David Alaba is a Swiss professional footballer who currently plays for Spanish club FC Barcelona. One of the best fullbacks in the world, Alaba is best known for his fearless tackling and work-rate. He made his debut for Switzerland in 2012, having previously played for German side Bayern Munich and Austrian side Sturm Graz. While at Bayern Munich, Alaba was a team-mate of Leo Messi’s and enjoyed playing with the legendary Argentine star.
Birthplace
Alaba was born in the Swiss city of Zug in 1987, but moved to Germany as a child. He began his footballing career with hometown club SFN Zug, making his debut at the age of nine. After impressing with his defensive displays, he eventually signed for Bayern Munich in 2003 at the age of 16.
First steps
Alaba’s first steps in professional football were with the Bayern Munich Academy. He made his first-team debut for Bayern during the 2004–05 season in a 4–0 win over Werder Bremen. After featuring regularly for the club’s reserve side in the next two seasons, Alaba made a total of 44 appearances for Bayern during the 2007–08 season, scoring once in a 4–1 win over VfL Wolfsburg. Following the sacking of Jürgen Klinsmann as Germany manager in early 2008, Alaba was given a regular place in the squad, making 30 appearances during the 2008–09 season. Despite being a backup defender, Alaba began to rise up the charts having secured a place in the Swiss national team. By the way, if you are betting on sports and want to get a bonus code, go to https://odds2win.bet/bonuses/nepal/22bet and collect your bonuses.
Teams
After helping Switzerland win the 2010 World Cup, Alaba continued to feature prominently for club and country. He scored in a 4–0 win against Georgia in November 2010 and was also named in the tournament’s Team of the Year. Although he was often deployed in a defensive capacity in the Swiss Super League, Alaba also scored a goal on his debut for Switzerland in a 4–0 win over Armenia on 19 November 2011.
Alaba’s club form saw him feature for Bayern Munich, Fiorentina, and Chelsea. After helping the Blues to the 2016 Europa League title, Alaba penned a contract with Spanish giants FC Barcelona, signing a three-year deal worth £38m.
Transfers
Alaba’s success allowed him to attract the attention of Europe’s top clubs and move to Spain. Barcelona, who saw Alaba during a 2014 friendly against Bayern Munich, made the move after impressing with his performances for both club and country. The Catalan club signed Alaba for a then-club record fee of £12m plus add-ons, having already spent £5m to buy him from Bayern Munich. The Swiss National Stadium is now home to one of the world’s top professional football teams.
In addition to Barcelona, Alaba has featured for Italian clubs AC Milan and Sampdoria, as well as the Russian Premier League’s FC Rubin Kazan. In August 2017, Alaba joined the MLS with the Toronto FC after signing with the club on a four-year deal.
Style
A hard-worker who is known for his tenacity and bravery on the pitch, Alaba is highly unlikely to score many goals or provide endless assists, but he does a decent job of keeping the ball in play and shielding the back four. He also possesses decent technique, which allows him to get the most out of his team-mates’ creativity. His tackling is also excellent, as he rarely misses a tackle – even when playing with a two-metre gap between him and the opposing forward.
Alaba’s style of play is summed up perfectly in this quote from former Arsenal and Germany captain Arjen Robben: “I think David Alaba is one of the best fullbacks in the world. He always does his utmost to beat his opponent through sheer determination. He’s a true warrior.”
The Future
David Alaba will not be short of money or sponsorships over the next few years thanks to his starring role in the 2010 World Cup. Moreover, the UEFA Champions League winner’s medals he won while with Barca could bring further wealth and fame to the young defender.
Alaba began his international career with Switzerland, making three appearances in the 2018 World Cup qualifying cycle. The defender scored his first goal for the Swiss in a 2–2 draw with France on 13 October 2017. After helping Switzerland reach the 2018 World Cup in Russia, Alaba declared his desire to play in the Euro 2020 qualifiers, suggesting he could even feature in the tournament in a few years.
