Adam Murray profiles Abel Xavier, the Middlesbrough defender who failed a drugs test after the UEFA cup tie in Xanthi.

THE term colourful is often over-used in football to describe the more eccentric individuals who inhabit the game, but it was made for Abel Xavier.

You simply can't miss the 6ft 2in defender, and in a game dominated by non-entities, Xavier's presence makes a refreshing change.

His hair and beard are his trademark and he is only too happy to add a dash of colour both on and off the field.

He first dyed his hair and goatee blonde when playing for his naturalised country Portugal at the Euro 2000 Finals and since then has enjoyed numerous colours.

His enjoyment at the festivities in Holland and Belgium five years ago, however, was cut short by a sending off and resulting nine-month ban, reduced to six on appeal.

Born in Mozambique, the 32-year-old comes from a family of footballers with both his father and grandfather playing the game.

He moved to the Iberian peninsula before beginning his career as a 17-year-old with Portuguese side Estrela Amadora.

After moving to Benfica three years later, he began a nomadic lifestyle travelling across Europe.

He had spells at Roma, Galatasaray, Liverpool, Everton, PSV Eindhoven and Italian side Bari before signing a one-year deal with Middlesbrough just before the transfer deadline in August.

He came to the wider public's notice at Euro 2000 after confronting officials in Portugal's controversial semi-final defeat against France.

The then Everton player was furious at having a penalty awarded against him, which led to Zinedine Zidane's golden goal winner.

Slovakian assistant referee Igor Sremka spotted Xavier's handball. He received the punitive action after violently grabbing the arm of the assistant referee.

Team-mates Nuno Gomes and Paulo Bento also received lengthy bans after being reported by fourth official, Scot Hugh Dallas, for dissent and aggressive behaviour.

His extravagant protests were memorable at the time and UEFA made an example of him.

The ban did not, however, affect his club career, which continued to go from strength to strength - possibly as a result of the ban, which the player felt was excessive.

He was so aggrieved he took UEFA to a third appeal, when the ban was reduced by three months.

An excellent season followed at Goodison Park, but Xavier always felt he did not receive the whole-hearted support of his club during a difficult time in his career.

When the chance came along to sign for the Toffees' arch-rivals in January 2002 he had no regrets about making the short trip across Stanley Park for a cut-price £800,000.

He scored on his Liverpool debut against Ipswich, but the dream of playing for then triple cup winners soon turned sour, and within 12 months he was heading to Turkish side Galatasaray on loan.

A free transfer to Roma followed and just when the Premiership thought they'd seen the last of the colourful Xavier, Middlesbrough's Steve McClaren surprised many by offering him a short-term deal earlier this season.

Just how short that deal will prove will be discovered all too soon.