David Alaba

David Olatukunbo Alaba, born on 24 June 1992, is an Austrian footballer showcasing his skills at La Liga powerhouse Real Madrid. His prowess extends to both centre-back and left-back positions, and he proudly captains the Austrian national team. Widely recognized as one of the globe's premier defenders, Alaba is celebrated for his adaptability, technical finesse, and seamless contributions in defensive and offensive capacities on the pitch.


Alaba's journey began within Bayern's youth system, progressing to the reserve team for the 2009–10 season. A pivotal moment arrived in January 2011 when he embarked on a loan spell with TSG 1899 Hoffenheim until the conclusion of the 2010–11 season. His return to Bayern for the 2011–12 season marked the inception of a consistent role within the first-team squad. Alaba's time at Bayern Munich saw him accumulate over 400 appearances, clinching an impressive tally of 27 honors, including ten Bundesliga titles and two UEFA Champions


League triumphs in 2013 and 2020, contributing to treble victories. His excellence was further acknowledged with three appearances in the UEFA Team of the Year during his German tenure. In 2021, a new chapter unfolded as Alaba donned the colors of Real Madrid, securing the 2021–22 La Liga, Supercopa, and Champions League titles in his inaugural season.


Austria's second-youngest player in the senior national team, Alaba debuted at the age of 17 in 2009. With over 100 caps, he graced the UEFA Euro stages in 2016 and 2020. A testament to his brilliance, Alaba claimed the Austrian Footballer of the Year title on nine occasions, including an impressive six consecutive wins from 2011 to 2016.


Initially, he honed his skills within Bayern's youth ranks, showcasing his talents with the under 17 and under 19 teams. His ascent continued as he earned a spot in the reserve team for the 2009–10 season. A significant moment unfolded in August 2009 when he made his debut in a 3. Liga match against Dynamo Dresden, marking the occasion with his inaugural professional goal for FC Bayern Munich II on 29 August 2009. This early success earned him a spot in Bayern Munich's squad for the 2009–10 UEFA Champions League, donning the number 27 shirt.


The turning point came in January 2010 when it was announced that Alaba, along with reserve teammates Diego Contento and Mehmet Ekici, would train with the first team for the remainder of the 2009–10 season. Their integration into the first-team setup materialized on 10 February 2010, as they found themselves on the substitutes' bench for a DFB-Pokal clash against SpVgg Greuther Fürth. Alaba entered the game in the 59th minute, immediately making an impact by setting up Franck Ribéry, contributing to Bayern's 3–2 lead in a match they eventually won 6–2. Notably, this moment established Alaba as Bayern's youngest-ever player in a competitive fixture, achieving this feat at the age of 17 years, 7 months, and 8 days old.


In the subsequent phase of his career, Alaba embarked on a loan spell with TSG 1899 Hoffenheim in January 2011, a stint that extended until the conclusion of the 2010–11 season. During this period, he notched his maiden Bundesliga goal in a 2–2 draw with FC St. Pauli.


Alaba made a triumphant return to Bayern at the onset of the 2011–12 season, swiftly establishing himself as a vital member of the first-team squad. His mark on the scoresheet came on 23 October 2011, netting his premier league goal in a 1–2 away match against Hannover 96. The recognition for his outstanding contributions followed as, on 20 December, Alaba secured the title of Austrian Footballer of the Year for the first time. As the 2011–12 Bundesliga season unfolded, he solidified his position as a starting player for Bayern.


A pivotal moment occurred on 25 April 2012 when Alaba played a crucial role in the UEFA Champions League semi-final second leg against Real Madrid. He not only graced the scoresheet with Bayern's first penalty in the shootout, contributing to their 3–1 victory, but also faced suspension for the 2012 UEFA Champions League Final due to a booking in the semi-final.


