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Axel Witsel

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 (age 35)[2]
Place of birth Liège, Belgium
Height 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)[3]
Position(s) Defensive midfielder, centre-back
Team 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)
2012–2017 Zenit Saint Petersburg 122 (16)
2017–2018 Tianjin Quanjian 36 (5)
2018–2022 Borussia Dortmund 105 (10)
2022– Atlético Madrid 77 (2)
International career‡
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 132 (12)
Medal record
Men's football
Representing  Belgium
FIFA World Cup
Third place 2018
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 23 November 2024 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 8 June 2024 (UTC)

Axel Laurent Angel Lambert Witsel (born 12 January 1989) is a Belgian professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder or centre-back[4] for La Liga club Atlético Madrid and the Belgium national team. He originally also played in more offensive roles such as central or attacking midfielder.

Witsel 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, 2018 and 2022, and the UEFA European Championship in 2016, 2020 and 2024, 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.[citation needed]

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.[citation needed]

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.[5][6] 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.[7] The initial ban until 23 November by the Belgian Football Association,[8] was later reduced on appeal to eight matches.[9]

Benfica

Witsel signed for Portuguese club Benfica on a five-year deal on 13 July 2011, including a €40 million buyout clause.[10] 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.[11]

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.[12] 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.[13] 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.[14]

Zenit Saint Petersburg

On 3 September 2012, Witsel signed for Zenit Saint Petersburg for €40 million, after signing a five-year contract.[15][16] 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.[17] He scored his first two goals for the club on 30 November when Zenit brushed aside Spartak Moscow 4–2 at the Luzhniki Stadium.[18] 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.[19]

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.[20] 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.[21] 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.[22] 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.[23]

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.[24]

Tianjin Quanjian

On 3 January 2017, Zenit officially announced that Witsel has moved to Chinese club Tianjin Quanjian.[25]

On 4 March 2017, Witsel made his debut for Quanjian in a 2–0 loss to Guangzhou R&F.[26] 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.[27]

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.[28][29] 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.[30] 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.[31]

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.[32] Under manager Diego Simeone, Witsel began to play as a defender in the middle of a back three in the 5–3–2 formation.[33][34] On 13 June 2024, he extended his contract until 2025.[35]

International career

Prior to making his international debut for the senior side, Witsel 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 Championship.

On 26 March 2008, Witsel made his senior international debut for Belgium during a friendly game against Morocco. The match resulted in a 1–4 loss, but Witsel scored his first goal.[36]

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.[37] 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.[38]

On 13 May 2014, Witsel was named in Belgium's squad for the 2014 FIFA World Cup.[39] He started in midfield in the team's first game of the tournament, a 2–1 win against Algeria in Belo Horizonte.[40]

Witsel also featured in the Belgian squad at UEFA Euro 2016, announced on 31 May 2016.[41] He scored his first tournament goal during the Championships, in a Group E match against the Republic of Ireland.[42]

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.[43] Manager Roberto Martínez named him in the squad for the final tournament in Russia.[44] Witsel was part of the Belgian squad for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where the team performed badly, failing to make it out of the group stage. On 17 March 2023, new Belgian coach Domenico Tedesco dropped Witsel from the squad for European Championship qualifying games, citing the player's lack of playing time.[45]

On 12 May 2023, Witsel announced his retirement from the national team on Instagram, having made 130 appearances for Belgium.[46] However, Witsel would later reverse his decision and on 28 May 2024, he was included in Belgium's squad for UEFA Euro 2024.[47]


Personal life

Witsel has three children.[48][49] He is of Martiniquais descent through his father.[50][51] He was a boyhood Arsenal fan.[52]

