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Ibrahim Afellay

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Ibrahim Afellay
Ibrahim Afellay with the Netherlands national football team in 2011
Personal information
Full name Ibrahim Afellay[1]
Date of birth (1986-04-02) 2 April 1986 (age 38)
Place of birth Utrecht, Netherlands
Height 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)[2]
Position(s) Attacking midfielder / Winger
Team information
Current team
 Stoke City
Number 14
Youth career
1990–1995 USV Elinkwijk
1996–2003 PSV
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2004–2011 PSV 159 (35)
2011–2015 Barcelona 21 (1)
2012–2013 → Schalke 04 (loan) 10 (2)
2014–2015 → Olympiacos (loan) 19 (4)
2015– Stoke City 31 (2)
International career‡
2007– Netherlands 52 (7)
Medal record
Representing  Netherlands
Men's football
FIFA World Cup
Runner-up 2010 South Africa Team
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 22:50, 18 April 2016 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 12:15, 26 March 2016 (UTC)

Ibrahim Afellay (born 2 April 1986) is a Dutch professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder or winger for Stoke City and the Dutch national team.

He played youth football at Elinkwijk before joining the PSV youth academy at age 10. After debuting in 2004, he represented PSV for eight seasons, before moving to Barcelona for €3 million in January 2011. Rarely used by Barcelona and marred by injury, he was loaned to Schalke 04 and Olympiacos before signing for Stoke City in 2015.

Making his Netherlands national team debut in 2007, Afellay appeared at the 2010 World Cup, contributing to the Dutch side finishing in second place in the tournament. He was also present at Euro 2008 and Euro 2012, making over 50 appearances in total.

Early career

Afellay is of Moroccan Riffian descent; his parents left their hometown Al Hoceima in the 1960s to work in the Netherlands. He grew up in Overvecht, a neighbourhood in Utrecht with a large immigrant population.[3] Afellay started to play football at local side VSK, but joined USV Elinkwijk after one season.[4]

PSV

Afellay left Elinkwijk in 1996 for PSV.[5] Afellay's official debut for PSV was on 4 February 2004 during a KNVB Cup match against NAC Breda at the age of 17. His first Eredivisie fixture followed ten days later against FC Twente.[6] Afellay played one more senior match in the 2003–04 season.[7] He signed a new contract at PSV in May that would run until 2007.[8] In the next season, Afellay got a place in the first eleven against Roda JC in December.[9] But during the winter break training camp in Dubai, he suffered a broken toe.[10] Afellay was unable to play for three months.[11] He played nine matches in total in the 2004–05 season; his most memorable being PSV's final home game against Feyenoord (2–4). Afellay scored twice and provided an assist in the match.[5][12] He also won the KNVB Cup after appearing as a substitute in the final against Willem II (0–4).[7]

File:Ibrahim Afellay - PSV Eindhoven - Flickr - Castroquini-FCB.jpg
Afellay playing for PSV in January 2010

In the 2005–06 season, Afellay established himself as a first-team regular at PSV.[6] He formed a midfield with Timmy Simons and Phillip Cocu.[13] In his first four matches (Johan Cruijff Shield and league), Afellay received four yellow cards, resulting in an immediate suspension.[14] In September, Afellay made his Champions League debut against Schalke 04 (1–0 win).[7] Overall, he managed to play a total of 23 league matches during a season hit with a string of minor injuries. PSV won the Eredivisie in 2006; Afellay's second title in a row.[15] In the next season, he played 27 league matches and scored six goals for PSV. The team won the Eredivisie on a single goal difference after defeating Vitesse (5–1) in the last league round. Afellay made the third goal of the match.[7] For his performances that year, Afellay was awarded the Johan Cruijff Award for being the most promising youngster in The Netherlands.[5]

Afellay started the 2007–08 season well by scoring the first goal and assisted the second in the away match against Heracles Almelo (0–2).[16] A month later, a broken toe forced Afellay into a two-month recovery.[17][18] He extended his contract until 2011 in December.[19] Afellay played 24 Eredivisie matches in the 2007–08 season.[7] He missed second-to-final match against FC Twente in which PSV could seal the championship, but the team failed to do so.[20] The league title was eventually won in the last match against Vitesse with Afellay in the team.[7] The start of the 2008–09 season was troublesome for Afellay when he received less holiday then desired after Euro 2008.[21] His season started well though, with the Johan Cruijff Shield victory against Feyenoord (0–2) and three goals in the opening two Eredivisie games. Afellay scored 13 league goals in total, including the only goal in the home match against Feyenoord in December. The 2008–09 season, in which PSV finished fourth, ended prematurely after he suffered an injury in April.[7][22][23]

