Toby Alderweireld
Encyclopedia
Tobias "Toby" Albertine Maurits Alderweireld (ˈtɔ.bi ˌɑl.dər.ˈʋɪ.rəlt) (born 2 March 1989 in Antwerp) is a Belgian
football defender
who currently plays for Ajax.
An all-round defender, Alderweireld is mostly known for his long passes and physical strength. He mainly plays as a centre back but can play at right back as well and is usually positioned as a right central defender as he is right-footed.
debut during a 1–1 draw against Fiorentina
in the UEFA Cup. Although he only made several appearances for the remainder of the season, he was awarded a new long-term contract extension until 2014.
During the early stages of the 2009–10 season
, Alderweireld established himself in the first team and starting eleven. He became first choice centre-back along with fellow Belgian Jan Vertonghen after the departure of former captain Thomas Vermaelen to Arsenal
. New coach Martin Jol
praised the two defenders and has kept faith in the duo after a string of good performances. During the 4 September win against Heracles that ended 3–0, he scored his first league goal for the club when he opened the scoring with a header from Luis Suárez
's corner. On 27 January, he scored a late equaliser in extra time during the KNVB Cup quarter final against NEC Nijmegen and Siem de Jong
's late goal five minutes before the final whistle sealed a 3–2 win for Ajax. At the end of the 2009–10 season
, Alderweireld was named "Ajax Talent of the Year". He assured himself of a place in the Eredivisie giants' history books on 3 November 2011, heading in Ajax's 100th UEFA Champions League goal in the 2-1 Group G defeat by AJ Auxerre. In the 2010-11 season, he scored a stunning 25 yard strike at the San Siro
against Champions League
group rivals AC Milan in a 0-2 away win. He followed this spectacular goal with an even more impressive 32 yard strike against Feyenoord
in a 2-0 home win.
at U17 level
in October 2005 and took part in the 2006 UEFA U17 Championship
. After the 2008–09 season concluded, he made his senior debut for the Belgian national team in a friendly tournament. However his full senior debut came three months later, in a match against the Czech Republic
. He was named in several 2010 World Cup qualifying
squads, but was mostly an unused substitute. In October 2009, he came on as a second-half substitute for Daniel Van Buyten in the 2–0 defeat to Estonia
.
Alderweireld was called up to the Belgian U21 squad
for the 2011 UEFA U21 Championship qualifier
against Ukraine
on 13 November 2009, with the match finishing 2-0 to Ukraine. He played right back
during
the 2012 UEFA Euro qualification match against Turkey
on 7 September 2010.
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...
football defender
Defender (association football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
who currently plays for Ajax.
An all-round defender, Alderweireld is mostly known for his long passes and physical strength. He mainly plays as a centre back but can play at right back as well and is usually positioned as a right central defender as he is right-footed.
Ajax
Alderweireld moved to Ajax's youth academy in August 2004 from Germinal Beerschot. On 22 February 2007, he signed his first professional contract tying him to the club until 30 June 2010. He was promoted to the first team for the 2008–09 season but only made his first team debut on 18 January, in the 4–2 victory over NEC Nijmegen. On 26 February, he made his EuropeanUEFA
The Union of European Football Associations , almost always referred to by its acronym UEFA is the administrative and controlling body for European association football, futsal and beach soccer....
debut during a 1–1 draw against Fiorentina
ACF Fiorentina
ACF Fiorentina, commonly referred to as simply Fiorentina, is a professional Italian football club from Florence, Tuscany. Founded by a merger in 1926, Fiorentina have played at the top level of Italian football for the majority of their existence; only four clubs have played in more Serie A...
in the UEFA Cup. Although he only made several appearances for the remainder of the season, he was awarded a new long-term contract extension until 2014.
During the early stages of the 2009–10 season
2009–10 Eredivisie
-Personnel and sponsoring:-Managerial changes:-League table:-Results:...
, Alderweireld established himself in the first team and starting eleven. He became first choice centre-back along with fellow Belgian Jan Vertonghen after the departure of former captain Thomas Vermaelen to Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
. New coach Martin Jol
Martin Jol
Maarten Cornelis "Martin" Jol is a Dutch football manager and former midfielder who currently manages Fulham in the Premier League. Jol played over 400 games during his career which included spells in the Netherlands, Germany, and England, as well as earning three caps with the Dutch national team...
praised the two defenders and has kept faith in the duo after a string of good performances. During the 4 September win against Heracles that ended 3–0, he scored his first league goal for the club when he opened the scoring with a header from Luis Suárez
Luis Suárez (Uruguayan footballer)
Luis Alberto Suárez Díaz , commonly known as Luis Suárez and nicknamed "El Pistolero" , is a Uruguayan footballer who plays for Liverpool and the Uruguayan national team...
's corner. On 27 January, he scored a late equaliser in extra time during the KNVB Cup quarter final against NEC Nijmegen and Siem de Jong
Siem de Jong
Siem de Jong is a Dutch football midfielder who plays for Ajax.De Jong was born in Aigle, Switzerland to Dutch parents and moved back to the Netherlands at age six...
