Biography
Who is Thomas Vermaelen?
Early Career and Youth Development
Thomas Vermaelen was born in Antwerp, Belgium, on November 14, 1985. He began his youth football career in his home country, first with Germinal Ekeren. After a merger, this club became known as Germinal Beerschot, where Thomas continued his development.
In 2000, Thomas joined the youth academy of the Dutch club, AFC Ajax. He made his professional debut for Ajax on February 15, 2004. This appearance was in an away match against FC Volendam, which Ajax won 2-0.
Success with Ajax and Arsenal
Thomas won the Eredivisie title with Ajax in his first season, 2003-04. He had a loan spell at RKC Waalwijk before returning to Ajax, where he secured the KNVB Cup and the Johan Cruyff Shield. His strong performances led to a call-up for the Belgium national team. He later served as captain for Ajax during the latter part of the 2008-09 season.
In June 2009, Thomas transferred to Arsenal for an initial fee of €10 million. He made an immediate impact, scoring in his Premier League debut against Everton on August 15, 2009. Fans nicknamed him the "Verminator," and he was included in the PFA Premier League Team of the Year for that season. He became club captain in August 2012, following Robin van Persie's move to Manchester United. He won his only trophy with Arsenal, the FA Cup, in 2014, although he was an unused substitute in the final.
Time at Barcelona and Later Years
Thomas Vermaelen completed a £15 million transfer to FC Barcelona in August 2014, signing a five-year contract. His time at Barcelona was unfortunately affected by recurring injuries. He underwent surgery for a hamstring injury in December 2014. Thomas made his debut for Barcelona on May 23, 2015, playing 63 minutes in a La Liga match against Deportivo de La Coruña.
After his spell with Barcelona, Thomas joined Vissel Kobe in 2019. He continued his playing career there before announcing his retirement from professional football in 2021. Following his retirement as a player, he transitioned into a coaching role, becoming an association football coach.
International Career with Belgium
Thomas made his international debut for the Belgium men's national football team in 2006. He represented his country at several major international tournaments. He participated in the 2008 Olympics, where Belgium finished in fourth place.
Thomas also played for Belgium in the FIFA World Cup tournaments in 2014 and 2018. Belgium achieved a third-place finish at the 2018 World Cup. Also, he was part of the Belgian squad for the UEFA European Championship in both 2016 and 2021.
Birthday and age
Thomas Vermaelen was born on November 14, 1985, which makes Thomas 40 years old today. That birthday falls under the Scorpio sign. Thomas shares the date with 26 other famous people.
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