Axel Witsel

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.

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	75	(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 2018
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 3 November 2024 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 8 June 2024 (UTC)

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 6 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		7	0	1	0	—		4[c]	0	0	0	12	0
	Total		75	2	10	0	—		20	0	1	0	106	2
Career total			517	67	42	7	4	2	141	13	7	1	712	90

1. Includes Belgian Cup, Taça de Portugal, Russian Cup, Chinese FA Cup, DFB-Pokal, Copa del Rey
2. Includes Taça da Liga
3. Appearances in UEFA Champions League
4. Five appearances in UEFA Champions League, four appearances and one goal in UEFA Europa League
5. 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. 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]

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

Benfica

• Taça da Liga: 2011–12^[53]

Zenit

• Russian Football Premier League: 2014–15
• Russian Cup: 2015–16
• Russian Super Cup: 2015^[53]

Borussia Dortmund

• DFB-Pokal: 2020–21
• DFL-Supercup: 2019^[62]

Belgium

• FIFA World Cup third place: 2018^[63]

Individual

• Belgian Young Footballer of the Year: 2007–08
• Belgian Golden Shoe: 2008^[64]
• O Jogo Team of the Year: 2012

See also

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

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.
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22. "Zenit St Petersburg 1–0 FC Arsenal Tula". Yahoo Sports!. 26 April 2015. Retrieved 17 July 2015.
23. Grez, Matias (2 June 2015). "Zenit St. Petersburg celebrate their fourth league title". CNN. Retrieved 6 September 2020.
24. "Суперкубок России по футболу 2015, Финал". RFPL (in Russian). 12 July 2015. Retrieved 17 July 2015.
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29. "Axel Witsel arrives at the BVB training camp". Borussia Dortmund. Retrieved 7 August 2018.
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31. "Borussia Dortmund 4-1 RB Leipzig: As it happened!". Bundesliga. Retrieved 27 August 2018.
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33. "Club Atlético de Madrid - Ya conocemos las alineaciones titulares para el Getafe-Atleti". 15 August 2022.
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38. Potter, Steffen (11 October 2011). "Germany stamp out Belgium's fire". uefa.com. Union of European Football Associations. Retrieved 24 January 2018.
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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.
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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.
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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.
53. "A. Witsel". Soccerway. Retrieved 17 March 2015.
54. "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.
57. Lynch, Michael (5 September 2014). "Socceroos easily beaten by Belgium in friendly". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 4 December 2014.
58. "Christian Benteke historic goal, hat trick help Belgium beat Gibraltar". ESPN FC. Entertainment and Sports Programming Network. 10 October 2016. Retrieved 14 October 2016.
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.

External links

• Official website
• Profile at the Atlético Madrid website
• Axel Witsel at the Royal Belgian Football Association
• Axel Witsel – UEFA competition record (archive) 
• Axel Witsel – FIFA competition record (archived)