Abel Xavier converts to Islam and quits football

Fomer Liverpool and Everton defender star Abel Xavier has quit football, converted to Islam and changed his name.

The Portugal star now wants to go by the name of Faisal Xavier and will embark on humanitarian projects after failing to find a club.

He last played for LA Galaxy in 2008 and he has now decided to give up on his career.
Xavier, now 38, joined Liverpool from Everton in 2002 and scored twice in 21 appearances for the club.

He also played in two spells for Middlesbrough, the second in 2006 after serving a one-year ban for failing a drugs test.

He moved to Major League Soccer club LA Galaxy to play out the final games of his career alongside David Beckham.

Xavier said: ‘It’s an emotional goodbye and I hope to participate in something very satisfying in a new stage of my life.

‘In moments of grief, I have found comfort in Islam. Slowly, I learned a religion that professes peace, equality, freedom and hope. These are foundations with which I identify.’

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Posted by Bilal Sulehri on Dec 25 2009. Filed under Football. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry