Benedikt Höwedes

Benedikt Höwedes (German pronunciation: [ˈbɛnədɪkt ˈhøːvədəs]; born 29 February 1988) is a German former professional footballer who played as a defender. He spent the majority of his playing career for Schalke 04, which he captained for six seasons, and represented the Germany national football team from 2011 to 2017. At international level, Höwedes won the World Cup with Germany in 2014,[3] and was one of only three players to play every single minute of the tournament.[3] Höwedes described himself as a 'multi-functional player' in the defence, who can play in the centre or as both a left or right-sided full back.[4]

Benedikt Höwedes
Höwedes with Lokomotiv Moscow in 2018
Personal information
Full name Benedikt Höwedes[1]
Date of birth (1988-02-29) 29 February 1988
Place of birth Haltern, West Germany
Height 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)[2]
Position(s) Defender
Youth career
1994–2000 TuS Haltern
2000–2001 SG Herten-Langenbochum
2001–2007 Schalke 04
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2007–2009 Schalke 04 II 15 (0)
2007–2018 Schalke 04 240 (12)
2017–2018 → Juventus (loan) 3 (1)
2018–2020 Lokomotiv Moscow 35 (3)
Total 293 (16)
National team
2005–2006 Germany U18 3 (0)
2006–2007 Germany U19 16 (0)
2007 Germany U20 1 (0)
2007–2010 Germany U21 22 (3)
2011–2017 Germany 44 (2)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Club career

Schalke

Höwedes started playing football for his hometown club TuS Haltern in 1994. In 2001, he was transferred to the youth teams of FC Schalke 04. In 2003, he became captain of Schalke's under-19 team and as a member of that team he won the Under 19 Bundesliga in 2006.

In September 2007, the German Football Association honoured Höwedes with the Fritz Walter Medal as the best player of his age-group for the 2006–07 season.[5]

In January 2007, he signed a professional contract with Schalke, which ran until 30 June 2010, he then joined Schalke's Bundesliga squad in July. Until October 2007, however, he only played for Schalke's second team in the Oberliga (fourth division).

Höwedes' first professional match was in the Champions League on 3 October 2007.[6]

On 10 December 2008, Höwedes extended his contract which will keep him at the club until 30 June 2014.[7] On 23 July 2011, Höwedes became captain of Schalke. On 9 March 2013, Höwedes extended his contract with Schalke, until 30 June 2017.[8]

Loan to Juventus

On 30 August 2017, Höwedes joined Juventus on a one-year loan deal for €3.5 million plus €3 million variables, with an option to buy for €13M.[9] On 26 November, Höwedes made his Serie A and Juventus debut, in a 3–0 home win over Crotone.[10] On 15 April 2018, he scored his first goal for Juventus, in his second appearance for the club, in a 3–0 home win over Sampdoria.[11]

Lokomotiv Moscow

On 29 July 2018, Höwedes left Schalke to join Lokomotiv Moscow.[12] Lokomotiv announced the signing of a 4-year contract with Höwedes on 31 July 2018.[13] On 7 October 2018, he scored his first goal for Lokomotiv late in a game against PFC CSKA Moscow, giving his team a 1–0 victory.[14]

On 8 June 2020, his contract with Lokomotiv was terminated by mutual consent as he decided to return to Germany for family reasons.[15]

Retirement

On 31 July 2020, Höwedes announced his retirement from professional football.[16] Overall he played more than 275 top-flight matches in Germany, Italy and Russia.[17]

International career
Höwedes challenging Ezequiel Lavezzi in the 2014 FIFA World Cup Final

Höwedes played for the under-18 team and under-19 team and appeared in all matches up to and including the semi-final at the 2007 UEFA European Under-19 Championship. On 5 September 2007, he made his first and only under-20 team appearance, due to the fact that he was turning out for the under-21 team on a regular basis.[18]

He was a member of the squad which won the 2009 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship and started in Germany's 4–0 win against England in the final.[19]

On 29 May 2011, he made his debut for the senior team in a friendly against Uruguay.[20] On 7 June 2011, he played his first official match against Azerbaijan in UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying, Germany won the match 3–1, with Höwedes setting up the first goal, which was scored by Mesut Özil.[21]