Career statistics

Club

Witsel in UEFA Europa League action for Zenit, facing Dundalk in 2016
As of match played 23 November 2024[53]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup[a] League cup[b] Continental Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Standard Liège 2006–07 Belgian Pro League 16 2 — — 1 0 — 17 2
2007–08 33 7 — — 3 1 — 36 8
2008–09 35 8 — — 10 1 1 0 46 9
2009–10 27 6 1 1 — 12 3 1 1 41 11
2010–11 37 10 6 2 — — — 43 12
Total 148 33 7 3 — 26 5 2 1 183 42
Benfica 2011–12 Primeira Liga 29 1 1 0 4 2 14[c] 2 — 49 5
2012–13 3 0 0 0 0 0 — — 3 0
Total 32 1 1 0 4 2 14 2 — 52 5
Zenit Saint Petersburg 2012–13 Russian Premier League 19 4 3 0 — 9[d] 1 — 31 5
2013–14 30 4 1 0 — 11[c] 0 1[e] 0 43 4
2014–15 28 4 1 0 — 13[f] 2 — 42 6
2015–16 29 3 4 2 — 7[c] 1 1[e] 0 41 6
2016–17 16 1 1 0 — 6[g] 0 0 0 23 1
Total 122 16 10 2 — 46 4 2 0 180 22
Tianjin Quanjian 2017 Chinese Super League 27 4 2 0 — — — 29 4
2018 9 1 1 1 — 8[h] 0 — 18 2
Total 36 5 3 1 — 8 0 — 47 6
Borussia Dortmund 2018–19 Bundesliga 33 4 3 1 — 7[c] 1 — 43 6
2019–20 28 4 3 0 — 7[c] 0 1[i] 0 39 4
2020–21 15 0 2 0 — 5[c] 1 0 0 22 1
2021–22 29 2 3 0 — 8[j] 0 1[i] 0 41 2
Total 105 10 11 1 — 27 2 2 0 145 13
Atlético Madrid 2022–23 La Liga 33 0 4 0 — 6[c] 0 — 43 0
2023–24 35 2 5 0 — 10[c] 0 1[k] 0 51 2
2024–25 9 0 1 0 — 4[c] 0 0 0 14 0
Total 77 2 10 0 — 20 0 1 0 108 2
Career total 519 67 42 7 4 2 141 13 7 1 714 90
  1. ^ Includes Belgian Cup, Taça de Portugal, Russian Cup, Chinese FA Cup, DFB-Pokal, Copa del Rey
  2. ^ Includes Taça da Liga
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i Appearances in UEFA Champions League
  4. ^ Five appearances in UEFA Champions League, four appearances and one goal in UEFA Europa League
  5. ^ a b Appearance in Russian Super Cup
  6. ^ Seven appearances and one goal in UEFA Champions League, six appearances and one goal in UEFA Europa League
  7. ^ Appearances in UEFA Europa League
  8. ^ Appearances in AFC Champions League
  9. ^ a b Appearance in DFL-Supercup
  10. ^ Six appearances in UEFA Champions League, two appearances in UEFA Europa League
  11. ^ Appearance in Supercopa de España

International

Witsel warming up on international duty, 2017
As of match played 8 June 2024[54]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team Year Apps Goals
Belgium 2008 7 1
2009 3 1
2010 5 0
2011 11 3
2012 9 0
2013 10 0
2014 11 1
2015 9 0
2016 15 2
2017 7 1
2018 13 0
2019 5 0
2020 5 1
2021 10 1
2022 10 1
2023 0 0
2024 2 0
Total 132 12
Belgium score listed first, score column indicates score after each Witsel goal.[54]
International goals by date, venue, cap, opponent, score, result and competition
No. Date Venue Cap Opponent Score Result Competition Ref.
1 26 March 2008 King Baudouin Stadium, Brussels, Belgium 1  Morocco 1–2 1–4 Friendly [36]
2 17 November 2009 Stade Louis Dugauguez, Sedan, France 10  Qatar 1–0 2–0 Friendly [55]
3 9 February 2011 Jules Ottenstadion, Ghent, Belgium 16  Finland 1–0 1–1 Friendly [56]
4 25 March 2011 Ernst-Happel-Stadion, Vienna, Austria 17  Austria 1–0 2–0 UEFA Euro 2012 qualification [37]
5 2–0
6 4 September 2014 Stade Maurice Dufrasne, Liège, Belgium 52  Australia 2–0 2–0 Friendly [57]
7 18 June 2016 Nouveau Stade de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France 69  Republic of Ireland 2–0 3–0 UEFA Euro 2016 [42]
8 10 October 2016 Estádio Algarve, Faro/Loulé, Portugal 76  Gibraltar 2–0 6–0 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification [58]
9 31 August 2017 Stade Maurice Dufrasne, Liège, Belgium 81  Gibraltar 3–0 9–0 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification [58]
10 8 September 2020 King Baudouin Stadium, Brussels, Belgium 107  Iceland 1–1 5–1 2020–21 UEFA Nations League A [59]
11 2 September 2021 Lilleküla Stadium, Tallinn, Estonia 115  Estonia 4–1 5–2 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification [60]
12 8 June 2022 King Baudouin Stadium, Brussels, Belgium 122  Poland 1–1 6–1 2022–23 UEFA Nations League A [61]

