Thomas Didillon-Hödl Explained

Thomas Didillon-Hödl
Birth Date:28 November 1995
Birth Place:Seclin, France
Height:1.93 m[1]
Position:Goalkeeper
Currentclub:Willem II
Clubnumber:1
Youthyears1:2008–2013
Youthclubs1:Metz
Years1:2013–2018
Clubs1:Metz
Caps1:68
Goals1:0
Years2:2014–2015
Clubs2:Seraing (loan)
Caps2:31
Goals2:0
Years3:2018–2020
Clubs3:Anderlecht
Caps3:41
Goals3:0
Years4:2020
Clubs4:Genk (loan)
Caps4:6
Goals4:0
Years5:2020–2024
Clubs5:Cercle Brugge
Caps5:59
Goals5:0
Years6:2022–2023
Clubs6:Monaco (loan)
Caps6:0
Goals6:0
Years7:2024–
Clubs7:Willem II
Caps7:0
Goals7:0
Nationalyears1:2011
Nationalteam1:France U16
Nationalcaps1:4
Nationalgoals1:0
Nationalyears2:2012
Nationalteam2:France U18
Nationalcaps2:1
Nationalgoals2:0
Nationalyears3:2013
Nationalteam3:France U19
Nationalcaps3:4
Nationalgoals3:0
Nationalyears4:2015
Nationalteam4:France U20
Nationalcaps4:5
Nationalgoals4:0
Nationalyears5:2016
Nationalteam5:France U21
Nationalcaps5:6
Nationalgoals5:0
Club-Update:26 May 2024
Nationalteam-Update:18 November 2016

Thomas Didillon-Hödl (born 28 November 1995) is a French professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Dutch club Willem II.

Club career

Metz

Didillon-Hödl is a youth exponent from Metz who signed with the first team in 2013.[2] He made his Ligue 2 debut in Metz's title-winning season on 16 May 2014 against Laval in a 0–0 away draw.[3]

After spending a year on loan to Seraing, Didillon-Hödl returned to Metz for the 2015–16 Ligue 2 season and helped the club re-gain promotion to Ligue 1.[4]

On 13 August 2016, Didillon-Hödl made his Ligue 1 debut in a 3–2 victory against Lille. It was the club's first first division win since securing promotion.[5] The following season, Didillon-Hödl lost his role as starting goalkeeper to Japan national team player, Eiji Kawashima.

Seraing (loan)

Didillon-Hödl made his league debut against Antwerp on 2 August 2014.[6] During the 2014–15 season, he played 31 competitive games on loan for Belgian second division side Seraing, where he had moved alongside fellow Metz-players Saliu Popoola and Samy Kehli.[7]

Anderlecht

After ten years with Metz, Didillon-Hödl signed with Belgian champions, Anderlecht of the Belgian Jupiler Pro League in June 2018.[8] Didillon-Hödl made his league debut against Kortrijk on 28 July 2018.[9] On 20 September, he made his UEFA Europa League debut in a 1–0 loss against Slovakian club, Spartak Trnava.[10]

Didillon-Hödl quickly established himself as the starter in the Anderlecht goal: in his first season he did not miss a single league match and was only replaced by backup Frank Boeckx in the cup match against Union Saint-Gilloise and the final Europa League group match against Dinamo Zagreb. Didillon-Hödl was praised in the regular competition for his strong reflexes and leadership, and was even called a bright spot in an otherwise meagre season for Anderlecht.[11] However, in the first two days of the play-offs he made mistakes against Genk and Club Brugge after bad footwork, which changed the perception around him.[12] [13]

During the 2019–20 pre-season, Didillon-Hödl made mistakes on return balls in the friendlies against Ajax and AZ.[14] Because manager Vincent Kompany's system required a sweeper keeper and Didillon-Hödl's footwork was not considered good enough for that, Anderlecht started looking for a new goalkeeper in the summer of 2019. On the opening day against Oostende he was the starter in goal, but he was since replaced by Hendrik Van Crombrugge. From the second matchday, Didillon-Hödl alternated between the bench and reserves.[15]

Genk (loan)

In January 2020, Didillon-Hödl was loaned by league rivals Genk until the end of the season with an option to purchase. Genk had a shortage of available goalkeepers at that time. He made his league debut against Sporting Charleroi on 1 February 2020.[16] At the end of the season, the purchase option was not used and Didillon-Hödl returned to Anderlecht.[17]

Cercle Brugge

In August 2020, Didillon-Hödl signed a four-year contract with Cercle Brugge.[18] He made his league debut against Antwerp on 16 August 2020.[19]

Monaco (loan)

On 20 July 2022, Didillon-Hödl joined Monaco on a season-long loan.[20] He made his debut in a Coupe de France match against Rodez on 7 January 2023.[21] He was mainly Alexander Nübel's backup in goal that season.[22]

Willem II

In the summer of 2024, Didillon-Hödl signed a two-year contract with recently promoted Dutch Eredivisie club Willem II.[23]

