Editing Fabien Barthez

{{Short description|French footballer (born 1971)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2021}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Fabien Barthez
| image = Fabien Barthez at OM.jpg
| caption = Barthez with [[Olympique de Marseille|Marseille]] in 2006
| full_name = Fabien Alain Barthez<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.verif.com/dirigeants/Fabien-BARTHEZ-3166718/ |title=Fabien Alain Barthez |website=Verif.com |access-date=16 February 2025 |language=fr}}</ref>
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1971|6|28|df=y}}<ref>{{Hugman|1070|access-date=3 September 2018}}</ref>
| birth_place = [[Lavelanet]], France
| height = 1.80 m<ref>{{Cite web|title=Fabien Barthez|url=https://www.worldfootball.net/player_summary/fabien-barthez/|access-date=20 February 2021|website=worldfootball.net|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=28 June 2019|title=Fabien Barthez: Height Was No Barrier For A Goalkeeper Living Life In The Fast Lane|url=https://www.thesportsman.com/articles/fabien-barthez-height-was-no-barrier-for-a-goalkeeper-living-life-in-the-fast-lane|access-date=20 February 2021|website=The Sportsman|language=EN}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Barthez, Fabien Barthez - Footballer|url=https://www.bdfutbol.com/en/j/j93818.html|access-date=20 February 2021|website=www.bdfutbol.com}}</ref>
| position = [[Goalkeeper (association football)|Goalkeeper]]
| youthyears1 = 1979–1986
| youthclubs1 = Stade Lavelanétien
| youthyears2 = 1986–1990
| youthclubs2 = [[Toulouse FC|Toulouse]]
| years1 = 1990–1992
| clubs1 = [[Toulouse FC|Toulouse]]
| caps1 = 26
| goals1 = 0
| years2 = 1992–1995
| clubs2 = [[Olympique de Marseille|Marseille]]
| caps2 = 106
| goals2 = 0
| years3 = 1995–2000
| clubs3 = [[AS Monaco FC|Monaco]]
| caps3 = 143
| goals3 = 0
| years4 = 2000–2004
| clubs4 = [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]]
| caps4 = 92
| goals4 = 0
| years5 = 2003–2004
| clubs5 = → [[Olympique de Marseille|Marseille]] (loan)
| caps5 = 20
| goals5 = 0
| years6 = 2004–2006
| clubs6 = [[Olympique de Marseille|Marseille]]
| caps6 = 54
| goals6 = 0
| years7 = 2006–2007
| clubs7 = [[FC Nantes|Nantes]]
| caps7 = 16
| goals7 = 0
| totalcaps = 457
| totalgoals = 0
| nationalyears1 = 1991
| nationalteam1 = [[France national under-21 football team|France U21]]
| nationalcaps1 = 2
| nationalgoals1 = 0
| nationalyears2 = 1994–2006
| nationalteam2 = [[France national football team|France]]
| nationalcaps2 = 87
| nationalgoals2 = 0
| medaltemplates = {{Medal|Sport|Men's [[Association football|football]]}}
{{Medal|Country|{{fb|FRA}}}}
{{Medal|Comp|[[FIFA World Cup]]}}
{{Medal|W|[[1998 FIFA World Cup|1998]]|}}
{{Medal|RU|[[2006 FIFA World Cup|2006]]|}}
{{Medal|Comp|[[UEFA European Championship]]}}
{{Medal|W|[[UEFA Euro 2000|2000]]|}}
{{Medal|Comp|[[FIFA Confederations Cup]]}}
{{Medal|W|[[2003 FIFA Confederations Cup|2003]]|}}
}}
'''Fabien Alain Barthez''' (born 28 June 1971) is a French racing driver and former professional [[Association football|footballer]] who played as a [[Goalkeeper (association football)|goalkeeper]]. At club level, he played football in both France and England with [[Toulouse FC|Toulouse]], [[Olympique de Marseille|Marseille]], [[AS Monaco FC|Monaco]], [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]] and [[FC Nantes|Nantes]]. At international level, he played for the [[France national football team|France national team]], with whom he won the [[1998 FIFA World Cup]], [[UEFA Euro 2000]] and the [[2003 FIFA Confederations Cup]], representing his nation at a total of three editions of both the [[FIFA World Cup]] and the [[UEFA European Championship]]; he also reached the final of the [[2006 FIFA World Cup]], after which he retired from international football.

Nicknamed ''Le Divin Chauve'' ("The Divine Bald One"), due to his trademark shaved head,<ref name="Behind the World Cup record"/><ref name="grado zero"/><ref name="Barthez cries"/> Barthez was France's most capped player in the [[FIFA World Cup]], with 17 appearances at the finals and shares the record for the most [[FIFA World Cup records#Goalkeeping|World Cup clean sheets]] with [[Peter Shilton]], with ten.<ref name="Behind the World Cup record"/><ref name="grado zero"/> In club football, he won the [[UEFA Champions League]] with Olympique Marseille in [[1992–93 UEFA Champions League|1993]] as well as several [[Ligue 1]] and [[Premier League]] titles. After retiring from football in 2007, Barthez began a career in motorsport in 2008.

==Early life==
Barthez was born in [[Lavelanet]], Ariège.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.lequipe.fr/Football/FootballFicheJoueur2545.html |title=Fabien Barthez |newspaper=L'Équipe |location=Paris |access-date=26 December 2020 |language=fr}}</ref>

==Club career==
===Marseille===
Barthez made his first division debut for [[Toulouse FC|Toulouse]] on 21 September 1991, against [[AS Nancy|Nancy]]. He joined [[Olympique de Marseille|Marseille]] in 1992, and won both the French championship and the [[UEFA Champions League|Champions League]] at the end of his first season in Marseille, keeping a clean sheet in a 1–0 victory over [[A.C. Milan|Milan]] in [[1993 UEFA Champions League Final|final of the latter competition]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/match/50054--marseille-vs-milan/|title=Marseille 1-0 Milan|website=[[UEFA]]|access-date=16 January 2018}}</ref> The 1993 victory made him the youngest goalkeeper to win a Champions League title until [[Iker Casillas]] did so in 2000.

Marseille, however, would be stripped of their domestic title, though not of the Champions League crown, due to their involvement in a domestic [[match fixing]] scandal, and a year later (1994) would suffer a forced relegation to the second division due to a related financial bankruptcy. He stayed with the club in Division 2 for the 1994–95 season, despite many offers from elite French clubs, helping Marseille to the title. This, however, did not earn them a promotion back to Ligue 1 due to their punishment (they were promoted the following season, after finishing second in division 2).<ref>{{cite web |first=Maxime |last=Dupuis |title=Barthez en dix dates |url=http://www.eurosport.fr/football/story_sto979355.shtml |work=Eurosport.fr |publisher=Eurosport |date=6 October 2006 |access-date=28 April 2011 }}</ref>

===Monaco===
In 1995, Barthez joined [[AS Monaco FC|Monaco]] and won [[Ligue 1]] titles in 1997 and 2000. He also played in [[Jean Tigana]]'s talented Monaco side, which famously put his future club [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]] out of the Champions League in 1998 on away goals after a 1–1 draw at [[Old Trafford (football)|Old Trafford]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-monaco-and-bust-for-sorry-united-1151168.html|title=Monaco and bust for sorry United|newspaper=The Independent|date=19 March 1998 |access-date=30 December 2014}}</ref>

===Manchester United===
As a result of Barthez's success in the World Cup and the Euros, he caught the attention of Manchester United manager [[Alex Ferguson|Sir Alex Ferguson]], who was searching for a star goalkeeper to replace the recently departed [[Peter Schmeichel]], as Ferguson did not think that the previous season's goalkeeper, [[Mark Bosnich]], was a long-term replacement. Barthez joined United for £7.8&nbsp;million in 2000.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/euro2000/teams/france/771367.stm |title=Man Utd confirm Barthez signing |date=31 May 2000 |access-date=3 January 2014 |work=BBC Sport |publisher=BBC }}</ref> He was later reunited with national teammate [[Laurent Blanc]], who joined United in 2001.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/man_utd/1516683.stm |title=Man Utd seal Blanc deal |date=30 August 2001 |access-date=3 January 2014 |work=BBC Sport |publisher=BBC }}</ref> The Barthez–Blanc head-kissing ritual was performed at the start of Champions League matches.<ref name="grado zero"/>

