Steven Defour

Steven Arnold Defour (born 15 April 1988) is a Belgian professional footballer who plays for K.V. Mechelen as a midfielder.

Steven Defour
Defour playing for Anderlecht in 2015
Personal information
Full name Steven Arnold Defour[1]
Date of birth (1988-04-15) 15 April 1988[2]
Place of birth Mechelen, Belgium
Height 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)[2]
Position(s) Midfielder
Club information
Current team
 Mechelen
Number 88
Youth career
1993–1997 Zennester Hombeek
1997–2004 Mechelen
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2004–2006 Genk 30 (1)
2006–2011 Standard Liège 127 (13)
2011–2014 Porto 65 (3)
2014–2016 Anderlecht 63 (9)
2016–2019 Burnley 51 (2)
2019–2020 Antwerp 11 (0)
2020– Mechelen 2 (0)
National team
2003 Belgium U15 5 (1)
2003–2004 Belgium U16 11 (1)
2004–2005 Belgium U17 11 (1)
2005 Belgium U18 1 (0)
2006–2017 Belgium 52 (2)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 14:10, 29 November 2020 (UTC)

In his senior career he played for Genk, Standard Liège, Porto, Anderlecht, Burnley, Antwerp and Mechelen, winning a combined nine honours with the second and third clubs.

Defour earned his first cap for Belgium in 2006, and represented the nation in the 2014 World Cup.

Club career

Racing Genk

Born in Mechelen, Defour played youth football with local K.V. Mechelen, moving to K.R.C. Genk in 2004 due to the club's financial difficulties. He made his Pro League debut during the 2004–05 season and, at just 17, became first-choice, finishing the 2005–06 campaign with 26 games and one goal to help his team to the fifth position.

When Genk failed to qualify for European competition, Defour tried to move to AFC Ajax in the summer of 2006. Enraged by earlier reports that Ajax had approached the player to broker a deal without their consent, Genk did not accept the proposed transfer fee, and after protracted negotiations, Ajax pulled out of the deal. Defour tried to force a transfer by threatening to leave, using a Belgian law that allowed professional athletes on fixed-term contracts to leave their employers before the end of the stipulated term, but Ajax did not express a renewed interest in his services, and he ended up signing for Standard Liège for a much-reduced transfer fee, effectively breaking a gentlemen's agreement between Belgian sides not to sign under-contract players using the aforementioned law.[3][4][5]

Standard Liège

Defour joined Standard on a five-year deal,[6] being appointed team captain at the start of his second year after taking over from Portugal's Sérgio Conceição – he was just 19 years old.[7] He received the Belgian Golden Shoe at the end of the season in the process, leading the Reds to their first league title in 25 years.[8]

In late 2009, shortly after scoring four goals in 31 games to help Standard renew their domestic supremacy, Defour broke his right foot. During his period of recovery he received a letter from Alex Ferguson, manager of Manchester United, wishing him all the best in his recovery,[9] and this led to persistent rumours of a switch to the English club, but he refuted these by saying "I do know that Manchester United are monitoring me – if everything goes well and I continue playing as I am, there is a better chance of me leaving than there was at the start of the season";[10] eventually, nothing came of it.

Porto
Defour playing for Porto in 2013

On 15 August 2011, Portuguese club FC Porto agreed with Standard Liége[11] to buy the sporting rights of Defour for €6 million, and he signed a five-year contract.[12][13] He finished his first year with 37 appearances all competitions comprised and added two goals,[14][15] helping his new team win the Primeira Liga championship.[16]

On 18 September 2012, Defour netted Porto's second goal against GNK Dinamo Zagreb in the group stage of the UEFA Champions League (2–0 away win).[17] On 13 March of the following year, for the same competition but in the round of 16, he was booked twice and subsequently sent off in the 49th minute of the second leg of the tie at Málaga CF, as the northerners lost 0–2 at La Rosaleda Stadium and 1–2 on aggregate.[18]

Anderlecht

On 13 August 2014, Defour signed a five-year deal with R.S.C. Anderlecht, for €6 million. On 25 January of the following year, when playing at Standard Liège, he was sent off for deliberately kicking the ball at home fans who had unfurled a banner depicting his severed head under the slogan "Red or Dead". His ejection caused the visiting supporters to rip out their seats and throw them onto the pitch,[19] and the banner received criticism from both the Royal Belgian Football Association and the league.[20]

Burnley

On 16 August 2016, Defour signed for Premier League club Burnley for a club-record transfer fee of £8 million.[21][22] He made his competitive debut four days later, starting in a 2–0 home win over Liverpool in which he helped create the second goal by Andre Gray but was substituted early in the second half due to a lack of fitness.[23] On 10 September, also at Turf Moor, he scored his first goal for his new team to open a 1–1 draw with fellow promotee Hull City, and was praised after the match by manager Sean Dyche.[24]

During his later spell, Defour was constantly bothered by injury problems.[25] On 31 August 2019, he had his contract terminated citing personal reasons.[26]

