Noureddine Naybet M. (Arabic: نور الدين نيبت‎) (born 10 February, 1970) is a retired Moroccan international football player and captain. His position was central defender and was considered one of the best defensive players in Europe.

[edit] Career

Naybet made his greatest career run with Spanish first division team Deportivo La Coruña, winning 1 league title, 1 Copa de Rey and 2 Spanish Super Cups. Naybet also earned 115 caps for the Moroccan national team, scoring 2 goals.

In August 1999 Naybet agreed to a dream move to Treble winning Manchester United. However the Red Devils were worried about his injured knee and United subsequently signed Mikael Silvestre instead.

He did eventually make a move to the English Premiership with Tottenham Hotspur on 13 August 2004 aged 34. Although an important member of the Tottenham first team in 2004-2005, he was a reserve player under new boss Martin Jol, making only one appearance in 2005-2006 against Charlton Athletic at the Valley. The influence brought by his vast experience is widely regarded as one of the factors behind the excellent partnership of Ledley King and Michael Dawson in the heart of the Spurs defence. His sole goal for Spurs came against rivals Arsenal, in a 5-4 defeat at White Hart Lane.^[1]

In January 2006, Naybet appeared for Morocco in the 2006 African Cup of Nations for the last time as he announced his retirement from international football afterwards.

He was released from Tottenham Hotspur on 26 May 2006 and in August 2007, became Morocco's national team manager assistant to Henri Michel.

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Premierleague profile of Naybet

[edit] Sources

• Deportivo La Coruna Fansite Profile
• Official Tottenham Hotspur Profile
• Noureddine Naybet at 100% Fotball (in Norwegian)
• Noureddine Naybet at RSSSF

v • d • e Morocco squad – 1994 FIFA World Cup 1 Azmi • 2 Abdellah • 3 El Hadrioui • 4 El Khalej • 5 Triki • 6 Naybet • 7 Hadji • 8 Azzouzi • 9 Chaouch • 10 El Haddaoui • 11 Daoudi • 12 Dghay • 13 Bahja • 14 Masbahi • 15 Hababi • 16 Nader • 17 El Ghrissi • 18 Neqrouz • 19 Bouyboud • 20 Kachloul • 21 Samadi • 22 Alaoui • Coach: Blinda

v • d • e Morocco squad – 1998 FIFA World Cup 1 El Brazi • 2 Saber • 3 El Hadrioui • 4 Rossi • 5 Triki • 6 Naybet • 7 Hadji • 8 Chiba • 9 Hadda • 10 Ouakili • 11 El Khattabi • 12 Benzekri • 13 Neqrouz • 14 Bassir • 15 Abrami • 16 Azzouzi • 17 Amzine • 18 Chippo • 19 Sellami • 20 El Khalej • 21 Rokki • 22 Chadili • Coach: Michel

v • d • e Morocco squad – 2004 Africa Cup of Nations Runners-up 1 Fouhami • 2 Regragui • 3 Roumani • 4 Ouaddou • 5 El Karkouri • 6 Naybet • 7 Zairi • 8 Kissi • 9 Baha • 10 Hdiouad • 11 Moha • 12 El Jarmouni • 13 Kharja • 14 Bidoudane • 15 Safri • 16 Mokhtari • 17 Chamakh • 18 Alla • 19 Alioui • 20 Hadji • 21 Chihab • 22 Lamyaghri • Coach: Zaki

v • d • e Morocco squad – 2006 Africa Cup of Nations 1 Jarmouni • 2 Regragui • 3 Kacemi • 4 Ouaddou • 5 El Karkouri • 6 Naybet • 7 Zairi • 8 Ouchla • 9 Boussaboun • 10 Moha • 11 Zerka • 12 Chadili • 13 Kharja • 14 Abdessadek • 15 Safri • 16 Erbati • 17 Chamakh • 18 Chippo • 19 Aboucherouane • 20 Hadji • 21 El Kaddouri • 22 Lamyaghri • 23 Armoumen • Coach: Fakhir