Happy Birthday to you!

In our regular Sunday feature, FIFA.com presents you with some of the biggest names in football who will be celebrating their birthdays over the coming week.

 Ali Fergani (62) played a major role in propelling Algeria to a maiden FIFA World Cup™ appearance in 1982. At the tournament proper in Spain, Les Fennecs defeated West Germany and Chile. Two years before that, the skilful playmaker had taken part in the CAF Africa Cup of Nations, reaching the final versus Nigeria, and the Men’s Olympic Football Tournament. The talented midfield man started out at NA Hussein Dey, where he lifted the Algerian Cup and attained the final of the African Cup Winners’ Cup. He then moved to JS Kabylie, with whom he secured five Algerian League titles, two Algerian Cups, a CAF Champions League title and a CAF Super Cup. After hanging up his boots, he was appointed assistant coach of the Algerian national side, helping them to claim a first-ever Cup of Nations trophy in 1990. He would later spend two separate spells at the helm in his own right. Fergani also enjoyed coaching success at club level, first steering JS Kabylie to an Algerian Championship and a Champions League crown and then guiding Tunisian outfit CA Bizertin to the Tunisian League Cup.

Lindsay Tarpley (31) starred for the American women’s national team at the FIFA Women’s World Cup China 2007™. In addition, the Madison-born forward earned winners’ medals at the 2002 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup and two Women’s Olympic Tournaments, at Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008. Domestically, Tarpley represented Chicago Red Stars, Saint Louis Athletica, Boston Breakers and magicJack.

Hossein Kaebi (29) helped Iran to return to football’s greatest stage at Germany 2006, making three outings as his country failed to advance past the group stage. The tireless right-back also played in three AFC Asian Cups, finishing third in the continental tournament in 2004. As a younger man, he participated in the 2001 FIFA U-17 World Cup. Kaebi played for Iranian sides Foolad and Persepolis, prior to exporting his defensive skills to Al-Sadd (Qatar), Emirates (UAE) and Leicester City (England(.

Elise Bussaglia (29) inspired the French Women’s national XI to the semi-finals of Germany 2011 and of the 2012 Olympic Games in London. The incisive midfielder recently contributed to Les Bleues’ successful qualification for Canada 2015, having previously competed in three UEFA Women’s Championships (2005, 2009 and 2013). She also prevailed at the UEFA Women’s U-19 Championship in 2003. Bussaglia has amassed various club honours during her career, including a Division 1 Feminine title and a French Cup with Juvisy, plus two additional French Cups with Montpellier and Paris Saint-Germain. The Sedan native joined Lyon in 2012, and has since added two French League and Cup doubles to her sporting CV.

Petit (38) turned out for Portugal in several major contests, including Korea/Japan 2002 and Germany 2006, where A Selecção das Quinas finished fourth, and two UEFA European Championships, losing the 2004 final to Greece on home soil. The assertive defensive midfielder made his name at Porto-based Boavista, where he sealed the Portuguese League title and a Portuguese Footballer of the Year award. After a subsequent six-season stint at Benfica, with whom he won another league championship, a Portuguese Cup and Portuguese Super Cup, Petit was transferred to Bundesliga side Cologne.

Klaus Augenthaler (57) was part of the West Germany team that fell to Argentina in the 1986 World Cup Final in Mexico, but eventually got his hands on the prestigious trophy four years later in Italy. The composed defender remained a loyal servant of Bayern Munich for his 15-year career, during which he landed seven Bundesliga crowns, three German Cups and three German Super Cups, and reached two European Cup finals. Post-retirement, Augenthaler took charge of a handful of Austrian and German clubs, such as Grazer AK, Nuremberg, Bayer Leverkusen, Wolfsburg and Unterhaching.

Francesco Totti (38) is a living legend of Italian football, impressing for Roma and La Nazionale throughout his career. The dynamic deep-lying forward currently lies second in the Serie A’s all-time top scorer charts, and needs just two more strikes to take top spot. He represented his national team at the 2002 and 2006 World Cups, playing a key role in the latter triumph, Italy’s fourth global crown. The iconic Italian also appeared at EURO 2000 and EURO 2004, as well as at the 1993 U-17 World Cup and the 1996 UEFA European U-21 Championship, from which the Italians emerged victorious. A one-club man since coming through the ranks at Roma since 1992, Totti has bagged a Serie A Championship, two Italian Cups, two Italian Super Cups and two Serie A Footballer of the Year awards during his time with the capital club.

M.D

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