Thibaut Nicolas Marc Courtois ( bear 11 May 1992 ) is a belgian professional football player who plays as a goalkeeper for spanish cabaret Real Madrid and the Belgium national team. He is considered one of the best goalkeepers in populace football. [ 4 ] [ 5 ] [ 6 ] Courtois progressed through the youth organization of Genk, and aged 18, he played a key role in the team ‘s belgian Pro League victory. In July 2011 he joined Chelsea for a reported £8 million, and was immediately loaned to Atlético Madrid. In three seasons there, he won the Europa League in 2012, the Copa del Rey in 2013 and the La Liga title in 2014. He besides won the Ricardo Zamora Trophy for best goalkeeper in La Liga, for his performances in his two latter seasons. Courtois returned to Chelsea in July 2014, and in his first temper he helped them win the League Cup and the Premier League championship. Two years by and by, he won the Premier League Golden Glove as Chelsea again won the league. In 2018, Real Madrid signed Courtois for £35 million, becoming La Liga ‘s most expensive goalkeeper, surpassing the record set by Jan Oblak. He won a second La Liga entitle and a third Zamora trophy in 2020.
Reading: Thibaut Courtois
Courtois made his senior international debut in October 2011, becoming the youngest goalkeeper to represent Belgium. He has since earned over ninety caps and appeared at the 2014 FIFA World Cup, UEFA Euro 2016, the 2018 FIFA World Cup and UEFA Euro 2020 ; he was awarded the Golden Glove in 2018 as the best goalkeeper of the tournament, with Belgium finishing third .
Club career [edit ]
early career [edit ]
Courtois was born in the city of Bree in Flanders, to a Walloon father and a flemish mother. [ 7 ] He began his career with local side Bilzen V.V., [ 8 ] as a leave back. soon after, in 1999, he joined Racing Genk at the historic period of seven, and it was there that he was converted into a goalkeeper .
Genk [edit ]
Courtois with Genk during the 2010–11 season Courtois progressed through the Genk youth system, where Koen Casteels was initially regarded as the chief goalkeeper, but during an injury crisis Courtois, aged 16 years and 341 days, made his first team debut on 17 April 2009 against Gent. After turning down a transfer to TSG 1899 Hoffenheim of the Bundesliga, Courtois was made first-choice goalkeeper for the 2010–11 temper ahead of Casteels, when Laszlo Koteles ‘ registration ran into issues. [ 9 ] He was a key calculate in Genk ‘s deed victory in the 2010–11 season in the belgian Pro League. He received the Goalkeeper of the year and Genk ‘s Player of the Year award, merely conceding 32 goals over the course of 40 league matches and keeping 14 clean sheets for Genk. [ 10 ] [ 11 ]
Chelsea [edit ]
In July 2011 Courtois joined Premier League club Chelsea for a reported €9 million, signing a five-year cope. [ 12 ] [ 13 ]
loan to Atlético Madrid [edit ]
Courtois playing for Atlético Madrid in 2013 Within weeks of joining Chelsea, Courtois was sent on a season-long lend to Atlético Madrid. [ 14 ]
2011–12 temper [edit ]
Courtois made his debut for Atlético in a 4–0 UEFA Europa League victory over Vitória de Guimarães on 25 August, [ 15 ] and three days later kept a clean sheet on his La Liga debut, a scoreless draw against Osasuna at the Vicente Calderón Stadium. [ 16 ] Courtois became first-choice goalkeeper over Sergio Asenjo, keeping four clean sheets in his first six La Liga games. [ 17 ] [ 18 ] [ 19 ] [ 20 ] [ 21 ] On 26 November 2011, Courtois received his first red batting order of his professional career after fouling Real Madrid ‘s Karim Benzema for a penalty in the Madrid bowler hat. Cristiano Ronaldo put the penalty past ersatz goalkeeper Asenjo as Atlético lost 1–4. [ 22 ] Atlético reached the 2012 UEFA Europa League Final, and Courtois kept a fairly sheet as the clubhouse won 3–0 over fellow spanish side Athletic Bilbao. [ 23 ]
2012–13 season [edit ]
Courtois ‘ lend to Atlético was extended to cover the 2012–13 season. [ 24 ] His first game of the loan extension was against parent golf club Chelsea in the 2012 UEFA Super Cup concluding in Monaco, which ended in a 4–1 victory for Atlético Madrid. Later in the season Courtois set a raw Atlético Madrid record of 820 minutes without conceding a goal at the Estadio Vicente Calderon, [ 25 ] ended by being beaten in a 1–0 loss to Real Sociedad. [ 26 ] Atlético reached the 2013 Copa del Rey Final, and Courtois was named man of the match [ 27 ] in a 2–1 victory against Real, the inaugural clock that Atlético had beaten their city rivals in 14 years .
