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Manuel Akanji

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Manuel Akanji
Akanji playing for Switzerland at the 2018 FIFA World Cup
Personal information
Full name Manuel Obafemi Akanji[1]
Date of birth (1995-07-19) 19 July 1995 (age 29)[2]
Place of birth Neftenbach, Switzerland
Height 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)[2]
Position(s) Defender
Team information
Current team
 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 69 (2)
International career‡
2014 Switzerland U20 2 (0)
2014–2015 Switzerland U21 6 (0)
2017– Switzerland 69 (3)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 23:11, 23 November 2024 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 23:07, 15 October 2024 (UTC)

Manuel Obafemi Akanji (born 19 July 1995) is a Swiss professional footballer who plays as a defender for Premier League club Manchester City and the Switzerland national team.

An academy graduate of FC Winterthur, Akanji's professional career began in 2014, when he made his debut for the then-Swiss Challenge League club, having also previously played for the club's second team. He moved to first tier FC Basel in 2015, where he won consecutive league titles in 2015–16 and 2016–17, the latter of which was a double that included the 2016–17 Swiss Cup. Following his success with Basel, Akanji was sold to Borussia Dortmund during the winter transfer window of 2018. During his stay in the Bundesliga, he helped Dortmund win the 2019 DFL-Supercup and the 2020–21 DFB-Pokal. He joined Manchester City in 2022, winning a continental treble in his first season with the club, as well as numerous other trophies, including one more Premier League title in 2023–24.

Internationally, Akanji represents Switzerland, making his debut for the senior team in 2017 after featuring for the under-20 and under-21 sides. He was a member of Switzerland's squad for two editions of the UEFA European Championship, in 2020 and 2024, as well as two FIFA World Cups, in 2018 and 2022.

Club career

[edit]

Youth football and early career

[edit]

Akanji began his youth career with the local club in Wiesendangen. In May 2007, Akanji changed clubs and was a youth-team player for FC Winterthur, featuring for their under-18 team and later with their second team. In the 2014–15 Challenge League, he became a regular starter for Winterthur, having played two games for them during the second half of the previous season.[3]

FC Basel

[edit]

On 15 April 2015, it was announced that Akanji would be transferred to FC Basel for the 2015–16 Swiss Super League season.[4] He made his Swiss Super League debut on 26 September 2015 being substituted in against FC Lugano. Under manager Urs Fischer, Akanji won the Swiss Super League championship at the end of the 2015–16 Super League season.[5] Basel then won the 2016–17 Swiss Super League and 2016–17 Swiss Cup double, making it the sixth time the club had achieved this feat in its history.[6]

As Swiss Champions, Basel qualified for the 2017–18 UEFA Champions League and started in the group stage. Akanji played the full 90 minutes in all six games and helped the team finish second in its group, thus qualifying for the knockout phase.[7]

Borussia Dortmund

[edit]

Akanji signed for Borussia Dortmund on 15 January 2018 during the winter transfer window for a reported fee of €18 million[8] He signed a four-and-a-half-year contract dated until June 2022.[9][10] On 2 February, Akanji made his BVB debut as an 87th minute substitute for André Schürrle in a 3–2 win at 1. FC Köln.[11]

On 27 September 2018, Akanji scored his first goal for the club and his first Bundesliga goal in a 7–0 victory over 1. FC Nürnberg.[12] Akanji was widely criticised for his costly errors during Dortmund's failed challenge to Bayern Munich during the 2019–20 season. Akanji was one of the main players singled out as a weak link in the team.[13]

Akanji played the full 90 minutes as Dortmund beat RB Leipzig 4–1 in the 2021 DFB-Pokal Final at the Berlin Olympiastadion on 13 May 2021.[14]

Manchester City

[edit]

2022–23 season

[edit]

