Louis Saha

1.1. Childhood and family

Louis Laurent Saha was born on 8 August 1978, in Paris, France. His parents, originally from the French overseas department of Guadeloupe, maintained strong ties to their Caribbean roots, with his grandparents still residing on the island. Saha grew up in Paris with a younger sister and a younger brother, in an environment influenced by a strict Caribbean culture. His father worked as an aircraft mechanic, and his mother was a nurse. Saha has often reflected on his childhood, stating that his family had limited financial resources, which instilled in him the value of "never taking anything for granted." This perspective motivated him to later purchase a house for his parents in the West Indies and settle their debts, demonstrating his commitment to his family. His father, while supportive of his football aspirations, also insisted that Saha balance his passion with education, pushing him to mature both as a footballer and as a man.

2.1. Youth career

Saha began his football journey at the youth club Soisy-Andilly-Margency in the commune of Soisy-sous-Montmorency. He then joined the renowned Clairefontaine football academy, a national football centre known for developing top French talent. At the age of 15, Saha moved to Metz, where he continued his development in their youth system before signing his first professional contract with the club when he was 17.

2.2. Metz

Saha progressed to the senior team at Metz in 1997. He made his professional debut on his 19th birthday, 8 August 1997, coming on as a late substitute against Bordeaux and scoring Metz's fourth goal in a commanding 4-1 victory. This remained his sole goal of the 1997-98 season, during which Metz impressively finished second in the league, narrowly missing the title on goal difference. In total, he made 25 appearances across all competitions that season.

The 1998-99 season saw Saha's first-team opportunities limited, as he appeared in only six matches in all competitions. Following a loan spell, he returned to Metz for the 1999-2000 season and significantly improved his impact. He netted seven goals in the 1999 UEFA Intertoto Cup campaign, scoring against teams such as MŠK Žilina, Lokeren, Polonia Warsaw, and West Ham United. His first league goal after returning came on 7 August 1999 in a 3-0 win against Auxerre. Saha continued to score three more goals in the league later that season, contributing to his tally of 11 goals in 33 appearances across all competitions. Despite his goalscoring form, Saha revealed that the club's emphasis on defensive duties led him to consider quitting football. By the time he left Metz at the close of the 1999-2000 season, he had scored a total of 13 goals in 67 appearances over a two-year period.

2.3. Newcastle United (loan)

In January 1999, Saha went on loan to Newcastle United. During his brief spell, he scored one goal against Coventry City and made 11 league appearances. He also contributed to Newcastle's run in the 1999 FA Cup, scoring the only goal in their fifth-round clash against Blackburn Rovers. However, he was ultimately left out of the 1999 FA Cup Final squad by manager Ruud Gullit. Reflecting on his time at Newcastle, Saha noted that it was a crucial period that made him realize the hard work required to succeed as a professional footballer and helped him gain confidence. He concluded his loan spell with 2 goals in 12 appearances.

2.4. Fulham

Saha returned to England in 2000, signing for Fulham in a transfer valued at 2.10 M GBP. Upon his arrival, Fulham manager Jean Tigana expressed high expectations, comparing Saha to "Henry the Second" and predicting his success in the Premier League.

Saha quickly made an impact on his Fulham debut, scoring his first goal of the season in a 2-0 victory against Crewe Alexandra. He followed this with another goal in a 3-1 win against Birmingham City. Saha rapidly established himself as the club's first-choice striker, forming a formidable partnership with players like John Collins and Lee Clark, whose performances were lauded as "world class." He enjoyed a prolific September 2000, scoring eight goals in four matches, which included a goal against Nottingham Forest, braces against Northampton Town and Burnley, and a remarkable hat-trick against Barnsley. His strong scoring form continued in November 2000 with three goals in two matches against Grimsby Town and Derby County, and in January 2001, he scored twice in matches against Norwich City and Watford. He further added a brace against Tranmere Rovers in March and three goals in two matches in April against Portsmouth and Wolverhampton Wanderers. In the promotion-winning 2000-01 campaign, Saha scored 27 league goals, making him the league's top scorer and instrumental in Fulham's promotion to the Premier League. He finished the season with 32 goals in 48 appearances across all competitions, earning a place in the PFA Team of the Year.

In the first two matches of the 2001-02 season, Saha scored three goals, including strikes against Manchester United and Sunderland. His impressive start earned him the Premier League Player of the Month award for August. Saha maintained his position as the club's primary striker, often partnering with Barry Hayles. Although he scored in the League Cup against Derby County in October, he endured a three-month league goal drought before finding the net again against Newcastle United in November 2001. His goalscoring form subsequently dipped, and he scored only four more goals during the season, including a brace against Chelsea. By the end of the 2001-02 season, Saha had made 44 appearances, scoring nine goals in all competitions.

