Louis Saha experienced significant achievements after his playing days, though his time at Manchester United concluded amid frustration. This weekend, two of his former teams, Fulham and United, face off, recalling his transfer from Fulham to United in January 2004.
Early Impact at Manchester United
The French forward quickly impressed under Sir Alex Ferguson, scoring seven goals in 12 league games to finish his first season. Over his stint at Old Trafford, Saha netted 42 times in 124 matches, securing two Premier League titles. He contributed to the memorable 2008 Champions League victory against Chelsea, yet he sat out the final in Moscow.
Missing the Champions League Final
Exclusion from that pivotal match convinced Saha his United era had ended. He had already missed the 2006 World Cup final due to injury. In a 2019 interview, Saha reflected: “It was the worst. I’d worked really hard to come back from injury, and I’d also learned from my mistake at the World Cup.”
He continued: “It took me four or five years to realise how painful it was, when I wrote my book, because when I finally tried to explain how it felt, I realised how much damage it did to my confidence. It was after missing that final that I talked to the manager and said, ‘I need to leave.'”
Saha added: “It became very religious for me when I missed the Champions League final as well [as the World Cup final]. I thought, ‘Why has God given me these platforms to perform, but then taken it away from me?’ It was the first time I ever cried about football. I couldn’t bear it – I was in pain for two or three weeks.”
Transition to Everton and Beyond
Following the European setback, Saha joined Everton that summer. In three-and-a-half years there, he scored 35 goals in 115 appearances, including an early goal in their 2009 FA Cup final defeat to Chelsea. Reflecting on the move, Saha noted: “It was the right move at the right moment for me. I loved Manchester United – I had a lot of injuries but the manager was always there for me. He taught me to be loyal and have respect. Those things remain within me today.”
Subsequent spells at Tottenham, Sunderland, and Lazio preceded his retirement in 2013.
Building Wealth in Business
Now 47, Saha has amassed substantial wealth through AxisStars, a company he co-founded with Katie Hamer. The platform links professional athletes, entertainers, their peers, and trusted partners, serving over 500 former athletes. As CEO, Saha holds a net worth of about £4.3 billion.
A profile on the AxisStars website highlights: “Since hanging up his boots, Louis has moved into the world of business where he has used his experience to develop propositions to support athletes and other people in the public eye, in their careers.”
Before United, Saha spent three-and-a-half years at Fulham, scoring 27 goals to aid their 2001 Premier League promotion. He had tallied 13 goals in 21 league games early in the 2003/04 season, drawing United’s interest.
