Biography
Who is Joël Matip?
Early life and career
Born in Bochum, Germany, Job Joël André Matip began his football path early. He started at SC Weitmar 45 before joining VfL Bochum in 1997. He spent three years playing in their youth system. In July 2000, talent scouts from Schalke 04 identified his potential and brought him into their club.
He officially began his professional career with Schalke 04 in 2009. His debut occurred on 27 October 2009 during a Regionalliga West match against 1. FC Saarbrücken. Shortly after, he made his Bundesliga debut against Bayern Munich on 7 November 2009, where he scored a goal and earned man of the match honors. He signed a three-and-a-half-year contract with the club on 2 March 2010.
Success with Schalke 04
During the 2010–11 season, Joël helped Schalke reach the UEFA Champions League semi-finals for the first time in club history. On 5 April 2011, he scored a goal in the quarter-final victory against Inter Milan at the San Siro. He also played as a substitute in the 2011 DFB-Pokal Final, which the team won 5–0 against MSV Duisburg.
He continued to be a key defensive player for the squad for several seasons. On 23 February 2013, he scored both goals in a 2–1 victory against Fortuna Düsseldorf. He also netted a well-known goal against FC Basel during the 2013–14 Champions League campaign. In total, he made 258 competitive appearances and scored 23 goals before leaving the club.
Liverpool career highlights
In February 2016, he signed a pre-contract agreement to join Liverpool on a free transfer. He debuted for the club on 23 August 2016 in an EFL Cup match against Burton Albion. His first Premier League goal came in October 2016 against Crystal Palace. He was quickly recognized for his role in strengthening the team defense during the 2016–17 season.
Joël played a major role in Liverpool's later successes. He assisted a crucial goal in the 2019 Champions League final, helping the team defeat Tottenham Hotspur 2–0. He was part of the squad that won the 2019–20 Premier League, the 2021–22 FA Cup, and the 2021–22 EFL Cup. He also secured the 2022 FA Community Shield title. He left Liverpool in May 2024 and announced his retirement from football in October 2024 at the age of 33.
International play and personal life
Although raised in Germany, he chose to represent Cameroon at the international level. He played for the national team at the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations and participated in the 2010 and 2014 FIFA World Cups. He scored the only goal for his team during the 2014 World Cup against Brazil. He retired from international football in 2015 due to dissatisfaction with the national team setup.
Joël Matip is the son of Jean Matip and has a brother named Marvin Matip, who is also a professional footballer. He attended the Gesamtschule Berger Feld during his youth. He married Larissa Stollenwerk after Liverpool won the 2020 Premier League title. The couple welcomed their first child, a son, in June 2021.
Birthday and age
Joël Matip was born on August 8, 1991, which makes Joël 35 years old today. That birthday falls under the Leo sign. Joël shares the date with 29 other famous people.
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