Youri Tielemans Explained

Youri Tielemans
Full Name:Youri Marion A. Tielemans[1]
Birth Date:7 May 1997[2]
Birth Place:Sint-Pieters-Leeuw, Belgium
Height:1.76 m[3]
Position:Midfielder
Currentclub:Aston Villa
Clubnumber:8
Youthyears1:2002–2013
Youthclubs1:Anderlecht
Years1:2013–2017
Clubs1:Anderlecht
Caps1:139
Goals1:26
Years2:2017–2019
Clubs2:Monaco
Caps2:47
Goals2:5
Years3:2019
Clubs3:Leicester City (loan)
Caps3:13
Goals3:3
Years4:2019–2023
Clubs4:Leicester City
Caps4:138
Goals4:18
Years5:2023–
Clubs5:Aston Villa
Caps5:33
Goals5:2
Nationalyears1:2012–2013
Nationalteam1:Belgium U15
Nationalcaps1:4
Nationalgoals1:2
Nationalyears2:2012–2013
Nationalteam2:Belgium U16
Nationalcaps2:10
Nationalgoals2:8
Nationalyears3:2013–2016
Nationalteam3:Belgium U21
Nationalcaps3:14
Nationalgoals3:6
Nationalyears4:2016–
Nationalteam4:Belgium
Nationalcaps4:70
Nationalgoals4:8
Club-Update:20:50, 17 August 2024 (UTC)
Nationalteam-Update:23:34, 26 June 2024 (UTC)

Youri Marion A. Tielemans (born 7 May 1997) is a Belgian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for club Aston Villa and the Belgium national team.

Tielemans began his career at Anderlecht, where he made 185 official appearances and scored 35 goals across four seasons. He won the league title twice and in 2017 was chosen as the Belgian Professional Footballer of the Year. He is the youngest Belgian to play in the UEFA Champions League, making his debut in the competition at the age of 16 years and 148 days. After two years at Monaco in Ligue 1, he joined Leicester City in 2019, initially on loan and then for an estimated fee of £32 million. He played 195 total games and scored 28 goals, including the only goal of the 2021 FA Cup final. In 2023, when his contract expired, he joined Aston Villa.

Tielemans represented Belgium at several youth levels and before gaining his first cap for the national team in November 2016, aged 19. He was part of the squad that came third at the 2018 FIFA World Cup, also featuring at UEFA Euro 2020, the 2022 World Cup and Euro 2024.

Club career

Anderlecht

Tielemans is a youth product of Anderlecht and signed his first professional contract with the club at the age of 16.[4]

On 21 July 2013, he was included in the senior squad for the first time, remaining an unused substitute in the 1–0 win over Genk in the 2013 Belgian Super Cup. On 28 July 2013, he made his first-team debut in the opening round of the Belgian Pro League season against Lokeren, replacing injured Sacha Kljestan after 25 minutes of a 2–3 home loss.[5] [6] This made him the fourth-youngest player in the league's history.

On 2 October 2013, he became the youngest Belgian player to play in the UEFA Champions League, starting in a match against Olympiacos at the age of 16 years and 148 days.[7] He played 29 games – of which 21 starts – as Anderlecht won the 2013–14 Belgian Pro League, scoring to open a 3–0 win over Club Brugge at the Constant Vanden Stock Stadium on 6 April 2014, a game in which he also assisted Cyriac.[8] Tielemans won the Belgian Young Player of the Year award in each of his first two seasons.[9]

Tielemans scored 13 times in 37 Belgian First Division A matches as Anderlecht won the 2016–17 Belgian First Division A. He won the 2017 Ebony Shoe Award for best player of African origin,[10] and was named 2016–17 Belgian Professional Footballer of the Year.[11] He scored 5 goals in 15 2016–17 UEFA Europa League matches, with his club reaching the quarter-finals, and was selected in its Squad of the Season.

