Sébastien Pocognoli
Encyclopedia
Sébastien Pocognoli is a Belgian
international footballer who plays professionally in Belgium for Standard Liège
. Pocognoli, who is of Italian
origin, can play as a left back or as a left winger.
, Pocognoli began his career with Standard Liège
, but left at the age of fifteen to join Genk
. In April 2004, he made his first-team debut aged just sixteen, and broke into the first-team in 2006 due to the injuries faced in Genk that season.
On 22 June 2007 he signed a five-year deal with Dutch side AZ. On 26 January 2010 the Belgian international left back wing got back to his former team Standard Liége for a transfer fee of undisclosed sum, signing with Les Rouches until June 30, 2014
, and was part of the 2007 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship
. Pocognoli helped them finish 2nd in their group, ahead of Portugal after scoring a crucial equalizer against the Netherlands, to book their place in the semi-final against Serbia, which they lost 2–0. Nevertheless Belgium went through to the Olympic football in Beijing in 2008.
AZ
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...
international footballer who plays professionally in Belgium for Standard Liège
Standard Liège
Royal Standard de Liège, commonly referred to as Standard Liège Royal Standard de Liège, commonly referred to as Standard Liège Royal Standard de Liège, commonly referred to as Standard Liège (Dutch: Standard Luik [], German: Standard Lüttich , is a Belgian football club from the city of Liège....
. Pocognoli, who is of Italian
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
origin, can play as a left back or as a left winger.
Club career
Born in LiègeLiège
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....
, Pocognoli began his career with Standard Liège
Standard Liège
Royal Standard de Liège, commonly referred to as Standard Liège Royal Standard de Liège, commonly referred to as Standard Liège Royal Standard de Liège, commonly referred to as Standard Liège (Dutch: Standard Luik [], German: Standard Lüttich , is a Belgian football club from the city of Liège....
, but left at the age of fifteen to join 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...
. In April 2004, he made his first-team debut aged just sixteen, and broke into the first-team in 2006 due to the injuries faced in Genk that season.
On 22 June 2007 he signed a five-year deal with Dutch side AZ. On 26 January 2010 the Belgian international left back wing got back to his former team Standard Liége for a transfer fee of undisclosed sum, signing with Les Rouches until June 30, 2014
International career
Pocognoli was a member of the Belgium under-21 teamBelgium national under-21 football team
The Belgium national under-21 football team is the national under-21 football team of Belgium and is controlled by the Belgian Football Association. The team competes in the European Under-21 Football Championship, held every two years...
, and was part of the 2007 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship
2007 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship
The UEFA U-21 Championship 2007 were held from 10 June 2007 to 23 June 2007. It is the 16th staging of UEFA's European Under-21 Football Championship....
. Pocognoli helped them finish 2nd in their group, ahead of Portugal after scoring a crucial equalizer against the Netherlands, to book their place in the semi-final against Serbia, which they lost 2–0. Nevertheless Belgium went through to the Olympic football in Beijing in 2008.
Club honours
AZ
- Dutch ChampionshipEredivisieThe Eredivisie is the highest football league in the Netherlands. The league was founded in 1956 two years after the start of professional football in the Netherlands. It is currently ranked the ninth best league in Europe by UEFA....
- Winner (1): 2008–09Eredivisie 2008-09The Eredivisie 2008–09 is the fifty-third season of Eredivisie since its establishment in 1955. PSV were the reigning champions. The season began on 29 August 2008 with a game between Vitesse and FC Groningen and ended on 10 May 2009. A total of 18 teams take part in the league, consisting of 16...
- Winner (1): 2008–09
- Dutch Super Cup
- Winner (1): 2009Johan Cruijff-schaal XIVThe 2009 Johan Cruijff Schaal was held on 25 July 2009 in the Amsterdam ArenA. The match featured the Eredivisie 2008–09 champions AZ and KNVB Cup 2008–09 winners Heerenveen. The match started off the 2009–10 season in Dutch football.-Match details:...
- Winner (1): 2009