Honours

Standard Liège[53]

Benfica

Zenit

Borussia Dortmund

Belgium

Individual

See also

References

  1. ^ "Conselho de disciplina" [Disciplinary board] (in Portuguese). Portuguese Football Federation. 23 March 2012. p. 2. Archived from the original on 19 June 2016.
  2. ^ "FIFA World Cup Russia 2018: List of players: Belgium" (PDF). FIFA. 15 July 2018. p. 3. Archived from the original (PDF) on 30 July 2018. Retrieved 11 June 2019.
  3. ^ "Axel Witsel". Eurosport. Retrieved 11 June 2019.
  4. ^ Barlow, Ruairidh (22 September 2022). "Axel Witsel makes thoughts clear to Diego Simeone over position change". Football Espana. Retrieved 1 May 2023.
  5. ^ "Witsel breekt been van Wasilewski in tackle". Sporza. Archived from the original on 1 September 2009. Retrieved 31 August 2009.
  6. ^ "Anderlecht-Standard faute d'Axel Witsel sur Wasilewski". YouTube. Retrieved 31 August 2009.[dead YouTube link]
  7. ^ "Standard Liege Stars Defour & Witsel Receive Death Threats - Report - Goal.com". 1 September 2009. Archived from the original on 16 January 2014. Retrieved 26 June 2016.
  8. ^ "Standard Liege midfielder Axel Witsel banned for horror tackle". MirrorFootball. 1 September 2009. Retrieved 26 June 2016.
  9. ^ "Yahoo UK & Ireland – Sports News – Live Scores – Results". Retrieved 26 June 2016.
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  11. ^ "Witsel delivers as Benfica oust Twente". UEFA. 24 August 2011.
  12. ^ "V.Guimarães 1–4 Benfica". LPFP. Archived from the original on 28 April 2012. Retrieved 3 December 2012.
  13. ^ "Benfica 2–0 Sta. Clara". LPFP. Archived from the original on 1 August 2013. Retrieved 3 December 2012.
  14. ^ "Witsel foi o Man of The Match". LPFP. 15 April 2012. Archived from the original on 14 July 2012. Retrieved 3 December 2012.
  15. ^ "Официальный сайт ФК "Зенит"". Retrieved 26 June 2016.
  16. ^ "Comunicado" [Announcement] (PDF) (in Portuguese). CMVM. 3 September 2012. Retrieved 31 December 2014.
  17. ^ "Zenit 0 – 2 Terek Grozny". ESPNFC. 14 September 2012. Archived from the original on 24 January 2013.
  18. ^ "Spartak Moscow 2 – 4 Zenit St Petersburg". ESPNFC. 30 November 2012.
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  22. ^ "Zenit St Petersburg 1–0 FC Arsenal Tula". Yahoo Sports!. 26 April 2015. Retrieved 17 July 2015.
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  26. ^ "Alexandre Pato struggles as Tianjin Quanjian slump vs. Guangzhou R&F". ESPN. 4 March 2017.
  27. ^ "Witsel scores Quanjian's maiden CSL goal". MSN. 11 March 2017.
  28. ^ "Axel Witsel to join Borussia Dortmund from Tianjin Quanjian". SkySports. Retrieved 7 August 2018.
  29. ^ "Axel Witsel arrives at the BVB training camp". Borussia Dortmund. Retrieved 7 August 2018.
  30. ^ "Axel Witsel saves Borussia Dortmund on debut in German Cup". BBC Sport. Retrieved 21 August 2018.
  31. ^ "Borussia Dortmund 4-1 RB Leipzig: As it happened!". Bundesliga. Retrieved 27 August 2018.
  32. ^ "Club Atlético de Madrid - Witsel is now a Red & White player". Club Atlético de Madrid. 6 July 2022. Retrieved 7 July 2022.
