Shkodran Mustafi

Shkodran Mustafi (German pronunciation: [ˈʃkoːdʁan ˈmʊstafiː]; born 17 April 1992) is a German professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for English Premier League club Arsenal and the Germany national team.

Shkodran Mustafi
Mustafi celebrating Germany's victory in the 2014 FIFA World Cup
Personal information
Full name Shkodran Mustafi[1]
Date of birth (1992-04-17) 17 April 1992[2]
Place of birth Bad Hersfeld, Germany
Height 1.84 m (6 ft 0 in)[3]
Playing position(s) Centre-back
Club information
Current team
 Arsenal
Number 20
Youth career
1. FV Bebra
SV Rotenburg
2006–2009 Hamburger SV
2009 Everton
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2009–2012 Everton 0 (0)
2012–2014 Sampdoria 51 (1)
2014–2016 Valencia 64 (6)
2016– Arsenal 95 (7)
National team‡
2008 Germany U16 5 (0)
2008–2009 Germany U17 24 (5)
2009–2010 Germany U18 6 (1)
2010–2011 Germany U19 9 (2)
2011–2013 Germany U20 10 (3)
2013 Germany U21 7 (0)
2014– Germany 20 (2)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 23:29, 25 June 2020 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 19:58, 8 October 2017 (UTC)

Mustafi began his career in the youth ranks of Hamburger SV and English club Everton, where he made one substitute appearance in ​2 1⁄2 years before leaving to Sampdoria in January 2012. He signed a five-year deal at Valencia in August 2014, and moved to Arsenal for a reported £35 million two years later.

Mustafi made his full international debut against Poland on 13 May 2014, and was part of the German teams that won the 2014 FIFA World Cup and the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup, also competing at UEFA Euro 2016.

Club career

Early career

Mustaft was born in Bad Hersfeld, Hesse,[4] to an Albanian family originally from Gostivar, in the former Yugoslavia.[5] Mustafi started his career in the youth system of local 1. FC Bebra, and had a stint with SV Rotenburg, before joining Hamburger SV's youth setup in 2006.

Everton
Mustafi playing for Everton in 2011

In May 2009, Mustafi joined Everton, initially assigned to the Academy team.[6] He later stated that "Goodison Park feels like home", after turning down offers from Manchester City and Newcastle United.[7]

Mustafi made his competitive debut on 16 December 2009, replacing Tony Hibbert in the 75th minute of a 0–1 home loss against BATE Borisov, for the season's UEFA Europa League.[8] He was also named on the bench for the Premier League matches against Arsenal and Manchester City in January. Mustafi only appeared on the bench nine times in the following two campaigns, but never played in any further matches.

Sampdoria

In January 2012, Mustafi moved to Italian Serie B side Sampdoria, on a free transfer.[9] Mustafi was released by Everton after he asked manager David Moyes to allow him to move on for more game time.[10]

Mustafi made his Samp debut on 26 May 2012, starting and playing the full 90 minutes of a 1–3 loss at Varese.[11] It was his maiden appearance in the competition, as Sampdoria returned to Serie A at first attempt. He made his debut in the Italian top flight on 11 November 2012, starting in a 0–2 loss at Palermo.[12]

On 26 October of the following year he scored his first professional goal, netting the game's only against Atalanta at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris.[13]

Valencia
Mustafi playing for Valencia in 2015

On 7 August 2014, Mustafi signed a five-year deal with La Liga's Valencia CF, for an undisclosed fee,[14] rumoured to be €8 million.[15] He debuted for his new team on 25 September, against Córdoba in an eventual 3–0 home win.[16] A month later, he scored his first goal for the team, opening a 3–1 home win over Elche.[17] In Valencia's next match on 2 November, against another regional rival, Villarreal, Mustafi scored a brace in a 3–1 away win to put Valencia into second place in the league.[18]

On 3 March 2016, Mustafi received a straight red card in the first half of Valencia's 7–0 loss at Barcelona in the first leg of the Copa del Rey semi-final, after conceding a penalty with a foul on Lionel Messi. He then pleaded for the team's forgiveness by the Che supporters.[19]

Arsenal

On 30 August 2016, Mustafi joined English club Arsenal for an undisclosed fee, reported to be in excess of £35 million.[20][21] He made his debut in Arsenal's 2–1 Premier League win over Southampton at the Emirates Stadium on 10 September.[22] Mustafi beat Bacary Sagna's record unbeaten start of 17 games at the club in Arsenal's 3–3 draw against Bournemouth with his 18th game without defeat.[23] On 22 January 2017, he scored his first goal for the club in a home 2–1 league win over Burnley.[24] Because of illness, he missed Arsenal's 2–1 win over Chelsea in the 2017 FA Cup Final on 27 May.[25][26]

International career
Roman Weidenfeller, Mesut Özil and Mustafi (right) after Germany's victory at the 2014 FIFA World Cup

Eligible to represent Germany, North Macedonia and Albania,[27][28] Mustafi played for his country of birth at youth level; with the under-17 team he won the 2009 UEFA European Under-17 Championship.