2013–14 season [edit ]
For the 2013–14 season, Courtois loanword to Atlético was extended by a further 12 months. [ 28 ] When Atlético were drawn to play Chelsea in the Champions League semi-final, it was reported that a article in Courtois ‘ contract required Atlético to pay Chelsea €3 million per equal if they selected him against his parent clubhouse, and that Atlético could not afford such a kernel. UEFA made it gain that considerations of sporting integrity made such a clause “ null, invalidate and unenforceable ”, and confirmed that Atlético were free to select Courtois without making any such requital. [ 29 ] [ 30 ] By conceding the fewest goals in a substantial number of matches during the 2013–14 season, Courtois won the Ricardo Zamora Trophy and made an important contribution to Atletico ‘s 2013–14 La Liga style, their first since 1996. He was nominated for the La Liga Award for the best goalkeeper in the league, aboard Willy Caballero of Málaga CF and Keylor Navas of Levante UD, which Navas finally won. [ 31 ] Atletico, however, lost the UEFA Champions League Final 1–4 a.e.t. against neighbor real Madrid on 24 May in Lisbon. [ 32 ]
return to Chelsea [edit ]
2014–15 season [edit ]
Courtois playing for Chelsea in 2014 In June 2014, Chelsea director José Mourinho confirmed that Courtois would return to Chelsea for the approaching season. [ 33 ] He was assigned the count 13 kit act, last wear by Victor Moses. [ 34 ] On 18 August, Mourinho announced that Courtois would start the Premier League undoer against Burnley in place of Petr Čech. Although he conceded the first goal to Scott Arfield at Turf Moor, Chelsea won 3–1. [ 35 ] Courtois kept his first gear Premier League clean tabloid in his second game, making several crucial saves in a 2–0 home acquire over Leicester City. [ 36 ] On 11 September 2014, Courtois signed a new five-year contract with Chelsea, keeping him at the club until 2019. Upon signing Courtois said : “ It ’ randomness very nice to have signed this fresh contract for five years. ” [ 37 ] Courtois suffered a head injury in the first half of Chelsea ‘s 2–0 home winnings over Arsenal on 5 October ascribable to a collision with Alexis Sánchez ; he was substituted and then taken to hospital. [ 38 ] He was then treated for a minor baseball swing to his ear and released from hospital that night. [ 39 ] He won his first trophy with Chelsea on 1 March 2015, as they defeated Tottenham Hotspur 2–0 in the League Cup Final, with Čech alternatively playing in that match ; [ 40 ] Chelsea besides finished the season as league champions .
2015–16 season [edit ]
Courtois playing for Chelsea in 2015 Courtois opened the season by playing in the 2015 FA Community Shield on 2 August, a 1–0 loss to Arsenal. [ 41 ] Six days late, as the Premier League political campaign opened with a home repair against Swansea City, he was given a straight crimson card for conceding a punishment with a cruddy on Bafétimbi Gomis, who converted the penalty by replacement Asmir Begović for a 2–2 draw. [ 42 ] On his recurrence on 23 August, Courtois saved a punishment from James Morrison in a 3–2 win at West Bromwich Albion. [ 43 ] Courtois suffered a peg injury in training on 11 September which required operation and intend that he was expected to miss the following three months of competition. [ 44 ] On 16 April, he was sent off at home to Manchester City for conceding a penalty with a foul on Fernandinho ; Sergio Agüero converted it by Begović to seal a 3–0 win. He became the one-sixth Premier League goalkeeper to be sent off doubly in the same temper. [ 45 ]
2016–17 temper [edit ]
