Fabien Barthez Wants to Start a Goalkeeping Academy
By: Laurie | April 29th, 2008
When last we saw former France goalkeeper Fabien Barthez on these pages, he was getting attacked by his own fans in Nantes after failing to help them avoid relegation.
Since then, for some reason, he seems to have been lying low. Not sure why.
But now Barthez has resurfaced with plans. He wants to start a goalkeeping academy, along with former goalkeeper and current Toulouse manager Elie Baup.
Fabien Barthez and Elie Baup wish to launch the first “Academy of Goalkeeping” at Haute-Garonne. … “It is an idea that I have shared for a long time with Fabien (Barthez). You always have a desire to give back to young people all that football has given you, like joy through goalkeeping, which is a position which both of us hold in our hearts”, declared [Baup]. The general Council of Haute-Garonne confirmed that “the file is being studied” but that for now “nothing has been finalized”.
Former Offside Editor Bob once described Barthez this way: “Even when he was on top of his game he was a heart attack waiting to happen for fans of his teams,” and that about captures it.
But I always thought of him as an endearing character, and he took the France team to a World Cup win in 1998, and all the way to the finals in 2006. I’ve always thought he deserved better than to go out as a laughingstock. This could be a good way to recapture the best part of his legacy.
To end, I’ll leave you with two videos. The first, Barthez at his best. The second? Not so much. Both integral parts of the man once known as “Fabulous Fab.” I’m guessing the goalkeeping school will aim more towards the accomplishments of the first one.
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Comments
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I have a lot of sympathy for Barthez. If the ball goes right through your hands, it counts the same as if you make a great athletic leap but can’t quite reach it. Keepers should be judged on how many goals they allow, not how cool they look doing it.
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This has to be a gag, right? April 1st again already?
Barthez starting a goalkeeping academy is like Titus Bramble starting a defending academy.
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