Höwedes was selected for the German squad for UEFA Euro 2012 but did not make an appearance in the tournament.[22] On 15 August 2012, he scored his first goal in a 1–3 friendly defeat at home against Argentina.[23]

After making three appearances during 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification, Höwedes was named in Germany's squad for the tournament finals.[24] He was named in the starting line-up at left back against Portugal in the team's opening match, making his tournament debut.[25] Later on, he won the tournament, along with his team. In the 2014 World Cup final, Höwedes went close to opening the scoring by hitting the goalpost with a header after a corner kick in the last seconds of the first half.[26] Höwedes was also one of three German players who played every minute of all seven World Cup games, alongside goalkeeper Manuel Neuer and captain Philipp Lahm.[27]

He won his last cap in March 2017. Benedikt Höwedes appeared 44 times for the DFB premium team.[28]

Style of play

A large, versatile, reliable, and tenacious defender,[29] Höwedes was considered a defensive all-rounder, as he could be deployed in any defensive position.[30] Höwedes's main playing position was at centre back, but he could also be deployed as a right or left-sided full back and as a right or left-sided wing-back, which were the main positions that Höwedes was deployed in under Jens Keller.[30] In the early phase of his youth career, Höwedes mainly played as a defensive midfielder;[31] after joining Schalke, however, with whom he began his professional football career, he played mainly as a left-back.[31] Höwedes's main defensive strengths lied in his ability to win his oppositional one-on-one duels consistently, his fine heading ability, and his no-nonsense style of play.[31] Höwedes's height and high-jumping ability also made him an aerial threat, and saw him both score and set-up goals with his head. Additionally, Höwedes was also known for his well-timed sliding tackles and standing tackles,[31] as well as his good first-time passing,[31] technique, positional sense,[32] and great physical strength.[31] Despite his ability as a defender, he often struggled with injuries throughout his career.[33]

Career statistics

Club
Höwedes with Schalke in 2011

Ref.:[34]

ClubSeasonLeagueCupEuropeOther1Total
LeagueAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Schalke 04 II2006–07Oberliga Westfalen10———10
2007–08130———130
2008–09Regionalliga West10———10
Total150———150
Schalke 042007–08Bundesliga600030—90
2008–092422070—332
2009–1033353——386
2010–113016110210474
2011–12221308010341
2012–133203082—432
2013–1419131100—322
2014–152820061—343
2015–161511030—191
2016–1731140111—462
Total240122756662033523
Juventus2017–18Serie A310000—31
Total310000—31
Lokomotiv Moscow2018–19Russian Premier League173415000264
2019–20180006000240
Total3534111000504
Career total293163167762040328

International
Höwedes with a header that hit the post in the 45th minute of the 2014 FIFA World Cup Final against Argentina

Ref.:[35]

Germany
YearApp.Goals
201160
201241
201380
2014131
201510
2016110
201710
Total442

International goals
Scores and results lists Germany's goal tally first:[36]
#DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1.15 August 2012Commerzbank-Arena, Frankfurt, Germany Argentina1–31–3Friendly
2.6 June 2014Coface Arena, Mainz, Germany Armenia3–16–1

Honours
Höwedes (front, third left) celebrates winning the 2014 World Cup with the Germany national team

Club

Schalke 04[37]

Juventus[37]

Lokomotiv Moscow

International

Germany[37]

Individual

Personal life

Höwedes was born in Haltern, North Rhine-Westphalia, and he attended Gesamtschule Berger Feld.[39][40]

