Asmir Begović facts for kids
Begović with Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2015
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 20 June 1987 | ||
| Place of birth | Trebinje, SR Bosnia and Herzegovina, Yugoslavia | ||
| Height | 1.99 m | ||
| Playing position | Goalkeeper | ||
| Club information | |||
| Current club | Everton | ||
| Number | 31 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1994–1997 | FC Kirchhausen | ||
| 1998–2004 | Southwest Sting Edmonton | ||
| 2004–2005 | Portsmouth | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 2005–2010 | Portsmouth | 11 | (0) |
| 2005 | → La Louvière (loan) | 2 | (0) |
| 2006 | → Macclesfield Town (loan) | 3 | (0) |
| 2007 | → AFC Bournemouth (loan) | 8 | (0) |
| 2008 | → Yeovil Town (loan) | 2 | (0) |
| 2008 | → Yeovil Town (loan) | 14 | (0) |
| 2009 | → Ipswich Town (loan) | 6 | (0) |
| 2010–2015 | Stoke City | 160 | (1) |
| 2015–2017 | Chelsea | 19 | (0) |
| 2017–2021 | AFC Bournemouth | 107 | (0) |
| 2019–2020 | → Qarabağ (loan) | 10 | (0) |
| 2020 | → AC Milan (loan) | 2 | (0) |
| 2021–2023 | Everton | 4 | (0) |
| 2023–2024 | Queens Park Rangers | 45 | (0) |
| 2024– | Everton | 0 | (0) |
| National team | |||
| 2004–2007 | Canada U20 | 11 | (0) |
| 2009–2020 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 63 | (0) |
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Asmir Begović (born 20 June 1987) is a professional footballer from Bosnia and Herzegovina. He plays as a goalkeeper for the Premier League club Everton.
Begović began his senior career at Portsmouth in 2003. After playing for several clubs on loan, he made his Premier League debut in May 2009. In February 2010, he moved to Stoke City. During the 2012–13 season, he played every league match and won the club's Player of the Year award. In November 2013, Begović made history by scoring a goal from 97.5 yards (89.15 meters) against Southampton. This goal, scored after just 13 seconds, set a World Record for the 'longest goal scored in football'.
In July 2015, he joined Premier League champions Chelsea. He was a backup goalkeeper there before moving to AFC Bournemouth two years later. He also played on loan for Qarabağ and A.C. Milan before joining Everton.
Begović played for Canada's youth team, including the 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup. In 2009, he decided to play for his home country, Bosnia and Herzegovina. He became their main goalkeeper and helped them qualify for the 2014 FIFA World Cup. This was the first time Bosnia and Herzegovina had reached a major tournament.
Contents
Club Career: Asmir Begović's Journey in Football
Early Life and First Steps in Football
Asmir Begović was born in Trebinje, Bosnia and Herzegovina. At the time, this area was part of Yugoslavia. His father, Amir, was also a goalkeeper. When Asmir was four years old, his family moved to Germany because of the Bosnian War. There, he started playing football for a youth club called FC Kirchhausen. When he was 10, his family moved again, this time to Edmonton, Canada.
In Canada, Begović played for the Southwest Sting Soccer Club. This led to him being called up to the Canada under-17 team. In 2003, he had trials with Portsmouth and Tottenham Hotspur in England. Portsmouth coaches were very impressed and offered him a contract right away.
Playing for Portsmouth and Loan Spells
Begović signed a youth contract with Portsmouth in 2003. Because he didn't have a European Union passport, he couldn't play in certain matches for two years. He spent some time on loan at La Louvière in Belgium in 2005, playing two games.
In 2006, he got his UK visa and was loaned to Macclesfield Town. He made his first professional league appearance there. However, a knee injury cut his loan short after only three games. In 2007, he was loaned to AFC Bournemouth and later to Yeovil Town in 2008. He played 14 league games for Yeovil.
Begović finally made his debut for Portsmouth in the Premier League on 18 May 2009. He was very happy about this big step in his career. He then joined Ipswich Town on loan in October 2009. He played six matches before being called back to Portsmouth. He played 15 first-team games for Portsmouth during the 2009–10 season.
Time at Stoke City: A Record-Breaking Goal
On 1 February 2010, Begović joined Stoke City for £3.25 million. The manager, Tony Pulis, said he believed Begović was one of the best young goalkeepers in the country. Begović chose Stoke over Tottenham because he felt it was better for his playing career. He also felt relieved to leave Portsmouth, which was having financial problems at the time.
Begović made his Stoke debut against Chelsea on 25 April 2010. He became the team's main goalkeeper during the 2010–11 season. He continued to play well and signed a new contract with Stoke in December 2011.
In the 2012–13 season, Begović played every league game. He won the Player of the Year Award for his great performances.