Well known for being eccentric,<ref name="losing">{{cite news |last=Lawton |first=James |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/fabien-barthez-the-goalkeepers-fear-of-losing-it-9271816.html |title=Fabien Barthez: The goalkeeper's fear of losing it |date=27 November 2001 |access-date=2 April 2010 |work=The Independent |publisher=Independent Print |location=London}}</ref> Barthez started out well for Manchester United. His first season was a triumph as he answered all the questions about how he would handle rainy [[Manchester]] compared to sunny [[Monaco]]. Barthez performed brilliantly throughout the season and became a crowd favourite. The fans loved his eccentric behaviour, his taunting dribbles and step-overs past opposing strikers,<ref name="losing"/> and most importantly, his remarkable reaction saves.<ref name="Fergie's men survive Ipswich">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_prem/891902.stm|title=Fergie's men survive Ipswich scare|work=BBC Sport|date=22 August 2000|access-date=16 January 2018}}</ref><ref name="Saving grace"/> Very often, it was critical saves that kept United from defeat or dropping valuable points,<ref name="Fergie's men survive Ipswich"/> helping United to the [[2000–01 FA Premier League]] title, their third in a row.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.premierleague.com/news/59013|title=Man Utd win their third consecutive Premier League title and their seventh overall|publisher=www.premierleague.com|date=31 May 2001|access-date=16 January 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.manutd.com/en/History/History-By-Decade/History-By-Decade/2014/Oct/manchester-united-history-2000-to-2009.aspx|title=United history: 2000 to 2009|website=ManUtd.com|access-date=16 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150121020257/http://www.manutd.com/en/History/History-By-Decade/History-By-Decade/2014/Oct/manchester-united-history-2000-to-2009.aspx|archive-date=21 January 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref>

A memorable incident happened when Manchester United faced [[Leeds United F.C.|Leeds United]] in March 2001. After dropping a cross from [[Robbie Keane]], Barthez deliberately kicked out with his foot at [[Ian Harte]], who fell to the ground on the edge of six yard box, and the referee awarded a penalty to Leeds. Harte stepped up but Barthez made a low, one-handed save to his right.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/manchester-united/3000096/Barthez-survives-to-save-United.html |title=Barthez survives to save United |date=3 May 2001 |access-date=3 January 2014 |work=The Telegraph |publisher=Telegraph Media Group }}</ref> The only blemish in his first season was his failed attempt at "psyching out" [[West Ham United F.C.|West Ham United]]'s [[Paolo Di Canio]] in the [[2000–01 FA Cup|FA Cup]] Fourth Round; Di Canio beat the offside trap, while Barthez stood still with his hand up expecting the referee to blow his whistle, or Di Canio to stop.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/fa_cup/1142505.stm |title=Di Canio: Barthez did not fool me |date=29 January 2001 |access-date=3 January 2014 |work=BBC Sport |publisher=BBC}}</ref> Di Canio continued and scored the only goal of the game,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/fa_cup/1140138.stm |title=Di Canio sinks Man Utd |date=28 January 2001 |access-date=3 January 2014 |work=BBC Sport |publisher=BBC}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=David |last=Lacey |title=Di Canio takes his chance |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2001/jan/29/match.sport11 |work=The Guardian |publisher=Guardian News and Media |date=29 January 2001 |access-date=3 January 2014 }}</ref> and later said it was "better to score and then see whether the goalkeeper is right or wrong".<ref>{{cite news |title=Di Canio - Barthez didn't confuse my brain |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2001/jan/29/newsstory.sport7 |work=The Guardian |publisher=Guardian News and Media |date=29 January 2001 |access-date=3 January 2014 }}</ref>

The [[2001–02 FA Premier League|2001–02 season]] was split into two parts for him. The first half was tumultuous. The Frenchman seemed to be taking some unnecessary risks outside his penalty area, and his antics began to have consequences that allowed unneeded goals for opposing teams. He was at fault for two goals in a 3–2 home defeat by [[Deportivo de La Coruña]] in October 2001.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/manchester-united/3014964/Champions-League-United-exposed-by-Barthez-blunders.html |title=Champions League: United exposed by Barthez blunders |date=17 October 2001 |access-date=3 January 2014 |work=The Telegraph |publisher=Telegraph Media Group }}</ref> Ferguson said how "eventually he will get caught out" and it wouldn't happen again.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/manchester-united/3015035/Champions-League-Ferguson-gets-tough-on-Barthez.html |title=Champions League: Ferguson gets tough on Barthez |date=18 October 2001 |access-date=3 January 2014 |work=The Telegraph |publisher=Telegraph Media Group }}</ref> But another couple of late errors against [[Arsenal F.C.|Arsenal]] in a 3–1 defeat at [[Arsenal Stadium|Highbury]] the following month put much pressure on Barthez, with two goals gifted to [[Thierry Henry]], one of which came from a mis-hit clearance.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/1671459.stm |title=Barthez errors gift Arsenal win |date=25 November 2001 |access-date=3 January 2014 |work=BBC Sport |publisher=BBC}}</ref> Barthez was at the centre of further controversy when, after already being on a yellow card following an argument with [[Matthew Upson]], he was caught by television cameras raising his middle fingers behind his back towards the Arsenal supporters, who had been taunting him for his errors towards the end of the match; the incident was missed by the referee [[Peter Jones (referee)|Peter Jones]], however.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/arsenal-defeat-a-disaster-says-ferguson-9175298.html|title=Arsenal defeat 'a disaster', says Ferguson|newspaper=The Independent|author1=Gordon Tynan|date=27 November 2001|access-date=16 January 2018}}</ref> There was much speculation as to what was the source of Barthez's decline, and critics such as the [[BBC]]'s [[Phil McNulty]] urged him to be dropped.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/man_utd/1676691.stm |title=Fabien's follies |date=26 November 2001 |access-date=3 January 2014 |work=BBC Sport |publisher=BBC}}</ref> Sir Alex Ferguson, however, had faith in his goalkeeper, and stuck by him. Consequently, in the second half of the season, Barthez repaired his reputation with consistent, solid performances and the spectacular saves that he was famous for. His turn in fortunes was shown in a 2–2 draw with [[Derby County F.C.|Derby County]] at [[Pride Park Stadium|Pride Park]]. Derby forward [[Malcolm Christie]] looked to have sealed his [[List of Premier League hat-tricks|hat-trick]], but referee [[Steve Dunn (referee)|Steve Dunn]] controversially disallowed the goal, ruling that Christie kicked the ball out of Barthez's hands.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/1847978.stm |title=Derby thwart Man Utd |date=3 March 2002 |access-date=3 January 2014 |work=BBC Sport |publisher=BBC}}</ref>

He was also noted for playing mind games before opposition players took a penalty. The first time this occurred was in November 2001 when [[Leicester City F.C.|Leicester City]] came to Old Trafford. As [[Muzzy Izzet]] prepared to take a penalty, Barthez stood aside from the goal, with his hands behind him on the post.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/1663008.stm |title=Ferguson strikes back |date=18 November 2001 |access-date=3 January 2014 |work=BBC Sport |publisher=BBC}}</ref> Izzet, tired of waiting, slotted the ball in the bottom corner, but referee [[Andy D'Urso]] made him retake the penalty, this time with Barthez in goal. Izzet went the same way, but Barthez denied him with a fine save to his right.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/leicester-city/3016986/Barthez-stunt-foxes-Izzet.html |title=Barthez stunt foxes Izzet |date=17 November 2001 |access-date=3 January 2014 |work=The Telegraph |publisher=Telegraph Media Group }}</ref> An almost identical incident happened less than a year later in October 2002, when Barthez was unhappy about the awarding of a penalty to [[Fulham F.C.|Fulham]], and so went from post to post banging his boots, and refused to be in goal for the penalty. This time he was booked for his antics by referee [[Mike Dean (referee)|Mike Dean]], and so he then took his place between the posts and made it work again by saving [[Steed Malbranque]]'s spot kick.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2002/oct/21/match.sport11 |title=United survive by playing the joker |date=21 October 2002 |access-date=3 January 2014 |work=The Guardian |publisher=Guardian News and Media }}</ref>

