Steven Defour
Encyclopedia
Steven Arnold Defour is a Belgian
footballer who plays as a midfielder
for FC Porto.
But when that team went bankrupt he was part of a mass exodus of young talent from the club. Steven Defour went to Racing Genk
(together with future Genk players Marvin Ogunjimi
, David Hubert
& Anthony Limbombe). His Genk was as a substitute in the 2004–05 season but his big breakthrough was to be in the next season, when the 17 year old showed himself to be a playmaker in midfield with his passing ability. Defour wanted to leave for Ajax
soon after, but Genk refused the transfer. After a drawn-out period of negotiations he eventually signed a contract for Standard.
and Croatian international Milan Rapaić
in the 2006–07 season
. At the start of the 2007-08 season Standard chose Defour as their captain despite only being 19 years old.
During the 2007–08 season Defour received the Golden Shoe
, the official award for most valuable player in the league. He won this personal award at the same time as leading his team to their first Jupiler League title in 25 years. The next season was equally successful as Standard won the league for the second time in a row but only after a two-game play-off with Belgian heavyweights Anderlecht.
In late 2009 Defour broke his right foot. During his period of recovery he received a letter from Sir Alex Ferguson, manager of Manchester United, wishing him all the best in his recovery. This led to persistent rumours of a switch to the English giants. On 26 October talking to talksport Defour refuted these rumours by saying "I do know that Manchester United are monitoring me - if everything goes well and I continue playing as I am, there is a better chance of me leaving than there was at the start of the season. "
6m for the sporting rights of Steven Defour with a contract valid for 5 seasons.
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
footballer who plays as a midfielder
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
for FC Porto.
Racing Genk
Defour had been with KV Mechelen since 2002.But when that team went bankrupt he was part of a mass exodus of young talent from the club. Steven Defour went to Racing Genk
K.R.C. Genk
Koninklijke Racing Club Genk , usually referred to as Racing Genk or simply Genk, is a Belgian professional football club based in the city of Genk in Belgian Limburg. Racing Genk plays in the Belgian Pro League and they have won 3 Belgian champion titles in 1998–99, in 2001–02 and in 2010–11 as...
(together with future Genk players Marvin Ogunjimi
Marvin Ogunjimi
Marvin Ogunjimi is a Belgian football forward of Nigerian descent, who currently plays for RCD Mallorca and the Belgian national team.-Club career:...
, David Hubert
David Hubert
David Hubert is a Belgian footballer. A centre midfielder, he currently plays for K.R.C. Genk.-Biography:Hubert made his debut in February 2008 in the match against K.V.C. Westerlo...
& Anthony Limbombe). His Genk was as a substitute in the 2004–05 season but his big breakthrough was to be in the next season, when the 17 year old showed himself to be a playmaker in midfield with his passing ability. Defour wanted to leave for Ajax
Ajax Amsterdam
Amsterdamsche Football Club Ajax , also referred to as AFC Ajax, Ajax Amsterdam or simply Ajax , is a professional football club from Amsterdam, Netherlands...
soon after, but Genk refused the transfer. After a drawn-out period of negotiations he eventually signed a contract for Standard.
Standard Liège
Defour signed a 5-year deal with Standard, and played alongside Portuguese star Sérgio ConceiçãoSérgio Conceição
Sérgio Paulo Marceneiro da Conceição is a retired Portuguese footballer who played mostly as a right winger.Known for his speed and strength, combined with his good dribbling and crossing skills, and fairly accurate shooting. During his extensive career, he played for ten different teams, in five...
and Croatian international Milan Rapaić
Milan Rapaic
Milan "Miki" Rapaić was a Croatian football midfielder who last played for HNK Trogir after his contract with Standard Liège ended in July 2007....
in the 2006–07 season
2006-07 in Belgian football
The 2006-2007 season is the 113th competitive season in Belgian football.-Overview:Following promotion from the Belgian Second Division, Mons have returned to the Belgian First Division immediately after dropping to the second division during the 2004-2005 season...
. At the start of the 2007-08 season Standard chose Defour as their captain despite only being 19 years old.
During the 2007–08 season Defour received the Golden Shoe
Belgian Golden Shoe
In association football, the Belgian Golden Shoe is an award given in Belgium at the beginning of each civil year to the best footballer of the Belgian First Division for the past year. The trophy is sponsored by the Belgian newspaper Het Laatste Nieuws....
