Benedikt Höwedes

Club career

Höwedes started playing football for his hometown club TuS Haltern in 1994. In 2001 he was transferred to the youth teams of FC Schalke 04. In 2003 he became captain of Schalke's under-19 team and as a member of that team he won the Under 19 Bundesliga in 2006.

In September 2007, the German Football Association honoured Höwedes with the Fritz Walter Medal as the best player of his age-group for the 2006–07 season.

In January 2007, he signed a professional contract with Schalke, which ran until 30 June 2010, he then joined Schalke's Bundesliga squad in July. Until October 2007, however, he only played for Schalke's second team in the Oberliga (fourth division).

Höwedes' first professional match was in the Champions League on 3 October 2007.

On 10 December 2008, Höwedes extended his contract which will keep him at the club until 30 June 2014.

On 23 July 2011, Höwedes became captain of Schalke.

On 9 March 2013, Höwedes extended his contract with Schalke, until 30 June 2017.

International career

Höwedes played for the under-18's team and under-19 team and appeared in all matches up to and including the semi-final at the 2007 UEFA European Under-19 Championship. On 5 September 2007, he made his first and only under-20 team appearance, due to the fact that he was turning out for the under-21 team on a regular basis.

He was a member of the squad which won the 2009 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship and started in Germany's 4–0 win against England in the final.

On 29 May 2011, he made his debut for the senior team in a friendly against Uruguay. On 7 June 2011, he played his first official match against Azerbaijan in UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying, Germany won the match 3–1, with Höwedes setting up the first goal, which was scored by Mesut Özil.

Höwedes was selected for the German squad for UEFA Euro 2012 but did not make an appearance in the tournament.

On 15 August 2012, he scored his first goal in a 1–3 friendly defeat at home against Argentina.

After making three appearances during 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification, Höwedes was named in Germany's squad for the tournament finals. He was named in the starting line-up at left back against Portugal in the team's opening match, making his tournament debut. Later on, he won the tournament, along with his team. In the 2014 World Cup final, Höwedes went close to opening the scoring by hitting the goalpost with a header after a corner kick in the last seconds of the first half and was the subject of prankster Vitaly Zdorovetskiy's attention in the 82nd minute of the match. Höwedes was also one of three German players who played every minute of all seven World Cup games, alongside goalkeeper Manuel Neuer and captain Philipp Lahm.

Playing style

Höwedes is considered a defensive all-rounder, so Höwedes can be deployed in every defensive position. Höwedes main playing position is as a centre back, but he can also be deployed as right or left full-back and as a right or left wing-back, which are the main positions that Höwedes was deployed in under Jens Keller. At the beginning of his Schalke professional football career, Höwedes played mainly as a left-back. In the early phase of his football career, Höwedes mainly played as a defensive midfielder. Höwedes' defensive strengths lie in his ability to consistently win his oppositional one-on-one duels, fine heading ability and his no-nonsense style of play. Höwedes' high-jumping ability sees him score and set-up goals with his head, and Höwedes' is known for well-timed sliding tackles and standing tackles. Höwedes is also known for good first-time passing and also possesses great strength.

Club

International

International goals

Club

International

Individual

Personal life

Höwedes was born in Haltern, North Rhine-Westphalia and he attended Gesamtschule Berger Feld.