At the start of the 2002-03 season, Saha featured in every match of the 2002 UEFA Intertoto Cup, scoring against Egaleo in the third round. Fulham went on to win the Intertoto Cup finals against Bologna 5-3 on aggregate, qualifying for the UEFA Cup. Saha scored his first league goal of the season from a penalty in a 4-1 win against Bolton Wanderers on the opening day. However, a hamstring injury sidelined him for the remainder of 2002. He returned to action on 5 January 2003, scoring in an FA Cup third-round match against Birmingham City. This return was brief as another injury caused him to miss two more matches. He returned on 1 February as a substitute against Arsenal and later scored his fourth goal of the season in a 3-0 win against West Bromwich Albion. Saha secured his starting place for the rest of the season, scoring three more goals, including two in March against Sunderland and Southampton. Due to his injury struggles, he was less prolific this season, scoring seven goals in 28 appearances across all competitions.

Ahead of the 2003-04 season, Fulham announced that Saha would remain at the club. He started the season strongly, scoring in the opening 3-2 win against Middlesbrough. In September 2003, he scored three goals in as many matches against Birmingham City, Manchester City, and Blackburn Rovers. Saha remained a regular in the first team, continuing his prolific form with three braces by the end of the year against Portsmouth, Leeds, and Southampton. His exceptional performances earned him the Premier League Player of the Month award for December. In his final season at Fulham, he contributed 15 goals in just 22 appearances before his departure in the January transfer window. Despite Fulham's initial reluctance and a rejected bid, Saha pushed for a move to Manchester United. His performance in Fulham's 3-1 victory over Manchester United at Old Trafford in October 2003 was widely believed to have influenced Alex Ferguson's decision to sign him. Saha later revealed a falling out with manager Chris Coleman over the manner of his departure. During his nearly four-year tenure at Fulham, Saha scored 63 goals.

2.5. Manchester United

Louis Saha completed a transfer to Manchester United for a fee of 12.40 M GBP on 23 January 2004, having already scored 15 goals for Fulham that season. Although Fulham was reluctant to sell him, Saha's strong desire for the move facilitated the deal. A month later, his former club Metz initiated a case with FIFA (later the Court of Arbitration for Sport), asserting their right to a share of Saha's transfer fee from Fulham, a claim that was ultimately ruled in Metz's favor two years later.

Saha made an immediate impact at Manchester United, scoring seven goals in his first ten starts during the remainder of the 2003-04 season. He found the net on his debut against Southampton in a 3-2 victory, earning praise from manager Ferguson. In the subsequent match against Everton, Saha and Ruud van Nistelrooy each scored twice in a 4-3 win. On 28 February 2004, he faced his former club Fulham for the first time, scoring United's only goal in a 1-1 draw, though he was subjected to jeers from Fulham supporters. He participated in both legs of the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 against Porto, which Manchester United lost 3-2 on aggregate. After recovering from an Achilles problem, Saha scored in consecutive matches against Arsenal and Birmingham City. Despite his contributions, he was cup-tied for the 2004 FA Cup Final due to an earlier appearance with Fulham, missing United's victory over Millwall. By the conclusion of the 2003-04 season, Saha had made 12 appearances and scored seven goals for Manchester United.

The 2004-05 season was significantly hampered by persistent injuries for Saha. He made his first appearance on 28 August 2004, coming on as a substitute in a 1-1 draw against Blackburn Rovers. However, a knee injury sustained while on international duty with France sidelined him for a month. He returned on 16 October 2004, playing the full 90 minutes in a goalless draw against Birmingham City. Saha scored his first goal of the season in November against Crystal Palace in the League Cup. Shortly thereafter, another injury, incurred during national team duty, kept him out for nearly two months. He did not play a full 90 minutes again until 12 January 2005, in a League Cup semi-final first leg against Chelsea. Ten days later, he scored his second goal of the season and assisted the first in a 3-1 win over Aston Villa. In February, the injury recurred, leading to another two-month absence. Saha's season was largely disrupted, with only 11 starts, 11 substitute appearances, and two goals across all competitions.