Later career

In September 2019, aged 31, Defour joined Royal Antwerp F.C. on a one-year deal.[27][28] On 16 October 2020, he returned to Mechelen 13 years after leaving the Achter de Kazerne, agreeing to a performance-oriented contract.[29]

International career
Defour lining-up for Belgium in 2011

Defour made his debut for the Belgian senior team in May 2006, aged just 18.[30] He scored his first goal on 6 September 2008, in a 3–2 win against Estonia at his club ground the Stade Maurice Dufrasne for the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.[31]

Defour scored once in three appearances in qualification for the 2014 World Cup, opening a 2–0 win away to Scotland on 6 September 2013.[32] He was selected for the finals in Brazil by manager Marc Wilmots,[33] making his debut in the competition on 26 June in the third group stage match against South Korea after Belgium had already won their first two outings and sealed qualification, and was sent off in the last minute of the first half of the eventual 1–0 success after a rash tackle on Kim Shin-wook.[34]

On 25 May 2018, 30-year-old Defour announced his retirement from international football.[35]

Career statistics

Club
As of match played 6 November 2020[36]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup League Cup Europe Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Genk 2004–05 Belgian First Division 4000—00—40
2005–06 Belgian First Division 26120—1[lower-alpha 1]0—291
Total 30120—10—331
Standard Liège 2006–07 Belgian First Division 29471—4[lower-alpha 2]0—405
2007–08 Belgian First Division 24131—3[lower-alpha 1]0—302
2008–09[37] Belgian Pro League 33410—10[lower-alpha 3]01[lower-alpha 4]0454
2009–10[37] Belgian Pro League 13100—3[lower-alpha 5]01[lower-alpha 4]0171
2010–11[37] Belgian Pro League 27350———323
2011–12[37] Belgian Pro League 10———0010
Total 12713162—2002016515
Porto 2011–12[37] Primeira Liga 24121308[lower-alpha 6]000372
2012–13[37] Primeira Liga 25220517[lower-alpha 7]11[lower-alpha 8]0404
2013–14[37] Primeira Liga 16061409[lower-alpha 9]01[lower-alpha 8]0361
Total 653102121241201137
Anderlecht 2014–15[37] Belgian Pro League 29641—6[lower-alpha 10]0—397
2015–16[37] Belgian Pro League 32211—9[lower-alpha 5]0—423
2016–17[37] Belgian First Division A 21——2[lower-alpha 7]0—41
Total 63952—170—8511
Burnley 2016–17[37] Premier League 2113100——242
2017–18[37] Premier League 2410010——251
2018–19[37] Premier League 60201000—90
Total 512512000—583
Royal Antwerp 2019–20[37] Belgian First Division A 11010———120
Mechelen 2020–21[37] Belgian First Division A 2000———20
Career total 349283971416214046837
  1. Appearances in UEFA Cup
  2. Two appearances in UEFA Champions League, two in UEFA Cup
  3. Two appearances in UEFA Champions League, eight in UEFA Cup
  4. Appearance in Belgian Super Cup
  5. Appearances in UEFA Europa League
  6. Six appearances in UEFA Champions League, two in UEFA Europa League
  7. Appearances in UEFA Champions League
  8. Appearance in Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira
  9. Five appearances in UEFA Champions League, four in UEFA Europa League
  10. Four appearances in UEFA Champions League, two in UEFA Europa League

International
Appearances and goals by national team and year[38]
National teamYearAppsGoals
Belgium 200630
200790
200861
200950
201040
201150
201250
201351
201460
201630
201710
Total522

International goals

Belgium score listed first, score column indicates score after each Defour goal.[38]

International goals by date, venue, cap, opponent, score, result and competition
No. Date Venue Cap Opponent Score Result Competition
1 6 September 2008Stade Maurice Dufrasne, Liège, Belgium15 Estonia2–13–22010 World Cup qualification
2 6 September 2013Hampden Park, Glasgow, Scotland39 Scotland1–02–02014 World Cup qualification

Honours
Defour (left) with Belgian teammates Kevin Mirallas (middle) and Marouane Fellaini before a friendly against the United States on 29 May 2013

Club

Standard Liège[37]

Porto[37]