International career

Didillon-Hödl has represented France at the U16 through U21 levels. In 2015, Didillon-Hödl participated in the Toulon Tournament, leading France to a victory over Morocco in the final.[24]

Personal life

Didillon-Hödl is married to Julia Hödl, a professional volleyball player in the Netherlands when he signed with Dutch club Willem II in 2024. He added his wife's surname, Hödl, to his own upon their marriage.[25]

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueNational cupLeague cupContinentalTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Metz2013–14Ligue 210000010
2015–16Ligue 22701000280
2016–17Ligue 13200000320
2017–18Ligue 1800020100
Total6801020710
RFC Seraing (loan)2014–15Belgian Second Division31000310
Anderlecht2018–19Belgian Pro League4000050450
2019–20Belgian Pro League100010
Total4100050460
Genk (loan)2019–20Belgian Pro League60000060
Cercle Brugge2020–21Belgian Pro League30000300
2021–22Belgian Pro League2900090
2023–24Belgian Pro League000000
Total59000590
Monaco (loan)2022–23Ligue 100100010
Willem II2024–25Eredivisie00000000
Career total20502020502140

Honours

Metz

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Thomas Didillon-Hödl Willem II . Willem II . 18 July 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240718145833/https://www.willem-ii.nl/speler/thomas-didillon-hodl . 18 July 2024 . nl.
  2. Web site: PROSPECT: Thomas Didillon. getfootballnewsfrance.com.
  3. Web site: Laval vs. Metz - 16 May 2015 - Soccerway. soccerway.com. 14 June 2015.
  4. Web site: Metz promoted to Ligue 1 as Bob Bradley's Le Havre miss out by one goal. goal.com.
  5. Web site: New boys Metz hit back to stun Lille. espn.com.
  6. Web site: Antwerp vs RFC Seraing - 2 August 2014. int.soccerway.com.
  7. Web site: Kehli et Popoola à Seraing . Football Club de Metz . fr . 2 July 2014.
  8. Web site: Anderlecht acquire goalkeeper Thomas Didillon from Metz. getfootballnewsfrance.com.
  9. Web site: Kortijk vs Anderlecht - 28 July 2018. int.soccerway.com.
  10. Web site: Spartak Trnava v Anderlecht Match Center. uefa.com.
  11. News: Danvoye . Pierre . Alleen verliezers in het dossier-Didillon . Site-Sportmagazine-NL . 10 September 2019 . nl-BE.
  12. News: Sterk Racing Genk begint aan play-off 1 met een knal: leider stuurt na imposante eerste helft Anderlecht wandelen . Het Laatste Nieuws . 30 March 2019 . nl-BE.
  13. News: Geril . Jürgen . Club Brugge schrijft geschiedenis en pakt eerste competitiezege bij Anderlecht in 21 jaar, titelstrijd ligt helemaal open . Het Nieuwsblad . 4 April 2019 . nl-BE.
  14. News: Anderlecht gaat de boot in tijdens oefenmatch tegen AZ, doelman Thomas Didillon blundert . Het Nieuwsblad . 13 July 2019 . nl-BE.
  15. News: Van de basis naar de tribune: Cobbaut en Didillon afwezig bij RSCA, ook Saelemaekers niet in selectie . Het Laatste Nieuws . 4 August 2019 . nl-BE.
  16. Web site: Genk vs Sporting Charleroi - 1 February 2020. int.soccerway.com.
  17. News: Genk stuurt Didillon terug naar Anderlecht: "Trieste beslissing" . Het Laatste Nieuws . 13 May 2020 . nl-BE.
  18. News: Didillon verlaat Anderlecht en tekent voor vier jaar bij Cercle Brugge: "Een nieuwe uitdaging" . Het Laatste Nieuws . 11 August 2020 . nl-BE.
  19. Web site: Cercle Burgge vs Antwerp - 16 August 2020. int.soccerway.com.
  20. Web site: Monaco. Thomas Didillon joins AS Monaco. 20 July 2022. 21 July 2022.
  21. Web site: Monaco vs Rodez - 7 January 2023. int.soccerway.com.
  22. News: Entwistle . Luke . Thomas Didillon: "I have found Alexander Nübel very calm regarding everything that is being said about him." - Get French Football News . 18 July 2024 . Get Football . 5 January 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240223030319/https://www.getfootballnewsfrance.com/2023/thomas-didillon-i-have-found-alexander-nubel-very-calm-regarding-everything-that-is-being-said-about-him/ . 23 February 2024.
  23. Web site: Willem II. Thomas Didillon-Hödl tekent voor twee jaar. 15 July 2024. nl.
  24. Web site: France Weather Moroccan Storm To Lift The Toulon Trophy. frenchfootballweekly.com.
  25. News: Malice . Florence . Opvallend: zeg niet langer Thomas Didillon, doelman heeft nu plots een andere naam . 18 July 2024 . Voetbalkrant.com . 15 July 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240716010038/https://www.voetbalkrant.com/nieuws/2024-07-15/opvallend-zeg-niet-langer-thomas-didillon-doelman-heeft-nu-plots-een-andere-naam . 16 July 2024 . nl.