For the 2009–10 season, Afellay shifted to a more defensive midfield position under new coach Fred Rutten.[24] In February, Afellay was promoted to second captain of the team. But because first captain Timmy Simons was mostly on the bench that season, Afellay was effectively the new captain.[25] In March, Afellay received a three-match ban after video evidence showed foul play against Eyong Enoh in the match against Ajax.[26] PSV and Afellay ended the Eredivisie season in third.[27] In the summer, he was officially appointed as team captain.[28] In October, Afellay announced it would not sign a new contract with PSV.[29] With the contract nearing its end, PSV was willing to sell in the winter break.[30] On 15 November, it was FC Barcelona who agreed on a deal with PSV.[6] Afellay signed a contract for four-and-a-half years.[30] In his last PSV match against Roda JC, he was granted a farewell by the fans.[31]

Barcelona

Afellay with Barcelona in 2011

After completing the €3 million transfer, Afellay signed a contract for four and a half years at FC Barcelona.[30][32][33] He made his Blaugrana debut on 5 January 2011 in the Copa del Rey match against Athletic Bilbao, replacing David Villa in injury time. He continued to play 28 Barcelona matches in his first season, of which 18 were as a substitute. Afellay was given his first start on 19 January 2011 against Real Betis in the Copa del Rey.[34] His first goal also occurred in the Copa del Rey against UD Almería in February.[35] Afellay scored his first league goal in a 3–1 away win against Málaga CF on the last day of the season.[34] The 2010–11 season ended in the title win for Barcelona and the fifth league championship for Afellay overall.[36] He made his Champions League-debut for Barcelona against Arsenal and went on to appear in the quarter-finals against Shakthar and the semi-finals against Real Madrid. He assisted Lionel Messi to score the opening goal of Barcelona's 2–0 away victory over Madrid. Afellay and Barcelona eventually won the Champions League after beating Manchester United (3–1). Afellay came on in the 90th minute of the final.[34][35]

Afellay had a minor hamstring injuy in the 2011–12 pre-season, therefore missing out on the Supercopa de España matches against Real Madrid.[37] He returned in time for one Champions League and one La Liga match before suffering an anterior cruciate ligament injury during training in September.[38][39] After undergoing surgery, Afellay went through a seven-month recovery period. On 29 April, he returned to the field as a substitute in the 71st minute replacing teammate Sergio Busquets against Rayo Vallecano on a 7–0 away trashing win for the Catalan side.[38] Although he appeared in two more La Liga fixtures, manager Pep Guardiola did not call-up Afellay for the major matches against Chelsea and Real Madrid.[3][38]

Schalke 04 (loan)

In the build-up for the 2012–13 season, Barcelona manager Tito Vilanova notified Afellay of his decreased playing time in the upcoming year. It prompted him to accept a loan offer from FC Schalke 04 on 31 August. He was reunited with Jefferson Farfán and coach Huub Stevens.[40][41][42] Afellay made his debut the next day against FC Augsburg. He scored four goals at Schalke, including the opening goal in the Revierderby against Borussia Dortmund (1–2) and a goal against Arsenal in the Champions League. Afellay played his last Schalke match on November 10; he picked up a muscle injury in a Dutch national team friendly against Germany a few days later.[43] The injury prevented Afellay from playing until January, when he suffered a similar muscle strain in a friendly against Al Sadd SC.[44] With the recovery this time taking the remainder of the season, Afellay returned to The Netherlands after expressing his discontent with the medical treatment at Schalke 04.[45] Although both parties kept in contact, Afellay did not return to Gelsenkirchen anymore after the injury; a move that led to criticism from Schalke’s general manager Horst Heldt.[46]

Afellay returned to Spain in May to evaluate his problems with the FC Barcelona medical staff.[47] He decided to start training two weeks earlier than the rest of the squad in order to focus on his recovery.[48] But in August, Afellay had to undergo another surgery on a thigh injury in Barcelona, sidelining him for another four months.[49] Although he was originally not given a squad number, Barcelona assigned Afellay the number 19 jersey after the transfer window deadline had passed.[50]

Olympiacos (loan)

On 10 August 2014 Olympiacos announced the acquisition of Afellay on a season long deal. He scored his first goal in the Superleague on his debut on 23 August, receiving the ball in the 32nd minute following a pass from Alejandro Domínguez.[51] At the end of the 2014–15 season, he was released by Barcelona after his injury hit stay at the club.[52]