On 17 August 2016, Courtois dismissed any transfer rumor and stated he would stay at Chelsea for many years to come. [ 46 ] Ten days late in the 3–0 home victory over Burnley, Courtois kept the foremost clean sheet of the season and broke a run of thirteen home Premier League games without a clean sheet since November 2015. [ 47 ] From 1 October to 20 November, Chelsea earned a rivulet of six games without conceding a unmarried goal ; with Courtois playing in all six of them. [ 48 ] [ 49 ] From 11 to 26 December, Courtois kept four clean sheets, as Chelsea were at the top of table in time for Christmas. [ 50 ]
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In April 2017, Courtois was ruled out for the match against rivals Manchester United, as a leave of suffering a reported ankle injury, which he sustained in train. [ 51 ] Chelsea would go on to lose the match 0–2. [ 52 ] On 12 May 2017, Courtois kept his third base straight clean sail in a 1–0 away win over West Bromwich Albion, in which Chelsea secured the style. [ 53 ] Courtois besides played for Chelsea in the FA Cup Final ; which Chelsea lost 2–1 to Arsenal. [ 54 ] Courtois kept a total of 16 clean sheets in the Premier League and won the Golden Glove. [ 55 ]
real Madrid [edit ]
Courtois playing for Real Madrid in 2019 Following the 2017–18 season, Courtois mentioned he would want to live closer to his children, reigniting the rumor about a transmit to Real Madrid. [ 56 ] [ 57 ] After a solid performance at the 2018 FIFA World Cup, where he won the Golden Glove for best goalkeeper, Courtois expressed his interest in moving on. [ 58 ] [ 59 ] Chelsea stated they would not let him go unless they were able to find a substitution for him. [ 60 ] Courtois responded by not showing up for prepare after the summer fracture, trying to force his exit from Chelsea. [ 61 ] On 8 August 2018, Real Madrid announced that they had signed Courtois on a six-year contract. [ 62 ] A day late, Chelsea confirmed the transfer. [ 63 ] He made his debut for Madrid on 1 September 2018, where he started in a 4–1 acquire over CD Leganés. [ 64 ] On 12 January 2020, Real Madrid beat Atlético Madrid in a penalty gunfight to win their eleventh Supercopa de España entitle. [ 65 ] In the gunfight, Saul saw his spot-kick hit the post before Thomas ‘ feat was saved by Courtois, giving Ramos the casual to secure Real ‘s 11th spanish Super Cup victory. On 5 July 2020, Courtois kept his seventeenth clean sheet of the 2019–20 La Liga season in a 1–0 away win over athletic Bilbao, becoming the first Real Madrid goalkeeper to do sol in a single season since Francisco Buyo in 1994–95. [ 66 ] He was the undisputed starter during the league season, as real Madrid won the 2019–20 La Liga, [ 67 ] becoming the beginning musician since Jose Luis Perez-Paya in 1954 to be crowned champion with both Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid. [ 68 ] He won the Zamora Trophy for the third base meter in his career, after conceding good 20 goals in 34 matches. [ 69 ] On 16 August 2021, he signed a fresh four-year contract, running until 2026. [ 70 ]
International career [edit ]
early career [edit ]
Courtois was first called up to the Belgium police squad in October 2011 [ 71 ] [ 72 ] and made his debut the following month in a friendly 0–0 draw against France at the Stade de France, making him the youngest goalkeeper to play for the belgian national team. [ 73 ] [ 74 ] [ 75 ]
2014 World Cup [edit ]
Courtois played every minute during the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification campaign, as Belgium qualified for its beginning major tournament since the 2002 FIFA World Cup. [ 76 ] Throughout these qualifiers, he kept six clean sheets in ten matches. On 13 May 2014, Courtois was named in the squad to go to the 2014 FIFA World Cup. [ 77 ] At the tournament, he played all five games of the belgian team, starting with a 2–1 succeed against Algeria in Belo Horizonte. [ 78 ] Courtois then managed to keep back-to-back clean and jerk sheets in 1–0 wins against Russia and South Korea as the Red Devils reached the quarter-finals .