The [[2002–03 FA Premier League|2002–03 season]] ended with another Premier League crown for United.<ref name="Ferguson's best">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/m/man_utd/2984545.stm|title=Ferguson's best yet|work=BBC Sport|author1=Howard Nurse|date=4 May 2003|access-date=16 January 2018}}</ref> The season was a mixed bag for Barthez. One highlight was a fabulous save to deny [[Dietmar Hamann]]'s 30-yard rocket at [[Anfield Stadium|Anfield]] against [[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]], as United held on to win 2–1.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/liverpool/3038874/Horror-show-for-Dudek.html|title=Horror show for Dudek|newspaper=The Telegraph|author1=Henry Winter|date=2 December 2002|access-date=16 January 2018}}</ref> In other games, he let goals go past him that he would have been expected to save, and suffered from a run of poor form towards the end of the season.<ref name="Ferguson's best"/> Barthez was also widely criticized in United's exit to [[Real Madrid C.F.|Real Madrid]] in the Champions League, especially for [[Ronaldo (Brazilian footballer)|Ronaldo]]'s opener which beat him at the near post.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/champions_league/2971519.stm |title=Ferguson defends decision |date=24 April 2003 |access-date=2 April 2010 |work=BBC Sport |publisher=BBC }}</ref> It would prove to be his last ever game with United as Sir Alex Ferguson's patience had finally run out. Barthez was dropped for the final three games of the season, with [[Roy Carroll]] taking his place.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/m/man_utd/2991873.stm|title=Carroll wants number one spot|work=BBC Sport|date=1 May 2003|access-date=16 January 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/2400537/Barthez-doubts-deepen-as-Ferguson-lines-up-Cech.html|title=Barthez doubts deepen as Ferguson lines up Cechanf|newspaper=The Telegraph|author1=Sam Wallace|date=29 April 2003|access-date=16 January 2018}}</ref>

===Return to Marseille===
Barthez's poor form at the end of the previous season and the arrival of American newcomer [[Tim Howard]] in summer of 2003, saw the Frenchman face competition for a starting spot at United.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/m/man_utd/3061333.stm|title=Howard joins Man Utd|work=BBC Sport|date=15 July 2003|access-date=16 January 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2003/jul/16/newsstory.sport4|title=American dream becomes reality for Howard|newspaper=The Guardian|author1=Dominic Fifield|date=16 July 2003|access-date=16 January 2018}}</ref> As Barthez had only returned from international duty in August, Howard played during the club's American tour of the summer, and his performances led Ferguson to choose him to start over Barthez in the [[2003 FA Community Shield|Community Shield]] in August.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/2409220/Howard-edges-out-Barthez.html|title=Howard edges out Barthez|newspaper=The Telegraph|date=10 August 2003|access-date=16 January 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2003-10-18/france-duty-cost-barthez-united-place-fergie/1495446|title=France duty cost Barthez United place: Fergie|work=ABC News|date=17 October 2003|access-date=16 January 2018}}</ref> By October, Howard had won the starting goalkeeper's job from Barthez; as a result, United agreed to release Barthez from his contract at Old Trafford after the [[2003–04 in English football|2003–04]] season, and also agreed to loan Barthez out to his former club Marseille for the remainder of that season.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11667/2278921/ferguson-explains-barthez-move|title=Ferguson explains Barthez move|author1=Peter O'Rourke|work=Sky Sports |access-date=16 January 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/m/man_utd/3177478.stm|title=Barthez in Marseille talks|work=BBC Sport|date=17 October 2003|access-date=16 January 2018}}</ref> Barthez began training with Marseille, who took on a portion of his wages,<ref>{{cite news |title=Marseille reveal wage deal |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/man_utd/3212434.stm |website=BBC Sport |date=18 November 2003 |access-date=26 February 2021 }}</ref> but [[FIFA]] initially blocked the loan deal on the grounds that it was not agreed upon within the international [[transfer window]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2003/SPORT/football/10/16/marseille.barthez/|title=Marseille warned over Barthez move|publisher=CNN|date=17 October 2003|access-date=16 January 2018|archive-date=17 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180117070331/http://edition.cnn.com/2003/SPORT/football/10/16/marseille.barthez/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/2424313/Barthez-hold-up-as-FIFA-block-move-to-Marseilles.html|title=Barthez hold-up as FIFA block move to Marseilles|newspaper=The Telegraph|author1=Charlie Norton|date=31 October 2003|access-date=16 January 2018}}</ref> The two clubs agreed on a loan deal after the transfer window reopened on 1 January 2004, and Barthez joined Marseille soon afterwards.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cnn.com/2004/SPORT/football/01/02/marseille.barthez/index.html|title=Keeper Barthez finalizes loan deal|publisher=CNN|date=2 January 2004|access-date=16 January 2018}}</ref> On 27 April, Marseille and Barthez agreed to a two-and-a-half-year contract which would keep him at the club until spring 2006.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/m/man_utd/3581391.stm|title=Marseille sign Barthez|work=BBC Sport|date=28 April 2004|access-date=16 January 2018}}</ref>

Barthez was involved in a controversy during a friendly match between Marseille and [[Morocco]]'s [[Wydad Casablanca]] on 12 February 2005.<ref>{{cite web|first=Philippe |last=Da Costa |url=http://www.eurosport.fr/football/story_sto979136.shtml |title=Barthez, l'atypique |work=Eurosport.fr |publisher=Eurosport |date=6 October 2006 |access-date=28 April 2011 }}</ref> With ten minutes left, a Marseille player was [[Misconduct (football)|sent off]] and a brawl erupted between players on the pitch. Barthez was reported for spitting on the Moroccan [[Referee (association football)|referee]]. On 21 April, Barthez was summoned to a hearing before the disciplinary committee of the [[French Football Federation]] (FFF); the following day, he received a six-month suspension, with the last three months being suspended. In an unusual move, the federal council of the FFF appealed the suspension, arguing that the punishment should have been for a minimum of six full months. Eventually, his suspension was extended to six full months due to political pressures.<ref name="grado zero"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.uefa.com/memberassociations/news/newsid=297455.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180122060423/http://www.uefa.com/memberassociations/news/newsid=297455.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=22 January 2018|title=Barthez banned for spitting at ref|website=[[UEFA]]|date=22 April 2005|access-date=16 January 2018}}</ref>

===Retirement===
On 8 August 2006, Barthez announced he was still hoping to play professional football for another two years, insisting he was also looking to continue his career in the French international setup. His ideal scenario would have been a return to first club Toulouse, where he could be close enough to allow him to take care of his sick mother. But he said if he did not have a club by 31 August he would not carry on with football. On 5 October 2006, it was confirmed that he had retired from football, having failed to agree a return to Toulouse. Barthez commented: "The only club I wanted to go to was not so happy to have me. It happens and you have to live with it."<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/5411562.stm |work=BBC Sport |publisher=BBC |title=Barthez announces his retirement |date=5 October 2006 |access-date=2 April 2010 }}</ref><ref name="Barthez quits"/>

===Comeback===
[[File:Fabien Barthez.jpg|thumb|Barthez playing for Nantes against St. Etienne in 2006.]]
On 17 December 2006, Barthez announced his return to football by signing a contract with Ligue 1 side [[FC Nantes|Nantes]],<ref>{{cite news |title=Struggling Nantes lure Barthez from retirement |url=http://espnfc.com/news/story?id=396559&cc=5739 |work=ESPN FC |publisher=ESPN Internet Ventures |date=16 December 2006 |access-date=3 January 2014 }}</ref> who were lacking an experienced goalkeeper following [[Mickaël Landreau]]'s move to [[Paris Saint-Germain F.C.|Paris Saint-Germain]] the previous summer. Serbian goalkeeper [[Vladimir Stojković]], originally recruited to replace Landreau, failed to impress and left Nantes at the winter break following a rift within the squad.