  33. ^ "Club Atlético de Madrid - Ya conocemos las alineaciones titulares para el Getafe-Atleti". 15 August 2022.
  34. ^ "Club Atlético de Madrid - Ya conocemos las alineaciones titulares para el Atleti-Villarreal". 21 August 2022.
  35. ^ "Axel Witsel: set to grace our colours until 2025". Atlético Madrid. 13 June 2024.
  36. ^ a b "Axel Witsel marque, Stijn Stijnen se troue deux fois". Le Soir (in French). 27 March 2008. Retrieved 4 December 2014.
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  40. ^ Chowdhury, Saj (17 June 2014). "Belgium 2–1 Algeria". BBC Sport. Retrieved 17 June 2014.
  41. ^ BelgianRedDevils [@@BelRedDevils] (31 May 2016). ".OFFICIAL ! Our final #Euro2016 squad list & numbers ! #TousenFrance" (Tweet). Retrieved 24 January 2018 – via Twitter.
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  47. ^ "25 DEVILS GO TO EURO 2024". rbfa.be. Retrieved 28 May 2024.
  48. ^ "Axel Witsel en très charmante compagnie". La Dernière Heure (in French). 23 October 2012. Archived from the original on 31 August 2017. Retrieved 23 April 2014.
  49. ^ "Axel & Rafaella Witsel éblouissants lors de leur mariage religieux". Sudinfo.be (in French). 13 June 2015. Archived from the original on 25 June 2016. Retrieved 31 August 2017.
  50. ^ "Mondial 2018 - France Belgique: Axel Witsel, l'autre Antillais endiablé". franceinfo. franceinfo. 10 July 2018. Retrieved 11 July 2018.
  51. ^ Dalmat, Syanie (10 July 2018). "Axel Witsel, le Belge qui aurait pu jouer pour la France". L'Equipe. Retrieved 11 July 2018.
  52. ^ "Boyhood Arsenal fan Axel Witsel: "I have always liked Manchester United since I was young"". Eurosport UK. 7 May 2015. Retrieved 28 February 2022.
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  54. ^ a b "Axel Witsel". Royal Belgian Football Association. Retrieved 14 October 2016.
  55. ^ "Victoire des Diables face au Qatar (0–2)". La Dernière Heure (in French). 17 November 2009. Retrieved 4 December 2014.
  56. ^ Da Silva, Christophe (9 February 2011). "Rode Duivels gooien verdiende winst weer weg in blessuretijd". Het Laatste Nieuws (in Dutch). Retrieved 4 December 2014.
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  59. ^ "Belgium 5-1 Iceland: Hosts survive scare to earn second win". UEFA. 8 September 2020.
  60. ^ "Estonia 2-5 Belgium". UEFA. 2 September 2021.
  61. ^ "Belgium 6-1 Poland: Red Devils turn on the style". UEFA. 8 June 2022.
  62. ^ "Borussia Dortmund gewinnt den Supercup 2019 gegen den FC Bayern München" [Borussia Dortmund wins the 2019 Supercup against FC Bayern Munich]. Bundesliga.com (in German). Dortmund: Deutsche Fußball Liga. 3 August 2019. Archived from the original on 3 August 2019. Retrieved 3 August 2019.
  63. ^ "FIFA World Cup Russia 2018: List of players: Belgium" (PDF). FIFA. 15 July 2018. p. 3. Archived from the original (PDF) on 30 July 2018. Retrieved 11 June 2019.
  64. ^ "Witsel honoured as Belgium's best of 2008". UEFA. 22 January 2009. Retrieved 4 August 2019.
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