Mousa Dembélé (Belgian footballer)

Mousa Dembélé[1]

Dembélé with Belgium in 2011
Personal information
Full name Moussa Sidi Yaya Dembélé [2]
Date of birth (1987-07-16) 16 July 1987
Place of birth Wilrijk, Belgium
Height 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)[3]
Playing position Midfielder
Club information
Current team
 Tottenham Hotspur
Number 19
Youth career
2003–2004 Germinal Beerschot
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2004–2005 Germinal Beerschot 20 (1)
2005–2006 Willem II 33 (9)
2006–2010 AZ 118 (24)
2010–2012 Fulham 62 (5)
2012– Tottenham Hotspur 122 (6)
National team‡
2002–2003 Belgium U16 3 (0)
2003–2004 Belgium U17 6 (1)
2004 Belgium U18 1 (1)
2004–2006 Belgium U19 12 (3)
2006– Belgium 65 (5)

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 17:37, 3 December 2016 (UTC).

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 16:19, 8 July 2016 (UTC)

Mousa Dembélé (born 16 July 1987) (birth name Moussa Sidi Yaya Dembélé[2]), is a Belgian footballer who plays as a central midfielder for Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League and the Belgium national football team, for whom he has achieved over 60 caps. He is regarded as one of the best box-to-box midfielders in Europe due to his excellent dribbling skills and ability to maintain possession.[4][5][6]

Dembélé started his career at Belgian Pro League team Germinal Beerschot before spells at Eredivisie sides Willem II and AZ in the Netherlands. He won the league title and the Johan Cruyff Shield with the latter in 2009. Dembélé transferred to Premier League side Fulham in 2010 before joining current club Tottenham for a fee of £15 million in August 2012. He was ranked 91st in The Guardian's list of the 100 best current footballers in 2012.[7]

Early life

Dembélé was born in Wilrijk, Antwerp, Belgium.[8] His father Yaya is Malian, while his mother, Tilly Huygens, is Belgian of Flemish ethnicity.[9][10]

Dembélé uses the spelling "Mousa" for his first name (e.g. on his Twitter account[11]), and so do his club,[12] national team[13] and most news articles about him. But he has said in interview that the proper spelling ought to be "Moussa".[14]

Club career

Early career

Dembélé played for K. Berchem Sport as a youth. He started his professional career for Germinal Beerschot, a team in the Belgian Pro League. He made his debut on 24 April 2004 against Charleroi. In 2005, he signed for the youth section of Willem II, despite apparent interest from Eredivisie giants AFC Ajax.

Willem II

Dembélé spent the 2005–06 season in the Eredivisie with Willem II. The team had a very poor season that year, but Dembélé nonetheless scored nine times. After the season, he attracted further interest from the bigger Eredivisie teams and was subsequently transferred to AZ in the summer of 2006.

AZ

In 2006–07, Dembélé was one of the most important players of Louis van Gaal's team. They were poised to win the championship but on the last day lost the title to PSV and only finished third after losing 3–2 to Excelsior. AZ also lost the final of the KNVB Beker against AFC Ajax. Dembélé scored after two minutes played, but AZ lost 8–7 after a penalty shootout, with Dembélé scoring AZ's fifth penalty attempt. AZ further lost the play-off final for qualification to the Champions League, again to Ajax. Dembélé scored six times that season.

The season of 2007–08 was a very disappointing season for AZ. They finished 12th, with Dembélé scoring four times for them. The 2008–09 season started disappointingly as well for Dembélé's team after two defeats, but then AZ started to win more games and eventually won the championship. Dembélé was out injured from October until December with a knee injury, but on his return, he was hailed as being one of the players of the season in the Eredivisie.[15]

Fulham

Dembélé was said to be "edging closer" to join English Premier League club Birmingham City,[16] but on 12 August 2010, Dembélé declined a move to Birmingham in favour of London club Fulham. On 18 August 2010, Fulham announced that Dembélé had joined from AZ on a three-year deal for a fee of £5 million and will see the player at the club until the summer of 2013.[17]

Dembélé made an excellent start to his career at Fulham. He made his début on 22 August 2010, coming on as a substitute against Manchester United. He capped his first start for the club with a goal, scoring the second of six goals against Port Vale in the League Cup on 25 August. The same week, Dembélé made his first league start against Blackpool in which he provided two assists. The first of the two was a cross to Bobby Zamora following a good run in the box, while the second gave Fulham a draw and a point; he dodged past a couple of Blackpool players before playing a good ball for an on-rushing Dickson Etuhu to make the score (and final result) 2–2. Dembélé scored two league goals against Wolverhampton Wanderers on 11 September in a 2–1 win, his first league goals for Fulham.[18] He then scored a great solo goal against Tottenham Hotspur, running from the halfway line before powerfully placing his shot beyond goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes. This was voted the Fulham "Goal of the Season" by the Fulham fans.[19]

It took until 9 May in Fulham's home game against Liverpool for Dembélé to score his third Premier League goal, but the Cottagers were soundly beaten 5–2.[20]