On 29 April, Nantes chairman Rudi Roussillon announced that following an altercation with a Nantes fan, Barthez had left the [[Nantes|city]] with his family. The next day, Barthez confirmed that he had quit the team,<ref>{{cite news |title=Barthez quits Nantes after attack |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/6608657.stm |work=BBC Sport |publisher=BBC |date=30 April 2007 |access-date=3 January 2014 }}</ref> and the club terminated his contract. Barthez denied that he was planning to retire, and in an article for French daily ''[[L'Équipe]]'', he said that he was looking for another contract for at least two years. Barthez was linked with numerous clubs, but nothing ever materialised and he had to face never playing professional football again.

===Luzenac===
In 2012, Barthez became the honorary president of [[Championnat National]] team [[US Luzenac|Luzenac]], where he personally picked [[Quentin Westberg]] and [[Nicolas Dieuze]] to sign for the club.<ref>{{cite news |title=Fabien Barthez inspires tiny Luzenac to dream big |url=http://espnfc.com/blog/_/name/espnfcunited/id/11712 |work=ESPN |publisher=BBC |date=15 January 2014 |access-date=30 January 2014}}</ref>

==International career==

===Early international career===
On 26 May 1994, Barthez won his first [[cap (football)|cap]] for [[France national football team|France]] in a 1–0 victory against [[Australia men's national soccer team|Australia]].<ref name="Barthez quits">{{cite web|url=http://www.cnn.com/2006/SPORT/football/10/05/france.barthez/index.html?section=cnn_latest|title=Goalkeeper Barthez quits football|publisher=CNN|date=5 October 2006|access-date=16 January 2018}}</ref> Barthez was understudy to Bernard Lama at [[UEFA Euro 1996]] – at which France reached the semi-finals – after testing positive for cannabis earlier that year;<ref name="Euro 2000 Profile"/> he was suspended for two months as a result.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/fabien-barthez-banned-after-failing-drug-test-1324459.html|title=FABIEN BARTHEZ BANNED AFTER FAILING DRUG TEST|newspaper=The Independent|date=17 January 1996|access-date=16 January 2018}}</ref> Following a later suspension to Lama instead, however, Barthez subsequently gained the number one goalkeeping position shortly after the tournament and would not relinquish it for a decade.<ref name="Euro 2000 Profile">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/euro2000/teams/france/squad/747278.stm|title=Fabien Barthez|work=BBC Sport|access-date=16 January 2018}}</ref>

===1998 World Cup===
{{Main|1998 FIFA World Cup}}
In the [[1998 FIFA World Cup]], which was hosted by his home country, Barthez conceded only two goals in seven games<ref name="Behind the World Cup record"/> and won the [[Yashin Award]] as the best goalkeeper of the tournament,<ref>{{cite web |title=1998 FIFA World Cup France |url=https://www.fifa.com/worldcup/archive/edition=1013/awards/index.html |website=FIFA.com |publisher=FIFA |access-date=28 April 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120127234048/http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/archive/edition=1013/awards/index.html |archive-date=27 January 2012}}</ref> also placing second in the [[IFFHS World's Best Goalkeeper]] award that year, behind [[José Luis Chilavert]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/iffhs-gkoy98.html|title=IFFHS' World's Best Goalkeeper of the Year 1998|author1=José Luis Pierrend|date=25 January 2000|website=[[RSSSF]]|access-date=16 January 2018}}</ref> Barthez was also well known during the tournament for letting teammate and good friend Laurent Blanc kiss his shaved head before the start of every match, supposedly for good luck.<ref name="grado zero"/><ref name="Barthez cries">{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2000/jul/03/euro2000.sport3|title=Barthez cries out for a new life in Manchester|newspaper=The Guardian|author1=Jon Brodkin|date=3 July 2000|access-date=16 January 2018}}</ref> Barthez was an integral part of his national team's inaugural triumph which also made it the [[1978 FIFA World Cup|first time in 20 years that a host had won the World Cup]]. He kept five clean sheets throughout the tournament, with the only goals he conceded being a penalty in the group stage against [[Denmark national football team|Denmark]], and another goal against [[Croatia national football team|Croatia]] in the semi-final.<ref name="Behind the World Cup record"/> In the quarter-final shootout defeat of rivals [[Italy national football team|Italy]], he kept a clean sheet, and also saved [[Demetrio Albertini]]'s penalty kick.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www2.raisport.rai.it/eventi/francia98/incontri/ita_fra.htm|title=Italia-Francia, 1998 0–0 (3–4)|website=rai.it|publisher=Rai Sport|language=it|author=Dario Di Gennaro|date=3 July 1998|access-date=13 June 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120616003113/http://www2.raisport.rai.it/eventi/francia98/incontri/ita_fra.htm|archive-date=16 June 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> He kept another clean sheet in the [[1998 FIFA World Cup Final|final]], which ended in a 3–0 win over defending champions [[Brazil national football team|Brazil]].<ref name="Behind the World Cup record"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fifa.com/worldcup/archive/edition=1013/results/matches/match=8788/report.html|title=France-Brazil 3-0|website=FIFA.com|date=12 July 1998|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721191819/http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/archive/edition%3D1013/results/matches/match%3D8788/report.html|archive-date=21 July 2011}}</ref> During the game, Barthez was also at the centre of a notable controversial incident when he made a spectacular save while rushing out and attempting to anticipate Brazilian superstar [[Ronaldo (Brazilian footballer)|Ronaldo]], doing his trademark leap/step-over the attacking striker to grab the ball, which injured Ronaldo in the process; Barthez later commented that he never intended to hurt the striker.<ref name="Behind the World Cup record"/><ref name="Saving grace">{{cite web|url=http://www.uefa.com/memberassociations/association=fra/news/newsid=2202983.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150202093041/http://www.uefa.com/memberassociations/association=fra/news/newsid=2202983.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=2 February 2015|title=Saving grace: Europe's favourite goalkeepers|website=[[UEFA]]|date=30 January 2015|access-date=16 January 2018}}</ref> Following France's World Cup victory, Barthez was one of the most popular national players in France, after [[Zinedine Zidane]].<ref name="Euro 2000 Profile"/>

===Euro 2000===
Two years later, Barthez was again the starter as his country won [[UEFA Euro 2000|Euro 2000]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://it.uefa.com/uefaeuro/history/news/0254-0d7b2e7f6a44-ea138a740f34-1000--euro-2000-golden-trezeguet-la-francia-beffa-l-italia-in-f/|title=Gol d'oro per Trezeguet e la Francia|trans-title=Golden goal for Trezeguet and France|website=[[UEFA]]|date=6 October 2003|language=it|access-date=29 January 2015}}</ref> It was the first time in 26 years that a national team held both the World Cup and Euro titles, a feat last accomplished by [[Germany national football team|West Germany]] in 1974. After that triumph, France held the top position in the [[FIFA World Rankings]] system from 2001 to 2002.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://fr.fifa.com/worldranking/rankingtable/index.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111008095355/http://fr.fifa.com/worldranking/rankingtable/index.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=8 October 2011|title=Classement mondial FIFA/Coca-Cola (mai 2001)|website=FIFA.com|date=16 May 2001|language=fr}}</ref>