, the official award for most valuable player in the league. He won this personal award at the same time as leading his team to their first Jupiler League title in 25 years. The next season was equally successful as Standard won the league for the second time in a row but only after a two-game play-off with Belgian heavyweights Anderlecht.
In late 2009 Defour broke his right foot. During his period of recovery he received a letter from Sir Alex Ferguson, manager of Manchester United, wishing him all the best in his recovery. This led to persistent rumours of a switch to the English giants. On 26 October talking to talksport Defour refuted these rumours by saying "I do know that Manchester United are monitoring me - if everything goes well and I continue playing as I am, there is a better chance of me leaving than there was at the start of the season. "
FC Porto
On 15 August, 2011 Portuguese giants FC Porto reached an agreement with Standard Liege for €Euro
The euro is the official currency of the eurozone: 17 of the 27 member states of the European Union. It is also the currency used by the Institutions of the European Union. The eurozone consists of Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg,...
6m for the sporting rights of Steven Defour with a contract valid for 5 seasons.
Club
Standard Liège- Belgian League winner (2): 2007–08, 2008–09
- Belgian CupBelgian CupThe Belgian Cup is the main knockout football competition in Belgium, run by the Belgian Football Association. The first cup was held in 1911-12. The most successful cup club is Club Brugge KV with 10 titles followed by RSC Anderlecht and R Standard de Liège...
(1): 2010-112011 Belgian Cup FinalThe 2011 Belgian Cup Final, named Cofidis Cup after the sponsor, was played on 21 May 2011 between Westerlo and Standard Liège. It was the 56th Belgian Cup final and was won by Standard Liège.-Road to the Final:* Both clubs received a bye to round six....
- Belgian SupercupBelgian SupercupThe Belgian Supercup is a Belgian club competition played on a single match at the league champion venue since 2004 and formerly at the Stade Roi Baudouin, between the winner of the last Belgian Pro League and that of the last Belgian Cup. If both teams are the same, the opponent is declared to...
(2): 20082008 Belgian Super CupThe 2008 Belgian Super Cup is a football match that was played on 9 August 2008, between league winners Standard Liège and cup winners R.S.C. Anderlecht. Standard won convincingly with 3-1.-Match details:...
, 20092009 Belgian Super CupThe 2009 Belgian Super Cup is a football match that was played on 25 July 2009, between league winners Standard Liège and cup winners K.R.C. Genk. It was won easily by Standard Liège.-Match details:...
Individual
- Man of the Season - Highest average rating across the entire season (votes after every match on the official website)
- Winner : 2006–07
- Third : 2007–08Belgian First Division 2007-08The 2007-08 season of the Belgian First Division began on August 3, 2007 and concluded on May 10, 2008. The championship was decided in the 31st round on April 20, 2008, when Standard Liège beat Anderlecht 2-0 at home. For Standard it was their 9th League Championship, but just their first in the...
- Trophy Scharlaken UGH - Best Standard Liege player of the season presented by fan club Les Rouches des Flandres in cooperation with the official website
- Winner : 2006–07, 2007–08Belgian First Division 2007-08The 2007-08 season of the Belgian First Division began on August 3, 2007 and concluded on May 10, 2008. The championship was decided in the 31st round on April 20, 2008, when Standard Liège beat Anderlecht 2-0 at home. For Standard it was their 9th League Championship, but just their first in the...
- Winner : 2006–07, 2007–08
- Belgian Golden ShoeBelgian Golden ShoeIn association football, the Belgian Golden Shoe is an award given in Belgium at the beginning of each civil year to the best footballer of the Belgian First Division for the past year. The trophy is sponsored by the Belgian newspaper Het Laatste Nieuws....
: 1
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- 2007
| Goal | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 6 September 2008 | Stade Maurice Dufrasne Stade Maurice Dufrasne Stade Maurice Dufrasne is a football stadium in Liège, Belgium. The stadium holds 30,023 people. It is also known as Stade de Sclessin and is the home stadium of Standard Liège... , Liège Liège Liège is a major city and municipality of Belgium located in the province of Liège, of which it is the economic capital, in Wallonia, the French-speaking region of Belgium.... |
3 – 2 | Won | 2010 World Cup Qualification 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification The qualification competition for the 2010 FIFA World Cup was a series of tournaments organised by the six FIFA confederations. Each confederation — the AFC , CAF , CONCACAF , CONMEBOL , OFC , and UEFA — was allocated a certain number of the 32 places at the tournament... |