The 2012–13 season saw Alaba's Champions League prowess continue to shine. On 5 December, he celebrated his first Champions League goal in a 4–1 triumph over BATE Borisov. This remarkable form earned him a consecutive Austrian Footballer of the Year title on 18 December. Another feather in his cap came on 2 April 2013, as Alaba etched his name in history by scoring the seventh-fastest goal (25.02 seconds) in Champions League history during a 2–0 victory over Juventus. The pinnacle of the season unfolded on 25 May, with Alaba playing the entire 90 minutes at left-back as Bayern secured a 2–1 victory over Borussia Dortmund in the 2013 UEFA Champions League Final.


In the 2013–14 season, Alaba continued to be a prominent figure for Bayern Munich. His presence was felt in various competitions, including the 2013 DFL-Supercup against Borussia Dortmund, the UEFA Super Cup clash with Chelsea, and two fixtures in the FIFA Club World Cup against Guangzhou Evergrande and Raja Casablanca. Demonstrating his commitment to the club, Alaba inked a new contract with Bayern Munich on 2 December 2013, extending his tenure until 2018.


Amidst his on-field accomplishments, Alaba's off-field accolades continued to pile up. On 20 December, he was named Austrian Footballer of the Year for an impressive third consecutive year. The recognition further expanded on an international level in January 2014 when Alaba secured a spot as the left-back in the UEFA Team of the Year 2013.


The streak of accolades persisted into the 2014–15 season. On 18 December 2014, Alaba clinched the title of Austrian Footballer of the Year for the fourth consecutive year. His prowess as a left-back garnered acclaim once again in January 2015 when he was voted into the UEFA.com Team of the Year 2014 for the second consecutive year by users.


Unfortunately, the season took a downturn for Alaba on 31 March when he suffered medial ligament damage in his left knee during Austria's friendly draw with Bosnia and Herzegovina. This injury forced him to miss the remainder of the season with Bayern Munich.

References

1.  "David Alaba". Bundesliga. Archived from the original on 27 April 2021.
2. ^ "FIFA Club World Cup Morocco 2013: List of Players: FC Bayern München" (PDF). FIFA. 11 December 2013. p. 5. Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 December 2013. Retrieved 11 December 2013.
3. a b "David Alaba". Real Madrid CF. Archived from the original on 23 June 2022. Retrieved 25 June 2022.
4. ^ "Heraf nominiert Kader für U19-EM! 18 Spieler – von Alaba bis Weimann" (in German). oefb.at. Archived from the original on 23 October 2014. Retrieved 23 April 2014.
5. ^ "David Alaba: München oder Madrid?" [David Alaba: Munich or Madrid?]. YouTube (in German). 4 December 2022. Archived from the original on 18 May 2023. Retrieved 18 May 2023.
6. ^ "7 greatest left-backs of the decade". HITC Sevens. 26 December 2019. Archived from the original on 26 December 2019. Retrieved 1 June 2020.
7. ^ "Top 25 best left-backs in football in the 21st century". Football Iconic. Archived from the original on 12 February 2021. Retrieved 1 June 2020.
8. a b c Holstein, Hermann (7 May 2012). "David Alaba – Die Vita eines Wunderknaben" (in German). Im 16'er. Archived from the original on 22 February 2014. Retrieved 15 February 2014.
9. ^ "Alabas Rekord als jüngster Teamfußballer gehört Ernst "Jokl" Joachim" (in German). Standard. 20 April 2020. Archived from the original on 16 June 2020. Retrieved 20 April 2020.
10. ^ "Jugend-TOTO-Cup: David Alaba im Porträt" [Jugend-TOTO-Cup: David Alaba portrayed]. planetlinz.tv (in German). 29 August 2008. Archived from the original on 19 September 2010. Retrieved 10 February 2010.
11. ^ "David Alaba, Versprechen und Prophezeiung" [David Alaba, Promise and Prophecy]. Der Standard (in German). 14 July 2009. Archived from the original on 10 August 2011. Retrieved 10 February 2010.
12. ^ "David Alaba: Supertalent des FC Bayern". Fussballboom (in German). 21 April 2009. Archived from the original on 24 May 2012. Retrieved 10 February 2010.