===2002 World Cup and Euro 2004===
Barthez played on France's World Cup team again in [[2002 FIFA World Cup|2002]] in which they exited in the first round without winning a game or scoring a goal;<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rfi.fr/Fichiers/sports/Cdm2002/arti58.asp|author=Valérie Gas|title=La France éliminée|date=11 June 2002|language=fr|access-date=16 January 2018|archive-date=2 November 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131102135449/http://www.rfi.fr/Fichiers/sports/Cdm2002/arti58.asp|url-status=dead}}</ref> he kept his only clean sheet of the tournament in his nation's second group match, a 0–0 draw against [[Uruguay national football team|Uruguay]].<ref name="Behind the World Cup record"/> He was also his nation's starting keeper throughout their victorious [[2003 FIFA Confederations Cup|Confederations Cup campaign in 2003]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.eurosport.fr/football/coupe-des-confederations1/2003/les-bleus-sans-zidane_sto440237/story.shtml|title=Sans Zidane mais avec des surprises|publisher=Eurosport|language=fr|date=2 June 2003|access-date=16 January 2018}}</ref> and at [[UEFA Euro 2004|Euro 2004]]; in the latter tournament, he saved [[David Beckham]]'s penalty shot in the opening round robin match, but France went out in the quarter-finals to eventual winners [[Greece national football team|Greece]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://it.archive.uefa.com/competitions/euro2012/history/season=2004/round=1582/match=1059189/index.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130105080520/http://it.archive.uefa.com/competitions/euro2012/history/season=2004/round=1582/match=1059189/index.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=5 January 2013|title=Tragedia greca, Francia fuori|website=[[UEFA]]|language=it|date=25 June 2004|access-date=7 July 2012}}</ref>

===2006 World Cup===
{{Main|2006 FIFA World Cup}}
His place as starting goalkeeper in France's [[2006 FIFA World Cup|2006 World Cup]] campaign, in the face of a substantial public campaign in support of [[Grégory Coupet]], was surprising to many, even more so given Coupet's flawless performance in the remainder of the World Cup qualifying campaign after Barthez's suspension. The decision was met with derision in the French press and also led to Coupet's walking out of the national squad before the tournament, though he was to return one day later. The move was viewed by some as a desire to keep the veterans of France's 1998 World Cup victory on the team. ''L'Equipe'' reported after the World Cup that Barthez would have walked out of the squad had he not been named the starter.<ref name="old guard">{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2006/jul/08/worldcup2006.sport7|title=Barthez ready to grasp another chance to show France are still safe in the old guard's hands|newspaper=The Guardian|author1=Jon Brodkin|date=8 July 2006|access-date=16 January 2018}}</ref>

France had a slow start in the group stage, drawing their first two games and putting their chances of reaching the knock-out stages at risk. Fortunately, Barthez's team found their form and won their final round robin match 2–0 to advance to the next stage, where they upset heavily favoured [[Spain men's national football team|Spain]] 3–1 in the [[round of 16]].

In defeating Brazil, 1–0 on 1 July 2006, Barthez, having made only one save in the game (on an injury time shot from Ronaldo), became the first keeper to blank the Brazilian team in consecutive World Cup finals matches, the first being the 1998 final (3–0). France is now one of only four nations (along with [[Italy national football team|Italy]], [[Argentina national football team|Argentina]] and the [[Netherlands national football team|Netherlands]]) to have shut Brazil out twice in the World Cup finals, and the first to have done it in consecutive matches, both times with Barthez in goal.<ref name="grado zero"/>

Barthez again kept another clean sheet – his fourth of the tournament<ref name="Behind the World Cup record"/> – in the semi-final against [[Portugal national football team|Portugal]] (with Zinedine Zidane's penalty shot the winning goal), though he appeared in questionable form. A few minutes from time, he spectacularly spilled a free-kick which [[Luís Figo]] recovered, heading over the bar although unchallenged. He did, however, redeem himself in injury time when a French defender fumbled the ball, enabling a Portuguese player to mount a last-moment attack. Barthez scrambled out of the net and blocked the first shot.<ref name="old guard"/>

During the [[2006 FIFA World Cup Final|final]] against Italy, he briefly captained his team for the remainder of the second period of extra time after Zidane was sent off. During the penalty shootout, neither he nor his Italian counterpart [[Gianluigi Buffon]] made a save, and France striker [[David Trezeguet]]'s missed shot ultimately proved decisive.<ref name="grado zero"/><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/worldcup2006/minbymin/0,,1788448,00.html|title=Italy 1 – 1 France (5–3 pens)|newspaper=The Guardian|access-date=27 June 2014}}</ref> This proved to be Barthez's 87th and final international appearance, as he retired from international football following the tournament.<ref name="Barthez quits"/>

==Motorsport career==
[[File:Panis Barthez Competition's Ligier JSP217 Gibson Driven by Fabien Barthez, Timothe Buret and Nathanael Berthon.jpg|thumb|right|Barthez competing in the [[European Le Mans Series]]' 4 Hours of Silverstone in 2017]]
After retiring from football in 2007, Barthez began a career in motorsport in 2008. He began competing at selected events in the [[Porsche Carrera Cup France]] that year with the team SOFREV Auto Sport Promotion. He also competed at two events in the THP Spider Cup. In 2009, he raced in a number of various motorsport series such as the [[French GT Championship]], Bioracing Series and the [[Caterham]] Sigma Cup France as well as the Porsche Carrera Cup France. He continued to race in the FFSA GT Championship in 2010 and picked up his first podium in race 1 at [[Dijon-Prenois]]. In the 2012 season, he won his first race in the FFSA series at the [[Circuito de Navarra]] in race two and finished seventh in the championship. In 2013, he was crowned French GT Champion alongside Morgan Moullin-Traffort, driving a [[Ferrari]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.espn.co.uk/more/sport/story/252547.html |title=Former United star Barthez wins French GT Series |date=29 October 2013 |website=[[ESPN (UK)]] |access-date=3 June 2014 |archive-date=6 June 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140606233437/http://www.espn.co.uk/more/sport/story/252547.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In 2013, he also competed in the newly re-branded [[FIA GT Series]] alongside Gérard Tonelli in the Gentleman Trophy class with SOFREV ASP, driving a GT3-spec [[Ferrari 458 Italia]].

In February 2014, it was announced that Barthez would enter the [[2014 24 Hours of Le Mans]] race, driving Sofrev ASP's Ferrari 458.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/112508 |title=Sebastien Loeb gets slot as 2014 Le Mans 24 Hours entry revealed |last1=Tremayne |first1=Sam |date=3 June 2014 |website=[[autosport.com]] |access-date=3 June 2014}}</ref> Barthez and his co-drivers finished 29th overall and ninth in the LMGTE Am class.

==Coaching career==
On 2 July 2010, after Laurent Blanc's appointment as the new manager of the France national team, Barthez was named among the team's technical staff as a goalkeeping coach.<ref name=equipe>{{cite news|url=https://www.lequipe.fr/Football/FootballFicheJoueur2545.html|title=La fiche de Fabien BARTHEZ|newspaper=L'Équipe|language=fr|access-date=27 October 2015}}</ref>