Joachim Löw called up Mustafi to the German national squad for a friendly match against Chile in February 2014,[29] he made his full international debut in a friendly match against Poland, playing the full 90 minutes of a goalless draw at the Volksparkstadion on 13 May 2014.[30]

Mustafi was selected in Germany's 30-man provisional squad before the 2014 FIFA World Cup by Löw. After initially not making the squad for the finals,[31] he was subsequently nominated as the replacement for the injured Marco Reus.[32] He appeared as a substitute in Germany's opening World Cup game against Portugal, coming on in the 73rd minute in place of Mats Hummels to win his second cap.[33] In the team's second match, he again came on as a substitute, replacing Jérôme Boateng at half time against Ghana.[34] He was selected to start at right-back in Germany's round of 16 match against Algeria, but was substituted in the 70th minute for Sami Khedira due to an injury in his left thigh.[35] It was later confirmed by the DFB that Mustafi would take no further part in the World Cup due to the torn fibre muscle.[36]

Mustafi was also called up for UEFA Euro 2016. In Germany's opening match against Ukraine in Lille, he headed a delivery from Toni Kroos to open a 2–0 win.[37] He was also part of their squad that won the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup in Russia,[38] but was omitted from the following year's World Cup in the same country due to a poor season with Arsenal.[39]

Personal life

Mustafi is a practising Muslim.[40] In July 2016, he married model Vjosa Kaba in Gostivar,[41] and she gave birth to their daughter in July 2017.[42]

Career statistics

Club
As of match played 28 June 2020[43]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup League Cup Europe Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Everton 2009–10[43] Premier League 0000001[lower-alpha 1]010
2010–11[43] Premier League 000000—00
2011–12[43] Premier League 000000—00
Total 0000001010
Sampdoria 2011–12[43] Serie B 10———10
2012–13[43] Serie A 17000——170
2013–14[43] Serie A 33120——351
Total 51120——531
Valencia 2014–15[43] La Liga 33430——364
2015–16[43] La Liga 30240—10[lower-alpha 2]0442
2016–17[43] La Liga 10———10
Total 64670—100816
Arsenal 2016–17[43] Premier League 26240007[lower-alpha 3]0372
2017–18[43] Premier League 27300308[lower-alpha 1]0383
2018–19[43] Premier League 31210206[lower-alpha 1]1403
2019–20[43] Premier League 11020207[lower-alpha 1]1221
Total 95770702811379
Career total 210141607039127216
  1. Appearance(s) in UEFA Europa League
  2. Seven appearances in UEFA Champions League, three in UEFA Europa League
  3. Appearances in UEFA Champions League

International
As of match played 8 October 2017[30]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Germany
201460
201530
201661
201751
Total202
As of match played 8 October 2017. Germany score listed first, score column indicates score after each Mustafi goal.[43]
List of international goals scored by Shkodran Mustafi
No. Date Venue Cap Opponent Score Result Competition
112 June 2016Stade Pierre-Mauroy, Lille, France11 Ukraine1–02–0UEFA Euro 2016
210 June 2017Stadion Nürnberg, Nuremberg, Germany16 San Marino5–07–02018 FIFA World Cup qualification

Honours
Mustafi holding the FIFA World Cup Trophy at Germany's victory parade in Berlin

