Axel Witsel

Axel Laurent Angel Lambert Witsel (born 12 January 1989) is a Belgian professional footballer who plays for La Liga club Atlético Madrid and the Belgian national team. Witsel broke into Belgium's first team as a right-winger, and can also play attacking midfielder, though his natural position is as a central midfielder.

Axel Witsel
Witsel celebrating the bronze medal with Belgium at the 2018 FIFA World Cup
Personal information
Full name Axel Laurent Angel Lambert Witsel[1]
Date of birth (1989-01-12) 12 January 1989[2]
Place of birth Liège, Belgium
Height 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)[3]
Position(s) Midfielder
Club information
Current team
 Atlético Madrid
Number 20
Youth career
1995–1997 RRC Vottem
1997–1999 CS Visé
1999–2006 Standard Liège
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2006–2011 Standard Liège 148 (33)
2011–2012 Benfica 32 (1)
2012–2016 Zenit Saint Petersburg 122 (16)
2017–2018 Tianjin Quanjian 36 (5)
2018–2022 Borussia Dortmund 105 (10)
2022– Atlético Madrid 12 (0)
National team‡
2004 Belgium U15 1 (0)
2005 Belgium U16 2 (0)
2005–2006 Belgium U17 19 (0)
2006–2007 Belgium U18 5 (0)
2006 Belgium U19 3 (0)
2007–2009 Belgium U21 10 (0)
2008– Belgium 126 (12)
Honours
Men's football
Representing  Belgium
FIFA World Cup
2018 Russia
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 23:32, 29 October 2022 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 21:41, 25 September 2022 (UTC)

He began his career at hometown club Standard Liège, making 183 appearances and scoring 42 goals while winning five domestic trophies. He was awarded the Belgian Golden Shoe in 2008. After a season in Portugal with Benfica, he signed for Zenit Saint Petersburg for a €40 million fee in 2012. Witsel won four honours during his time in Russia, before leaving for Tianjin Quanjian in January 2017. He returned to Europe with Borussia Dortmund in August 2018. With the Bundesliga side, Witsel won the 2019 DFL-Supercup and the 2020–21 DFB-Pokal.

Witsel made his senior international debut in 2008 and earned his 100th cap for Belgium on 15 November 2018. He represented the country at the FIFA World Cup in 2014 and 2018, and the UEFA European Championship in 2016 and 2020, helping them to third place in the 2018 tournament.

Club career

Standard Liège

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 Defour and Marouane Fellaini. 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.[4][5] 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.[6] The initial ban until 23 November by the Belgian Football Association,[7] was later reduced on appeal to eight matches.[8]

Benfica

Witsel signed for Portuguese club Benfica on a five-year deal on 13 July 2011, including a €40 million buyout clause.[9] Witsel scored twice in the 3–1 win against FC Twente, in the Champions League play-off second leg, on 24 August 2011, sending Benfica to the group stages with a 5–3 aggregate victory.[10]

Witsel playing for Benfica against Zenit in 2012

He scored the opening goal in a 4–1 thrashing of Vitória de Guimarães in the Taça da Liga on 9 January 2012.[11] He then assisted Nolito in a 4–1 league defeat of Vitória de Setúbal. Witsel scored his fourth goal against Santa Clara on 18 January in a Taça da Liga match.[12] Benfica reached the final on 14 April against Gil Vicente and Witsel was awarded the Man of the Match award as Benfica claimed their fourth Taça da Liga title with a 2–1 victory.[13]

Zenit Saint Petersburg

On 3 September 2012, Witsel signed for Zenit Saint Petersburg for €40 million, after signing a five-year contract.[14][15] Witsel made his debut in the Russian Premier League on 14 September, replacing Konstantin Zyryanov in the 70th minute as Zenit fell 2–0 to Terek Grozny.[16] He scored his first two goals for the club on 30 November when Zenit brushed aside Spartak Moscow 4–2 at the Luzhniki Stadium.[17] Witsel scored Zenit's winner against Terek Grozny on 30 March 2013, an eighth-minute strike, as his side cruised to a 3–0 league victory.[18]

