Pegguy Arphexad won as many medals during his time with Liverpool as there were first team outings at Anfield
Under the leadership of Gerard Houllier, Liverpool began a French revolution just before the year 2000.
Bernard Diomede, Djimi Traore, Gregory Vignal, Nicolas Anelka, and Pegguy Arphexad—a name that Liverpool supporters frequently overlook—all joined the Reds under Houllier’s leadership. The goalkeeper initially made his Premier League debut in 1997 when he joined Leicester City. He was born in the French overseas territory of Guadeloupe in the Caribbean.
A strong performance for the Foxes in a 2-0 victory over Liverpool at Anfield in May 2000 helped deprive Liverpool a spot in the Champions League the following season. It also made him a target for Houllier, who signed him on a Bosman-style free transfer that summer.
In response to a question from Planet Football about how the trade occurred, the former Reds goalie said, “They were searching for a second keeper to challenge Sander Westerveld because Brad Friedel was going to the end of his contract.”
“When Liverpool arrives, you do not hesitate. I believed I had what it took to start in goal for Liverpool, a team that is very powerful. I knew I would be the backup keeper when I signed, but if I worked hard, I believed I could become the starting keeper.
It is amazing when the crowd support you, he said before continuing. Because it indicates you’re performing well, you’re ecstatic.
Although I would have loved to stay in Leicester longer, I had the opportunity to travel to Liverpool. I would have stayed if Martin [O’Neill] had informed me I would have been the first keeper.
Arphexad replaced Brad Friedel, who joined Blackburn Rovers the following November, as Westerveld’s main rival at the club, but he was unable to unseat the Dutchman as number one that season. On this day back in 2001, Arphexad joined Stockport County on a month’s loan. In the three times he played, he allowed five goals as they only earned one point.
The next year, Houllier signed Jerzy Dudek and Chris Kirkland as two keepers in a span of 24 hours, which led to the contentious sale of Westerveld to Real Sociedad. It was thought at the time that Arphexad would do the same.
To warm the bench in the 2003 League Cup final victory over Manchester United, the now 49-year-old remained with the team for an additional two seasons, just as he had done in the 2001 trio of cup final victories, in addition to the UEFA Super Cup and Charity Shield that year.
When asked about the responsibilities of the backup goalkeeper, Arphexad replied, “You have to concentrate and work as hard as all the other players because the day you’re called upon, you have to be ready.”
Why aren’t you playing, you must not be asking yourself. Why don’t I play?” You only need to put in the effort and hope that one day you’ll be needed or given the chance to start as the goalkeeper.
“I think, personally, with my abilities, I could have become the first goalie somewhere else. It was very disheartening,” he continued.
“Perhaps I made the incorrect choice and ought to have joined a weaker squad like Liverpool before heading to a lesser side to serve as the starting goalie. I’m not sure. However, I believed at the time that I might succeed as Liverpool’s starting goalkeeper.
In January 2001, Arphexad made his Premier League debut for the Reds in a 2-1 victory over West Ham United. Before being let go at the end of his contract in the summer of 2003, he made a total of five additional appearances for the Anfield club in all competitions.
While playing with Emile Heskey at both Leicester and Liverpool, Arphexad grew close to him and acknowledged in a 2020 interview that he frequently thought the striker’s contribution to club and nation was underrated.
I got along pretty well with all of the guys, but Emile in particular, he claimed. He was my traveling roommate, and we spent the majority of our time together.
“He was a top man and player. He was quite talented. He was powerful, swift, and strong. He excelled in the game. I’m not sure how many caps he received, but there ought to have been more.
“Emile put in a lot of effort for the team. He could have worked less and scored more goals, so perhaps it was a mistake to work so hard.
Arphexad spent the 2003–04 season on loan to Coventry City after being released by Liverpool. He would play five times for the Sky Blues and three times on loan for Notts County at Meadow Lane.
He was a member of Marseille’s roster during the 2004–2005 campaign, however he did not participate in a single league game for the French south coast team. The decision to end his playing career was then made by Arphexad in 2005.
“In France, players who miss time due to injury are not compensated. They are only compensated for the first 90 days, after which they receive nothing. When questioned about his choice to retire, he responded, “But we cover them.
“After I concluded my career, the company’s owner called to see if I would be interested in this. After passing my badge exams to become a coach, I pondered the possibility. Because we insure both the player and the club, I still play football.
The former goalie spent some time as a pundit before making news in March 2016 when he was compelled to refute rumors that he moved on to become an adult movie star after leaving football.
When the Leicester Mercury questioned Arphexad about the rumors, he quickly shot them down and denied that he had ever worked in the pornographic industry as a male actor or that he had ever gone by the name “the stopper.”
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