Monaco

On 24 May 2017, Tielemans joined 2016–17 Ligue 1 champions Monaco on a five-year deal for a fee of around €25 million.[12] He made his competitive debut on 29 July in the Trophée des Champions at the Grand Stade de Tanger, playing the full 90 minutes in the 2–1 loss to Paris Saint-Germain and assisting Djibril Sidibé's opening goal.[13] On 4 August, Tielemans made his Ligue 1 debut in the 3–2 home win over Toulouse, coming on as a substitute for Radamel Falcao in the 87th minute. He made his UEFA club competition debut for Monaco on 13 September in the UEFA Champions League group match away to RB Leipzig, playing the full 90 minutes and registering his first competitive goal for Monaco by equalizing in a 1–1 draw. On 16 September, Tielemans made his first Ligue 1 start and played the entire match in the 3–0 home win over Strasbourg, after having played a total of 56 minutes as a substitute in his first four Ligue 1 matches.[14] [15]

France Football named Tielemans in their lists of the biggest flops of the first half of the season and the season overall.[16] [17] He scored his first Ligue 1 goal in his 31st game on 2 September 2018, in a 3–2 home loss to Marseille.[18]

Leicester City

On 31 January 2019, Tielemans joined Premier League club Leicester City on loan until the end of the season, with Adrien Silva going the other way in a swap deal.[19] [20] On 9 March, Tielemans scored his first goal for the club in a 3–1 win over Fulham.[21]

Tielemans completed a permanent move to Leicester City on 8 July 2019, on a four-year deal for an estimated fee of £32 million.[22] He scored in a 3–1 home win over Bournemouth on 31 August, but courted controversy with a high challenge on Callum Wilson that escaped punishment even after consultation with the video assistant referee;[23] referees' chief Mike Riley ruled that this was an incorrect decision and Tielemans should have been sent off.[24]

On 15 May 2021, Tielemans scored the only goal of the 2021 FA Cup Final with a long-range strike against Chelsea in the 63rd minute, sealing Leicester's first ever FA Cup title.[25] He was named the man of the match.[26]

Aston Villa

On 10 June 2023, Premier League club Aston Villa announced that they had reached an agreement to sign Tielemans on a free transfer, upon the expiry of his Leicester City contract on 1 July.[27] He made his debut on 12 August in the season opener, a 5–1 loss at Newcastle United, in which he replaced the injured Leon Bailey at half time.[28]

On 26 October 2023, Tielemans scored his first goal for Aston Villa in a 4–1 away UEFA Europa Conference League victory over AZ Alkmaar.[29]

International career

In June 2015, Tielemans was called up to the senior Belgium squad for a UEFA Euro 2016 qualifier against Wales.[30] He finally made his senior international debut on 9 November 2016, in a 1–1 friendly away draw to rival Netherlands, replacing Steven Defour in the 82nd minute.[31]

Tielemans was included in manager Roberto Martínez's 23-man squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.[32] He played four matches in the tournament, including the 2–0 win over England in the third-place match.[33]

Tielemans scored his first senior goal for Belgium on 21 March 2019, in a UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying match against Russia.[34] He was called up for the delayed final tournament in May 2021,[35] and for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.[36] At the latter tournament, he was substituted at half time for Amadou Onana as the team struggled to a 1–0 win over Canada in their opening match.[37] He was a substitute in the two other games of the group stage elimination, in which Onana and then Leander Dendoncker started alongside Axel Witsel.[38] [39]

Style of play

Tielemans began as a holding midfielder, but was moved by Anderlecht manager Besnik Hasi to a more attacking role, where he scored long-range goals and was compared to Frank Lampard and Axel Witsel.[9] A 2015 profile by Sky Sports noted his versatility as a defensive or attacking midfielder, concluding that his pace, passing and shot power suited the latter role better.[9] Paul Van Himst, a former Anderlecht and Belgium player, noted at the same time that Tielemans had good skills with long passes.[9]

Personal life

Tielemans was born in Sint-Pieters-Leeuw, Flemish Brabant.[40] His father is of Flemish descent and his mother is of Congolese descent.[41] He continued education until the age of 18, combining studies with his professional career.[9] As of 2020, he lived in the Leicestershire village of Quorn with his wife, Mendy, and their three daughters.[42] [43]

Career statistics

Club

[44]