Under manager Martin Jol, Dembélé played in a more creative position in central midfield, either next to club captain Danny Murphy or new signing Mahamadou Diarra. After some very good performances, Martin Jol confirmed the club have opened contract talks with Dembélé in order to fend off interest from other clubs.[21] Dembélé scored two goals in 2011–12 in his new more central role, the first coming as an 86th-minute goal against Wigan Athletic to seal Fulham's 0–2 win at the DW Stadium in late October.[22] His second came right at the business end of the season against Sunderland; his goal was the winner to make the result 2–1, scoring only 30 seconds after Phil Bardsley had equalized to make it 1–1 at Craven Cottage.[23]

Tottenham Hotspur

Dembélé transferred to Tottenham Hotspur on 29 August 2012 after Spurs triggered a £15 million release clause in his Fulham contract.[24][25] He scored on his début against Norwich City on 1 September in a 1–1 home draw.[26] On 21 February 2013, he scored a 90th-minute goal to help Spurs put Olympique Lyonnais out of the UEFA Europa League and qualify for the last 16 of the competition.[27]

On 6 May 2016, Dembélé, despite not having been booked by the referee, was banned for six games by the Football Association for an eye gouge on Chelsea's Diego Costa. The FA stated that "the standard punishment of three matches which would otherwise apply to this offence was clearly insufficient."[28]

International career

Dembélé made his first international appearance on 20 May 2006 against Slovakia, coming on as a substitute for Luigi Pieroni. He scored his first international goal in October 2006 against Azerbaijan. Dembélé participated in the 2008 Summer Olympics, where he put on a remarkable show, being instrumental in Belgium's 3–2 win to Italy in the quarter-finals, scoring two goals, including the defining goal of the match. Belgium then progressed, losing to Nigeria in the semi-finals and Brazil in the third place play-offs. Dembélé played in all six of Belgium's games at the Olympics.[29]

On 13 May 2014, Dembélé was named in Belgium's squad for the 2014 FIFA World Cup.[30] He played 65 minutes in midfield before being substituted with Marouane Fellaini in the team's first game of the tournament, a 2–1 win against Algeria in Belo Horizonte.[31]

Style of play

Dembélé primarily plays as a central midfielder; he can, however, also operate as an attacking midfielder.[32] He has been described as a footballer who is "big, powerful, technically gifted"[33] and who has excellent "dribbling and passing abilities."[34] Former Fulham manager Martin Jol said, "Dembélé is probably the best player on the ball I've ever seen."[35]

He has stated Patrick Kluivert was a childhood hero of his and that his style of play was compared to Kluivert's.[36]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 5 November 2016[37]
Club Season League Europe Cup Other Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Germinal Beerschot 2003–04 1 0 – 0 0 – 1 0
2004–05 19 1 – 3 1 – 22 2
Total 20 1 – 3 1 – 23 2
Willem II 2005–06 33 9 2 0 1 0 3 1 39 10
Total 33 9 2 0 1 0 3 1 39 10
AZ 2006–07 33 6 12 4 5 4 2 0 52 14
2007–08 33 4 6 1 1 0 – 40 5
2008–09 23 10 – 3 2 2 0 28 12
2009–10 29 4 6 0 1 2 4 0 40 6
Total 118 24 24 5 10 8 8 0 160 37
Fulham 2010–11 24 3 – 4 2 0 0 28 5
2011–12 36 2 7 0 2 0 0 0 45 2
2012–13 2 0 – 0 0 0 0 2 0
Total 62 5 7 0 6 2 0 0 75 7
Tottenham Hotspur
2012–13 32 1 10 1 2 0 0 0 44 2
2013–14 27 1 9 1 4 0 0 0 40 2
2014–15 26 1 7 0 6 0 0 0 39 1
2015–16 29 3 4 1 2 0 0 0 35 4
2016–17 5 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 8 0
Total 115 6 34 3 14 0 0 0 160 9
Career total 348 44 62 8 30 11 13 1 428 64

International

As of match played 8 August 2015[38]
Belgium national team
YearAppsGoals
200661
200773
200840
200991
201050
201160
201270
2013110
201450
201510
Total625

International goals

[39]

"Score" and "Result" lists Belgium's goals first.