==Style of play==
{{excessive citations|date=February 2025}}

Rated by pundits as one of the greatest goalkeepers of his generation, in his prime, Barthez was considered to be one of the best goalkeepers in the world,<ref name="Behind the World Cup record"/><ref name="losing"/><ref name="Barthez plays the field">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/799810.stm|title=Barthez plays the field|work=BBC Sport|date=25 July 2001|access-date=16 January 2018}}</ref><ref name="worst"/><ref name="best buy">{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2001/jan/28/sport.comment4|title=Barthez, the best buy|newspaper=The Guardian|author1=Paul Wilson|date=28 January 2001|access-date=16 January 2018}}</ref><ref name="Barthez ignores"/><ref name="2002WCProfile">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/cbbcnews/hi/find_out/guides/2002/world_cup_2002/france/newsid_2018000/2018694.stm|title=Fabien Barthez|date=31 May 2002|publisher=BBC|access-date=16 January 2018}}</ref> and is regarded as one of the best French players ever in his position,<ref name="Behind the World Cup record">{{cite web|url=https://www.fifa.com/worldcup/news/y=2017/m=7/news=behind-the-world-cup-record-fabien-barthez-2900993.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170712032925/http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/news/y=2017/m=7/news=behind-the-world-cup-record-fabien-barthez-2900993.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=12 July 2017|title=Behind the World Cup record: Fabien Barthez|website=FIFA.com|date=10 July 2017|access-date=16 January 2018}}</ref><ref name="Saving grace"/><ref name="larousse">{{cite web|url=http://www.larousse.fr/encyclopedie/personnage/Barthez/107707|title=Fabien Barthez|publisher=www.larousse.fr|language=fr|access-date=16 January 2018}}</ref> being named the fourth greatest French goalkeeper of all time in [[IFFHS]]' Century elections, behind [[Bernard Lama]], [[Pierre Chayriguès]] and [[Julien Darui]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/iffhs-century.html|title=IFFHS' Century Elections: Countrywise Elections: France - Keeper of the Century|author1=Karel Stokkermans|date=30 January 2000|website=[[RSSSF]]|access-date=16 January 2018}}</ref> Standing at {{height|m=1.80}}, he was not particularly tall for a goalkeeper,<ref name="Barthez cries"/><ref name="worst">{{cite web|url=http://en.espn.co.uk/football/sport/story/208392.html|title=Worst players to win the Champions League|publisher=ESPN FC|date=24 May 2013|access-date=16 January 2018|archive-date=6 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210806042347/http://en.espn.co.uk/football/sport/story/208392.html|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="best buy"/><ref name="Barthez holds whip">{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/manchester-united/2994037/Barthez-holds-whip-hand-as-United-face-devil-of-a-job.html|title=Barthez holds whip hand as United face devil of a job|newspaper=The Telegraph|author1=Matt Lawton|date=5 December 2000|access-date=16 January 2018}}</ref> although he was extremely athletic, and was known for his elevation, as well as his decision-making, bravery, ability to read the game and commitment when coming out to collect the ball, which made him effective in the air and enabled him to command his area effectively in spite of his short stature;<ref name="old guard"/><ref name="best buy"/><ref name="98 FWC All-star team">{{cite web |url=https://www.fifa.com/worldcup/news/fifa-technical-study-group-designates-mastercard-all-star-team-71747 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612163711/https://www.fifa.com/worldcup/news/fifa-technical-study-group-designates-mastercard-all-star-team-71747 |url-status=dead |archive-date=12 June 2018 |title=FIFA Technical Study Group designates MasterCard All-Star Team |website=FIFA.com |date=10 July 1998 |access-date=13 August 2018 }}</ref> however, at times, he was still caught out on high balls due to his lack of height and poor handling, and he also came under criticism on occasion for his indecisiveness when struggling to deal with crosses.<ref name="Barthez cries"/><ref name="worst"/><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1998-jul-10-sp-2516-story.html |title=Keeping the Faith |work=The Los Angeles Times |last1=Penner |first1=Mike |date=10 July 1998 |access-date=6 May 2020 }}</ref> A flamboyant and instinctive keeper, he was also extremely agile and possessed excellent reflexes, which enabled him to produce spectacular, acrobatic and decisive reaction saves;<ref name="losing"/><ref name="Saving grace"/><ref name="Euro 2000 Profile"/><ref name="Barthez plays the field"/><ref name="worst"/><ref name="Barthez ignores"/><ref name="2002WCProfile"/><ref name="Barthez retires"/><ref name="Barthez - 2002 World Cup Profile">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport3/worldcup2002/low/team_pages/france/squad/newsid_1780000/1780016.stm|title=Fabien Barthez|work=BBC Sport|date=8 April 2002|access-date=16 January 2018}}</ref> he also possessed a good positional sense.<ref name="larousse"/>

In addition to his shot-stopping abilities,<ref name="Barthez cries"/><ref name="worst"/><ref name="2002WCProfile"/><ref name="Barthez retires">{{cite web|url=http://www.cbc.ca/sports/soccer/fabien-barthez-retires-from-soccer-1.626103|title=Fabien Barthez retires from soccer|publisher=CBC Sports|date=5 October 2006|access-date=16 January 2018}}</ref> Barthez was also known to be a passionate, popular, and highly recognisable footballing figure,<ref name="Behind the World Cup record"/><ref name="Euro 2000 Profile"/><ref name="Barthez ignores">{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2001/feb/25/newsstory.sport|title=Smoking Barthez ignores Ferguson|newspaper=The Guardian|author1=David Barnes|date=25 February 2001|access-date=16 January 2018}}</ref><ref name="Barthez - 2002 World Cup Profile"/> who stood out for his outgoing personality, self-assurance, and composure under pressure, as well as his leadership from the back and authoritative presence in goal.<ref name="Barthez cries"/><ref name="losing"/><ref name="Saving grace"/><ref name="Barthez quits"/><ref name="old guard"/><ref name="Barthez plays the field"/><ref name="best buy"/><ref name="Barthez ignores"/><ref name="Barthez - 2002 World Cup Profile"/> Furthermore, Barthez was highly regarded for his exceptional skills with the ball at his feet, as well as his accurate distribution with his left foot, which enabled him to play the ball out from the back or launch an attack with his quick throws or long goal kicks; his confidence in possession often led him to be involved in the build-up of plays, and he often operated outside the penalty area, and would even occasionally attempt to [[Dribbling#Association football|dribble]] with the ball past opposing strikers with [[Dummy (football)|feints]] such as [[Nutmeg (football)|nutmegs]] or [[Step over|stepovers]]. He was also very quick off his line, and often acted as a [[Goalkeeper (association football)#Sweeper-keeper|sweeper-keeper]], thus contributing to the evolution of the role.<ref name="Behind the World Cup record"/><ref name="Barthez cries"/> While he received plaudits for his goalkeeping ability in the media, throughout his career Barthez also frequently came under criticism from pundits for his stubbornness, and his aggressive, unorthodox and eccentric style of play, as well as for taking unnecessary risks; he was also deemed to be inconsistent, unreliable and prone to errors and lapses in concentration.<ref name="Behind the World Cup record"/><ref name="losing"/><ref name="Euro 2000 Profile"/><ref name="old guard"/><ref name="worst"/><ref name="Barthez ignores"/><ref name="2002WCProfile"/><ref name="Barthez retires"/><ref name="Barthez - 2002 World Cup Profile"/><ref name="pledge">{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2001/nov/04/newsstory.sport1|title=Barthez's pledge to Fergie|newspaper=The Guardian|author1=David Barnes|date=4 November 2001|access-date=16 January 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/sports_talk/1676634.stm|title=What is wrong with Barthez?|work=BBC Sport|date=26 November 2001|access-date=16 January 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2001/nov/27/sport.comment1|title=Its the slip-ups that stick|newspaper=The Guardian|author1=Daniel Taylor|date=27 November 2001|access-date=16 January 2018}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Through his career, Barthez was known for his active romantic life, and dated Canadian model [[Linda Evangelista]].<ref name="grado zero"/><ref name="Barthez cries"/><ref name="losing"/><ref name="Barthez ignores"/><ref name=vogueuk>{{cite news|last1=Craven|first1=Jo|title=Linda Evangelista biography|url=http://www.vogue.co.uk/spy/biographies/linda-evangelista-biography|work=Vogue UK|date=11 May 2011|access-date=26 November 2014}}</ref> She became pregnant but miscarried, six months into the pregnancy.<ref name=nymag>{{cite web|title=Linda Evangelista|url=http://nymag.com/fashion/models/levangelista/lindaevangelista/|website=New York Magazine|access-date=13 June 2014|archive-date=13 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210213221053/https://nymag.com/fashion/models/levangelista/lindaevangelista/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=hello2006>{{cite web|title=Linda's Delight As She Confirms Baby News |url=http://www.hellomagazine.com/canada/2006/06/15/lindaevangelista/ |website=Hello Magazine |access-date=13 June 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714224514/http://www.hellomagazine.com/canada/2006/06/15/lindaevangelista/ |archive-date=14 July 2014 }}</ref><ref name=barthez-evangelista>{{cite news|last1=Dow|first1=Ian|title=Linda's Feeling Fab as She Plans to Wed Barthez|url=https://www.questia.com/article/1G1-77473499/linda-s-feeling-fab-as-she-plans-to-wed-barthez#/|access-date=26 November 2014|work=Daily Record (Glasgow, Scotland)|date=24 August 2001}}</ref> The couple broke up in 2000,<ref name=riviera>{{cite news|last1=Moss|first1=Adam|last2=Hart|first2=Christine|title=Fab In Bar Bust-up; Exclusive: Man United Goalie Is Net Winner after Rumpus over Married Date|url=https://www.questia.com/article/1G1-66861828/fab-in-bar-bust-up-exclusive-man-united-goalie-is#/|access-date=26 November 2014|work=The People (London, England)|date=12 November 2000}}</ref> reunited in 2001,<ref name=barthez-evangelista/> and then officially ended their relationship in 2002. Barthez is a smoker.<ref name="grado zero">{{cite news|url=http://carotenuto.blogautore.repubblica.it/2014/07/12/barthez-il-grado-zero-della-parata/|title=Barthez, il grado zero della parata|newspaper=La Repubblica|language=it|author1=Fabien Barthez|date=12 July 2014|access-date=16 January 2018}}</ref><ref name="Barthez ignores"/> Known for his eccentric and superstitious personality,<ref name="grado zero"/><ref name="losing"/> Barthez often wore red briefs underneath his goalkeeping shorts, and usually cut off the sleeves of his goalkeeping jersey. Although most starting goalkeepers are usually assigned the [[Squad number (association football)|number 1 shirt]], he instead chose to wear the number 16 shirt.<ref name="grado zero"/><ref name="clown">{{cite news|url=http://ricerca.repubblica.it/repubblica/archivio/repubblica/2004/06/17/barthez-il-ritorno-altro-che-clown-io.html|title=Barthez, il ritorno Altro che clown io sono un grande|newspaper=La Repubblica|language=it|author1=Emilio Marrese|date=17 June 2004|access-date=16 January 2018}}</ref> He is a practicing [[Zen|Zen Buddhist]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=2001-03-08 |title=The eccentric Barthez |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/m/man_utd/1209025.stm |access-date=2025-04-24 |work=[[BBC]] |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Lawrence |first=Ken |date=30 January 2001 |title=Barthez looks like a Buddhist with a blind spot |url=http://www.espnfc.com/england/news/2001/0130/20010130barthezfeat.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160307100504/http://www.espnfc.com/england/news/2001/0130/20010130barthezfeat.html |archive-date=7 March 2016 |access-date=6 March 2016 |publisher=[[ESPN]]}}</ref>

