“Last month, Watford defender Ngakia found the net twice for his club against Oxford to take his career goals total to three from 116 professional matches,” wonders a curious fan. “Not counting footballers who only scored one goal, has anybody with 100+ appearances achieved a higher percentage of their career goals in a one game?”
Denis Boone submits with the story of French defender Chalmé. “French right-back Chalmé appeared in 362 games during his career, primarily with Bordeaux and Lille,” Denis writes. “He scored four career goals, with three of them coming in a solitary match. He scored all three in Lille’s 3-0 win at Ajaccio in 2004, recording the surprising of hat-tricks.”
That memorable hat-trick in Ajaccio were the sole goals Chalmé managed in 179 games for Lille, while in 167 for Bordeaux, he scored once. Well, twice if you count his own goal in the 2010 League Cup final against Olympique Marseille. Netting three-quarters of his total goals in a single match puts Chalmé ahead of Ngakia’s percentage (66.7%), but there’s a complication.
Chalmé hung up his boots at Bordeaux in 2014 after a temporary move at Ajaccio, who likely remembered his short burst of form a ten years prior. He did return to the game with fifth-tier side his local club, playing seven games in six months – and scoring one goal. This reduces his ratio of goals scored in a single game down to 60%, but it feels harsh to count against him for a post-retirement jaunt at amateur football.
A brief note, too, for another French full-back: Lilian Thuram. While the original question concerns professional club play, plenty of you wrote in to highlight that Thuram made 142 international caps and netted twice in the identical game – the 1998 World Cup semi-final against Croatia. Look, when you’re hot, you’re hot.
Players Defying Managers: Part II
In last week’s Knowledge we examined footballers who defied their managers’ instructions. There are some more fantastic examples, so we’re revisiting the Insubordination Files for a second look.
Spurs vs City, Cup semi-final, 1955-56
“The Spurs captain, Danny Blanchflower, made changes to the team during the FA Cup semi-final against City while they were a goal down,” recalls a correspondent. “Switching Norman from centre-half to attack, they ultimately lost and the coach, Jimmy Anderson [no relation], benched the captain for the following game and stripped him of the captaincy. Within a year Anderson was out, Bill Nicholson became manager, Blanchflower was reinstated and the outcome is legendary.”
England v Albania, World Cup qualifying, 1989
Another fan notes: “Gazza scored his first England goal in this victory at Wembley after roaming everywhere’, according to manager Bobby Robson. The post-game comments are marvellous – a great blend of frustration, irony and paternal pride.”
Everton v Tottenham, FA Cup semi-final, the 1990s
“Everton’s last major trophy was the 1995 Cup, and it wouldn’t have been possible without one man,” writes Jim Hearson. “Coach Royle? No. Goalscorer in the final, Rideout? Close, but no. Goalkeeping colossus Southall? Nope. The hero was mercurial striker Daniel Amokachi, who came on uninvited during the semi-final against Spurs, netting two to earn the Toffees a spot in the final against Manchester United.”
Recounting the story to the media, Amokachi said: “Rideout got a knock and went down ... I just approached Willie Donachie and said ‘The gaffer says you need me on’.” Royle was rightly angry at the moment, but more forgiving at the final whistle: “He came into the dressing room and hugged me, shook my hand and said: ‘Well done, son, but never try that again.’”
Sporting v Barcelona, Champions League group stage, 2008
“While playing for Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona against Sporting Lisbon, Thierry Henry decided to switch wings. He quickly scored to ensure Barça went in 1-0 up at the break. The coach’s response? He hooked Henry for ignoring his instructions.”
Free-kick flurries
“Being a Hammers supporter, I’m often looking back at previous years for some enjoyment,” laments a fan. “While recently doing so, I saw that Dimitri Payet netted six set-pieces in the precious year and a half that we enjoyed him. I’m curious if there is a more productive set-piece expert in a similar time period?”
An example exists: David Beckham scored 27 free-kicks in his time at Manchester United, including eight over several months between March and November 2000. His best period at the club covers the same period: from 1999-2000, he netted ten set-pieces – including two brilliant strikes against the West Ham. Apologies.
If it helps, there’s a player currently on West Ham’s books who can better Payet’s statistics: Ward-Prowse. The set-piece maestro enjoyed two purple patches with his former club, netting seven set-pieces between 2019-2021 across two Covid-affected seasons. He then hit another six superb free-kicks in a 10-month spell between 2022-2023.
Knowledge archive
“A friend who follows Southend claims the club once featured in a league match at Wembley? Is he joking?” queried a reader in 2012.
Ludicrously, he wasn’t. The team were one of two teams – Brentford being the other – to play against Orient in the third tier at the stadium back in the 1930s, owing to stadium renovations at their home ground. Club records takes up the story:
After a game against Torquay (a victory for Orient), Torquay representatives complained about the perimeter fence being too close to the pitch. League officials was duly asked to check the stadium and agreed that changes were needed before further matches could be held; suddenly the Orient found themselves homeless. Incredible as it seems, the national stadium was suggested and the Orient actually hosted two matches in 1930 against Brentford and Southend United, securing two victories. Even now the club is the sole league team to have hosted matches at Wembley Stadium!
Since then of course, Tottenham joined Orient in becoming residents at the stadium, albeit in the top flight. Lately, talk of Arsenal upgrading the Emirates – and moving to the Wembley while the construction occurs – has emerged.
Can you help?
“Aubameyang scored four goals and was red-carded in Gabon’s 4-3 win over Gambia last week,” writes Seb in Berlin. “Who else have been dismissed after netting a hat-trick or more?”
“In Austria’s 10-0 demolition of the minnows, all starting attackers and midfielders who began the game got a goal, an assist or both,” queries Paul Savage. “Is there another side managed this?”
“Of all of the players who have a monument outside the ground of their former club, who made the least amount of appearances for that club?” asks Masai Graham.
“Remarkably, Jon Dahl Tomasson is the first manager to be fired by {Sw