Axel Witsel

Axel Witsel

Witsel with Zenit in 2016
Personal information
Full name Axel Laurent Angel Lambert Witsel[1]
Date of birth (1989-01-12) 12 January 1989
Place of birth Liège, Belgium
Height 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)[2]
Playing position Midfielder
Club information
Current team
 Zenit Saint Petersburg
Number 28
Youth career
2004–2006 Standard Liège
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2006–2011 Standard Liège 148 (34)
2011–2012 Benfica 32 (1)
2012– Zenit Saint Petersburg 121 (16)
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 76 (8)

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 3 December 2016.

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 10 October 2016

Axel Laurent Angel Lambert Witsel (born 12 January 1989) is a Belgian professional footballer who plays for Russian club Zenit Saint Petersburg and the Belgium national team.[3] He came into the first team as a right-winger, and can also play attacking midfielder, though his natural position is as a central midfielder.

He made his senior international debut in 2008 and has earned over 70 caps for Belgium, representing the country at the 2014 FIFA World Cup and UEFA Euro 2016.

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 Petrovskiy 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]

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]

International career

Witsel with Belgium in 2011

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.

On 13 May 2014, Witsel was named in Belgium's squad for the 2014 FIFA World Cup.[24] He started in midfield in the team's first game of the tournament, a 2–1 win against Algeria in Belo Horizonte.[25]

International goals

As of match played 10 October 2016. Belgium score listed first, score column indicates score after each Witsel goal.[26]
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[27]
2 17 November 2009Stade Louis Dugauguez, Sedan, France10 Qatar1–02–0[28]
3 9 February 2011Jules Ottenstadion, Ghent, Belgium16 Finland1–1[29]
4 25 March 2011Ernst-Happel-Stadion, Vienna, Austria17 Austria2–0UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying[30]
5 2–0
6 4 September 2014Stade Maurice Dufrasne, Liège, Belgium52 AustraliaFriendly[31]
7 18 June 2016Nouveau Stade de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France69 Republic of Ireland3–0UEFA Euro 2016[32]
8 10 October 2016Estádio Algarve, Faro/Loulé, Portugal76 Gibraltar6–02018 FIFA World Cup qualification[33]

Career statistics

Club

As of 6 November 2016
Club Season League Cup League Cup Europe Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Standard Liège 2006–07 Belgian Pro League 162——10—172
2007–08 337——31—368
2008–09 358——10110469
2009–10 27511—124114111
2010–11 371062———4312
Total 1483273002662118342
Benfica 2011–12 Primeira Liga 2914220142—495
Total 291422014200495
Zenit Saint Petersburg 2012–13 Russian Premier League 19430—91—315
2013–14 29410—11010424
2014–15 28410—132—426
2015–16 29342—7110416
2016–17 13110—4000181
Total 11816102004442017422
Career total 295492172084124140669

    International

    As of 10 October 2016[26]
    National teamYearAppsGoals
    Belgium
    200871
    200931
    201050
    2011113
    201280
    2013100
    2014101
    201590
    2016132
    Total768