Club!rowspan="2"
SeasonLeagueNational cupLeague cupEuropeOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Anderlecht2013–14Belgian Pro League291214[45] 000352
2014–15Belgian Pro League396428[46] 01[47] 0528
2015–16Belgian Pro League346219[48] 0457
2016–17Belgian Pro League37131015[49] 55318
Total1392694003651018535
Monaco2017–18Ligue 12702010411[50] 0351
2018–19Ligue 120510206010305
Total475303010120656
Leicester City (loan)2018–19Premier League13300133
Leicester City2019–20Premier League3732052445
2020–21Premier League386630070519
2021–22Premier League326212013[51] 01[52] 0507
2022–23Premier League3132041374
Total151211241132001019528
Aston Villa2023–24Premier League322201011[53] 1463
2024–25Premier League1000000010
Total3322010111473
Career total370542681537774049272

International

[54]

Appearances and goals by national team and year!National team!!Year!!Apps!!Goals
Belgium
201620
201760
2018110
201992
202062
2021130
2022111
202370
202453
Total708

Scores and results list Belgium's goal tally first.

List of international goals scored by Youri Tielemans! No. !! Date !! Venue !! Opponent !! Score !! Result !! Competition
align=center 1 21 March 2019 King Baudouin Stadium, Brussels, Belgium align=center 1–0 align=center 3–1 UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying
align=center 2 10 October 2019 King Baudouin Stadium, Brussels, Belgium align=center 6–0 align=center 9–0 UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying
align=center 3 15 November 2020 Den Dreef, Leuven, Belgium align=center 1–0 align=center 2–0 2020–21 UEFA Nations League A
align=center 4 18 November 2020 Den Dreef, Leuven, Belgium align=center 1–0 align=center 4–2 2020–21 UEFA Nations League A
align=center 5 11 June 2022 Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff, Wales align=center 1–0 align=center 1–1 2022–23 UEFA Nations League A
align=center 6 26 March 2024 Wembley Stadium, London, England 1–0 2–2 Friendly
align=center 7 align=center 2–1
align=center 8 22 June 2024 RheinEnergieStadion, Cologne, Germany align=center 1–0 align=center 2–0 UEFA Euro 2024

Honours

Anderlecht

2013–14, 2016–17[55]

2013, 2014[56]

Leicester City

2020–21[57]

2021[58]

Belgium

Individual

2013–14, 2014–15[9]

2016–17[11]

2017

2017[65]