==Endorsements==
During his playing career, Barthez signed advertising deals with [[McDonald's]] and [[Adidas]].<ref name="Barthez ignores"/>

==Career statistics==
===Club===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
|-
!rowspan="2"|Club
!rowspan="2"|Season
!colspan="3"|League
!colspan="2"|National cup{{efn|Includes [[Coupe de France]], [[FA Cup]]}}
!colspan="2"|League cup{{efn|Includes [[Coupe de la Ligue]], [[Football League Cup]]}}
!colspan="2"|Continental
!colspan="2"|Other
!colspan="2"|Total
|-
!Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals
|-
|rowspan="3"|[[Toulouse FC|Toulouse]]
|[[1990–91 French Division 1|1990–91]]
|[[Ligue 1|Division 1]]
|0||0||0||0||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||0||0
|-
|[[1991–92 French Division 1|1991–92]]
|Division 1
|26||0||0||0||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||26||0
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!26!!0!!0!!0!!colspan="2"|–!!colspan="2"|–!!colspan="2"|–!!26!!0
|-
|rowspan="4"|[[Olympique de Marseille|Marseille]]
|[[1992–93 Olympique de Marseille season|1992–93]]
|Division 1
|30||0||0||0||colspan="2"|–||10{{efn|name=UCL|Appearances in [[UEFA Champions League]]}}||0||colspan="2"|–||40||0
|-
|[[1993–94 French Division 1|1993–94]]
|Division 1
|37||0||1||0||colspan="2"|–||4{{efn|name=UCL}}||0||colspan="2"|–||42||0
|-
|[[1994–95 French Division 2|1994–95]]
|[[Ligue 2|Division 2]]
|39||0||0||0||1||0||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||40||0
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!106!!0!!1!!0!!1!!0!!14!!0!!colspan="2"|–!!122!!0
|-
|rowspan="6"|[[AS Monaco FC|Monaco]]
|[[1995–96 French Division 1|1995–96]]
|Division 1
|21||0||0||0||1||0||1{{efn|name=UC|Appearance(s) in [[UEFA Cup]]}}||0||colspan="2"|–||23||0
|-
|[[1996–97 French Division 1|1996–97]]
|Division 1
|36||0||3||0||3||0||10{{efn|name=UC}}||0||colspan="2"|–||52||0
|-
|[[1997–98 French Division 1|1997–98]]
|Division 1
|30||0||3||0||0||0||10{{efn|name=UCL}}||0||1{{efn|Appearance in [[Trophée des Champions]]}}||0||44||0
|-
|[[1998–99 French Division 1|1998–99]]
|Division 1
|32||0||4||0||2||0||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||38||0
|-
|[[1999–2000 AS Monaco FC season|1999–2000]]
|Division 1
|24||0||5||0||2||0||5{{efn|name=UC}}||0||colspan="2"|–||36||0
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!143!!0!!15!!0!!8!!0!!26!!0!!1!!0!!193!!0
|-
|rowspan="5"|[[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]]
|[[2000–01 Manchester United F.C. season|2000–01]]
|[[Premier League]]
|30||0||1||0||0||0||12{{efn|name=UCL}}||0||1{{efn|name=FACS|Appearance in [[FA Charity Shield]]}}||0||44||0
|-
|[[2001–02 Manchester United F.C. season|2001–02]]
|Premier League
|32||0||1||0||0||0||15{{efn|name=UCL}}||0||1{{efn|name=FACS}}||0||49||0
|-
|[[2002–03 Manchester United F.C. season|2002–03]]
|Premier League
|30||0||2||0||4||0||10{{efn|name=UCL}}||0||colspan="2"|–||46||0
|-
|[[2003–04 Manchester United F.C. season|2003–04]]
|Premier League
|0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!92!!0!!4!!0!!4!!0!!37!!0!!2!!0!!139!!0
|-
|Marseille (loan)
|[[2003–04 Olympique de Marseille season|2003–04]]
|[[Ligue 1]]
|20||0||2||0||0||0||9||0||colspan="2"|–||31||0
|-
|rowspan="3"|Marseille
|[[2004–05 Olympique de Marseille season|2004–05]]
|Ligue 1
|30||0||1||0||4||0||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||35||0
|-
|[[2005–06 Olympique de Marseille season|2005–06]]
|Ligue 1
|24||0||4||0||1||0||7{{efn|name=UC}}||0||colspan="2"|–||36||0
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!54!!0!!5!!0!!5!!0!!7!!0!!colspan="2"|–!!71!!0
|-
|[[FC Nantes|Nantes]]
|[[2006–07 Ligue 1|2006–07]]
|Ligue 1
|16||0||0||0||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||0||0||16||0
|-
!colspan="3"|Career total
!457!!0!!27!!0!!18!!0!!93!!0!!3!!0!!598!!0
|}

{{notelist}}

===International===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
|+ Appearances and goals by national team and year<ref>{{NFT player|2445|name=Fabien Barthez|accessdate=28 April 2011}}</ref>
|-
!National team!!Year!!Apps!!Goals
|-
|rowspan="13"|[[France national football team|France]]
|1994||1||0
|-
|1995||1||0
|-
|1996||2||0
|-
|1997||5||0
|-
|1998||12||0
|-
|1999||8||0
|-
|2000||10||0
|-
|2001||5||0
|-
|2002||9||0
|-
|2003||9||0
|-
|2004||10||0
|-
|2005||3||0
|-
|2006||11||0
|-
!colspan="2"|Total!!87!!0
|}

