Who is Henri Saivet? The average football fan would be forgiven for not knowing who this all-but-forgotten footballer is. The more eagle-eyed viewer, however, might remember the name and his story, particularly his time in Newcastle while signed to the Magpies. A Premier League and International footballer was purchased for a reported £5 million in 2016; why doesn’t everyone remember Henri Saivet?
Who is Henri Saivet?
Henri Grégoire Saivet was born in October 1990 in Dakar, Senegal; it was clear that he had a future in football. Saivet played for US Clergy Clos in his youth before moving to Bordeaux at 12. The club was confident that they had a star in their hands. After five years in the youth system, Saivet made his first professional appearance at 17. This broke Bordeaux’s record as the youngest player to have played for the club then. Going on to make 134 appearances for Bordeaux, with the highlight being a goal in the 2013 Coupe de France final against Evian FC, where they came out 3-2 winners. Lifting the trophy for the first time since 1987.
Embed from Getty ImagesTheir performances did not go unnoticed, and they earned a call-up in 2013 after playing for the youth teams of the French national set-up. Henri Saivet pledged his allegiance to the country of his birth, Senegal. He made 27 appearances for the Senegal national team, scoring one goal in an Africa Cup of Nations group-stage game against Zimbabwe. Senegal ran out 2-0 winners with goals from Saivet and Sadio Mané. He went on to convert his penalty in the shootout defeat to Cameroon in the quarterfinals.
The Transfer to the premier league
Many clubs, including Swansea and Tottenham, were vying for Saivet’s signature. Newcastle United beat off the competition in the January transfer window of 2016. A reported fee of £5 million on a five-and-a-half-year deal had tied him to the Magpies for the foreseeable future. This, however, did not prove to be the move many expected or even hoped for. Saivet stayed at the club until his contract ended, making only eight appearances along the way. A £5 million player? Eight appearances in five-and-a-half years? How is that possible?
Bought to the club during Steve McClaren’s tenure. The club’s chief scout, Graham Carr, brought Saivet in as the main man in midfield. A diminutive attacking midfielder with a decent record of chipping in with a few goals. McClaren did not favour the Senegalese midfielder, but Spaniard Rafael Benítez replaced McClaren in March 2016. Coinciding with the appointment of Benítez was the almost complete removal of Saivet’s playing time. Benítez stated he was not physical enough to play in the Premier League and most certainly was not good enough to dictate a midfield, which the manager wanted to install into his team. With this, Saivet was banished to the reserves.
Embed from Getty ImagesWhen people hear that a player has been banished to the reserves, they commonly think an altercation has occurred between the player and the manager. This was not the case. Despite the comments about physicality and ability, Saivet and Benítez agree they had a good relationship. It was a case of Benítez not wanting Saivet in his team and soon shipping him out on loan to St Etienne. He had a decent showing out in France and returned to Newcastle to find himself in the reserves.
A bit unfair, perhaps? Graham Carr scouted him as an elusive attacking midfielder, but upon his arrival to Newcastle, all the managers who came and went during his time there viewed him as a number six. Was it all Saivet’s fault, or do the managers have some blame on their shoulders? Although Saivet found himself in the reserves, he was still a respected footballer in Senegal.
Despite not playing first-team football, Saivet often found himself in the national team squads and started eleven on many occasions. This was a strong Senegal squad at the time. Sadio Mané, Idrissa Gueye, and Kalidou Koulibaly were just some of the big names and arguably better than some of the players at his own club. The club deemed him not good enough and sent him to the reserves.
A chance of redemption?
Could Saivet save his Newcastle career and work his way into the plans of Benítez upon his return from France? Well, sort of. Saivet started an EFL cup game against Nottingham Forest, making this his first game for Newcastle in over a year-and-a-half. Again, sent back down to the reserves after not impressing. It looked as if Saivet’s Premier League career was over. Until Newcastle were hit with an injury crisis. Out of necessity and not choice, Benítez recalled Saivet to the first team on the 23rd of December 2017, in which he started a Premier League game against West Ham.
Almost instantly, though, it looked like a disaster. Marko Arnautovic intercepted a loose back pass in the fifth minute and slotted away the opener. Left with his hands on his head, were his doubters right? That’s when Saivet decided to take centre stage. Minutes after his howler, Newcastle won a free-kick 25 yards out. The shock was clear when Saivet demanded to take it upon himself.
A player banished to the reserves and only called up due to an injury crisis having the audacity to demand a free-kick is a brave player. Not only that, but the once-described set-piece specialist struck the ball true. Saivet surprised even himself as the ball nestled into the corner with a vigorous dip over the wall. Newcastle won the game 3-2, and while Saivet maintained a steady six out of ten for the rest of the game, that free-kick remains the standout memory.
Embed from Getty ImagesBenítez was pleased but not enough; Saivet was dropped and banished to the reserves again. Saivet found himself out on loan at Sivasspor, and then Bursaspor did not play for the club again. Now, he is in the second division of France, plying his trade for Pau after his Newcastle contract expired. So, if Saivet was never in the plans for Newcastle, why did the club not just sell him?
Behind the scenes
It may be surprising to know that Saivet enjoyed his time at Newcastle. Saivet was banished to the reserves, trained with the first team, and formed strong connections with many players. The newer signings, such as Yoan Gouffran and Yohan Cabaye, are part of Newcastle’s so-called ‘French Revolution’. Even in 2019, when Steve Bruce arrived, Saivet remained in the reserves but was regarded as a key member of the first-team environment despite not being in the squad. The Senegalese man seemed there to help sustain a happy dressing room.
Good as that may be, a player simply at the club for morale was earning a lot of money not to play. Saivet was on 32k a week, and if you combine his salary over the five years with his initial fee, you will realise Saivet cost the club over £1 million for every appearance he made for them. The wrong player at the wrong time? Perhaps. An expensive dressing room feature? Most definitely.
Written and Research by BSc Cavan Campbell