2020–21[66]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Premier League clubs publish 2019/20 retained lists . Premier League . 26 June 2020 . 10 July 2020.
  2. Web site: Youri Tielemans: Overview . ESPN . 10 July 2020.
  3. Web site: Youri Tielemans . Premier League . 5 July 2023.
  4. Web site: De Cock. Bjorn. In the footsteps of Vincent Kompany: Youri Tielemans. Benefoot. 13 April 2016. 28 October 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20150913041953/http://www.benefoot.net/in-the-footsteps-of-vincent-kompany-youri-tielemans/. 13 September 2015. dead.
  5. News: Lokeren smeert jong Anderlecht al nederlaag aan. 24 December 2016. Sporza. 28 July 2013. nl. https://web.archive.org/web/20161225080736/http://sporza.be/cm/sporza/matchcenter/mc_voetbal/2.28512/speeldag1/1.1685335. 25 December 2016. dead.
  6. Web site: 28 July 2013 . AND 2–3 LOK Anderlecht – Lokeren Summary . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20221125105306/https://www.flashscore.com/match/CIzXEDXn/#/match-summary/match-summary . 25 November 2022 . 25 November 2022 . Flashscore.
  7. News: Berend . Scholten . UEFA.com's weekly wonderkid: Youri Tielemans . UEFA.com . Union of European Football Associations . 14 February 2015 . 6 May 2015 .
  8. News: Club go down 3–0 at Anderlecht. 24 December 2016. Club Brugge. 7 April 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20161225000932/http://clubbrugge.be/en/news/game-reports/17958/club-gaat-met-3-0-onderuit-op-anderlecht?page=15#. 25 December 2016. dead.
  9. News: Who is Youri Tielemans? We profile exciting Anderlecht midfielder. 24 December 2016. Sky Sports. 2 November 2015.
  10. Web site: 8 May 2017 . Youri Tielemans verzilvert topstatus Ebbenhouten Schoen . HLN.
  11. News: Gala du Footballeur Pro: Youri Tielemans élu joueur de l'année, René Weiler sacré entraîneur!. Professional Footballer Awards: Youri Tielemans elected player of the year, René Weiler best manager!. 5 September 2017. DH. 22 May 2017. fr.
  12. News: Officieel: Youri Tielemans tekent contract tot 2022 bij Franse kampioen Monaco . Official: Youri Tielemans signs contract until 2022 with French champion Monaco . HLN . 24 May 2017 . 24 May 2017. nl.
  13. News: De Beck. Mike. Tielemans meteen goed voor splijtende assist in eerste officiële wedstrijd. Tielemans shows his worth with a clever assist in first official appearance. 5 September 2017. HLN. 30 July 2017. nl.
  14. News: Monaco and Leipzig share Champions League spoils. Ligue 1. 13 September 2017.
  15. News: career data of Youri Tielemans. Soccerway. 16 September 2017.
  16. News: Youri Tielemans dans les flops de la première partie de saison en Ligue 1 . Youri Tielemans among the flops of the first half of the Ligue 1 season. 7 July 2018 . 7sur7 . 22 December 2017 . fr.
  17. News: Vens . Clint . Recordtransfer Anderlecht opgenomen in lijst grootste flops van de Ligue 1. Anderlecht's record transfer included in list of Ligue 1's biggest flops . 7 July 2018 . Voetbalkrant . 20 May 2018 . nl.
  18. News: Buron . Sébastien . Ligue 1 : Marseille arrache la victoire à Monaco. Ligue 1: Marseille snatch victory from Monaco . 19 May 2021 . L'Équipe . 2 September 2018 . fr.
  19. Web site: Leicester Complete Loan Signing of Youri Tielemans From Monaco as Adrien Silva Departs. 31 January 2019. 90min.com. en. 31 January 2019.
  20. News: Youri Tielemans Joins On Loan As Adrien Silva Heads To Monaco . Leicester City F.C. . 31 January 2019 . 31 January 2019.
  21. News: Leicester 3–1 Fulham: Jamie Vardy double earns Brendan Rodgers first win . 9 March 2019 . BBC Sport . 9 March 2019.
  22. Web site: Cooper . Barry . Davies . Matt . Kemble . Jamie . City transfer news live – Youri Tielemans officially signs . Leicester Mercury . 8 July 2019 . 8 July 2019.
  23. News: Soccer-Bournemouth fume after Tielemans' rash tackle goes unpunished by VAR . 20 September 2019 . Reuters . 31 August 2019.
  24. News: Stone . Simon . VAR: Four incorrect decisions fail to be overturned in Premier League . 20 September 2019 . BBC Sport . 12 September 2019.
  25. Web site: Chelsea 0 v Leicester City 1. BBC Sport. 15 May 2021. 15 May 2021.
  26. News: Phil. McNulty. Youri Tielemans produced one of the great FA Cup final goals to give Leicester City the trophy for the first time in their history with victory over Chelsea at Wembley. 15 May 2021. BBC.com. 17 May 2021.
