Axel Witsel

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Axel Witsel
Axel Witsel in National Team.jpg
Witsel in Turkey-Belgium match in 7th Sep 2010
Personal information
Full name Axel Thomas Witsel
Date of birth 12 January 1989 (1989-01-12) (age 23)
Place of birth Liège, Belgium
Height 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)[1]
Playing position Midfielder
Club information
Current club Benfica
Number 28
Youth career
2004–2006 Standard Liège
Senior career*
Years Team Apps† (Gls)†
2006–2011 Standard Liège 148 (33)
2011– Benfica 14 (4)
National team‡
Belgium U17 8 (0)
Belgium U19 3 (0)
2007 Belgium U21 9 (0)
2008– Belgium 24 (5)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 12:26, 11 January 2012 (UTC).

† Appearances (Goals).

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 20:05, 11 January 2012 (UTC)

Axel Thomas Witsel (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈɑk.səl ˈtoː.mɑs ˈʋɪt.səl]) (born 12 January 1989 in Liège) is a Belgian football player who plays for Benfica.[2] His natural position is centre midfield and can also play attacking midfielder, but he came into the first team as a right-winger. His father has roots in Martinique (French Caribbean) and is a former football player, and his mother is Belgian.

Contents

[edit] Club career

[edit] Standard Liege

On 17 September 2006 a 17-year-old Witsel made his debut with Standard Liège during a competitive game against FC Brussels when he replaced Steven Defour in the 89th minute. Eleven days later he made his European debut as a substitute.

During the 2007–08 season, at 18 years of age, he was a key member in the squad of Standard Liège, winners of the Belgian League title that year. During this year, he formed a very young midfield together with other Belgian talents Marouane Fellaini and Steven Defour. In the following season he scored the winning goal from the penalty spot in a two-legged playoff to decide the Championship.

On 30 August 2009, Witsel sparked controversy when he broke Marcin Wasilewski's leg by stamping on his ankle during the match between Anderlecht and Standard.[3][4] Following the tackle, Witsel protested the red card, claiming that it was an accident without intent, before being sent off the pitch. He soon apologised, but was the subject of criticism from several media outlets and numerous death threats from angry Anderlecht and Poland fans.[5] The initial ban until 23 November by the Belgian Football Association,[6] was later reduced on appeal to eight matches.[7]

[edit] Benfica

Axel Witsel currently plays for Benfica from Portugal, having signed a five year deal on July 13, 2011. Witsel scored twice in the 3-1 win against FC Twente, in the Champions League play-off second leg, on 24th August 2011. He scored a opener in a 4-1 trashing in Taça da Liga on 9th January 2012 against Vitoria SC. He assisted Nolito in another 4-1 win against Vitória FC. Scored his 4th goal against Santa Clara in 18th January 2012 for Taça da Liga. He is said to be one of the best players in Portugal just after recently moving to his new club and continues to consolidate himself as a first choice in the Belgium National Team, during the Euro 2012 Qualifiers stage.

[edit] International career

Prior to making his international debut for the senior side, he played for the under-21 side in 2007 earning nine caps as well as helping his side reach the semi-finals of the 2007 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship.

On 26 March 2008, Witsel made his international debut during a friendly game against Morocco. The match resulted in a 1-4 loss, but Witsel scored his first goal for Belgium.

[edit] International goals

Axel Witsel: International Goals
Goal Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1 26 March 2008 Stade Roi Baudouin, Brussels  Morocco 1 – 4 Lost Friendly
2 17 November 2009 Stade Louis-Dugauguez, Sedan  Qatar 0 – 2 Won Friendly
3 9 February 2011 Jules Ottenstadion, Ghent  Finland 1 – 1 Draw Friendly
4 25 March 2011 Ernst-Happel-Stadion, Vienna  Austria 0 – 2 Won Euro 2012 Q
5

[edit] Honours

[edit] Club

Standard Liege

[edit] Individual

[edit] Club statistics

Correct as of 11 January 2012

Club Season League Cup League Cup Super Cup Europe Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Standard Liège 2006–07 16 2 5 1 - - 1 0 22 3
2007–08 33 7 6 1 - - 3 2 42 10
2008–09 35 8 0 0 - 1 0 10 1 46 9
2009–10 27 6 1 1 - 1 1 12 3 43 12
2010–11 37 10 6 2 - - - 43 12
Total 148 33 18 5 - 2 1 26 6 194 45
Benfica 2011–12 14 0 2 0 1 1 - 10 2 27 3
Total 14 0 2 0 1 1 - 10 2 27 3
Career total 162 33 20 5 1 1 2 1 36 8 221 48

[edit] References

  1. ^ http://www.standard.be/fr/c_joueurs_saison.php?id=644
  2. ^ "Stats Centre: Axel Witsel Facts". Guardian.co.uk. http://guardian.touch-line.com/StatsCentre.asp?CTID=6&CPID=10&TEID=320&PLID=198686&pStr=Player. Retrieved 2009-06-29. 
  3. ^ "Witsel breekt been van Wasilewski in tackle". Sporza. http://www.sporza.be/cm/sporza/voetbal/Jupiler_Pro_League/090830_Wasilewski_tackle_Witsel. Retrieved 2009-08-31. [dead link]
  4. ^ "Anderlecht-Standard faute d'Axel Witsel sur Wasilewski". YouTube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_OapMvlhZOQ. Retrieved 2009-08-31. 
  5. ^ http://goal.com/en/news/755/europe/2009/09/01/1474358/standard-liege-stars-defour-witsel-receive-death-threats
  6. ^ Witsel given lengthy ban
  7. ^ Witsel horror tackle ban reduced

[edit] External links

Preceded by
Lucas Biglia		 Belgian Young Footballer of the Year
2008		 Succeeded by
Incumbent
Belgium squad – 2007 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship
Belgium
S.L. Benfica – current squad
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Axel_Witsel&oldid=472521497"
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