Honours

Club

AZ

References

  1. ↑ "Premier League Player Profile Mousa Dembélé". Premier League. Barclays Premier League. 2016. Retrieved 7 October 2016.
  2. 1 2 "Moussa Sidi Yaya Dembélé #19". msn.com. Retrieved 12 October 2016.
  3. ↑ "Premier League Player Profile Mousa Dembélé". Premier League. Barclays Premier League. 2015. Retrieved 20 January 2015.
  4. ↑ "Tottenham have lost the 'best box-to-box midfielder in Europe' with Mousa Dembele ban, stats show". 9 May 2016.
  5. ↑ "Why Tottenham's Mousa Dembele is a genius to Mauricio Pochettino". 06 November 2016. Check date values in: |date= (help)
  6. ↑ "Mousa Dembélé the unsung Tottenham hero at the heart of Pochettino's plans". 07 November 2016. Check date values in: |date= (help)
  7. ↑ "The world's best footballers: the top 100list". The Guardian. 24 December 2012. Retrieved 14 December 2013.
  8. ↑ Ivan Speck (8 April 2011). "Moussa Dembele: A new hero is in town – and the ball is his friend". dailymail.co.uk. London: Daily Mail. Retrieved 8 April 2011.
  9. ↑ Ian Chadband (7 May 2013). "Granny knows best as Mousa Dembélé prepares for Tottenham's final push for Champions League stardom". The Telegraph. The Telegraph. Retrieved 7 May 2013.
  10. ↑ "RAF WILLEMS: DE GROOTMOEDER VAN MOUSSA DEMBELE, RODE DUIVEL MET AFRIKAANSE ROOTS EN ORANJE VOETBALPLEZIER". wordpress.com (in Dutch). 25 August 2008. Retrieved 25 August 2008.
  11. ↑ "Mousa Dembélé". Twitter. Retrieved 12 October 2016.
  12. ↑ "MOUSA DEMBÉLÉ". Tottenham Hotspur. Retrieved 12 October 2016.
  13. ↑ "Royal Belgian Football Association". Royal Belgian Football Association.
  14. ↑ Goedefroy, Mathieu (20 June 2016). "Moussa of Mousa? Mysterie rond Dembélé eindelijk opgehelderd". HLN.BE (in Dutch). Retrieved 12 October 2016.
  15. ↑ "IM Scouting Profile". IM Scouting. Archived from the original on 27 May 2012. Retrieved 14 December 2013.
  16. ↑ "Birmingham City: Latest news on Mauro Camoranesi and Moussa Dembele". Birmingham Mail. 14 December 2013.
  17. ↑ "Dembele Joins Fulham". Fulham FC. 18 August 2010. Archived from the original on 24 May 2012. Retrieved 14 December 2013.
  18. ↑ "Fulham v Wolves". BBC Sport. 11 September 2010.
  19. ↑ "Goal of the Season". Fulham FC. Retrieved 14 December 2013.
  20. ↑ "Fulham 2–5 Liverpool". Fulham FC. Retrieved 14 December 2013.
  21. ↑ Mokbel, Sami (15 March 2012). "Dembele starts talks with Fulham over new deal as Jol looks to head off Liverpool, Spurs and Arsenal". London: Daily Mail. Retrieved 15 March 2012.
  22. ↑ "Wigan 0–2 Fulham". BBC. Retrieved 29 October 2011.
  23. ↑ "Fulham 2–1 Sunderland". BBC. Retrieved 6 May 2012.
  24. ↑ "DEMBELE DEAL AGREED". Tottenham Hotspur F.C. 29 August 2012. Retrieved 14 December 2013.
  25. ↑ "Spurs land Dembele as Villas-Boas kicks off late spending spree with £15m swoop on Fulham". London: Daily Mail. 29 August 2012. Retrieved 29 August 2011.
  26. ↑ "Tottenham 1–1 Norwich". BBC Sport. 1 September 2012. Retrieved 1 September 2012.
  27. ↑ "Lyon 1-1 Tottenham". BBC Sport. 21 February 2013. Retrieved 22 February 2013.
  28. ↑ "Tottenham's Mousa Dembele hit with six-game ban for eye gouge on Diego Costa". The Daily Telegraph.
  29. ↑ "FIFA Tournaments - Players & Coaches - Moussa DEMBELE". FIFA.com.
  30. ↑ "Adnan Januzaj included in Belgium's World Cup squad". BBC Sport. 13 May 2014. Retrieved 15 May 2014.
  31. ↑ Chowdhury, Saj (17 June 2014). "Belgium 2-1 Algeria". BBC Sport. Retrieved 17 June 2014.
  32. ↑ "Dembele backs AVB plan to play strong side in Europe, insisting Spurs can cope". London: Daily Mail. 20 September 2012. Retrieved 20 September 2012.
  33. ↑ White, Jim (29 August 2012). "Sir Alex Ferguson hesitates and sees Tottenham swoop for Moussa Dembele, the latest Belgian to impress in England". London: The Telegraph. Retrieved 29 August 2012.
  34. ↑ "'Dembele is exactly what Manchester United need' - Goal.com debates the last week of the Premier League transfer window". goal.com. 27 August 2012. Retrieved 27 August 2012.
  35. ↑ "Jol: Dembele is the best player on the ball I've ever seen". London 24. 18 September 2012. Retrieved 18 September 2012.
  36. ↑ Xavier, Stefan D (3 March 2016). "Interview with Mousa Dembélé". Embassy of Belgium in United Kingdom. Retrieved 24 June 2016.
  37. ↑ Mousa Dembélé career statistics at Soccerbase
  38. ↑ "Mousa Dembélé". National Football Teams. Retrieved 2 June 2012.
  39. ↑ "Moussa Dembélé". eu-football.info. Retrieved 5 October 2014.
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