In Zenit's first match of the 2014–15 UEFA Champions League group stage on 16 September 2014, Witsel scored Zenit's second goal in a 2–0 away victory over former club Benfica.[19] After finishing third in their Champions League group, Zenit were parachuted into the Europa League knockout phase; in the first leg of their Round of 16 clash against Torino on 12 March 2015, Witsel scored on a rebound as Zenit defeated the Italian club 2–0.[20] On 26 April, Witsel scored the game's only goal in the seventeenth minute as Zenit defeated Arsenal Tula in a league match at the Petrovsky Stadium.[21] On Sunday 17 May, Witsel played the full 90 minutes as Zenit drew 1–1 with FC Ufa, earning the point they needed to secure the Premier League crown, the club's fourth overall and Witsel's first with Zenit.[22]

Witsel playing for Zenit Saint Petersburg against Dundalk in 2016

In the 2015 Russian Super Cup on 12 July 2015, Witsel converted his penalty shot in a 4–2 penalty shoot-out victory over FC Lokomotiv Moscow after the match had finished 1–1.[23]

Tianjin Quanjian

On 3 January 2017, Zenit officially announced that Witsel has moved to Chinese club Tianjin Quanjian.[24]

On 4 March 2017, Witsel made his debut for Quanjian in a 2–0 loss to Guangzhou R&F.[25] A week later he scored the club's first ever goal in the Chinese Super League during a 1–1 draw with Shanghai Greenland Shenhua.[26]

Borussia Dortmund
Witsel playing for Borussia Dortmund in 2021

On 6 August 2018, Witsel signed for Bundesliga club Borussia Dortmund and agreed a four-year contract which would last until 30 June 2022.[27][28] On 21 August, he scored an equalizing goal in the stoppage time to make it 1–1 after coming on as a substitute on his debut for the club against SpVgg Greuther Fürth in the DFB-Pokal first round match and later his side went on to win the match in the extra time with a 2-1 victory.[29] Witsel scored his first Bundesliga goal on his league debut for the club with an overhead kick in a 4–1 victory over RB Leipzig on 26 August.[30]

Atletico Madrid

On 7 July 2022, Atlético Madrid officially announced that Witsel had signed for the club on a one year contract via a free transfer after his contract with Borussia Dortmund expired.[31] Under manager Diego Simeone, Witsel began to play as a defender in the middle of a back three in the 5–3–2 formation.[32][33]

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.[34]

Witsel lining up for Belgium before playing Austria in the qualification for UEFA Euro 2012

Witsel's first goal in a competitive international match came a day short of three years after the Morocco goal, in the sixth minute against Austria in Group A of the UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying process, and his second would come in the second half.[35] However, Belgian hopes of qualifying for UEFA Euro 2012 were dashed on 11 October 2011, by defeat to Germany coupled with Turkey's victory over Azerbaijan.[36]

On 13 May 2014, Witsel was named in Belgium's squad for the 2014 FIFA World Cup.[37] He started in midfield in the team's first game of the tournament, a 2–1 win against Algeria in Belo Horizonte.[38]

Witsel also featured in the Belgian squad at UEFA Euro 2016, announced on 31 May 2016.[39] He scored his first tournament goal during the Championships, in a Group E match against the Republic of Ireland.[40]

Axel Witsel playing for Belgium during the 2018 FIFA World Cup

He scored twice in 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification, both in wide victories over Gibraltar.[41] Manager Roberto Martínez named him in the squad for the final tournament in Russia.[42]

Personal life

Witsel has three children.[43][44] He is of Martiniquais descent through his father.[45][46] He was a boyhood Arsenal fan. [47]

