Daniel Van Buyten facts for kids
Van Buyten in 2013
|
|||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Daniel Van Buyten | ||
| Date of birth | 7 February 1978 | ||
| Place of birth | Chimay, Belgium | ||
| Height | 1.97 m (6 ft 6 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Centre back | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1986–1988 | JS Froidchapelle | ||
| 1988–1989 | JSG Lammetal | ||
| 1989–1991 | JS Froidchapelle | ||
| 1991–1993 | Olympic Charleroi | ||
| 1993–1994 | UBS Auvelais | ||
| 1994–1997 | FC Somzée | ||
| 1997–1998 | Charleroi | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1998–1999 | Charleroi | 19 | (1) |
| 1999–2001 | Standard Liège | 57 | (7) |
| 2001–2004 | Marseille | 76 | (12) |
| 2004 | → Manchester City (loan) | 5 | (0) |
| 2004–2006 | Hamburger SV | 61 | (7) |
| 2006–2014 | Bayern Munich | 158 | (20) |
| 2010–2011 | Bayern Munich II | 2 | (0) |
| Total | 378 | (47) | |
| International career | |||
| 2000 | Belgium U18 | 1 | (0) |
| 1999 | Belgium U21 | 6 | (1) |
| 2001–2014 | Belgium | 83 | (10) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Daniel Van Buyten was a famous Belgian footballer who played as a centre back. He was born on February 7, 1978. People often called him "Big Dan" because he was known for being a strong defender who was good at heading the ball.
Daniel started his career as a striker at Charleroi. But he became really successful when he changed his position to a centre-back. He played for many big clubs like Marseille, Manchester City, Hamburger SV, and Bayern Munich.
He also played for the Belgian national team for 13 years. He played in 83 international games and took part in two FIFA World Cups. In 2013, Daniel Van Buyten made history. He became the first Belgian player ever to win the UEFA Champions League with Bayern Munich. He retired from professional football in August 2014.
Contents
Club Career Highlights
Early Football Journey
Daniel Van Buyten joined Olympique de Marseille in the summer of 2001. Before that, he played for Standard Liège in Belgium since 1999. He had two and a half good seasons with Marseille.
In January 2004, Daniel went to Manchester City in England on a short loan. He played for the Premier League club until the end of that season. He did very well during his time there, and his manager praised him. However, his manager knew that Daniel would likely move to an even bigger club after his loan ended.
After his loan, Daniel went back to Marseille. In June 2004, he signed a four-year deal with the German club Hamburger SV. He played 61 games in the top German league for Hamburg.
Success at Bayern Munich
In June 2006, Bayern Munich announced that they had signed Daniel Van Buyten from Hamburg. He signed a contract to stay with the club until 2010. Daniel had a very successful first season at Bayern. He formed a strong partnership with another defender, Lúcio.
Daniel scored his first goal for Bayern on December 9, 2006. It was the winning goal in a 2–1 victory against Energie Cottbus. He scored his second goal in January 2007, but Bayern lost that game.
One of his most important contributions in his first season was against Milan in the Champions League quarter-final in April 2007. Daniel scored two goals, helping Bayern Munich get an advantage in the match. He scored both goals with his left foot, one in the 78th minute and another just before the end of the game.
In February 2010, Bayern Munich announced that Daniel had signed a new contract until 2012. He was part of the team that won 8–1 against FC St. Pauli in May 2011, scoring a goal in that big victory.
In December 2011, during a match against 1. FC Köln, Daniel hit a free-kick so hard that the ball actually burst! In April 2012, he signed another one-year contract with Bayern Munich.
Even though a new centre-back, Dante, joined in 2012, Daniel became a key player for Bayern during the 2012–13 season. He was part of a group of three defenders who rotated in the team. On April 6, 2013, Daniel celebrated winning his third Bundesliga championship with Bayern. They won the club's 23rd national title.
Daniel played the whole game in Bayern's 3–0 win against Barcelona in the Champions League semi-final in May 2013. This win meant Bayern reached the Champions League final against another German team, Borussia Dortmund. Daniel was the first Belgian player to play in a Champions League final.
After this amazing season, Daniel signed another one-year contract with Bayern Munich. He was a valuable member of the squad under manager Pep Guardiola. After the 2013–14 season, Bayern did not renew his contract. He became a free agent, meaning he could sign with any other club. In August 2014, a Belgian club, Anderlecht, offered him a two-year contract. However, Daniel decided to retire from professional football instead.
International Career
Daniel Van Buyten was first called up to the Belgian national team in 2001. He played his first game for Belgium on February 28, 2001, against San Marino. Belgium won that game 10–1 in a World Cup qualifying match. He scored his first goal for the national team in his second game, heading in a goal against Scotland in March 2001.
After playing well for Marseille, Daniel was chosen for the 23-player squad for the 2002 World Cup in South Korea and Japan. He played every minute of Belgium's group stage matches. Belgium drew with Japan and Tunisia, and then beat Russia 3–2 to move to the knockout stage. In the Round of 16, Belgium faced four-time champions Brazil. Despite their best efforts, Daniel and the Belgian team lost 2–0 to Brazil, who went on to win the tournament.
After the 2002 World Cup, people had high hopes for Belgium in the Euro 2004 qualifiers. Daniel played in all eight qualifying games, but Belgium did not make it to the final tournament.
.jpg)
On February 11, 2009, Daniel scored two goals in a friendly match where Belgium beat Slovenia 2–0. Seven months later, in September, he scored Belgium's only goal in a surprising 2–1 loss to Armenia in World Cup qualifying. This loss meant Belgium could not qualify for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
For Euro 2012 qualification, Belgium was in a group with strong teams like Germany and Turkey. Daniel scored two goals against Turkey in September 2010, but Belgium still lost 3–2.
Daniel was again a very important player for Belgium in the 2014 World Cup qualifiers. He played in five of the ten qualifying matches. Belgium successfully reached their first major tournament in 12 years!
On May 13, 2014, Daniel Van Buyten was named in Belgium's squad for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. At 36 years old, he was the only player in the squad who had played in a major tournament before. He and goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois were the only Belgian players to play every minute of every match until they were defeated by Argentina in the quarter-finals.
Personal Life
Daniel Van Buyten's father, Franz, was a well-known Belgian catcher and wrestler in Europe from the 1960s to the 1980s. His mother, Renate, is German.
Honours and Awards
Daniel Van Buyten won many trophies and awards during his football career.
Club Achievements
Hamburger SV
- UEFA Intertoto Cup: 2005
Bayern Munich
- Bundesliga (German League): 2008, 2010, 2013, 2014
- DFB-Pokal (German Cup): 2008, 2010, 2013, 2014
- DFB-Ligapokal (German League Cup): 2007
- DFL-Supercup (German Super Cup): 2010, 2012
- UEFA Champions League (European Club Championship): 2013
- UEFA Super Cup (European Super Cup): 2013
- FIFA Club World Cup (World Club Championship): 2013
International Achievements
Belgium
- FIFA Fair Play Trophy: 2002 World Cup (awarded to the team for good sportsmanship)
Individual Awards
- UNFP Ligue 1 Team of the Year: 2002–03 (chosen as one of the best players in the French league)
- ESM Team of the Year: 2002–03 (chosen as one of the best players in Europe)
- Belgian Sports Merit Award: 2014
- DH The Best Standard Liège Team Ever: 2020
Orders
Officer in the Walloon Order of Merit: 2014
See also
In Spanish: Daniel van Buyten para niños
