By Brian Oliver
The highlight of Rabah Madjer’s club career was his man-of-the-match performance - capped by a famous backheel goal - when Porto beat Bayern Munich in the 1987 European Cup final.
He was one of the most sought-after players in European football at the time and seven months after that great night in Vienna he was on his way to Germany. Bayern wanted him. Lothar Matthaus was leaving, Stefan Reuter was soon to arrive and there was talk of Bayern rebuilding their team.
“I flew to Munich and met general manager Uli Hoeness and coach Jupp Heynckes. We had a very nice dinner, we talked a lot and got on very well. Then I went to Hoeness’ house to sign a contract,” Madjer told Goal.
When he was back in Portugal, Madjer had his photograph taken in Bayern kit on a beach where he also displayed a ‘Freistaat Bayern’ badge to promote Bavaria.
But the transfer never happened. Madjer, 29 at the time, failed a medical. He was distraught.
“Before I joined them I had a bad thigh injury and it never happened,” he said at his home in Algiers. “I was not allowed to play by medical staff because it was a severe injury.
“I don’t have many regrets in football, but that was one – not playing for Bayern Munich. It would have been a dream come true for me. What a chance.
“Everything at Porto was truly great but playing for Bayern Munich could have raised my level even more. They were one of the greatest teams at the time and the important thing was their league was stronger than Portugal’s. It was sad for me, but I would like to thank everyone at Bayern Munich for the way they treated me.
“I wish them well in the Champions League too – but I hope Porto beat them!”
After the Bayern move fell through Madjer was wanted by Inter – Matthaus’ new club – but his injury also scuppered that move. He went to Valencia for a few months but soon returned to Porto.
Looking back on his great goal in Vienna, Madjer said it was the most famous he scored – but not his favourite.
“It was a crazy goal, scored on instinct, and I will never forget it,” he said. “But my favourite was the one I scored for Algeria against Nigeria in 1981. We beat them 2-1 in Constantine and that qualified us for the World Cup for the first time. I cried after that goal.
“The backheel is number two, and my third favourite was also against Germans. It was for Algeria in the 1982 World Cup, when we beat West Germany 2-1.
“I thought the Germans were the best team in that tournament so it was very special.”