Stoke City

Afellay joined Premier League side Stoke City on a two-year contract on 27 July 2015.[53][54] He made his debut on 9 August, in a 1–0 defeat against Liverpool at the Britannia Stadium, playing 78 minutes before making way for Peter Odemwingie.[55] He scored his first goal for Stoke on 1 December 2015 in a 2–0 League Cup victory against Sheffield Wednesday.[56] Afellay scored his first Premier League goal on 13 February 2016 in a 3–1 win against Bournemouth.[57] He scored his second Premier League goal on his 30th Birthday in a 2–2 Draw with Swansea City on 2 April 2016 where his side let a 2 goal advantage slip.[58] On 22 April 2016 Afellay suffered a serious knee in training, ruling him out for up to eight months.[59]

International career

Afellay with PSV in 2008

After both the Moroccan and the Dutch national teams managers selected him for their squads, he was caught in the dilemma to either play for the Moroccan national team, because of his Moroccan descent, or to play for the Dutch team, the Netherlands being his place of birth and residence. He ultimately decided to play for the Dutch national team despite the heavy competition for places in midfield.[60] He made his international debut in a Euro 2008 qualifier against Slovenia on 28 March 2007. On 12 October 2010, Afellay scored his first international goals in a Euro 2012 qualifier against Sweden. He played in the Euro 2008 as a substitute. Just seconds after replacing Dirk Kuyt in the group match against Italy he nearly scored a goal but his volley went off the crossbar. In their last group game against Romania, he was given a place in the starting eleven alongside Arjen Robben in midfield.

2010 World Cup

Afellay was part of the Dutch team for the 2010 World Cup managed by Bert van Marwijk.[61] The player came on as a substitute for their first and second matches in the competition, a 2–0 victory over Denmark[62] and 1–0 victory over Japan respectively, as well as the round of 16 match against Slovakia.

Euro 2012

Despite being injured for most of the 2011–12 season, he was included in the Netherlands' Euro 2012 squad. On 2 June 2012, Afellay scored two goals in a 6–0 friendly win over Northern Ireland, which was the Netherlands' final match ahead of the tournament. In the first game of the tournament, his team suffered 1–0 loss to Denmark. He was part of the starting 11 against Germany as well. After the second loss, head coach Bert van Marwijk decided to replace him with Rafael van der Vaart.

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 18 April 2016[7][34][63]
Club Season League Cup[64] League Cup Continental[65] Other[66] Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
PSV 2003–04 Eredivisie 2 0 1 0 — 0 0 0 0 3 0
2004–05 Eredivisie 7 2 2 0 — 0 0 — 9 2
2005–06 Eredivisie 23 2 2 0 — 8 0 1 0 34 2
2006–07 Eredivisie 27 6 2 0 — 5 0 0 0 34 6
2007–08 Eredivisie 24 2 0 0 — 8 0 1 0 33 2
2008–09 Eredivisie 28 13 1 0 — 4 0 1 0 34 13
2009–10 Eredivisie 29 4 4 1 — 11 1 — 44 6
2010–11 Eredivisie 19 6 1 0 — 6 1 — 26 7
Total 159 35 13 1 — 42 2 3 0 217 38
Barcelona 2010–11 La Liga 16 1 6 1 — 6 0 — 28 2
2011–12 La Liga 4 0 0 0 — 1 0 0 0 5 0
2013–14 La Liga 1 0 1 0 — 0 0 0 0 2 0
Total 21 1 7 1 — 7 0 0 0 35 2
Schalke 04 (loan) 2012–13 Bundesliga 10 2 1 1 — 4 1 — 15 4
Olympiacos (loan) 2014–15 Superleague Greece 19 4 2 0 — 8 2 — 29 6
Stoke City 2015–16 Premier League 31 2 0 0 5 1 — — 36 3
Career total 240 44 23 3 5 1 61 5 3 0 332 53

International

As of match played 25 March 2016[67]
National team Year Apps Goals
Netherlands
2007 1 0
2008 13 0
2009 5 0
2010 12 2
2011 5 1
2012 8 2
2013 0 0
2014 4 1
2015 3 0
2016 1 1
Total 52 7

Honours

[68]

