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A long term target for Kevin Keegan, Philippe Albert's impressive
performances for Belgium in the 1994 World Cup sealed his £2,600,000
transfer from Anderlecht. Signing, as he did, on his 27th birthday, he
wore the number 27 shirt for the club. The classy left-footed central
defender's cavalier approach to football was evident from his debut
against Leicester City, when it was difficult to see whether he was to
partner Andy Cole, or play in defence. His powerful runs from the back
proved to be the platform for many an attack. Albert seemed to settle
immediately, however, his season ended when he damaged a cruciate knee
ligament in training just before the New Year.
His time on Tyneside was
blighted by injuries and he was to play just 96 games in 5 seasons at
the club. As Newcastle looked like they would run away with the 1995/96
Premier League title, injuries to Albert and others took their toll and
the club lost a twelve point lead in the championship, finishing 2nd to
Manchester United. As the cracks began to show the defence was blamed
for the team's frailties, yet they only conceded 37 goals, the 2nd best
record in the league.
The 1996/97 season provided Albert with the moment
he will be eternally remembered for on Tyneside. Against Manchester
United he picked the ball up 40 yards out, striding forward he spotted
Peter Schmeichel off his line before chipping the ball over his head and
into the net, the fifth goal in the legendary 5-0 victory. Another
spectacular goal came a month later, during a 7-1 thrashing of Tottenham
Hotspur. Playing a one-two with Robert Lee he received the ball inside
the area, before curling the ball round the advancing Ian Walker, it was
Newcastle United's 6,000th League goal.
Within a month, however, Keegan
was replaced by Kenny Dalglish, yet nothing changed as Newcastle again
finished 2nd. The 1997/98 season was disappointing, despite experiencing
the highs of a 3-2 Champions League defeat of Barcelona. The more
defensively minded Dalglish saw the defence concede only 40 goals in the
season; however, the team finished a poor 13th. After a pre-season
injury had sidelined Alan Shearer, Newcastle only scored 35 league
goals.
There was a final humiliation at Wembley as Arsenal easily won
the FA Cup, and Albert was left as an unused substitute. Dalglish
departed days into the 1998/99 season, and the arrival of Ruud Gullit
saw Albert only make 6 appearances for the club, before being loaned out
to Fulham. At the end of the season he returned to Belgium and
Charleroi for £600,000. Having contributed enormously to Newcastle's
entertaining playing style in the mid-90's Philippe is amongst the most
popular foreign players to have played for the club. (Gordon Tait).
1986–1988 Charleroi 65 (7)
1988–1991 KV Mechelen 87 (5)
1991–1994 Anderlecht 50 (9)
1994–1999 Newcastle United 96 (8)
1998–1999 Fulham (loan) 13 (2)
1999–2000 Charleroi 14 (1)
Albert later worked as a pundit for Belgian TV, and ran a successful fruit and vegetable company.
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