On 1 September 2022, Akanji joined Premier League champions Manchester City, signing a contract until 2027[15] for a reported fee of £15 million.[16] He made his debut for City five days later, starting in a 4–0 away win over Sevilla in the Champions League group stage.[17] He made his Premier League debut on 17 September, starting in a 3–0 away win over Wolverhampton Wanderers.[18] He was voted the club's Player of the Month for October.[19] On 17 May 2023, he scored his first goal for the club, which was also his first in the Champions League, with a header deflected by Éder Militão in a 4–0 home win over Real Madrid in the semi-final second leg.[20] During the 2022–23 Premier League, Akanji played more minutes than any other Manchester City defender.[21]

2023–24 season

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On 21 October 2023, Akanji received his first red card for Manchester City in a 2–1 win over Brighton & Hove Albion in the Premier League.[22]

On 25 October, he scored his first goal of the season in a 3–1 win over BSC Young Boys in the Champions League.[23] He scored his first Premier League goal in a 6–1 win over Bournemouth on 4 November[24] and, on 12 November, scored in a third consecutive match as City drew 4–4 with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.[25]

2024–25 season

[edit]

On 10 August 2024, Akanji scored the winning penalty as Manchester City defeated Manchester United 7–6 on penalties to win the 2024 FA Community Shield after a 1–1 draw in regular time.[26]

International career

[edit]
Akanji with Switzerland at the 2018 FIFA World Cup

Akanji made two appearances for the Switzerland U-20 national team. His debut was on 7 September 2014 in the 0–0 draw against the German U-20 national team. From 2014, he was a member of the Switzerland U-21 team and made his debut for them on 26 March in the 0–3 defeat by the Italian U-21 team.[citation needed]

On 9 June 2017, Akanji made his debut for the Swiss senior team in a 2–0 win against Faroe Islands in a 2018 World Cup qualifying match, where he played the entire 90 minutes.[27]

He was included in Switzerland's 23-man squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia and started all four of the team's matches as they reached the round of 16.[28]

In May 2019, Akanji played in 2019 UEFA Nations League Finals, where his team finished fourth.[29]

In 2021, he was named in the Swiss squad for UEFA Euro 2020.[30] He started all five of Switzerland's matches as they reached the quarter-finals,[31] scoring his kick as the Swiss beat France in a penalty shootout in the round of 16.[32] However, in the quarter-final against Spain, he was one of three Swiss players to miss their spot kicks in the 4–2 penalty shootout loss.[33]

On 24 September 2022, Akanji scored his first senior international goal against Spain in a 2–1 UEFA Nations League victory.[34]

Akanji was a member of the Swiss squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup and, on 7 December 2022, he scored the only goal for Switzerland in a 6–1 loss to Portugal in the round of 16.[35]

On 7 June 2024, Akanji was named in Switzerland's squad for UEFA Euro 2024.[36] He played the full match in the team's opening Group A fixture on 15 June, as the Nati defeated Hungary 3–1 in Cologne.[37] He helped Switzerland reach the quarter-finals for a second consecutive European Championship, where his team was eventually eliminated by England on penalties. Akanji took the first spot kick for Switzerland in the shoot-out, which Jordan Pickford saved, and with both teams scoring their remaining penalties, England advanced by winning 5–3.[38] For his performances, Akanji was selected in the Team of the Tournament.[39]

Style of play

[edit]

Akanji is known for his cultured style of play, which is characterized by his technical ability, composure on the ball, and excellent passing range.[40][41][42] He is also a strong and physical defender who is comfortable in one-on-one situations and is adept at intercepting passes and making tackles.[41][43][44][45]

His ability to read the game and make crucial interceptions as well as his calmness under pressure is well-known among fans of the English Premier League. Akanji's passing ability is also a key part of his game, and he is often involved in building attacks from the back.[41][44][45][46] His long-range passing is particularly noteworthy, and he is capable of playing accurate diagonal balls to switch the play and create space for his teammates.[41][44][46] Due to his passing abilities, Akanji has been deployed as both a left-back and right-back, as well as occasionally a libero, much like teammate John Stones, by City manager Pep Guardiola.[46][47]

