Sami Khedira
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| Sami Khedira | |
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| Name | Sami Khedira |
| Fullname | Sami Khedira |
| Birth date | 4 April 1987 |
| Birth place | Stuttgart, West Germany |
| Height | 1.89 m |
| Position | Defensive midfielder |
| Youthclubs | VfB Stuttgart, TV Oeffingen, SV Waldenbuch, VfB Stuttgart |
| Seniorclubs | VfB Stuttgart II; VfB Stuttgart; Real Madrid; Juventus; Hertha BSC |
| Nationalteam | Germany U21; Germany |
Sami Khedira Sami Khedira is a German former professional footballer known for his role as a defensive midfielder for top European clubs and the Germany national team. He combined physical presence, tactical intelligence, and box-to-box mobility to win domestic titles, Champions League silverware, and the 2014 FIFA World Cup. His career included spells at VfB Stuttgart, Real Madrid, Juventus, and Hertha BSC, alongside appearances in UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, FIFA World Cup, and UEFA European Championship tournaments.
Early life and youth career
Khedira was born in Stuttgart, West Germany, to a Tunisian father and a German mother and grew up in the Baden-Württemberg region alongside contemporaries from clubs such as VfB Stuttgart. He played youth football at local clubs including TV Oeffingen, SV Waldenbuch, and the academy of VfB Stuttgart, progressing through youth systems that produced players like Mario Gomez, Thomas Hitzlsperger, and Cacau. His development in the DFB pathway led to appearances for youth national sides, linking him to structures associated with Deutscher Fußball-Bund and tournaments such as the UEFA European Under-21 Championship.
Club career
Khedira made his professional breakthrough with VfB Stuttgart, graduating from VfB Stuttgart II to the first team where he played alongside teammates including Fernando Meira and Matthias Schöppner. He was part of the Stuttgart squad that won the Bundesliga title, competing against clubs like Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, and Werder Bremen. In 2010 he transferred to Real Madrid, joining a squad that featured Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, Xabi Alonso, and Iker Casillas and worked under managers such as José Mourinho and Carlo Ancelotti. At Madrid he won the La Liga title and the UEFA Champions League alongside stars like Sergio Ramos, Luka Modrić, Gareth Bale, and Pepe.
In 2015 Khedira signed for Juventus, linking with players such as Giorgio Chiellini, Andrea Pirlo, Paul Pogba, and Gonzalo Higuaín and coaches including Massimiliano Allegri. At Juventus he won multiple Serie A titles and competed in UEFA club competitions against teams like FC Barcelona, Atlético Madrid, and Bayern Munich. He later moved to Hertha BSC in the Bundesliga, returning to his hometown region and playing in fixtures with clubs such as Eintracht Frankfurt and FC Schalke 04.
International career
Khedira represented Germany national football team at senior level and earlier at youth levels including Germany national under-21 football team, sharing a midfield with players such as Bastian Schweinsteiger, Toni Kroos, Mesut Özil, and Thomas Müller. He was selected for major tournaments including the UEFA Euro 2012, the 2010 FIFA World Cup, and was a central figure in Germany’s victorious 2014 FIFA World Cup campaign in Brazil, contributing alongside Manuel Neuer, Philipp Lahm, Mats Hummels, and Miroslav Klose. Khedira also participated in the FIFA Confederations Cup cycle and featured in qualifying campaigns for UEFA Euro 2016.
Playing style and skills
Khedira was noted for a blend of attributes seen in midfielders like Claude Makélélé and Patrick Vieira, combining defensive discipline and forward thrust similar to N'Golo Kanté and Yaya Touré. His strengths included tactical awareness, aerial ability, tackling, and timely forward runs supporting attackers such as Thomas Müller, Franck Ribéry, and Ángel Di María. Coaches like Jupp Heynckes, José Mourinho, and Massimiliano Allegri deployed him in systems emphasizing pressing, transitional play, and ball retention used by clubs competing against tactical setups from managers like Pep Guardiola, Diego Simeone, and Jürgen Klopp.
Personal life
Off the pitch Khedira has maintained a profile connected to public figures, charitable initiatives, and personal interests; his family links include a Tunisian-German background like other athletes of dual heritage such as Zinedine Zidane and Mesut Özil. His life intersected with media figures and sports personalities across Europe, and he has been associated with activities in cities such as Stuttgart, Madrid, Turin, and Berlin. He has navigated injuries and comebacks during spells that drew commentary from sports outlets covering events like UEFA Champions League finals and national team fixtures at stadiums such as Maracanã.
Career statistics
Khedira’s club career spanned appearances in the Bundesliga, La Liga, Serie A, and UEFA competitions, recording goals and assists across seasons with VfB Stuttgart, Real Madrid, Juventus, and Hertha BSC. His international record for Germany national football team includes multiple caps and goals, with key tournament appearances at FIFA World Cup finals and UEFA European Championship tournaments. Season-by-season tallies placed him among midfielders contributing defensively and in transition for clubs competing in domestic cups like the DFB-Pokal and continental trophies such as the UEFA Europa League.
Honours and achievements
Khedira’s honours include a Bundesliga title with VfB Stuttgart, La Liga and UEFA Champions League titles with Real Madrid, multiple Serie A championships with Juventus, and the 2014 FIFA World Cup with Germany national football team. He earned individual recognition for tournament squads and was part of squads that won domestic cups like the Copa del Rey and competed in FIFA Club World Cup competitions alongside players such as Sergio Ramos and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Category:1987 births Category:Living people Category:German footballers Category:Germany international footballers Category:Association football midfielders