Born in Paris to parents from the French island of Guadeloupe in the Caribbean, Louis Saha came to the Premiership on loan to Newcastle in January 1999. He made his debut against Chelsea but injured his hamstring and was out for a month. The unsuccessful loan period finished with only 11 appearances in six months.
He returned to England in June 2000 signed from FC Metz for £2.1 million. Any doubts of Louis’ ability from his Newcastle days were laid to rest when, he fired in twenty goals by the end of November 2000.
Strong, agile, quick, able to take on defenders and powerful in the air, Saha tore the First Division apart. He finished as the country’s leading goal scorer with 32 in all competitions and won the Nationwide Player of the Year 2000.
In the Premiership with the now promoted Fulham, Saha showed class from the start with two brilliant goals in Fulham's opening game against United at Old Trafford in August 2001. Fulham fans saw glimpses of the First Division Saha but the Frenchman was dogged by injury and was out of action for four months.
However, immediately on his return to the first team he scored against Birmingham City in the FA Cup and, from there, looked to be fast returning to form with goals against West Brom, Sunderland, Southampton and Charlton. By the end of the campaign he was looking like the Louis of old.
Saha scored 15 goals season and was on Sir Alex's shopping list for the transfer window. The 25-year old had been heavily linked with a switch to Old Trafford as Sir Alex looked to bring in some support for Ruud van Nistelrooy. Saha admitted he would love to make the move saying "I cannot say no - United is my dream and I want to go there," in November. "United is my dream and I want to go there. This is an opportunity I cannot let go by."
Fulham accused United of trying to unsettle Saha with manager Chris Coleman insisting that they would not sell. The player then hit back at the London club saying he was now nothing more than a 'product' to them now that United's interest had became known.
Eventually after much bidding and negotiation Fulham did sell as United gave them an offer they couldn't refuse. On Friday 23rd January 2004 Saha completed a £12.8 million move to United with the Frenchman given United's number nine jersey - which has been vacant since Andy Cole left for Blackburn in 2001.
Sir Alex Ferguson stated at the time: "Louis is a young and exciting talent and has made incredible progress. When he starts sticking the goals in everyone will forget he cost that much." Ferguson was also hoping Saha could form a potent attacking force with Dutch striker Ruud van Nistelrooy. "The last really effective combination we had was the one between Dwight Yorke and Andy Cole that was so integral to winning the European Cup in 1999. Hopefully this one will be equally as successful".
Saha certainly looked an impressive signing with 7 goals in his 10 starting appearances of the 2003-2004 season. He scored on his debut against Southampton and followed it up with a brace at Everton. As is customary he scored against his old club Fulham - a fantastic breakway run and thundering finish. Louis also scored United's late equaliser at Highbury after coming on as sub.
He then got an international call-up for France, scoring on his debut versus Belgium and made the Euro 2004 squad for the tournament in Portugal. Unfortunately he was unable to play in the FA Cup final win over Millwall, being cup tied due to an earlier appearance with Fulham.
2004-2005 was a stop-start season marred by constant injury. Saha never really got going making only 11 starting appearances, 11 from the bench and scoring two goals. In September he picked up an knee injury playing for France against the Faroe Islands which cost him a month. Then in November he picked up the injury again, also playing for the national side and costing nearly two months out.
At the end of February 2005, the problem re-occured, again leaving Saha out for a further two months. With serious doubts over fitness, his long term future at Old Trafford was highly uncertain. The Frenchman was again sidelined by a hamstring strain for the first three months of the new season and there was talk of him leaving in the January transfer window.
He finally returned in November 2005 and eased back into side as a sub and starring in League Cup matches. To the surprise of many, the French striker recaptured his intial good form and started banging in the goals. Six goals in the League Cup run saw him usurping Van Nistelrooy as the first choice strike partner for Rooney.
Saha took Ruud's place in the Cardiff final against Wigan and this signalled an extraordinary turn-a-round in fortunes for the two players. It left the once omnipresent Dutchman consigned to the starting bench for the rest of the season with Saha Sir Alex's preferred choice up front.
Few would have thought come the end of the season it would be Van Nistelrooy heading for the exit and not Louis Saha. In all, the Frenchman scored 15 goals in 2005-2006, enough to persuade Fergie that he should be his first striker alongside Wayne Rooney for season 2006-2007.
The new season in August 2006 saw his return from the World Cup in Germany where he had played for France making three appearances as substitute. Saha began in fine form scoring after 7 minutes against old club Fulham in the opener and went on to score regularly throughout the first half of the campaign.
This included two at home to Celtic, goals against Man City and Chelsea plus crackers away to Charlton and Benfica. He also took on penalty duties but missed a last minute kick at Celtic that would have given the Reds a 1-1 draw.
Saha signed an extension to his contract in December 2006, lasting to 2010, but from then on the old ghost of injury problems would haunt him again. Groin and hamstring injuries restricted appearances and meant he only scored one goal in the 2nd half of the season. He returned as substitute at Roma but then soon picked up an knee injury.
Ferguson is rumoured to be unhappy with the player and has grown tired of his endless fitness woes. The Frenchman has insisted he has no intention of leaving the club when he talked to L'Equipe: "I want to stay." Asked about the Samuel Eto'o rumours, Saha said: "I know nothing. I love this club and I don't want to leave. "If they are saying other good strikers are coming to United I find that good, if that helps us defend our title and win others next year.
Position : Forward
Height: 1.81m.
Weight: 72.00kg.
Nationality: France
Born: 08/08/1978 in Paris
First professional match: Metz - Bordeaux : 4-1 on 08/08/1997
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