's late goal five minutes before the final whistle sealed a 3–2 win for Ajax. At the end of the 2009–10 season
2009–10 Eredivisie
-Personnel and sponsoring:-Managerial changes:-League table:-Results:...
, Alderweireld was named "Ajax Talent of the Year". He assured himself of a place in the Eredivisie giants' history books on 3 November 2011, heading in Ajax's 100th UEFA Champions League goal in the 2-1 Group G defeat by AJ Auxerre. In the 2010-11 season, he scored a stunning 25 yard strike at the San Siro
San Siro
The Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, originally and commonly referred to as the San Siro because of its location, officially given its current name on 3 March 1980, is a football stadium located in the San Siro district in Milan, Italy. It is the home of both A.C. Milan and F.C. Internazionale Milano...
against Champions League
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
group rivals AC Milan in a 0-2 away win. He followed this spectacular goal with an even more impressive 32 yard strike against Feyenoord
Feyenoord Rotterdam
Feyenoord is a Dutch professional football club located in Rotterdam. Along with Ajax and PSV Eindhoven, Feyenoord is one of the "big three" clubs in the Netherlands. These three clubs and Utrecht and Roda JC are the only clubs never to have been relegated from the Dutch first division...
in a 2-0 home win.
International career
Alderweireld first represented BelgiumBelgium
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...
at U17 level
Belgium national youth football team
The Belgium national under-17 football team is the national under-17 football team of Belgium and is controlled by the Belgian Football Association. The team competes in the UEFA European Under-17 Football Championship and the FIFA U-17 World Cup...
in October 2005 and took part in the 2006 UEFA U17 Championship
2006 UEFA European Under-17 Football Championship
-Group B:---------------------Semifinals:-----Third Place Playoff:-Final:-Goalscorers:-References:**-External links:*...
. After the 2008–09 season concluded, he made his senior debut for the Belgian national team in a friendly tournament. However his full senior debut came three months later, in a match against the Czech Republic
Czech Republic national football team
The Czech Republic national football team represents the Czech Republic in association football and is controlled by the Football Association of the Czech Republic, the governing body for football in the Czech Republic. Their current head coach is Michal Bílek...
. He was named in several 2010 World Cup qualifying
2010 FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA)
The European zone of qualification for the 2010 FIFA World Cup saw 53 teams competing for 13 places at the finals. The qualification process started on 20 August 2008, after UEFA Euro 2008, and ended on 18 November 2009. The qualification process saw the first competitive matches of...
squads, but was mostly an unused substitute. In October 2009, he came on as a second-half substitute for Daniel Van Buyten in the 2–0 defeat to Estonia
Estonia national football team
The Estonia national football team represents Estonia in international association football. Team members are selected by the head coach of Estonian Football Association . Estonia play their home matches at the A. Le Coq Arena in Tallinn, Estonia....
.
Alderweireld was called up to the Belgian U21 squad
Belgium 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...
for the 2011 UEFA U21 Championship qualifier
2011 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship qualification
The 2011 UEFA European Under-21 Championship started with a qualifying competition which began on 27 March 2009 and finished on 13 October 2010. The final tournament is being held in Denmark between 11–25 June 2011....
against Ukraine
Ukraine national under-21 football team
The Ukraine national under-21 football team is the national under-21 football team of Ukraine and is controlled by the Football Federation of Ukraine.After Ukrainian Independence in 1991, the Ukraine senior team played their first match in April 1992...
on 13 November 2009, with the match finishing 2-0 to Ukraine. He played right back
Defender (football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
during
the 2012 UEFA Euro qualification match against Turkey
Turkey national football team
The Turkey national football team represents Turkey in association football and is controlled by the Turkish Football Federation, the governing body for football in Turkey. They are affiliated with UEFA...
on 7 September 2010.
Career statistics
As of 15 May 2011| Club | Season | League Eredivisie The 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.... |
Cup KNVB Cup The KNVB Cup is a competition in the Netherlands organized by the Royal Dutch Football Association since 1899. It was based on the format of the English FA Cup. Outside of the Netherlands, it is often referred to as the Dutch Cup... |
Europe | Total | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Ajax | 2008–09 Eredivisie 2008-09 The 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... |
5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 8 | 0 |
| 2009–10 | 31 | 2 | 6 | 1 | 8 | 0 | 45 | 3 | |
| 2010–11 | 26 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 12 | 3 | 42 | 5 | |
| Total | 62 | 4 | 10 | 1 | 23 | 3 | 95 | 8 | |
Club
Ajax- EredivisieEredivisieThe 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....
(1): 2010-11 - KNVB CupKNVB CupThe KNVB Cup is a competition in the Netherlands organized by the Royal Dutch Football Association since 1899. It was based on the format of the English FA Cup. Outside of the Netherlands, it is often referred to as the Dutch Cup...
(1): 2009-10