Individual

References
  1. "2017/18 Premier League clubs publish retained lists". Premier League. 8 June 2018. Retrieved 12 May 2019.
  2. "Steven Defour". 11v11. Retrieved 16 April 2017.
  3. "Defour 'slachtoffer' van 33 jaar oude vete" [Defour 'victim' of 33-year-old feud]. Het Nieuwsblad (in Dutch). 5 May 2006. Retrieved 9 January 2014.
  4. "Transfer Defour naar Ajax van de baan" [Defour's transfer to Ajax not happening] (in Dutch). Voetbal International. 7 June 2006. Retrieved 9 January 2014.
  5. "Steven Defour verbreekt contract bij Genk" [Steven Defour breaks contract with Genk]. Het Belang van Limburg (in Dutch). 16 June 2006. Retrieved 9 January 2014.
  6. "Standard neemt Steven Defour over" [Standard sign Steven Defour] (in Dutch). Voetbal België. 11 July 2006. Retrieved 9 January 2014.
  7. "Conceição praat met Standard" [Conceição in talks with Standard]. De Standaard (in Dutch). 4 January 2008. Retrieved 1 November 2020.
  8. Toma, Razvan. "Belgium – Player of the Year Awards". RSSSF. Retrieved 26 April 2017.
  9. Defour ready to make next step; ESPN Soccernet, 26 October 2010
  10. Defour ready to make Manchester United move Archived 29 October 2010 at the Wayback Machine; Talksport, 26 October 2010
  11. "Comunicado" [Announcement] (PDF) (in Portuguese). FC Porto. 15 August 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 December 2011. Retrieved 18 August 2011.
  12. "Comunicado" [Announcement] (PDF) (in Portuguese). FC Porto. 16 August 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 December 2011. Retrieved 18 August 2011.
  13. "FC Porto deal for Defour". ESPN Soccernet. 16 August 2011. Retrieved 30 August 2011.
  14. "FC Porto cumpriu e goleou Pêro Pinheiro" [FC Porto got job done and routed Pêro Pinheiro]. Público (in Portuguese). 15 October 2011. Retrieved 20 September 2019.
  15. "No meio da tempestade, veio a bonança (5–0)" [Amid the storm, came the calm (5–0)]. Diário de Notícias (in Portuguese). 23 October 2011. Retrieved 20 September 2019.
  16. "Dragão em branco na festa de apresentação" [Dragon drew a blank in presentation party] (in Portuguese). SAPO. 4 August 2012. Retrieved 20 September 2019.
  17. Crossan, David (18 September 2012). "Porto extend Dinamo losing streak". UEFA. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
  18. Hunter, Graham (13 March 2013). "Santa Cruz sends Málaga into last eight". UEFA. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
  19. "Anderlecht's Steven Defour sees red over Standard Liège fans' banner". The Guardian. 25 January 2015. Retrieved 25 January 2015.
  20. "Standard Liege: Steven Defour sent off after fans' horror banner". BBC Sport. 25 January 2015. Retrieved 25 January 2015.
  21. "Burnley: Defour joins the Clarets". Burnley F.C. 16 August 2016. Retrieved 16 August 2016.
  22. "Steven Defour: Burnley sign Belgium midfielder from Anderlecht". BBC Sport. 16 August 2016. Retrieved 16 August 2016.
  23. Smith, Jamie (20 August 2016). "Keane, Defour and Gray stand out as Burnley stun Liverpool". ESPN FC. Retrieved 4 March 2017.
  24. "Defour is cheap as chips – Dyche". BBC Sport. 10 September 2016. Retrieved 4 March 2017.
  25. Copeland, Robbie (8 March 2019). "Steven Defour 'unlikely' to return this season after undergoing operation on persistent calf issue". 90 Minut. Retrieved 20 September 2019.
  26. "Steven Defour: Burnley midfielder's contract cancelled 'for personal reasons'". BBC Sport. 31 August 2019. Retrieved 31 August 2019.
  27. "Antwerp pakt uit met kwartet: Defour, Hoedt, Gano en Benson trekken naar de Bosuil" [Antwerp unveil four: Defour, Hoedt, Gano and Benson go to Bosuil] (in Dutch). Sporza. 2 September 2019. Retrieved 20 September 2019.
  28. "Steven Defour: Ex-Burnley midfielder joins Royal Antwerp". BBC Sport. 3 September 2019. Retrieved 4 November 2019.
  29. Brisart, Axel (16 October 2020). "Steven Defour voorgesteld bij KV Mechelen: "Emotioneel de belangrijkste transfer uit mijn carrière"" [Steven Defour presented at KV Mechelen: "Emotionally the most important transfer of my career"]. Het Laatste Nieuws (in Dutch). Retrieved 1 November 2020.
  30. "René Vandereycken roept negen debutanten op" [René Vandereycken calls up nine first-timers]. Het Belang van Limburg (in Dutch). 6 May 2006. Retrieved 9 January 2014.
  31. "Defour a déjà marqué contre l'Estonie: "Ah bon? J'avais oublié"" [Defour already scored against Estonia: "Ah good? I had forgotten"] (in French). RTBF. 12 November 2016. Retrieved 4 March 2017.
  32. Lamont, Alasdair (6 September 2013). "Scotland 0–2 Belgium". BBC Sport. Retrieved 4 March 2017.
  33. "Belgium World Cup 2014 squad". The Daily Telegraph. 4 June 2014. Retrieved 27 June 2014.
  34. "Koreans crash to ten-man Belgium". FIFA. 26 June 2014. Retrieved 24 March 2020.
  35. Marshall, Tyrone (25 May 2018). "Steven Defour to focus on Burnley after international retirement". Lancashire Telegraph. Retrieved 25 May 2018.
  36. Steven Defour at ESPN FC
  37. "S. Defour". Soccerway. Retrieved 16 August 2016.
  38. "Steven Defour". European Football. Retrieved 18 August 2016.
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