Club

PSV
Barcelona
Olympiakos

International

Individual

References

  1. ^ "FIFA World Cup South Africa 2010 – List of Players" (PDF). Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA). Retrieved 8 June 2013.
  2. ^ "Afellay – Ibrahim Afellay". FC Barcelona. Retrieved 26 April 2014.
  3. ^ a b Winkels, Edwin. "Euro 2012: Barcelona's Ibrahim Afellay could be Holland's lucky charm". The Guardian. Retrieved 23 September 2013.
  4. ^ "Ibrahim Afellay – Story of Life". NOS. Retrieved 23 September 2013.
  5. ^ a b c "Hiddink tevreden over Ibrahim Afellay" (in Dutch). PSV Netwerk. 13 January 2004. Retrieved 23 September 2013.
  6. ^ a b c "Ibrahim Afellay Personal biography". FC Barcelona. Archived from the original on 27 August 2013. Retrieved 23 September 2013. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h "Ibrahim Afellay" (in Dutch). PSVweb. Retrieved 19 September 2013.
  8. ^ "Contract Afellay verlengd tot 2007" (in Dutch). PSV Netwerk. 4 May 2004. Retrieved 23 September 2013.
  9. ^ "Opstellingen PSV en Roda JC: Afellay verrassend in de basis" (in Dutch). PSV Netwerk. 18 December 2004. Retrieved 23 September 2013.
  10. ^ "Afellay breekt teen tijdens training" (in Dutch). PSV Netwerk. 10 January 2005. Retrieved 23 September 2013.
  11. ^ "Afellay blijft zeker; wat gebeurt er met Takak?" (in Dutch). PSV Netwerk. 9 April 2005. Retrieved 23 September 2013.
  12. ^ "Ibrahim Afellay blinkt uit bij PSV-Feyenoord" (in Dutch). Voetbal International. 15 May 2005. Retrieved 23 September 2013.
  13. ^ "seizoen 2005–2006" (in Dutch). PSVweb. Retrieved 23 September 2013.
  14. ^ "Vierde geel Afellay kost hem duel tegen FC Utrecht" (in Dutch). PSV Netwerk. 28 August 2005. Retrieved 19 September 2013.
  15. ^ "Historie: seizoen 2005/2006" (in Dutch). PSV Netwerk. Retrieved 23 September 2013.
  16. ^ "Afellay leidt PSV naar moeizame zege: 0–2" (in Dutch). PSV Netwerk. 19 August 2007. Retrieved 23 September 2013.
  17. ^ "Afellay vier tot zes weken uit de roulatie" (in Dutch). PSV Netwerk. 21 September 2007. Retrieved 23 September 2013.
  18. ^ "Afellay en Culina pakken speeltijd" (in Dutch). PSV Netwerk. 24 November 2007. Retrieved 23 September 2013.
  19. ^ "Afellay reaffirms PSV commitment". UEFA.com. 4 December 2007. Retrieved 23 September 2013.
  20. ^ "Afellay mist kampioenswedstrijd door schorsing" (in Dutch). PSV Netwerk. 6 April 2008. Retrieved 23 September 2013.
  21. ^ "Onvrede Afellay over beslissingen PSV" (in Dutch). PSV Netwerk. 27 July 2008. Retrieved 23 September 2013.
  22. ^ "Historie: seizoen 2008/2009" (in Dutch). PSV Netwerk. Retrieved 23 September 2013.
  23. ^ "Blessure voor Afellay" (in Dutch). PSV Netwerk. 25 April 2009. Retrieved 23 September 2013.
  24. ^ "Ibrahim Afellay". Goal.com. Retrieved 13 September 2013.
  25. ^ "Afellay nu reserve-aanvoerder achter Simons" (in Dutch). PSV Netwerk. 3 February 2010. Retrieved 23 September 2013.
  26. ^ "PSV accepteert schorsing Afellay" (in Dutch). PSV Netwerk. 16 March 2010. Retrieved 23 September 2013.
  27. ^ "Historie: seizoen 2009/2010" (in Dutch). PSV Netwerk. Retrieved 23 September 2013.
  28. ^ "Afellay aanvoerder, Engelaar reserve" (in Dutch). PSV Netwerk. 27 July 2010. Retrieved 23 September 2013.
  29. ^ "Verklaring PSV en Ibrahim Afellay" (in Dutch). PSV.nl. 22 October 2010. Retrieved 23 September 2013.
  30. ^ a b c "Ibrahim Afellay". Dutch Players. Retrieved 13 September 2013.
  31. ^ "Afellay: ik had het er best wel moeilijk mee" (in Dutch). PSV Netwerk. 19 December 2010. Retrieved 19 September 2013.
  32. ^ "Barcelona and PSV strike deal for Afellay". UEFA. 16 November 2010. Retrieved 16 November 2010.
  33. ^ "Agreement with PSV for Afellay signing". FC Barcelona. 15 November 2010. Retrieved 16 November 2010.
  34. ^ a b c d "Afellay: Ibrahim Afellay (2010–11)". BDFutbol. Retrieved 12 September 2013.