During the summer, Saha suffered another hamstring strain, ruling him out for the first three months of the 2005-06 season. He marked his first appearance of the season with a goal and an assist in a 3-1 win against West Bromwich Albion on 30 November 2005. Following his return, Saha gradually eased back into the team, initially making substitute appearances, particularly in League Cup matches. To many's surprise, he recaptured his earlier form and embarked on a strong goalscoring streak. His six goals in the League Cup campaign led him to displace Van Nistelrooy as the preferred strike partner for Wayne Rooney. Saha started the final against Wigan Athletic and scored a goal in United's 4-0 victory. Despite another injury setback, he added four more goals later in the season, including a brace against West Bromwich Albion in March. By the end of the 2005-06 season, Saha had made 30 appearances and scored 15 goals in all competitions.

For the 2006-07 season, Ferguson selected Saha to partner Rooney following Van Nistelrooy's departure to Real Madrid. Saha began the season strongly, scoring seven minutes into the opening game against Fulham. He followed this with his second goal of the season and an assist in a 3-0 win against Charlton Athletic. Saha then scored twice and assisted a third goal in a 3-2 Champions League victory against Celtic. He scored the winning goal away to Benfica in the Champions League and later scored in the home fixture against them. Saha's goalscoring form continued throughout the remainder of 2006, with goals against Wigan Athletic, Portsmouth, Blackburn Rovers, Middlesbrough, and Manchester City. As a result of his impressive form, he signed a contract extension until 2010. However, shortly after, he began to experience more injury problems, with groin and hamstring issues limiting his appearances and restricting him to just one goal in the second half of the season, scored in the FA Cup against Reading. He made a return as a substitute against Roma in the Champions League but then picked up a knee injury, forcing him to miss United's 1-0 extra-time loss to Chelsea in the FA Cup Final. Saha concluded the season with 13 goals across all competitions, largely due to his strong pre-Christmas performances.

In the 2007-08 season, Saha returned from injury as a substitute against Sunderland, scoring the winning goal. On 23 September 2007, he won and converted a penalty against Chelsea in a 2-0 victory. This performance earned him a recall to the France national team after a year's absence. Against Arsenal, Saha came on as a substitute for an underperforming Carlos Tevez in a 2-2 draw and was crucial in setting up a goal that gave United a 2-1 lead through Cristiano Ronaldo. He continued to make substitute appearances, but when Wayne Rooney was injured for several weeks, Saha partnered Tevez upfront. He started on Boxing Day against Sunderland, scoring twice, including a penalty, in a 2-0 win that propelled Manchester United to the top of the Premier League. After being sidelined for a month with a knee injury, Saha returned in an FA Cup clash against Arsenal on 16 February 2008, which United won 4-0. The following weekend, he came on as a substitute against Newcastle United and scored the final goal in a dominant 5-1 victory. However, once again, injury struck as he suffered a hamstring complaint during United's win over Bolton Wanderers. Saha was ruled out for several weeks, missing key games, and although he was named as a substitute for the final Premier League match against Wigan Athletic, he did not play. In May 2008, Saha expressed concerns about his future at Old Trafford due to his injury history, despite his strong desire to remain at the club. Despite his persistent injury struggles during his time with Manchester United, Saha contributed 42 goals in 124 appearances across all competitions.

2.6. Everton

In 2008, Saha transferred to Everton for an undisclosed fee, signing a two-year 'pay-as-you-play' contract. Recognizing that he was not match-fit at the time of signing, Saha remarkably offered to train without pay while he was injured.

He made his Everton debut on 22 September 2008, coming on as a substitute in a league match away to Hull City. His first goal for the club came on 1 November against his former team, Fulham, at Goodison Park. He followed this with a brace and an assist in a 3-1 victory over West Ham United. However, on 30 November, during a 1-0 win against Tottenham Hotspur, he suffered a knee injury, which sidelined him for two months. Saha returned to the first team on 22 February 2009, as a 74th-minute substitute in a goalless draw against Newcastle United. He then scored his fourth league goal of the season in a 2-0 win against West Bromwich Albion. A week later, on 8 March 2009, he came off the bench at half-time in the FA Cup quarter-final against Middlesbrough, scoring the winning goal that helped Everton reach the semi-finals for the first time since 1995. In May, against West Ham United, Saha scored twice for the second time that season, contributing to a 3-1 victory. Two weeks later, in the 2009 FA Cup Final, Saha made history by scoring the fastest goal in the final's history, finding the net after just 25 seconds. Although Chelsea ultimately won the match 2-1, Saha's goal broke Bob Chatt's 114-year-old record set in the 1895 FA Cup Final. It also became the fastest goal scored at the new Wembley Stadium, surpassing Giampaolo Pazzini's record from March 2007. Throughout the 2008-09 season, Saha established himself in the starting lineup, often forming a striking partnership with Yakubu. He concluded the season with eight goals in 29 appearances across all competitions.

