departed for Real Madrid that summer, giving Saha the opportunity to form a quick and fluid attacking partnership with Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Saha began the 2006/07 season in excellent form. He scored in United’s opening Premier League victory over Fulham and registered important Champions League goals against Celtic and Benfica. His strength, movement and ability to stretch opposing defences were significant features of United’s increasingly dynamic attacking football.
He scored 13 goals in 34 appearances during the campaign as Manchester United won its first Premier League championship since 2003. Unfortunately, further injury problems restricted his involvement during the decisive final months of the season.
Saha remained part of the squad that won the Premier League and Champions League double in 2007/08. He scored five times during the campaign, including the decisive penalty against Chelsea at Old Trafford and two goals in a victory over Sunderland on Boxing Day.
Persistent injuries again limited his appearances, however, and he was unavailable for the Champions League final against Chelsea in Moscow. United won the trophy following a penalty shootout, and Saha received a winners’ medal after contributing during the European campaign.
In total, Louis Saha made 124 competitive appearances and scored 42 goals for Manchester United. His record included 28 Premier League goals, seven in the League Cup, three in the FA Cup and four in the Champions League.
Saha left United for Everton on 1 September 2008, completing an undisclosed transfer after signing a performance-related contract. He overcame further fitness difficulties to become an important attacking player during four seasons at Goodison Park.
On 30 May 2009, Saha scored after only 25 seconds against Chelsea at Wembley, setting a record for the fastest goal in an FA Cup final. Everton were ultimately defeated 2–1, but his early strike became one of the defining moments of his career.
Saha produced some excellent performances for Everton, including scoring four goals in a 5–3 Premier League victory over Blackpool in February 2011. He finished his Goodison Park career with 35 goals from 115 appearances in all competitions.
He joined Tottenham Hotspur in January 2012 and scored four times during a brief spell at White Hart Lane. Short stays with Sunderland and Lazio followed before he announced his retirement from professional football in August 2013.
Saha made his senior international debut for France against Belgium on 18 February 2004 and marked the occasion by scoring. He represented his country at Euro 2004 and the 2006 World Cup, where France reached the final before losing to Italy on penalties. He finished his international career with 20 appearances and four goals.
After retiring, Saha became involved in business and player welfare. He wrote about the challenges professional footballers face and co-founded AxisStars, a platform designed to help athletes and entertainers manage their careers and obtain reliable professional advice.
Louis Saha’s Manchester United career was undeniably disrupted by injury, but when fit he was one of the Premier League’s most complete forwards. His pace, aerial strength, close control and powerful finishing made him an ideal partner for Rooney and Ronaldo. With 42 goals and four major honours, he made a valuable contribution during the period in which Ferguson constructed another European Cup-winning Manchester United side.
