Philippe Albert
A flamboyant Belgian defender whose audacious chip over Peter Schmeichel became an immortal Premier League moment for Newcastle United.
Born 1967 (age 59)·Belgian footballer·Birthday: August 10·Generation X
Biography
Philippe Albert brought a slice of continental panache to the muddy, frantic pitches of 1990s English football. The tall, elegant center-back arrived at Newcastle United in 1994, already a Belgian international with a World Cup pedigree. Under manager Kevin Keegan's famously attacking 'Entertainers' side, Albert wasn't just a defender; he was a statement. With his flowing hair and penchant for marauding runs, he embodied the team's fearless philosophy. His most iconic moment crystallized this era: in a 5-0 demolition of Manchester United, he nonchalantly lofted the ball over the legendary goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel, a goal that was as much about cheek as it was about technique. While his time in England was relatively brief, that image of the smiling Belgian celebrating his audacious chip remains a defining snapshot of a Premier League era obsessed with caution-to-the-wind football.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Philippe was born in 1967, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Philippe Was Born
The biggest hits of 1967
#1 Movie
The Jungle Book
Best Picture
In the Heat of the Night
#1 TV Show
The Andy Griffith Show
Philippe's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1967Born
Summer of Love in San Francisco; first Super Bowl
Gas: $0.33/galHome: $14,250Min wage: $1.40/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"To Sir, with Love" — LuluBest Picture: In the Heat of the Night
1972Started school
Watergate break-in; last Apollo Moon mission
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $19,550Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" — Roberta FlackBest Picture: The Godfather
1980Became a teenager
John Lennon shot and killed in New York
Gas: $1.19/galHome: $47,200Min wage: $3.10/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Call Me" — BlondieBest Picture: Ordinary People
1983Could drive
Internet adopts TCP/IP, creating the modern internet
Gas: $1.16/galHome: $57,700Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Every Breath You Take" — The PoliceBest Picture: Terms of Endearment
1985Could vote
Live Aid concerts raise money for Ethiopian famine
Gas: $1.12/galHome: $62,900Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Careless Whisper" — Wham!Best Picture: Out of Africa
1988Turned 21
Pan Am Flight 103 bombed over Lockerbie
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $74,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Faith" — George MichaelBest Picture: Rain Man
1997Turned 30
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2007Turned 40
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2017Turned 50
#MeToo movement; solar eclipse crosses the US
Gas: $2.42/galHome: $195,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Shape of You" — Ed SheeranBest Picture: The Shape of Water
2026Age 59 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Scored one of the most famous goals in Premier League history, chipping Peter Schmeichel in Newcastle's 5-0 win over Manchester United in 1996.
- Earned 41 caps for the Belgian national team and played in the 1994 FIFA World Cup.
- Won the Belgian First Division title with KV Mechelen in 1989 and the Belgian Cup with Anderlecht in 1991.
Did You Know?
He is a certified football agent and also works as a television pundit for Belgian network VTM.
Albert played alongside future Newcastle teammate and fellow Belgian, Marc Degryse, at Anderlecht.
After retiring, he briefly served as the manager of Cercle Brugge in the Belgian Pro League.
“A defender should score goals too, especially with a chip over the keeper.”