Arsenal

Germany U17

Germany

References
  1. "Acta del Partido celebrado el 22 de agosto de 2016, en Valencia" [Minutes of the Match held on 22 August 2016, in Valencia] (in Spanish). Royal Spanish Football Federation. Retrieved 16 June 2019.
  2. "Shkodran Mustafi: Overview". ESPN. Retrieved 29 June 2020.
  3. "Shkodran Mustafi: Overview". Premier League. Retrieved 23 February 2020.
  4. "Shkodran Mustafi: Profile". worldfootball.net. HEIM:SPIEL. Retrieved 29 June 2020.
  5. Panorama-sport (22 January 2014). "Shkodran Mustafi, "blerja" e kombetares". Panorama sport. Archived from the original on 25 January 2014. Retrieved 22 January 2014.
  6. "Sein Gefühl sagte FC Everton" [His feelings told Everton FC] (in German). Hamburger Abendblatt. 2 May 2009. Retrieved 7 August 2014.
  7. "Goodison Park Feels Like Home – New Everton Signing Mustafi Shkodran". Goal.com. 19 May 2009. Retrieved 7 August 2014.
  8. "BATE sign off with Goodison win". UEFA. 17 December 2009. Retrieved 7 August 2014.
  9. McLeod, Scott (4 January 2012). "Mustafi Moves On". Everton F.C. Retrieved 4 January 2012.
  10. O'Rourke, Pete (15 July 2014). "Transfer news: Germany star Shkodran Mustafi explains Everton exit". Sky Sports. Retrieved 13 January 2017.
  11. "Varese 3 – Sampdoria 1". Il Secolo XIX (in Italian). 26 May 2012. Retrieved 7 August 2014.
  12. "Palermo 2 – 0 Sampdoria". Football Italia. 11 November 2012. Retrieved 7 August 2014.
  13. "Sampdoria 1 – 0 Atalanta". Football Italia. 26 October 2013. Retrieved 7 August 2014.
  14. "Comunicado Oficial" [Official announcement] (in Spanish). Valencia CF. 7 August 2014. Retrieved 7 August 2014.
  15. "Mustafi ya es oficialmente jugador del Valencia" [Mustafi officially is a Valencia player]. Marca (in Spanish). 6 August 2014. Retrieved 7 August 2014.
  16. Alcácer, Gayà y Feghouli traen el liderato (Alcácer, Gayá and Feghouli bring the lead); Super Deporte, 26 September 2014
  17. "Valencia 3–1 Elche". Goal.com. 25 October 2014. Retrieved 1 November 2014.
  18. "Valencia beats Villarreal 3–1 to move 2nd in Spain". Associated Press. 2 November 2014. Retrieved 2 November 2014.
  19. Manuca, David (4 February 2016). "Mustafi apologizes for Barcelona drubbing". Goal.com. Retrieved 23 March 2016.
  20. "Shkodran Mustafi signs for Arsenal". Arsenal F.C. Retrieved 31 August 2016.
  21. "Arsenal sign Shkodran Mustafi for more than £35m and Lucas Perez for £17.1m". BBC Sport. 30 August 2016. Retrieved 30 August 2016.
  22. Ed Malyon (10 September 2016). "Arsenal hand full debuts to Lucas Perez and Shkodran Mustafi for visit of Southampton". Mirror. Retrieved 10 September 2016.
  23. "Shkodran Mustafi is unbeaten in his first 18 games for Arsenal". tribuna.com. Tribuna Digital. Retrieved 21 January 2017.
  24. Skelton, Jack (22 January 2017). "Arsenal 2–1 Burnley". BBC Sport. Retrieved 11 February 2017.
  25. "PMB: FA Cup final – tactics". Chelsea F.C. 27 May 2017. Retrieved 23 September 2017.
  26. Taylor, Daniel (27 May 2017). "Aaron Ramsey fires Arsenal to FA Cup final win over 10-man Chelsea". The Observer. Retrieved 22 September 2017.
  27. ASPORT 6/12/12 Shkodran Mustafi vishet Kuq e Zi? Archived 7 December 2012 at the Wayback Machine
  28. Asport (22 January 2014). "Shkodran Mustafi i thotë "PO" Shqipërisë?". Archived from the original on 25 January 2014. Retrieved 22 January 2014.
  29. "Löw nominiert Lasogga, Mustafi, Ginter und Hahn" (in German). 28 January 2014. Retrieved 28 January 2014.
  30. "Shkodran Mustafi". EU-Football.info. Retrieved 30 April 2015.
  31. "DFB – Deutscher Fußball-Bund e.V. – WM-Kader". Dfb.de. Archived from the original on 26 June 2014. Retrieved 19 June 2014.
  32. David Kent (7 June 2014). "Marco Reus the latest star to be ruled OUT of the World Cup after picking up ankle injury in Germany win over Armenia". Daily Mail. Retrieved 7 June 2014.
  33. "Germany 4–0 Portugal". BBC Sport. 16 June 2014. Retrieved 22 June 2014.
  34. "Germany vs Ghana". BBC Sport. 22 June 2014. Retrieved 22 June 2014.
  35. "Germany 2–1 Algeria". BBC Sport. 30 June 2014. Retrieved 1 July 2014.
  36. "Wie viel schöner wär' Ibiza". Süddeutsche Zeitung (in German). 1 July 2014. Retrieved 2 July 2014.
  37. Gibson, Owen (12 June 2016). "Germany's Schweinsteiger and Mustafi sink Ukraine in Euro 2016 opener". The Guardian. Retrieved 12 June 2016.
  38. VanOpdorp, Davis (25 August 2017). "17 Confederations Cup players in Germany's squad for World Cup qualifiers". Deutsche Welle. Retrieved 29 October 2019.
  39. Benge, James (15 May 2018). "Shkodran Mustafi pays price for Arsenal woes as he misses out on Germany World Cup squad". London Evening Standard. Retrieved 29 October 2019.
  40. Davis, Callum (5 October 2016). "Shkodran Mustafi reveals the importance of his Muslim faith". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 7 October 2016.
  41. "Mustafi gibt Ja-Wort" [Mustafi says yes]. Hessenschau. 29 July 2016. Archived from the original on 13 August 2016. Retrieved 20 July 2017.
  42. "Hurra! WM-Held Mustafi ist Papa geworden". T-Online (in German). Retrieved 20 July 2017.
  43. Shkodran Mustafi at Soccerway. Retrieved 25 September 2019.
  44. McNulty, Phil (25 February 2018). "Arsenal 0–3 Manchester City". BBC Sport. Retrieved 23 April 2019.
  45. Bevan, Chris (29 May 2019). "Chelsea 4–1 Arsenal". BBC Sport. Retrieved 29 May 2019.
  46. "Final: Netherlands 1–2 Germany: Line-ups". UEFA. Retrieved 29 June 2020.
  47. "Match report: Germany – Argentina". FIFA. Archived from the original on 17 August 2019.
  48. "Match report: Chile – Germany". FIFA. Archived from the original on 29 June 2019.
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