euro 2016 [edit ]
Courtois played every infinitesimal during Belgium ‘s first eight games of their UEFA Euro 2016 qualification campaign, helping seal reservation for the first time in 16 years. however, he missed their final two games due to injury. [ 79 ] Courtois and his side made it to the quarter-final, where they lost to Wales despite taking an early lead. Afterwards, Courtois hinted that Belgium coach Marc Wilmots was at fault for the loss and besides stated that the get the better of was the “ biggest disappointment ” of his career. [ 80 ]
2018 World Cup [edit ]
Courtois ( far left ) with Belgium at the 2018 FIFA World Cup Courtois was selected to Belgium ‘s final 23-man police squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup. [ 81 ] He was Belgium ‘s first-choice goalkeeper throughout the tournament, and played a keystone role in Belgium ‘s 2–1 acquire over Brazil in the quarter-final, which saw Belgium advance to the semi-finals of the tournament for the first time since 1986. [ 82 ] [ 83 ] He posted two blank sheets in the group stage ( against Panama and England ), allowed only one finish in Belgium ‘s loss to eventual ace France in the semi-final, and posted another clean sheet against England in the 3rd place game. Courtois made 27 saves in seven World Cup games, more than any early goalkeeper. [ 84 ] He was awarded the Golden Glove as best goalkeeper of the tournament. [ 85 ]
UEFA Euro 2020 [edit ]
On 17 May 2021, he was selected to the final examination team for the UEFA Euro 2020. [ 86 ]
stylus of play [edit ]
Courtois making a save during the quarter-final match five Brazil, which Belgium won 2–1 Considered a highly promise view in his youth, [ 87 ] Courtois subsequently established himself as one of the best players in the world in his position. [ 88 ] due to his wide range of skills, he has been described as a “ complete goalkeeper ”, with few weaknesses. [ 87 ] A consistent keeper, [ 87 ] he possesses an excellent positional sense, [ 89 ] [ 90 ] good brain, composure, forte of quality, [ 89 ] [ 91 ] [ 92 ] and an ability to communicate well with his defenders ; [ 87 ] he besides excels in one on one situations, due to his ability to time his runs efficaciously when rushing out of goal to front opponents, [ 87 ] [ 90 ] and has even functioned as a sweeper-keeper on occasion. [ 93 ] An excellent shot-stopper between the posts, he has besides distinguished himself for his agility and quick reflexes, in cattiness of his size and inflict human body. [ 87 ] [ 90 ] [ 92 ] [ 94 ] [ 95 ] During the 2016–17 season, he credited his goalkeeping passenger car with Chelsea under director Antonio Conte, Gianluca Spinelli, for helping him to improve his overall bet on and goalkeeping technique, in particular his foot-work and dive, which enabled him to be more explosive and get to ground more promptly. [ 96 ] [ 97 ] due to his height and strive, he excels in the vent, [ 87 ] [ 98 ] and is besides known for his command of his area, adenine well as his excellent technique, anticipation, handling, and confidence when coming off his line to claim crosses. [ 99 ] [ 100 ] furthermore, he is known for his ability to distribute the ball to his teammates with long throws. [ 101 ]
personal life [edit ]
Courtois speaks both Dutch and French, american samoa well as spanish and English. [ 7 ] Thibaut ‘s older sister Valérie Courtois is a volleyball player who plays as a libero for Stade Français Paris Saint Cloud and Belgium. [ 102 ] His parents were volleyball players, and he played the sport in his childhood but decided to focus on football when he was 12. [ 102 ] On 26 May 2015, his spanish girlfriend Marta Domínguez gave birth to their daughter, Adriana. [ 103 ] The couple ended their relationship in April 2017 while Domínguez was fraught with their son Nicolás, who was born a month belated. [ 104 ] He is in a relationship with Israeli model Mishel Gerzig [ 105 ] since July 2021, [ 106 ] [ 107 ] [ 108 ] and in August 2021 they adopted a frump together. [ 109 ]
In popular culture [edit ]
Inspired by Courtois ‘ put from a particular save in January 2013, a colombian fan created a new far-flung social media meme called ‘Thibauting ‘ to pay court to the belgian goalkeeper. [ 110 ] In November 2013, the bible was included in a shortlist composed by leading Dutch dictionary Van Dale to be polled to determine the best newfangled sports/amusement word of the year in Belgium, [ 111 ] and ended second. [ 112 ] The term is based on and pronounced the lapp way as “ Tebowing “, and is besides similar to the cosmopolitan ‘ planking ‘ meme which was democratic in 2011. In 2021, Courtois participated in the 2021 F1 Virtual Grand Prix backing as an Alfa Romeo driver. [ 113 ]
Controversies [edit ]
In February 2014, Courtois caused some stir in the home team, by saying of Simon Mignolet, his rival for the starting goalkeeper spot, “ You have to know how to stay base and respectful, and he should remember that. ” [ 114 ] This was despite the fact that in previous interviews, Mignolet had only said that it was his ambition to keep running and try to regain his touch in the national team. [ 115 ] In April 2018, Wilmots, by then out of a job, accused Courtois and his founder Thierry of leaking Belgium ‘s line-ups before they should have been revealed to the public. He denied the allegations. [ 116 ] [ 117 ]
career statistics [edit ]
club [edit ]
- As of match played 4 December 2021[118][119]
International [edit ]
- As of matches played 13 November 2021[120][121]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team
Year
Apps
Goals
Belgium
2011
1
0
2012
6
0
2013
7
0
2014
13
0
2015
6
0
2016
14
0
2017
8
0
2018
15
0
2019
9
0
2020
2
0
2021
13
0
Total
94
0
Honours [edit ]
Genk
Atlético Madrid
Chelsea
Real Madrid
Belgium
Individual
References [edit ]
Read more: S.S. Lazio