References
  1. "2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil: List of players: Germany" (PDF). FIFA. 14 July 2014. p. 16. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 January 2016. Retrieved 11 May 2019.
  2. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 22 April 2018. Retrieved 15 April 2018.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. "Benedikt HOEWEDES". FIFA. Retrieved 31 October 2015.
  4. "Benedikt Höwedes signs for Juventus!". Juventus F.C. 30 August 2017. Retrieved 30 August 2017 – via juventusfc.com.
  5. "DFB ehrt Nachwuchsspieler der Saison mit Medaille". Schwaebische.de. 7 September 2007. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 31 October 2015.
  6. "Zwangspause für Pander". kicker.de. 1 October 2007. Retrieved 3 May 2009.
  7. "Höwedes verlängert Vertrag auf Schalke". Bundesliga.de. 10 December 2008. Retrieved 31 October 2015.
  8. Burrow, John (9 March 2013). "Schalke extends Howedes contract until 2017". Goal.com. Retrieved 22 March 2013.
  9. "Benedikt Howedes: Schalke defender joins Juventus on loan". BBC Sport. 30 August 2017. Retrieved 30 August 2017.
  10. "Juventus break down Crotone wall". Football Italia. 26 November 2017.
  11. "Juve and the joy of six". Football Italia. 15 April 2018.
  12. "Höwedes vor Wechsel zu Lokomotive Moskau". Sky Sport (in German). 29 July 2018.
  13. Хёведес перешел в "Локомотив" (in Russian). FC Lokomotiv Moscow. 31 July 2018.
  14. "CSKA Moscow 0–1 Lokomotiv Moscow". ESPN FC. 7 October 2018. Retrieved 7 October 2019.
  15. "Хёведес покидает "Локомотив"" (in Russian). FC Lokomotiv Moscow. 8 June 2020.
  16. "World Cup winner Höwedes retires from soccer at 32". Yahoo Sports. 31 July 2020.
  17. Arnhold, Matthias (1 September 2020). "Benedikt Höwedes - Matches and Goals in Bundesliga". RSSSF.com. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
  18. "Deutschland – Österreich 0:1 (0:0)" (in German). dfb.de. Retrieved 6 January 2012.
  19. "2009: Germany take title at last". UEFA. 1 July 2009. Retrieved 14 August 2014.
  20. "Germany get better of Uruguay again". UEFA. 29 May 2011. Retrieved 14 August 2014.
  21. "Gomez strikes in Azerbaijan as Germany march on". UEFA. 7 June 2011. Retrieved 14 August 2014.
  22. "Benedikt HOEWEDES". FIFA. Retrieved 22 June 2014.
  23. "Argentina beats Germany 3–1 in exhibition". Yahoo! Sports. Associated Press. 15 August 2012. Retrieved 16 August 2012.
  24. "Germany World Cup 2014 squad". The Telegraph. 2 June 2014. Retrieved 22 June 2014.
  25. "Germany 4–0 Portugal". BBC. 16 June 2014. Retrieved 22 June 2014.
  26. "Germany vs. Argentina 1:0 (after extra time), match commentary". flashscore.com. 13 July 2014. Retrieved 18 July 2014.
  27. "Arsenal transfer news: Arsene Wenger monitoring Benedikt Howedes, William Carvalho and Luiz Gustavo – reports". The Independent. 12 August 2014. Retrieved 14 August 2014.
  28. Arnhold, Matthias (1 September 2020). "Benedikt Höwedes - International Appearances". RSSSF.com. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
  29. Filippo Conticello (24 August 2017). "Juve-Howedes, è fatta: battuta la concorrenza dell'Inter". La Gazzetta dello Sport (in Italian). Retrieved 24 August 2017.
  30. "Howedes happy to play left-back for Germany". FourFourTwo. 15 June 2014. Retrieved 4 September 2014.
  31. "Benedikt Höwedes – der Abwehrspieler vom FC Schalke 04 im Porträt" [Benedikt Höwedes – the defender of FC Schalke 04 in Portrait]. bundesligamannschaften.de (in German). Retrieved 4 September 2014.
  32. Massimo Pavan (27 November 2017). "PIANO A DISTRUGGERE PRIMA ED ESALTARE POI, CI VUOLE EQUILIBRIO" (in Italian). Tutto Juve. Retrieved 6 June 2018.
  33. Emmerson, Oliver (30 August 2017). "Benedikt Höwedes leaves Schalke for Juventus loan". vavel.com. Retrieved 7 October 2019.
  34. "Benedikt Höwedes " Club matches". World Football.
  35. Benedikt Höwedes at National-Football-Teams.com
  36. "Benedikt Höwedes – Soccerway profile". Soccerway.
  37. Benedikt Höwedes at Soccerway
  38. ""Локомотив" – обладатель ОЛИМП-Суперкубка России". РПЛ. 6 July 2019.
  39. "Schalker Draxler ab Mitte Februar wieder Schüler". Lübecker Nachrichten Magazin. 11 February 2011. Retrieved 2 March 2011.
  40. Gheerbrant, James (11 June 2018). "A German system that has made them the team of the century". The Times. Retrieved 24 July 2018.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.