Saha scored his first goal of the 2009-10 season as a substitute on the opening day against Arsenal, despite Everton suffering a 6-1 defeat at Goodison Park. His goalscoring form continued for the next two months, with goals against both Wigan Athletic and Portsmouth, as well as braces against Sigma Olomouc and Blackburn Rovers. He managed a run of seven goals in seven games across all competitions by the end of the year. His impressive performances earned him two Player of the Month awards from the club. On 5 February 2010, Saha signed a two-year contract extension, committing him to Everton until the end of the 2011-12 season. Five days later, he scored a brace in a 2-1 win against Chelsea. Throughout the 2009-10 season, he remained a regular starter, primarily playing as a striker, although his goalscoring form saw a slight dip as the season progressed. Despite facing injuries during the season, Saha made 40 appearances and scored 15 goals across all competitions.

At the start of the 2010-11 season, Saha continued to feature in the first team for the initial four matches, scoring his first goal in a 5-1 victory against Huddersfield Town in the League Cup. However, he sustained an injury while on international duty, which kept him sidelined for a month. He returned on 23 October 2010 as a substitute in a 1-1 draw against Tottenham Hotspur. Following his return, he was consistently involved with the first team for the next three months, though he struggled to regain his prolific goalscoring form. Saha then suffered a thigh injury, causing him to miss one match. He scored his eighth goal in five starts against Chelsea on 29 January 2011, and continued his remarkable form in the next home game, on 5 February against Blackpool, where he netted four goals in a thrilling 5-3 victory. This performance marked his first hat-trick in the Premier League. Saha scored again for Everton against Fulham on 19 March 2011 with a low right-footed drive from a free kick. Tragically, he was later stretchered off with an ankle injury and remained sidelined for the rest of the season. By the end of the 2010-11 season, Saha had made 26 appearances and scored 10 goals in all competitions.

Saha made his return for the 2011-12 season on 30 July 2011 in a pre-season friendly against Birmingham City. He came on as a second-half substitute and scored within three minutes of his return with a low right-footed drive from outside the box. After missing four matches, Saha returned to the first team on 24 September 2011, as a substitute in a 2-0 loss against Manchester City. This was followed by his first start of the season for Everton in a home fixture against Liverpool, which Everton lost 2-0. He scored his first league goal of the season in a 3-1 victory over Fulham at Craven Cottage after coming on as a substitute. Saha continued his scoring in the following game on 26 October against Chelsea in a League Cup tie. However, he failed to score again for Everton, enduring a drought that lasted 942 consecutive minutes of league football. Saha departed Everton having scored 35 goals in 115 appearances.

2.7. Tottenham Hotspur

On 31 January 2012, Saha completed a free transfer to Tottenham Hotspur, signing a six-month contract. He was assigned the number 15 jersey, previously worn by Peter Crouch.

Less than a week later, he made his debut against Liverpool, coming on as a substitute for Emmanuel Adebayor in a goalless draw. Saha made his full debut in the very next league fixture against Newcastle United, where he scored twice in a comprehensive 5-0 victory. On 26 February 2012, he continued his impressive scoring run, netting his third goal in three games for his new club in Tottenham's 5-2 North London derby defeat against Arsenal.

He scored his fourth goal across all competitions for the club against Bolton Wanderers, sealing a 3-1 win with the last kick of the game to send his side through to the FA Cup semi-finals against London rivals Chelsea. Following his successful, albeit brief, spell with Tottenham, Saha expressed a strong desire to secure a long-term deal at White Hart Lane, crediting manager Harry Redknapp as a significant factor in his upturn in form. However, on 13 July 2012, it was confirmed that Saha was released after his contract expired at the end of the season. He finished his time at Tottenham with 4 goals in 12 appearances.

2.8. Sunderland

On 16 August 2012, Sunderland confirmed the signing of Louis Saha on a one-year deal. He made his debut two days later, coming on as a substitute in a goalless draw with Arsenal. However, his tenure at Sunderland was largely unsuccessful. He often played as a reserve to Steven Fletcher and struggled to find his scoring touch. His contract was mutually terminated on transfer deadline day in January 2013. During his short spell at Sunderland, Saha made only 14 appearances and failed to score a single goal.

2.9. Lazio

On 6 February 2013, Saha signed a six-month contract with Italian club Lazio. He was officially presented by the club the following day.

Saha made his debut for Lazio as a substitute on 9 February 2013 in a match against Napoli. However, he found his playing time limited, primarily featuring as a substitute. He made a total of six appearances for the club without scoring a goal. Despite his keenness to remain at the club beyond the 2012-13 season, Saha was released at the end of his short-term deal.