Personal life

[edit]

Akanji was born in Neftenbach, Switzerland,[48] to a Swiss mother and a Nigerian father.[49] His sister Sarah is a former footballer for FC Winterthur Frauen and Social Democratic Party of Switzerland politician.[50]

In 2017, already a professional player, he completed his vocational training as a tradesman (″Kaufmann″). On Swiss TV in 2018 he showed excellent skills at mental calculation.[51][52]

Career statistics

[edit]

Club

[edit]
As of match played 26 November 2024[53]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup[a] League cup[b] Europe Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
FC Winterthur II 2013–14 1. Liga Classic 18 0 — — — — 18 0
FC Winterthur 2013–14 Swiss Challenge League 2 0 0 0 — — — 2 0
2014–15 Swiss Challenge League 33 1 2 0 — — — 35 1
Total 35 1 2 0 — 0 0 0 0 37 1
FC Basel II 2015–16 Swiss Promotion League 3 0 — — — — 3 0
2016–17 Swiss Promotion League 1 0 — — — — 1 0
Total 4 0 — — — — 4 0
FC Basel 2015–16 Swiss Super League 8 0 3 0 — 1[c] 0 — 12 0
2016–17 Swiss Super League 15 4 3 1 — 0 0 — 18 5
2017–18 Swiss Super League 19 1 3 1 — 6[d] 0 — 28 2
Total 42 5 9 2 — 7 0 0 0 58 7
Borussia Dortmund 2017–18 Bundesliga 11 0 — — 0 0 — 11 0
2018–19 Bundesliga 25 1 1 0 — 5[d] 0 — 31 1
2019–20 Bundesliga 29 0 3 0 — 6[d] 0 1[e] 0 39 0
2020–21 Bundesliga 28 2 5 0 — 7[d] 0 1[e] 0 41 2
2021–22 Bundesliga 26 1 3 0 — 6[f] 0 1[e] 0 36 1
Total 119 4 12 0 — 24 0 3 0 158 4
Manchester City 2022–23 Premier League 29 0 6 0 2 0 11[d] 1 — 48 1
2023–24 Premier League 30 2 5 0 1 0 8[d] 2 4[g] 0 48 4
2024–25 Premier League 10 0 0 0 0 0 5[d] 0 1[h] 0 16 0
Total 69 2 11 0 3 0 24 3 5 0 112 5
Career total 287 12 34 2 3 0 55 3 8 0 387 17
  1. ^ Includes Swiss Cup, DFB-Pokal, FA Cup
  2. ^ Includes EFL Cup
  3. ^ Appearances in UEFA Europa League
  4. ^ a b c d e f g Appearances in UEFA Champions League
  5. ^ a b c Appearance in DFL-Supercup
  6. ^ Five appearances in UEFA Champions League, one appearance in UEFA Europa League
  7. ^ One appearance in FA Community Shield, one appearance in UEFA Super Cup, two appearances in FIFA Club World Cup
  8. ^ Appearance in FA Community Shield

International

[edit]
As of match played 15 October 2024[54]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team Year Apps Goals
Switzerland 2017 4 0
2018 9 0
2019 9 0
2020 3 0
2021 13 0
2022 9 2
2023 10 1
2024 12 0
Total 69 3
As of match played 15 October 2024
Scores and results list Switzerland's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Akanji goal[54]
List of international goals scored by Manuel Akanji
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1 24 September 2022 La Romareda, Zaragoza, Spain  Spain 1–0 2–1 2022–23 UEFA Nations League A
2 6 December 2022 Lusail Stadium, Lusail, Qatar  Portugal 1–4 1–6 2022 FIFA World Cup
3 15 October 2023 Kybunpark, St. Gallen, Switzerland  Belarus 2–3 3–3 UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying

