“Last month, Jeremy Ngakia found the net twice for Watford against Oxford to bring his total career goals to three from 116 senior club appearances,” wonders Peter Skilton. “Not counting players who only scored one goal, is there anyone with over 100 matches managed a greater proportion of their total goals in a one game?”
Another reader writes in with the tale of Matthieu Chalmé. “Defender Chalmé played 362 professional matches during his playing days, mostly for Bordeaux and Lille,” he explains. “He netted four goals in total, with three of them scored during a solitary match. He scored all three in Lille’s victory at AC Ajaccio in 2004, achieving the most unlikely of three-goal hauls.”
That memorable hat-trick in Ajaccio were the only ones Chalmé managed in 179 games for Lille, while in 167 matches with Bordeaux, he scored once. Actually, twice including his own goal in the 2010 Coupe de la Ligue final against Marseille. Netting three-quarters of his total goals in one game takes Chalmé past Ngakia’s percentage (two-thirds), but there is a fly in the ointment.
Chalmé hung up his boots at Bordeaux in July 2014 after a temporary move at Ajaccio, who presumably recalled his short burst of form a ten years prior. He did return to the game with fifth-tier side Lège Cap-Ferret, playing seven games in six months – and scoring one goal. That would drop Chalmé’s percentage of goals scored in a single game down to 60%, but it feels harsh to penalise him for a post-retirement jaunt at semi-professional level.
A quick mention, too, for another French full-back: Lilian Thuram. Although the query concerns professional club play, many readers wrote in to point out that the defender made 142 France appearances and scored two goals in the same match – the World Cup semi-final against the Croatian team. Look, when you’re hot, you’re hot.
Players Defying Managers: Continued
Previously in this series we looked at footballers who disobeyed their coaches. We have additional great stories, so we’re revisiting the Disobedience Records for a another review.
Spurs vs City, Cup semi-final, 1955-56
Tottenham’s skipper, Danny Blanchflower, made changes to the side during the cup match against City while they were a goal down,” writes a correspondent. “Moving Maurice Norman from defense to attack, they ultimately lost and the manager, Jimmy Anderson [not that one], dropped Blanchflower for the following game and removed him of the armband. Soon after Anderson was out, Bill Nicholson became manager, Blanchflower was reinstated and the rest is history.”
England vs Albania, World Cup qualifying, 1989
Another fan points out: “Paul Gascoigne netted his maiden international goal in this victory at the national stadium after roaming everywhere’, as per coach Robson. The post-game comments are marvellous – a wonderful mixture of frustration, sarcasm and fatherly pride.”
Everton vs Spurs, FA Cup semi-final, the 1990s
“Everton’s last major trophy was the 1995 FA Cup, and it wouldn’t have been possible without a key figure,” writes Jim Hearson. “Manager Joe Royle? No. Goalscorer in the final, Paul Rideout? Close, but no. Keeper Southall? Nope. That man was unpredictable forward Amokachi, who came on uninvited during the semi-final against Spurs, netting two to secure Everton a spot in the final against Manchester United.”
Telling the tale to the BBC, the striker said: “Rideout was injured and went down ... I just went to Willie Donachie and told him ‘The gaffer says you need me on’.” The manager was rightly angry at the time, but more forgiving at the final whistle: “He came into the dressing room and hugged me, gave me his hand and said: ‘Well done, son, but never try that again.’”
Sporting vs Barça, Champions League group stage, 2008-09
During his time with Guardiola’s Barça against Sporting Lisbon, Thierry Henry took it upon himself to switch wings. He quickly scored to ensure Barça went in 1-0 up at half-time. Guardiola’s reaction? He substituted Henry for disobeying orders.”
Set-Piece Specialists
“As a West Ham fan, I’m often looking back at previous years for some enjoyment,” laments Liam Corbett. “While recently doing so, I saw that Dimitri Payet netted six set-pieces in the precious year and a half that we had him. I’m curious if there is a more prolific set-piece expert in a comparable span?”
One comes to mind: Beckham scored 27 free-kicks in his spell with United, including eight in as many months between 2000. His best period at Old Trafford includes the same period: from 1999-2000, he scored 10 direct-free-kicks – including two raspers against the Hammers. Sorry, Liam.
If it helps, there’s a player now at West Ham who can outdo Payet’s record: James Ward-Prowse. The dead-ball specialist enjoyed two purple patches with his former club, scoring seven free kicks between 2019-2021 across two Covid-affected seasons. He then added six more dead-ball beauties in a ten-month period between April 2022 and February 2023.
Knowledge archive
“A Southend-supporting friend claims the club once played a league game at the national stadium? Is he having me on?” asked a reader in April 2012.
Ludicrously, he was correct. The team were among two clubs – the Bees being the second – to play against Orient in the third tier at Wembley back in the 1930s, owing to ground improvement work at their home ground. Club records explain further:
Following a league match against Torquay United (a victory for Orient), Torquay representatives complained about the perimeter fence being too near to the field. The Football League was requested to inspect the ground and concluded that alterations had to be made before any more games could be held; abruptly the club found themselves without a stadium. Hard to believe, Wembley was proposed and the Orient actually hosted two matches in that year against Brentford and Southend, securing two victories. To this day the Orient is the only Football League side to have hosted matches at the iconic venue!
Since then of course, Tottenham joined Orient in playing temporarily at the stadium, albeit in the Premier League. In recent weeks, talk of the Gunners upgrading the Emirates – and moving to the Wembley while the construction occurs – has emerged.
Your Input Needed
“Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang netted four times and was red-carded in Gabon’s victory over the Gambia recently,” notes Seb in Berlin. “Who else have been dismissed after netting a hat-trick or more?”
“During Austria’s huge win of San Marino, all starting attackers and midfielders who began the game got a goal, an assist or both,” queries Paul Savage. “Has any other team managed this?”
“Among all footballers who have a monument at their club’s stadium of their former club, who played the fewest games for that club?” asks a fan.
“Remarkably, Tomasson is the first manager to be sacked by {Sw
