Nayim on 'that' goal v Arsenal, being a Muslim player in England and why Gazza was the 'best in the world'

Mohamed Ali Amar – better known as ‘Nayim’ – was a Spanish footballer who made headlines in the mid-1990s with a spectacular last-minute goal to win a major European final.

It came in the 1995 European Cup Winners' Cup final for Real Zaragoza; with the game 1-1 in extra-time and seemingly heading for penalties, Nayim lobbed goalkeeper David Seaman from inside Arenal's half. To this day, Tottenham fans still chant "Nayim from the halfway line".

Born and raised in the Spanish North African enclave of Ceuta, the 59-year-old was the first Spaniard to play in England for 50 years and the only Muslim to play in England’s first Premier League season in 1992/93. The National met him in his home city.

Tell us about Ceuta

I was born here and all my family are from here. None played football, but my father loved football. He used to take me to the ground when I was a boy. And that was my dream, to be one of these players I was watching. That’s when I started to play football.

When I was 14 we won the league here and we went to play in Seville against Betis. We lost 7-0 but there were agents looking around and they called my team and they told them that Barcelona wanted me for a week’s trial. So I went to Barcelona and after a week, they told me they wanted me to move into La Masia, the home of the youth system. I lived there for four seasons. Fantastic. Brilliant, brilliant time.

Which other players were there with you?

Pep Guardiola, Tito Vilanova, Guillermo Amor, Jordi Roura. These are the big names, but there are other names that didn't make it.

I love the game, I have passion about the game, so it was fantastic for me.