Honours

[edit]

FC Basel

Borussia Dortmund

Manchester City

Individual

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "FIFA World Cup Russia 2018: List of Players: Switzerland" (PDF). FIFA. 15 July 2018. p. 30. Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 June 2019.
  2. ^ a b c "Manuel Akanji: Overview". Premier League. Retrieved 25 May 2024.
  3. ^ "Der FC Winterthur gratuliert Manuel Akanji zum Transfer von Dortmund zu Manchester City!" (in German). FC Winterthur. 2 September 2022. Retrieved 28 August 2024.
  4. ^ Ein neuer Verteidiger für den FCB: Manuel Akanji kommt vom FC Winterthur TagesWoche dated 15. April 2015
  5. ^ Marti, Casper (2016). "Es ist vollbracht ! Der FCB ist zum 19. Mal Meister". FC Basel. Retrieved 30 April 2016.
  6. ^ Marti, Casper (2017). "Der Saisonabschluss im Zeitraffer". FC Basel. Retrieved 2 June 2017.
  7. ^ "Amazing: FCB qualify for the knockout stages". FC Basel. 5 December 2017. Retrieved 28 August 2024.
  8. ^ "Wechsel perfekt! BVB bekommt Akanji sofort" kicker, 15 January 2018. Retrieved on 15 January 2018.
  9. ^ Borussia Dortmund (2018). "BVB verpflichtet Schweizer Nationalspieler Manuel Akanji". Borussia Dortmund. Retrieved 15 January 2018.
  10. ^ FC Basel (2018). "Manuel Akanji wechselt zu Borussia Dortmund". FC Basel. Retrieved 15 January 2018.
  11. ^ "Bundesliga: Debut double for Batshuayi in BVB win". Deutsche Welle. 2 February 2018. Retrieved 14 November 2023.
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  13. ^ "Three Borussia Dortmund players who need to improve". 11 November 2019.
  14. ^ "Jadon Sancho and Erling Haaland help Borussia Dortmund overpower RB Leipzig to win DFB Cup". Bundesliga. Retrieved 14 November 2023.
  15. ^ "City seal Akanji signing". ManCity.com. Manchester City. 1 September 2022. Retrieved 1 September 2022.
  16. ^ "Man City sign defender Manuel Akanji from Borussia Dortmund for £15m". Sky Sports. 1 September 2022.
  17. ^ Sutcliffe, Steve (6 September 2022). "Sevilla 0-4 Man City: Erling Haaland scores twice in comfortable Champions League opening win". BBC Sport. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
  18. ^ Stone, Simon (6 September 2022). "Wolves 0-3 Manchester City: Erling Haaland scores again in dominant win". BBC Sport. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
  19. ^ Clayton, David. "Akanji voted Etihad Player of the Month for October". www.mancity.com. Retrieved 18 November 2022.
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  25. ^ "Chelsea 4-4 Man City: Key stats from an instant classic". Premier League. 12 November 2023.
  26. ^ "Manchester City beat United on penalties to win Community Shield". Guardian. 10 August 2024. Retrieved 12 August 2024.
  27. ^ "Färöer Inseln 0:2 Schweiz". football.ch. Schweizerischer Fussballverband. 9 June 2017. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
  28. ^ "Manuel Akanji: 10 things on Borussia Dortmund's Swiss international defender". Bundesliga. Retrieved 14 November 2023.
  29. ^ "Pickford the hero in England shootout win". BBC Sport.
  30. ^ "Das Kader des Schweizer Nationalteams für die UEFA EURO ist bekannt" [The squad of the Swiss national team for the UEFA Euro is known]. Swiss Football Association (in German). 31 May 2021. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
  31. ^ "Manuel Akanji: Who is the Borussia Dortmund and Switzerland defender hailed by Giorgio Chiellini?". Bundesliga. Retrieved 14 November 2023.
