Manuel Akanji facts for kids
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Akanji playing for Switzerland at the 2018 FIFA World Cup
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 19 July 1995 | ||
| Place of birth | Wiesendangen, Switzerland | ||
| Height | 1.86 m | ||
| Playing position | Defender | ||
| Club information | |||
| Current club | Manchester City | ||
| Number | 25 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2004–2007 | FC Wiesendangen | ||
| 2007–2013 | FC Winterthur | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 2013–2014 | FC Winterthur II | 18 | (0) |
| 2014–2015 | FC Winterthur | 35 | (1) |
| 2015–2016 | FC Basel II | 4 | (0) |
| 2015–2018 | FC Basel | 42 | (5) |
| 2018–2022 | Borussia Dortmund | 119 | (4) |
| 2022– | Manchester City | 77 | (2) |
| National team‡ | |||
| 2014 | Switzerland U20 | 2 | (0) |
| 2014–2015 | Switzerland U21 | 6 | (0) |
| 2017– | Switzerland | 69 | (3) |
† Appearances (Goals). |
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Manuel Obafemi Akanji (born on 19 July 1995) is a professional footballer from Switzerland. He plays as a defender for the English club Manchester City. He also plays for the Switzerland national team.
Manuel started his football journey at FC Winterthur. He became a professional player in 2014. Later, he moved to FC Basel in 2015. There, he helped his team win two league titles in a row. They also won the Swiss Cup once.
After his success in Switzerland, Akanji joined Borussia Dortmund in Germany in 2018. With Dortmund, he won the German Supercup and the German Cup. In 2022, he moved to Manchester City in England. In his first season, he helped City win a "treble" (three major trophies). He has won many other titles with them, including another Premier League title.
Manuel also plays for his country, Switzerland. He first played for the senior national team in 2017. He has played in two FIFA World Cups and two UEFA European Championships.
Contents
Manuel Akanji's Football Journey
Starting in Youth Football
Manuel Akanji began playing football in his hometown of Wiesendangen, Switzerland. In 2007, he joined the youth team at FC Winterthur. He played for their under-18 team and then their second team. By the 2014–15 season, he became a regular player for Winterthur's main team.
Playing for FC Basel
On 15 April 2015, Akanji joined FC Basel. This is a top club in the Swiss Super League. He made his first appearance for Basel on 26 September 2015.
Under coach Urs Fischer, Akanji helped Basel win the Swiss Super League in the 2015–16 season. The next season (2016–17), Basel won both the league and the 2016–17 Swiss Cup. This was a big achievement for the club.
As champions, Basel played in the 2017–18 UEFA Champions League. Akanji played every minute of their group stage matches. He helped the team reach the knockout rounds of the competition.
Time at Borussia Dortmund
Manuel Akanji moved to Borussia Dortmund in Germany on 15 January 2018. He signed a contract until June 2022. His transfer fee was about €18 million. On 2 February, he played his first game for Dortmund.
On 27 September 2018, Akanji scored his first goal for the club. It was in a big 7–0 win against 1. FC Nürnberg. He helped Dortmund win the 2021 DFB-Pokal Final (German Cup) in May 2021.
Joining Manchester City
First Season: A Treble Winner
On 1 September 2022, Akanji joined Premier League champions Manchester City. He signed a contract until 2027. The transfer fee was around £15 million.
He played his first game for City five days later. It was a 4–0 win against Sevilla in the Champions League. He made his Premier League debut on 17 September. Fans voted him the club's Player of the Month for October.
On 17 May 2023, he scored his first goal for Manchester City. It was in a 4–0 win against Real Madrid in the Champions League semi-final. Akanji played more minutes than any other City defender in the 2022–23 Premier League season. He was a key part of the team that won the Premier League, FA Cup, and Champions League. This is known as a "continental treble."
More Success with City
On 21 October 2023, Akanji received his first red card for Manchester City. This happened in a 2–1 win against Brighton.
He scored his first goal of the 2023–24 season on 25 October. It was in a Champions League match against BSC Young Boys. He also scored his first Premier League goal on 4 November against Bournemouth. He even scored in a third straight match on 12 November against Chelsea.
On 10 August 2024, Akanji scored the winning penalty. This helped Manchester City win the 2024 FA Community Shield against Manchester United.
Playing for Switzerland
Manuel Akanji played for the Switzerland U-20 team twice. He then joined the Switzerland U-21 team in 2014.
On 9 June 2017, Akanji made his debut for the Swiss senior team. It was a 2–0 win against Faroe Islands. This was a qualifying match for the 2018 World Cup.
He was part of Switzerland's team for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. He played in all four of their matches. Switzerland reached the "round of 16" in that tournament.
In 2021, he played for Switzerland in UEFA Euro 2020. He played in all five of Switzerland's matches. They reached the quarter-finals. He even scored a penalty in the shootout against France.
On 24 September 2022, Akanji scored his first goal for the senior national team. It was against Spain in a UEFA Nations League game.
Akanji was also in the Swiss team for the 2022 FIFA World Cup. He scored Switzerland's only goal in their match against Portugal.
In June 2024, Akanji was named in Switzerland's squad for UEFA Euro 2024. He helped Switzerland reach the quarter-finals again. He was even chosen for the Team of the Tournament for his great performances.
How Manuel Akanji Plays
Manuel Akanji is known for his calm and skillful way of playing. He is good with the ball and passes it very well. He is also a strong and physical defender. He is excellent at winning the ball from opponents and making tackles.
He can read the game well and stop passes. He stays calm even under pressure. His passing is a key part of his game. He often starts attacks from the back of the field. His long passes are especially good. He can switch the play across the field to create space for his teammates.
Because he is so good at passing, Akanji can play in different defensive positions. His manager at Manchester City, Pep Guardiola, has used him as a left-back, right-back, and sometimes even as a "libero."
Manuel's Life Off the Field
Manuel Akanji was born in Wiesendangen, Switzerland. His mother is Swiss, and his father is Nigerian. His sister, Sarah, used to be a footballer. She also works in politics.
In 2017, while already a professional player, he finished his vocational training. He showed amazing skills at mental calculation on Swiss TV in 2018.
Awards and Trophies
FC Basel
- Swiss Super League: 2015–16, 2016–17
- Swiss Cup: 2016–17
Borussia Dortmund
- DFB-Pokal: 2020–21
- DFL-Supercup: 2019
Manchester City
- Premier League: 2022–23, 2023–24
- FA Cup: 2022–23; runner-up: 2023–24
- FA Community Shield: 2024
- UEFA Champions League: 2022–23
- UEFA Super Cup: 2023
- FIFA Club World Cup: 2023
Individual Awards
- Swiss Super League Team of the Year: 2017–18
- UEFA European Championship Team of the Tournament: 2024
See also
In Spanish: Manuel Akanji para niños
