Table of Contents
Axel Witsel is one of the most prominent footballers from Belgium. He was born on January 12th, 1989, in Liege, Belgium, and he has been playing football professionally since the age of 17. His parents, Thierry and Sylvie Witsel, are both from Martinique, a Caribbean island that is part of the French West Indies. His siblings, Coralie and Gregory Witsel, are also footballers.
Career
Axel Witsel started his professional football career in the youth academy of Standard Liege in 2004. He spent two years in their youth team before making his debut for their first eleven in 2006. He made an instant impact with his performances, helping Standard Liege to win two Belgian First Division titles in 2007 and 2008. In 2009, he moved to Benfica in Portugal and spent two seasons with them. After that, he played for Zenit St. Petersburg in Russia and Borussia Dortmund in Germany.
Witsel is a versatile player who can play in different positions. He is a central midfielder but can also play as a defensive midfielder and even as a centre back. He is known for his physicality, excellent control, and passing ability. He has also scored many crucial goals for his teams over the years.
Goal records and Reputations
Witsel has scored a total of 100 goals in his professional career so far. In the Belgian First Division, he scored 30 goals in 137 appearances for Standard Liege. In Portugal, he scored 8 goals in 63 appearances for Benfica. In Russia, he scored 22 goals in 180 appearances for Zenit St. Petersburg. And in Germany, he has scored 15 goals in 102 appearances for Borussia Dortmund.
Witsel is widely regarded as one of Belgium’s best midfielders of his generation. He has been a key player for the Belgian national team since 2008 and has helped them to reach the semifinals of the FIFA World Cup 2018 in Russia. He has also won several individual awards, including the Belgian Golden Shoe in 2008 and the Zenit Player of the Year in 2014 and 2015.
Facts about Axel Witsel
- Witsel’s favourite footballers are Xavi, Andres Iniesta, and Patrick Vieira.
- He is fluent in both French and English.
- Witsel is a devout Christian.
- He enjoys playing chess.
- He has a fear of snakes.
Personal Life
Axel Witsel is married to his longtime girlfriend, Rafaella Szabo. They tied the knot in 2015, and they have three children together. Witsel is a private person and does not reveal much about his personal life. However, he is known to enjoy spending time with his family and friends when he is not playing football.
Education, Cars and House
Witsel’s educational background has not been fully disclosed to the public. It is believed that he completed his high school education in Belgium before pursuing a career in football.
Axel Witsel is known for his love for luxury cars. He owns a Porsche Cayenne, a Range Rover, a Mercedes-Benz G-Class, and an Audi S7.
In 2018, Witsel and his family moved into a lavish villa in Castrop-Rauxel, a city in Germany. The mansion has six bedrooms, a swimming pool, a football pitch, and a garage that can accommodate up to six cars.
Net worth
Axel Witsel’s net worth is estimated to be around $25 million. This translates to approximately 24,279,600 euros, 10,766,750,000 Nigerian Naira, 102,215,710 Ghana Cedi, 2,687,516,000 Kenyan Shilling, 366,288,750 South African Rand, 89,968,930 Uganda Shilling, and 1,833,217,500 Indian Rupee.
Awards and Nominations
Axel Witsel has won several awards and nominations throughout his career, including:
- Belgian Golden Shoe: 2008
- Belgian Pro League Team of the Year: 2008, 2009
- Russian Premier League Champion: 2012, 2015, 2019
- UEFA Europa League Squad of the Season: 2010–11, 2013–14
- Zenit St. Petersburg Player of the Year: 2014, 2015
Overall, Axel Witsel is a talented footballer who has achieved a lot in his career. His impressive performances on the pitch and his exemplary behaviour off the pitch make him a role model for young aspiring footballers.