  32. ^ "France 3-3 Switzerland (aet; pens 4-5): Euro 2020 last 16 – as it happened". The Guardian. 29 June 2021. Retrieved 14 November 2023.
  33. ^ "Switzerland 1-1 Spain: Spain beat Switzerland on penalties to reach Euros semis". BBC Sport. 1 July 2021. Retrieved 16 June 2024.
  34. ^ "Zwei Eckbälle für ein Halleluja: Nati überrascht in Spanien" (in Swiss High German). SRF. 24 September 2022. Retrieved 24 September 2022.
  35. ^ "Portugal vs. Switzerland - Football Match Summary - December 7, 2022 - ESPN". ESPN.com. Retrieved 7 December 2022.
  36. ^ "Switzerland announce 26-man squad for Euro 2024". Reuters. 7 June 2024. Retrieved 16 June 2024.
  37. ^ "Hungary 1-3 Switzerland LIVE: UEFA Euro 2024 - score, updates & reaction". BBC Sport. Retrieved 16 June 2024.
  38. ^ "England vs Switzerland LIVE: UEFA Euro 2024 football stream, score, report, prediction & updates". BBC Sport. 6 July 2024. Retrieved 28 August 2024.
  39. ^ a b "UEFA EURO 2024 Team of the Tournament". UEFA. 16 July 2024. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
  40. ^ "Manuel Akanji - Soccer Wiki: for the fans, by the fans". Soccer Wiki. 2019. Retrieved 22 September 2023.
  41. ^ a b c d more, Sam Lee, Raphael Honigstein and. "Manuel Akanji was available, experienced and looks a very good fit for Man City". The Athletic. Retrieved 22 September 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  42. ^ Marshall, Tyrone (17 September 2022). "Akanji did four things to impress Guardiola on Man City Premier League debut". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 22 September 2023.
  43. ^ Odey, Emmanuel (29 April 2023). "Manuel Akanji: The Bargain of the Season?". Bitter and Blue. Retrieved 22 September 2023.
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  45. ^ a b "Manuel Akanji at Manchester City 2022/23 - scout report". Total Football Analysis Magazine. 5 September 2022. Retrieved 22 September 2023.
  46. ^ a b c "Manuel Akanji is Man City's bargain buy and now Pep Guardiola's intelligent problem-solver at right-back". Sky Sports. Retrieved 22 September 2023.
  47. ^ "Manuel Akanji at left-back? Pep Guardiola's masterstroke against Arsenal turns the title race Man City's way". Sky Sports. Retrieved 22 September 2023.
  48. ^ Manuel Akanji. In: Munzinger-Archiv, retrieved 15. September 2022.
  49. ^ "Manuel Akanji: 10 things on Borussia Dortmund's new Swiss international defender". Bundesliga. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
  50. ^ "Sarah Akanji zieht sich aus Politik zurück". Blick (in German). 14 September 2022. Retrieved 14 November 2023.
  51. ^ BVB-Profi schneller als der Taschenrechner, sport.sky.de, retrieved 29 June 2021
  52. ^ Fussball: Manuel Akanji als Studiogast, www.srf.ch, retrieved 29 June 2021
  53. ^ "M. Akanji". Soccerway. Retrieved 27 August 2021.
  54. ^ a b "Manuel Akanji". EU-Football.info. Retrieved 24 June 2018.
  55. ^ "Basel champions with five matches still to play". UEFA. 30 April 2016. Retrieved 28 August 2024.
  56. ^ "An amazing Season which can be topped". FC Basel. 28 April 2017. Retrieved 28 August 2024.
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  64. ^ McNulty, Phil (16 August 2023). "Manchester City 1–1 Sevilla". BBC Sport. Retrieved 25 May 2024.
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  66. ^ "SAFP GOLDEN 11 2017 – Die Gewinner". Golden11. 31 January 2018. Retrieved 28 November 2022.
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