==Honours==
'''Marseille'''<ref name="Eurosport Profile">{{cite web|url=https://www.eurosport.fr/football/fabien-barthez_prs213/person.shtml|title=Fabien Barthez|publisher=www.eurosport.fr|language=fr|access-date=16 January 2018}}</ref>
*[[UEFA Champions League]]: [[1992–93 UEFA Champions League|1992–93]]
*[[Ligue 2|Division 2]]: [[1994–95 French Division 2|1994–95]]

'''Monaco'''<ref name="Eurosport Profile"/>
*[[Ligue 1|Division 1]]: [[1996–97 French Division 1|1996–97]], [[1999–2000 French Division 1|1999–2000]]
*[[Trophée des Champions]]: [[1997 Trophée des Champions|1997]]

'''Manchester United'''
*[[Premier League]]: [[2000–01 FA Premier League|2000–01]], [[2002–03 FA Premier League|2002–03]]<ref name=PremProfile>{{cite web |url=https://www.premierleague.com/players/1940/Fabien-Barthez/overview |title=Fabien Barthez: Overview |publisher=Premier League |access-date=26 December 2020 |archive-date=15 April 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180415211653/https://www.premierleague.com/players/1940/Fabien-Barthez/overview |url-status=dead }}</ref>

'''France'''<ref name="Eurosport Profile"/>
*[[FIFA World Cup]]: [[1998 FIFA World Cup|1998]]; runner-up: [[2006 FIFA World Cup|2006]]
*[[UEFA European Championship]]: [[UEFA Euro 2000|2000]]
*[[FIFA Confederations Cup]]: [[2003 FIFA Confederations Cup|2003]]

'''Individual'''
*[[Onze d'Or|Onze Mondial]]: 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001<ref>{{Cite web|title="Onze Mondial" Awards|url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/onze-awards.html|access-date=2021-12-17|website=[[RSSSF]]|archive-date=4 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190704020132/http://www.rsssf.com/miscellaneous/onze-awards.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
*[[FIFA World Cup awards#Golden Glove|FIFA World Cup Yashin Award]]: 1998<ref name="1998FWC">{{cite web|url=https://www.fifa.com/worldcup/archive/france1998/index.htmlb|title=1998 FIFA World Cup France|website=FIFA.com|access-date=12 November 2017}}{{dead link|date=October 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>
*[[FIFA World Cup awards#All-Star Team|FIFA World Cup All-Star Team]]: 1998<ref name="94WCAll-Star2">{{cite web|url=http://football.sporting99.com/fifa-world-cup-all-star-team.html |title=FIFA World Cup All-Star Team – Football world Cup All Star Team |publisher=Football.sporting99.com |access-date=28 June 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160630203237/http://football.sporting99.com/fifa-world-cup-all-star-team.html |archive-date=30 June 2016}}</ref>
*[[Ligue 1]] Goalkeeper of the Year: 1998<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/franpoy.html |title=France - Footballer of the Year |access-date=16 October 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150905115225/http://rsssf.com/miscellaneous/franpoy.html |archive-date=5 September 2015}}</ref>
*[[IFFHS World's Best Goalkeeper]]: 2000<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/iffhs-gkoy00.html|title=IFFHS' World's Best Goalkeeper of the Year 2000|author1=José Luis Pierrend|date=11 April 2001|website=[[RSSSF]]|access-date=12 November 2017}}</ref>
*[[UEFA Euro]] [[UEFA Euro 2000#Awards|Team of the Tournament]]: 2000<ref name="UEFA Euro 2000 team of the tournament">{{cite web|url=http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro/finals/history/memories/newsid=1627525.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130602045322/http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro/finals/history/memories/newsid=1627525.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=2 June 2013|title=UEFA Euro 2000 team of the tournament|website=[[UEFA]]|publisher=UEFA|date=1 January 2011|access-date=31 March 2015}}</ref>
*[[PFA Team of the Year]]: [[PFA Team of the Year (2000s)#FA Premier League 2|2000–01 Premier League]]<ref name="Hugman2001-02 368">{{Cite book | editor-last = Hugman | editor-first = Barry J. | title = The 2001–2002 Official PFA Footballers Factfile | year = 2001 | publisher = AFS | isbn = 0-946531-34-X | page = 368 }}</ref>
*[[Trophées UNFP du football#Équipe type spéciale 20 ans des trophées UNFP|Équipe type spéciale 20 ans des trophées UNFP]]: 2011<ref name="UNFP2">{{Cite web |url=http://www.sportpalmares.eu/Trophees-UNFP-Oscars-du-foot,287.html |title=Palmarès Trophées UNFP - Oscars du football - Trophée spécial UNFP  |access-date=16 January 2018 |archive-date=2 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180702223242/http://www.sportpalmares.eu/Trophees-UNFP-Oscars-du-foot,287.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>
*The Dream Team 110 years of [[Olympique de Marseille|OM]]: 2010<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.om.net/actualites/140213/skoblar-dernier-joueur-de-la-dream-team-des-110-ans|title=Skoblar dernier joueur de la dream team des 110 ans|publisher=OM.net (Olympique de Marseille)|date=24 April 2010|access-date=13 June 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180928043956/https://www.om.net/actualites/140213/skoblar-dernier-joueur-de-la-dream-team-des-110-ans|archive-date=28 September 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref>
*Most clean sheets in the [[Premier League]]: [[2000–01 FA Premier League|2000–01]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.premierleague.com/stats/top/players/clean_sheet|title=Premier League Player Stats - Clean sheets|website=premierleague.com|access-date=19 May 2022|quote=Select season in the "Filter by season" drop-down menu.}}</ref>

'''Orders'''
*[[Knight of the Legion of Honour]]: 1998<ref>{{cite journal |date=25 July 1998 |title=Décret du 24 juillet 1998 portant nomination à titre exceptionnel |trans-title=Decree of 24 July 1998 appointing on an exceptional basis |url=https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/jorf/id/JORFTEXT000000374701 |journal=Official Journal of the French Republic |volume=1998 |issue=170 |id=PREX9801916D |access-date=2 January 2021 |language=fr}}</ref>

'''Records'''
*[[List of France men's international footballers|Second-most caps for France as a goalkeeper]]: 87 (behind [[Hugo Lloris]])<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/fran-recintlp.html|title=France - Record International Players|author1=José Luis Pierrend|date=11 January 2018|website=[[RSSSF]]|access-date=16 January 2018}}</ref>
*[[FIFA World Cup records#Goalkeeping|Most FIFA World Cup clean sheets]]: 10 (with [[Peter Shilton]])<ref name="Behind the World Cup record"/>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
*{{FFF player}}
<!-- *{{UEFA player}} no link -->
*{{FIFA player}}

{{Navboxes
| title = Awards
| bg = gold
| fg = navy
| list1 = 
{{1998 FIFA World Cup Team of the Tournament}}
{{UEFA Euro 2000 Team of the Tournament}}
{{2000–01 FA Premier League PFA Team of the Year}}
{{FIFA World Cup Golden Glove}}
{{IFFHS World's Best Goalkeeper}}
}}
{{Navboxes
| title = France squads
| bg = #002395
| fg = white
| bordercolor = #ED2939
| list1 = 
{{France squad UEFA Euro 1996}}
{{France squad 1998 FIFA World Cup}}
{{France squad UEFA Euro 2000}}
{{France squad 2002 FIFA World Cup}}
{{France squad 2003 FIFA Confederations Cup}}
{{France squad UEFA Euro 2004}}
{{France squad 2006 FIFA World Cup}}
}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Barthez, Fabien}}
[[Category:1971 births]]
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