Nayim

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Mohammed Alí Amar, Nayim (born 5 November 1966 in Ceuta, Spain) is a Spanish footballer who played for Barcelona, Tottenham Hotspur and Real Zaragoza.

Nayim scored one of the most famous goals in European football when scoring the winner for Real Zaragoza in the 1995 European Cup Winners' Cup final, an outrageous lob over the Arsenal goalkeeper David Seaman from 40 yards out in the final minute of extra time. The irony on Arsenal was that the goal came from a former Spurs player. Tottenham subsequently made a fanzine based on this moment, dubbed "One Flew Over Seaman's Head".

There has been a famous tune sung by Tottenham Hotspur F.C. fans after their bitter rivals, Arsenal lost in the 2005/2006 Champions League Finals. "Chim-chimney Chim-Chimney Chim Chim Maroo, Nayim from 50, Belletti from 2". meaning to taunt Arsenal's fall from grace in both competititions

[edit] Career

He came to Spurs originally on loan from Barcelona in November 1988 and signed the following year for £400,000. Then Nayim made 11 league appearances during the 1988-89 campaign, scoring twice. His first goal for the club came in a 2-0 win at Southampton and he also found the net in Spurs 3-0 home win over West Ham United.

In 1989-90 Nayim made a total of 23 appearances, helping the North London club to a 3rd place finish. The League Cup offered Nayim his first experience of English cup competition, the Moroccan playing in 4 of Spurs games en route to the semi-final and scoring 3 goals.

The following season proved to be Nayim's most successful campaign in English football. Although Spurs finished in only 11th position in the table, Nayim enjoyed 33 league outings and scored 5 times. His path to a Wembley final was again halted at the League Cup semi-final stage but Spurs would not fail in the FA Cup; overcoming Nottingham Forest 2-1 in the final. Nayim replaced Paul Gascoigne early in the final, - after a series of reckless challenges by the Geordie threatened to end his own career - and set up both Spurs goals that afternoon to bring success to White Hart Lane.

Nayim's marvellous skills and deft touches made him a crowd favourite and he appeared in 31 games in the league throughout 1991-92. The former Barcelona midfielder played 6 times in Spurs League Cup campaign, including both legs of the semi-final where Nottingham Forest gained revenge for the previous season's FA Cup final defeat by proving too strong for the London club.

In May 1993, after 144 appearances and 18 goals for Spurs, Nayim signed for Real Zaragoza for £500,000.

A year later the former Spurs man attained immortality by lobbing David Seaman from 40 yards in the final seconds of extra-time to beat Arsenal in the 1995 European Cup Winners Cup Final.