Mustapha Rabah Madjer (Arabic: رابح ماجر‎; born 15 December 1958 in Hussein Dey, Algiers) is a retired Algerian footballer.

A skilled striker, he reached stardom as an F.C. Porto player during the 1980s, and is widely regarded as one of the best Algerian football players of all time.^[1][2] He is widely remembered for scoring on 77 minutes, an audacious back-heeled equaliser in FC Porto's first European Cup final, against Bayern Munich in Vienna. He went on to create the late winner, four minutes after his equaliser, setting up substitute Filho Juary. The scoreline ended 2-1 in FC Porto's favour, winning their very first European Cup.^[3][4]

One of the most prolific Algerian 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 Algerian team.

Club career[link]

Born in Hussein Dey, Algiers, Madjer started his European career in 1983–84, moving to RCF Paris from NA Hussein Dey. He stayed there during one 1/2 seasons, finishing the 1984–85 campaign with another French side, Tours FC.

Madjer arrived at F.C. Porto in 1985–86 and, the next season, entered the club's history books in the European Cup final against FC Bayern Munich, scoring the 1–1 equalizer in a memorable final, which eventually ended 2–1 to the Portuguese.^[5] 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 scored in the club's Intercontinental Cup conquest the same year.^[6][7]

After that stellar 1987, Madjer won the Ballon d'or Africain,^[8] but was not allowed to compete for the European Golden Ball as he was not born in the region. He subsequently signed for La Liga's Valencia CF in July, but lasted only a few months with the Che, returning to Porto for a further three 1/2 seasons.

In the 1987–88 Portuguese season, the first upon his return, Madjer scored 10 in only 11 matches, being instrumental in the league conquest. He retired from the game in 1992, aged nearly 34, after a brief stint with Qatar SC.

International career[link]

Madjer played for the Algerian 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 31, 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. In 1993, he began coaching the national team but, after failing to qualify for two 1994 major competitions, the World Cup and the CAN, resigned, returning to Porto as a youth coordinator.^[1]

After a quick spell in 1999, Madjer returned two years later, only to resign with aggravation in the 2002 summer.^[9] He also managed Qatari clubs Al-Wakrah Sports Club and Al-Rayyan Sports Club.^[10]

Honours[link]

Club[link]

• Algerian Cup: 1978–79
• European Cup: 1986–87
• UEFA Super Cup: 1987
• Intercontinental Cup: 1987
• Portuguese League: 1985–86, 1987–88, 1989–90
• Portuguese Cup: 1987–88, 1990–91
• Portuguese Supercup: 1986, 1990

Country[link]

• Africa Cup of Nations: 1990; Runner-up 1980
• Afro-Asian Cup of Nations: 1991

Individual[link]

• African Footballer of the Year: 1987
• Arab Footballer of the 20th Century: 2004
• Algerian Footballer of the 20th Century: 2009 (with Lakhdar Belloumi)
• Algerian Footballer of the Year: Several awards
• African Footballer of the 20th Century: Fifth place

Post-retirement[link]

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

References[link]

External links[link]

• Stats and profile at Zerozero
• Stats at ForaDeJogo (Portuguese)
• Biography at Blogportista (Portuguese)
• BDFutbol profile
• Rabah Madjer at National-Football-Teams.com

Algeria squads v t e Algeria squad – 1980 Africa Cup of Nations GK Cerbah GK Harb DF Derouaz DF Guendouz DF Horr DF Khedis DF Kouici DF Merzekane MF Belloumi MF Fergani MF Ghrib MF Larbès MF Mahyouz MF Slimani FW Assad FW Bensaoula FW Madjer FW Benmiloudi FW Guemri Coach: Khalef & Rajkov v t e Algeria squad – 1980 Summer Olympics 1 Amara 2 Guendouz 3 Mahyouz 4 Merzekane 5 Khedis 6 Madjer 7 Fergani 8 Rahmani 9 Bensaoula 10 Belloumi 11 Assad 12 Larbès 13 Menad 14 Bouhalla 15 Derouaz 16 Yahi 17 Ghrib Coach: Khalef v t e Algeria squad – 1982 FIFA World Cup 1 Cerbah 2 Guendouz 3 Kouici 4 Kourichi 5 Merzekane 6 Bencheikh 7 Assad 8 Fergani (c) 9 Bensaoula 10 Belloumi 11 Madjer 12 Larbès 13 Yahi 14 Zidane 15 Dahleb 16 Mansouri 17 Horr 18 Maroc 19 Tlemçani 20 Bourebbou 21 Amara 22 Bentaala Coach: Khalef & Mekloufi v t e Algeria squad – 1986 FIFA World Cup 1 Drid 2 Guendouz (c) 3 Chebal 4 Kourichi 5 Liegeon 6 Kaci-Said 7 Assad 8 Maroc 9 Menad 10 Belloumi 11 Madjer 12 Bensaoula 13 Harkouk 14 Zidane 15 Sadmi 16 Mansouri 17 Benkhalidi 18 Benmabrouk 19 Chaib 20 Megharia 21 El Hadi 22 Amara Coach: Saâdane v t e Algeria squad – 1990 African Cup of Nations Winners (1st Title) 1 Osmani 2 Benhalima 3 Rahmouni 4 Meftah 5 Adjas 6 Rahim 7 Bouiche 8 Amani 9 Menad 10 Oudjani 11 Madjer 12 Manaa 13 Lazizi 14 Cherif El Ouazzani 15 Serrar 16 Kadri 17 Larbi 18 Saib 19 Aït Abderrahmane 20 Megharia 21 Djahnit 22 Amara Coach: Kermali & Fergani v t e Algeria squad – 1991 Afro-Asian Cup of Nations 1 Osmani 2 Benhalima 3 Rahmouni 4 Meftah 5 Adjas 6 Rahim 7 Sandjak 8 Amani 9 Menad 10 Oudjani 11 Madjer 12 Lounici 13 Lazizi 14 Cherif El-Ouazzani 15 Serrar 16 Belatoui 17 Larbi 18 Saïb 19 Aït Abderrahmane 20 Megharia 21 Zorgane 22 Amara Coach: Kermali v t e Algeria squad – 1992 Africa Cup of Nations GK Kadri GK Laouer GK Osmani DF Adjas DF Belatoui DF Benhalima DF Megharia DF Rahmouni DF Sandjak DF Tribeche MF Cherif El Ouazani MF Madjer MF Meftah MF Saïb MF Tasfaout FW Bouafia FW Bouiche FW Haraoui FW Medane FW Menad FW Rahem Coach: Kermali v t e Algeria squad – 2002 Africa Cup of Nations 1 Gaouaoui 2 Slatni 3 Haddou 4 Kraouche 5 Zeghdoud 6 Mansouri 7 Belbey 8 Dziri 9 Ghazi 10 Tasfaout 11 Kherkhache 12 Samadi 13 Zafour 14 Bounekdja 15 Akrour 16 Bendahmane 17 Raho 18 Saïfi 19 Diss 20 Meftah 21 Bradja 22 Abdouni Coach: Madjer