On 2 November 2013, Begović scored an amazing goal against Southampton. He kicked the ball from his own penalty area, 97.5 yards (89.15 meters) away. The ball bounced over the opposing goalkeeper and went into the net after just 13 seconds! This goal earned him a place in the Guinness World Records for the 'longest goal scored in football'. He later said he felt a bit bad for the other goalkeeper and didn't want to celebrate too much.
Begović played 33 games for Stoke in 2013–14. He reached his 50th clean sheet for Stoke in March 2015. He left Stoke City in July 2015, after playing 172 matches for the club.
Joining Chelsea and Winning the Premier League
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On 13 July 2015, Begović signed a four-year deal with Chelsea for £8 million. He made his debut during Chelsea's pre-season tour. His first official game was on 8 August, when he came on as a substitute after Chelsea's main goalkeeper was sent off. He got his first clean sheet for Chelsea in a UEFA Champions League match in September.
In his second season with Chelsea, Begović didn't play as much. Even though he only played in two league games, he received a winner's medal. This was because Chelsea won the 2016–17 Premier League title that season.
Moving to AFC Bournemouth and Loan Spells
On 30 May 2017, Begović joined AFC Bournemouth on a long-term contract. He played his first game for them on 12 August. He played all 38 league games in his first season, and his manager praised him highly.
In January 2019, Begović was dropped from the team. He then went on loan to Qarabağ in Azerbaijan in September 2019. He made his debut there 13 days later. In January 2020, he was loaned to Serie A club A.C. Milan in Italy. He played two games for them.
Begović returned to Bournemouth and played 45 games in the Championship during the 2020–21 season. He kept 15 clean sheets.
Playing for Everton and Queens Park Rangers
On 20 July 2021, Begović joined Everton. He signed a one-year contract with an option for another year. He made his debut for Everton in the EFL Cup. He was the second-choice goalkeeper behind Jordan Pickford. He played three Premier League games in his first season. He left Everton in 2023.
On 17 July 2023, Begović signed for Queens Park Rangers in the Championship. He played 45 games for them before his contract ended.
Return to Everton
On 23 August 2024, Begović returned to Everton on a one-year contract.
International Career: Representing Canada and Bosnia and Herzegovina
Playing for Canada's Youth Team
Asmir Begović was the main goalkeeper for Canada in the 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup. He made many difficult saves in the tournament. In one match, he had to use his hands outside his penalty area to stop a high ball. This led to him receiving a red card.
In August 2007, Begović was called up to the senior Canada team for the first time. He was also called up for a 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifier in November 2008, but he didn't play in either game.
Choosing to Play for Bosnia and Herzegovina
Players with two nationalities, like Begović, used to not be allowed to switch countries after they turned 21 if they had played for a country's youth team. However, in June 2009, FIFA removed this age limit. Begović then spoke with the Bosnian head coach about playing for Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Even though he had said he wanted to continue playing for Canada, Begović changed his mind. On 21 August 2009, he accepted a call-up for two Bosnia 2010 World Cup qualifying matches. He said that Bosnia and Herzegovina was his homeland.
In October 2009, Begović made his debut for Bosnia and Herzegovina in a World Cup qualification match. He came on as a substitute in the last minutes of the game. On 3 March 2010, he played a full half in a friendly game against Ghana, keeping a clean sheet.
In August 2012, Begović became the main goalkeeper for the Bosnian national team. In October 2013, Bosnia defeated Lithuania 1–0. This win meant they qualified for the 2014 FIFA World Cup, which was their first major tournament ever. Begović played all three matches for Bosnia and Herzegovina in the 2014 World Cup.
Personal Life: Beyond the Pitch
Asmir Begović married his wife, Nicolle Howard, on 18 June 2011. They have two daughters named Taylor and Blair Rose.
Begović was born in Bosnia and Herzegovina. He moved to Germany when he was four years old. Growing up, he supported Bayern Munich. He looked up to the famous goalkeeper Oliver Kahn. Besides his native Bosnian, Begović can speak three other languages: German, English, and French.
In October 2013, he started his own charity called the Asmir Begović Foundation. As a Muslim, Begović follows a special meal plan when he trains during the holy month of Ramadan. His younger brother, Denis, also played as a goalkeeper for a short time.
In April 2020, Begović played a football video game against another professional player, Alphonso Davies. They did this to raise money for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, which helps refugees around the world.
Honours
Chelsea
- Premier League: 2016–17
- FA Cup runner-up: 2016–17
Qarabağ FK
- Azerbaijan Premier League: 2019–20
Canada U23
- CONCACAF Men's Pre-Olympic Tournament third place: 2008
Individual
- Canadian U–20 Player of the Year: 2007
- Bosnian Footballer of the Year: 2012
- EFL Championship Team of the Season: 2020–21
See Also
In Spanish: Asmir Begović para niños
- List of goalscoring goalkeepers
- List of goalkeepers who have scored in the Premier League
Images for kids
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Begović with Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2015
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Begović playing for Stoke City in 2011
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Begović playing for Chelsea in 2015
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Begović lining up for Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2015