  35. ^ a b Duckling, Arron (6 July 2013). "FC Barcelona: On Ibrahim Afellay's Future". Barça Blaugranes. Retrieved 12 September 2013.
  36. ^ "Season 2010–11 First Division". BDFutbol. Retrieved 12 September 2013.
  37. ^ "Ibrahim Afellay moet tijdje toekijken bij Barcelona" (in Dutch). 31 July 2011. Retrieved 13 September 2013.
  38. ^ a b c "Afellay: Ibrahim Afellay (2011–12)". BDFutbol. Retrieved 12 September 2013.
  39. ^ "Affelay set for knee surgery". FIFA.com. 22 September 2011. Retrieved 1 September 2012.
  40. ^ "Afellay op weg naar hereniging met Stevens bij Schalke" (in Dutch). Voetbal International. 30 August 2012. Retrieved 12 September 2013.
  41. ^ "A fresh start". Bundesliga. 4 September 2012. Retrieved 13 September 2013.
  42. ^ "Trainer und Manager zufrieden: Freuen uns, dass der Transfer geklappt hat" (in German). schalke04.de. 27 April 2014. Retrieved 31 August 2012.
  43. ^ "Goals guaranteed in Leverkusen". Bundesliga. 16 November 2012. Retrieved 13 September 2013.
  44. ^ "Afellay sidelined for two months". Bundesliga. 7 January 2013. Retrieved 13 September 2013.
  45. ^ "Afellay lijkt laatste duel voor Schalke te hebben gespeeld" (in Dutch). Voetbal International. 12 February 2013. Retrieved 13 September 2013.
  46. ^ "Schalke 04 verbitterd dat Afellay zich niet meer laat zien" (in Dutch). Voetbal International. 26 February 2013. Retrieved 13 September 2013.
  47. ^ "Toekomst herstelde Afellay bij Barcelona uiterst onzeker" (in Dutch). Voetbal International. 31 May 2013. Retrieved 13 September 2013.
  48. ^ "Afellay meldt zich vroegtijdig bij Barça voor extra arbeid" (in Dutch). Voetbal International. 25 June 2013. Retrieved 13 September 2013.
  49. ^ Coerts, Stefan (23 August 2013). "Afellay out of action until 2014". Goal.com. Retrieved 12 September 2013.
  50. ^ "Cuenca and Afellay assigned shirt numbers 23 and 19". Total Barça. 3 September 2013. Retrieved 12 September 2013.
  51. ^ "The Legend kicks off the championship with a win!". Olympiacos.org. 23 August 2014. Retrieved 24 August 2014.
  52. ^ "Stoke City transfer gossip: Barcelona target heading for Turkey". m.stokesentinel.co.uk. 16 June 2015. Retrieved 15 July 2015.
  53. ^ "Stoke Swoop For Afellay". Stoke City. Retrieved 27 July 2015.
  54. ^ "Afellay signs for Stoke City". BBC Sport. 27 July 2015. Retrieved 28 July 2015.
  55. ^ "BBC Sport – Stoke City 0–1 Liverpool". BBC Sport. 9 August 2015.
  56. ^ "Stoke 2-0 Sheff Wed". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2 December 2015.
  57. ^ "A.F.C. Bournemouth 1-3 Stoke City". BBC Sport. Retrieved 13 February 2016.
  58. ^ "Stoke City 2-2 Swansea City". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2 April 2016.
  59. ^ "Ibrahim Afellay: Stoke City midfielder has long-term knee injury". BBC Sport. Retrieved 23 April 2016.
  60. ^ "Little Big Man in a Team of Giants". qantara.de. 20 June 2008. Retrieved 20 June 2008.
  61. ^ "Holland coach Bert van Marwijk finalises World Cup squad". guardian.co.uk. Press Association. 27 May 2010. Retrieved 27 May 2010.
  62. ^ "Netherlands 2:0 Denmark". FIFA.com. 14 June 2010. Retrieved 27 April 2014.
  63. ^ "Ibrahim Afellay". FC Barcelona. Retrieved 12 September 2013.
  64. ^ Includes KNVB Cup, Copa del Rey and DFB-Pokal
  65. ^ Includes UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League
  66. ^ Includes Johan Cruijff Shield, Supercopa de España, UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup
  67. ^ "Ibrahim Afellay 44 interlands – 5 doelpunten" (in Dutch). Voetbalstats. Retrieved 12 September 2013.
  68. ^ "Ibrahim Afellay" (in Portuguese). ZeroZero. 27 January 2016. Retrieved 27 January 2016. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |trans_title= (help)
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