  27. Web site: 2023-06-10 . Aston Villa announce Youri Tielemans agreement . 2023-06-10 . Aston Villa Football Club.
  28. News: Rampant Newcastle destroy Aston Villa as debutants make instant impact . 26 August 2023 . The Daily Telegraph . 12 August 2023.
  29. Web site: 26 October 2023 . AZ Alkmaar-Aston Villa UEFA Europa Conference League 2023/24 . 2023-10-26 . UEFA.com . en.
  30. News: Belgium's Marouane Fellaini out of Wales tie. 13 November 2015. BBC. 10 June 2015.
  31. News: Netherlands 1–1 Belgium. 23 December 2016. BBC Sport. 10 November 2016.
  32. News: World Cup 2018: Belgium include Vincent Kompany but Christian Benteke misses out . 7 July 2018 . BBC Sport . 4 June 2018.
  33. News: McNulty . Phil . Belgium 2–0 England . 9 March 2019 . BBC Sport . 14 July 2018.
  34. News: Belgium 3–1 Russia: Eden Hazard scores twice in Euro 2020 qualifier . 21 March 2019 . . 21 March 2019.
  35. News: Belgium Euro 2020 squad: The 26 players they'll take – plus star player, manager and Euros record . 19 May 2021 . FourFourTwo . 18 May 2021.
  36. News: Lea . Greg . Belgium World Cup 2022 squad and preview: Roberto Martinez announces final 26-man team . 30 July 2023 . FourFourTwo . 1 December 2022.
  37. News: Abbott . Matt . Youri Tielemans moment goes viral as Alphonso Davies leaves Leicester City star on the floor . 30 July 2023 . Leicester Mercury . 23 November 2022.
  38. News: Burton . Chris . De Bruyne is right, the Golden Generation is over! Belgium winners, losers and ratings as Hazard struggles in shock Morocco loss . 30 July 2023 . Goal . 27 November 2022.
  39. News: Smith . Peter . World Cup 2022 – Croatia 0–0 Belgium: Romelu Lukaku misses big chances as Roberto Martinez's 'golden generation' knocked out and Croatia reach last 16 . 30 July 2023 . Sky Sports . 2 December 2022.
  40. Web site: Youri Tielemans: Profile . worldfootball.net . HEIM:SPIEL . 10 July 2020.
  41. News: Bate. Adam. Terreur. Kristof. Targets: Belgium. 30 January 2016. Sky Sports. 6 January 2014.
  42. News: Davies . Matt . Leicester City star announces arrival of new baby day after scoring for his country . 20 August 2020 . Leicestershire Live . 14 October 2019.
  43. News: Percy . John . Youri Tielemans exclusive interview: 'Lucky Leicester? We were just better than Manchester City' . 20 March 2022 . The Telegraph . 3 October 2020.
  44. Web site: Y. Tielemans. Soccerway. 23 May 2021.
  45. Appearances in UEFA Champions League
  46. Six appearances in UEFA Champions League, two appearances in UEFA Europa League
  47. Appearance in Belgian Super Cup
  48. Appearances in UEFA Europa League
  49. Two appearances and one goal in UEFA Champions League, thirteen appearances and four goals in UEFA Europa League
  50. Appearance in Trophée des Champions
  51. Five appearances in UEFA Europa League, eight appearances in UEFA Europa Conference League
  52. Appearance in FA Community Shield
  53. Appearances in UEFA Europa Conference League
  54. Web site: Youri Tielemans. EU-Football.info. 17 April 2017.
  55. http://www.tribtown.com/2017/05/18/soc-champion-anderlecht/{{Dead link|date=March 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
  56. http://www.tribtown.com/2017/05/18/soc-champion-anderlecht/{{Dead link|date=March 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
  57. News: Chelsea 0–1 Leicester City . Phil . McNulty . BBC Sport . 15 May 2021 . 15 May 2021.
  58. News: Leicester City 1–0 Manchester City . Shamoon . Hafez . BBC Sport . 7 August 2021 . 8 August 2021.
  59. Web site: Belgium 2–0 England: Line-ups . FIFA . 10 July 2020.
  60. Web site: Anderlecht's Praet is Belgium's best. UEFA. 14 January 2015. 14 January 2015.
  61. News: 14 January 2015 . Dennis Praet wint Gouden Schoen 2014 . nl . .
  62. News: 13 January 2016 . Gouden Schoen 2015 – Youri Tielemans volgt zichzelf op als Belofte van het Jaar . nl . .
  63. Web site: Archived copy . 18 December 2021 . 18 December 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211218025951/https://statsarena.com/nxgn-odegaard-dembele-tielemans-and-2016s-best-wonderkids/ . dead .
  64. News: UEFA Europa League Squad of the Season. UEFA. 25 May 2017.
  65. News: 7 February 2018 . Ruud Vormer verkozen tot Gouden Schoen 2017 . nl . .
  66. News: Tielemans Scoops Player Of The Season Double . Leicester City F.C. . 21 May 2021.