3.1. Youth national teams

Saha represented France at various youth levels, demonstrating his talent early in his career. He played a crucial role in the 1997 UEFA European Under-18 Championship, where he scored the winning goal for France against Portugal in the final, securing the championship title.

3.2. Senior national team

Saha expressed a strong desire to play for the French senior national team and was briefly considered for the 2002 FIFA World Cup squad. However, his fluctuating form during the 2001-02 season meant he was ultimately not selected for the tournament.

His senior international debut eventually came in 2004, where he marked the occasion by scoring a goal in a 2-0 victory over Belgium on 18 February. That summer, he was selected for the UEFA Euro 2004 squad. Saha scored his second international goal on 28 May 2004, contributing to a 4-0 win against Andorra. Although he was an unused substitute in France's first two group stage matches at Euro 2004, he made his tournament debut against Switzerland, coming on as a substitute and assisting Thierry Henry's goal in a 3-1 victory. However, France's campaign ended in the quarter-finals with a 1-0 loss to Greece, a match in which Saha played 18 minutes as a substitute.

Two years later, Saha received a call-up to the national team squad for the 2006 FIFA World Cup, his first call-up in nearly a year. He made his first appearance for the national side in almost a year, starting a match against Denmark on 31 May 2006 and assisting France's first goal in a 2-0 win. Saha's first World Cup appearance was as a substitute in a goalless draw against Switzerland. He played a significant role in France reaching the 2006 FIFA World Cup Final, but was unfortunately suspended for the final match against Italy after receiving a yellow card during the semi-final victory over Portugal. During the 2006 World Cup, Saha was involved in a notable incident during a Champions League match against Celtic, where his failure to jump in a defensive wall allowed Shunsuke Nakamura to score from a direct free kick. Nakamura later recounted that Saha was "furious" with himself and made a point of jumping in subsequent set pieces, highlighting Saha's commitment to improvement.

After the World Cup, Saha was called up for the match against Bosnia and Herzegovina, starting in a 2-1 victory. He then scored in his next appearance for the national side in a 3-0 win against Georgia. A month later, on 11 October 2006, he scored his fourth goal for France in a 5-0 win against the Faroe Islands.

Saha was named in the squad for the Euro 2012 qualifiers, marking his return to the national team after a four-year absence (he had been called up in February 2010 by Raymond Domenech but withdrew due to injury). His return match was on 3 September 2010, where he came on as a substitute in a 1-0 loss against Belarus. Two years later, on 29 February 2012, he made his final appearance for the national team in a 2-1 win against Germany. Overall, Saha earned 20 caps for France, scoring 4 goals.

4.1. Retirement and testimonial matches

On 8 August 2013, his 35th birthday, Louis Saha officially announced his retirement from professional football via Twitter. Since retiring, he has participated in several charity and testimonial matches. On 12 May 2014, he joined other retired players for a testimonial match honoring his former Tottenham teammate Ledley King. Coming on as a second-half substitute, Saha remarkably scored a hat-trick against a team of current Tottenham players. Three years later, on 2 September 2017, he once again joined other retired players for a charity match, this time for Manchester United against Barcelona, which United won 3-0.

4.2. Business ventures and other activities

After concluding his playing career, Saha ventured into the business world. He founded AxisStars, a private network designed to provide professional athletes and entertainers with a platform for advice, support, and connections, aiming to help them navigate various aspects of their careers and personal lives. In December 2015, Saha publicly stated his intention to sue a UK bank, reporting that he had lost "around six figures" due to a problematic investment scheme. He also became an author, publishing his first book titled Thinking Inside the Box?, which offers insights into his career and experiences in football. Saha has also engaged in public speaking, including an appearance at the Web Summit in 2016, discussing topics related to sports and business.

6.1. Club

6.2. International

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

7.1. Club honours

Fulham

• Football League First Division: 2000-01
• UEFA Intertoto Cup: 2002

Manchester United

• Premier League: 2006-07, 2007-08
• Football League Cup: 2005-06
• UEFA Champions League: 2007-08
• FA Community Shield: 2007, 2008

Everton

• FA Cup runner-up: 2008-09

Lazio

• Coppa Italia: 2012-13

7.2. International honours

France U18

• UEFA European Under-18 Championship: 1997

France

• FIFA World Cup runner-up: 2006

7.3. Individual honours

• PFA Team of the Year: 2000-01 First Division
• Premier League Player of the Month: August 2001
• Football League First Division Top Scorer: 2000-01