    Honours

    Club

    Standard Liege[34]
    Benfica
    Zenit

    Individual

    References

    1. ↑ "Conselho de disciplina" [Disciplinary board] (PDF). Portuguese Football Federation (in Portuguese). 23 March 2012. p. 3. Retrieved 10 July 2014.
    2. ↑ "Site officiel du Standard de Liège – Accueil". Retrieved 26 June 2016.
    3. ↑ "Stats Centre: Axel Witsel Facts". Guardian.co.uk. Archived from the original on 2 October 2012. Retrieved 29 June 2009.
    4. ↑ "Witsel breekt been van Wasilewski in tackle". Sporza. Archived from the original on 1 September 2009. Retrieved 31 August 2009.
    5. ↑ "Anderlecht-Standard faute d'Axel Witsel sur Wasilewski". YouTube. Retrieved 31 August 2009.
    6. ↑ "Standard Liege Stars Defour & Witsel Receive Death Threats - Report - Goal.com". 1 September 2009. Retrieved 26 June 2016.
    7. ↑ Football, Mirror (1 September 2009). "Standard Liege midfielder Axel Witsel banned for horror tackle". Retrieved 26 June 2016.
    8. ↑ "Yahoo UK & Ireland – Sports News – Live Scores – Results". Retrieved 26 June 2016.
    9. ↑ "Benfica sign Witsel". ESPNFC. 14 July 2011.
    10. ↑ "Witsel delivers as Benfica oust Twente". UEFA. 24 August 2011.
    11. ↑ "V.Guimarães 1–4 Benfica". LPFP. Retrieved 3 December 2012.
    12. ↑ "Benfica 2–0 Sta. Clara". LPFP. Retrieved 3 December 2012.
    13. ↑ "Witsel foi o Man of The Match". LPFP. 15 April 2012.
    14. ↑ "Официальный сайт ФК "Зенит"". Retrieved 26 June 2016.
    15. ↑ "Comunicado" [Announcement] (PDF) (in Portuguese). CMVM. 3 September 2012. Retrieved 31 December 2014.
    16. ↑ "Zenit 0 – 2 Terek Grozny". ESPNFC. 14 September 2012.
    17. ↑ "Spartak Moscow 2 – 4 Zenit St Petersburg". ESPNFC. 30 November 2012.
    18. ↑ "Terek Grozny 0–3 Zenit St. Petersburg". ESPNFC. 30 March 2013.
    19. ↑ "Familiar Zenit faces come back to haunt Benfica". UEFA. 16 September 2014. Retrieved 17 July 2015.
    20. ↑ "Zenit ease to victory over ten-man Torino". UEFA. 12 March 2015. Retrieved 17 July 2015.
    21. ↑ "Zenit St Petersburg 1–0 FC Arsenal Tula". Yahoo Sports!. 26 April 2015. Retrieved 17 July 2015.
    22. ↑ "Andre Villas-Boas leads Zenit St Petersburg to Russian Premier League title after ill-fated spells at Chelsea and Tottenham". Daily Mail. 17 May 2015. Retrieved 17 July 2015.
    23. ↑ "Суперкубок России по футболу 2015, Финал". RFPL (in Russian). 12 July 2015. Retrieved 17 July 2015.
    24. ↑ "Adnan Januzaj included in Belgium's World Cup squad". BBC Sport. 13 May 2014. Retrieved 15 May 2014.
    25. ↑ Chowdhury, Saj (17 June 2014). "Belgium 2–1 Algeria". BBC Sport. Retrieved 17 June 2014.
    26. 1 2 "Axel Witsel". Royal Belgian Football Association. Retrieved 14 October 2016.
    27. ↑ "Axel Witsel marque, Stijn Stijnen se troue deux fois". Le Soir (in French). 27 March 2008. Retrieved 4 December 2014.
    28. ↑ "Victoire des Diables face au Qatar (0–2)". La Dernière Heure (in French). 17 November 2009. Retrieved 4 December 2014.
    29. ↑ Da Silva, Christophe (9 February 2011). "Rode Duivels gooien verdiende winst weer weg in blessuretijd". Het Laatste Nieuws (in Dutch). Retrieved 4 December 2014.
    30. ↑ "Witsel bezorgt Rode Duivels zege van de hoop". Sporza (in Dutch). 25 March 2011. Retrieved 4 December 2014.
    31. ↑ Lynch, Michael (5 September 2014). "Socceroos easily beaten by Belgium in friendly". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 4 December 2014.
    32. ↑ Lowe, Sid (18 June 2016). "Belgium get going as Romelu Lukaku punishes Republic of Ireland". The Guardian. Retrieved 14 October 2016.
    33. ↑ "Christian Benteke historic goal, hat trick help Belgium beat Gibraltar". ESPN FC. Entertainment and Sports Programming Network. 10 October 2016. Retrieved 14 October 2016.
    34. 1 2 3 "A. Witsel". Soccerway. Retrieved 17 March 2015.

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