Career statistics

Club
Witsel in UEFA Europa League action for Zenit, facing Dundalk in 2016
As of match played 1 November 2022[48]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup League Cup Continental Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Standard Liège 2006–07 Belgian Pro League 162——10—172
2007–08 Belgian Pro League 337——31—368
2008–09 Belgian Pro League 358——10110469
2009–10 Belgian Pro League 27611—123114111
2010–11 Belgian Pro League 371062———4312
Total 1483373—2652118342
Benfica 2011–12 Primeira Liga 2911042142—495
2012–13 Primeira Liga 300000——30
Total 3211042142—525
Zenit Saint Petersburg 2012–13 Russian Premier League 19430—91—315
2013–14 Russian Premier League 30410—11010434
2014–15 Russian Premier League 28410—132—426
2015–16 Russian Premier League 29342—7110416
2016–17 Russian Premier League 16110—6000231
Total 12216102—4642018022
Tianjin Quanjian 2017 Chinese Super League 27420———294
2018 Chinese Super League 9111—80—182
Total 36531—80—476
Borussia Dortmund 2018–19 Bundesliga 33431—71—436
2019–20 Bundesliga 28430—7010394
2020–21 Bundesliga 15020—5100221
2021–22 Bundesliga 29230—8010412
Total 10510111—2722014513
Atlético Madrid 2022–23 La Liga 12000—60—180
Career total 4546532742127136162488
Witsel warming up on international duty, 2017

    International
    As of match played 25 September 2022[49]
    National team YearAppsGoals
    Belgium 200871
    200931
    201050
    2011113
    201290
    2013100
    2014111
    201590
    2016152
    201771
    2018130
    201950
    202051
    2021101
    202261
    Total12612
    As of match played 8 June 2022. Belgium score listed first, score column indicates score after each Witsel goal.[49]
    International goals by date, venue, cap, opponent, score, result and competition
    No. Date Venue Cap Opponent Score Result Competition Ref.
    1 26 March 2008King Baudouin Stadium, Brussels, Belgium1 Morocco1–21–4Friendly[34]
    2 17 November 2009Stade Louis Dugauguez, Sedan, France10 Qatar1–02–0 Friendly[50]
    3 9 February 2011Jules Ottenstadion, Ghent, Belgium16 Finland1–01–1 Friendly[51]
    4 25 March 2011Ernst-Happel-Stadion, Vienna, Austria17 Austria1–02–0UEFA Euro 2012 qualification[35]
    5 2–0
    6 4 September 2014Stade Maurice Dufrasne, Liège, Belgium52 Australia2–02–0Friendly[52]
    7 18 June 2016Nouveau Stade de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France69 Republic of Ireland2–03–0UEFA Euro 2016[40]
    8 10 October 2016Estádio Algarve, Faro/Loulé, Portugal76 Gibraltar2–06–02018 FIFA World Cup qualification[53]
    9 31 August 2017Stade Maurice Dufrasne, Liège, Belgium81  Gibraltar3–09–0 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification [53]
    10 8 September 2020King Baudouin Stadium, Brussels, Belgium107 Iceland1–15–12020–21 UEFA Nations League A[54]
    11 2 September 2021Lilleküla Stadium, Tallinn, Estonia115 Estonia4–15–22022 FIFA World Cup qualification[55]
    12 8 June 2022King Baudouin Stadium, Brussels, Belgium122 Poland1–16–12022–23 UEFA Nations League A[56]

    Honours

    Standard Liège[48]

    • Belgian Pro League: 2007–08, 2008–09
    • Belgian Cup: 2010–11
    • Belgian Supercup: 2008, 2009

    Benfica

    • Taça da Liga: 2011–12[48]

    Zenit

    • Russian Football Premier League: 2014–15
    • Russian Cup: 2015–16
    • Russian Super Cup: 2015[48]

    Borussia Dortmund

    • DFB-Pokal: 2020–21
    • DFL-Supercup: 2019[57]

    Belgium

    Individual

    • Belgian Young Footballer of the Year: 2007–08
    • Belgian Golden Shoe: 2008[59]
    • O Jogo Team of the Year: 2012

    See also
    • List of men's footballers with 100 or more international caps

    References
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