Jordan Botaka
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Jordan Botaka | ||
| Date of birth | 24 June 1993 | ||
| Place of birth | Kinshasa, Zaire | ||
| Height | 1.84 m (6 ft 1⁄2 in) | ||
| Playing position | Winger / Forward | ||
| Club information | |||
Current team | Leeds United | ||
| Number | 20 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Westlandia | |||
| ADO Den Haag | |||
| Anderlecht | |||
| Beveren | |||
| Lokeren | |||
| Club Brugge | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 2012–2013 | Club Brugge | 0 | (0) |
| 2013 | → Belenenses (loan) | 1 | (0) |
| 2013–2015 | Excelsior | 73 | (11) |
| 2015– | Leeds United | 10 | (0) |
| National team | |||
| 2012 | Netherlands U19 | 3 | (0) |
| 2015– | DR Congo[1] | 5 | (2) |
|
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 24/02/2016 (UTC). | |||
Jordan Rolly Botaka (born 24 June 1993 in Kinshasa) is a Congolese[2] professional footballer who currently plays as a winger for English club Leeds United in the Championship and also represents DR Congo at international level.
He formerly played for Club Brugge, Belenenses (on loan) and Excelsior.
He has been nicknamed 'The Wizard' due to his quick feet, trickery and skill with the ball.[3]
Career
Botaka was born in Kinshasa, the son of Congolese parents, Botaka started his career at Dutch side Westlandia and ADO Den Haag, before his parents moved to Antwerp where Botaka joined the academies of Anderlecht and KSK Beveren KSC Lokeren.
Club Brugge
He joined Club Brugge from Lokeren on 23 January 2012, Botaka signed for Brugge despite trial spells at Newcastle United and Lille OSC on a 2 and half year contract
To help gain first team experience, Botaka joined Portuguese Belenenses on loan in 2013, where Mitchell van der Gaag was Manager. The club also stipulated an option to buy Botaka on a permanent deal. However, due to an administrative error, Botaka could not play official matches for the club.
Excelsior
After his spell in Portugal, Botaka was released to Club Brugge and joined Feyenoord on trial but due to Feyenoord's close links with feeder club Excelsior, Botaka joined the then Eerste Divisie side Excelsior in June 2013.
In first season at the club during the 2013/14 season, Excelsior managed by Head Coach Jon Dahl Tomasson and then Marinus Dijkhuizen he scored 10 goals in 36 league games to earn Excelsior promotion to Eredivisie after finishing 3rd and earning promotion via the Eerste Divisie playoffs. During the 2014/15 season, Botaka made 33 appearances in Eredivisie scoring 1 goal and helped keep Excelsior in the Eredivisie.
Leeds United
On transfer deadline day 1 September 2015, Botaka signed for English club Leeds United on a two-year deal, with a club option for a further two years;[4] the transfer fee was undisclosed but reported to be around £1 million.[5] He was given the number 20 shirt for the 2015/16 season.[6][7]
He played his first game for Leeds on 14 September 2015 for the U-21s in a 3-0 victory over the Bristol City U-21s in which he assisted Casper Sloth with the opening goal. On 27 September, Botaka made his Leeds United debut, starting for Leeds in a 3-0 loss against Middlesbrough F.C..[8]
International career
After representing Netherlands U19 at international level in 2012 after being selected by Dutch Coach Wim Van Zwam, Botaka in 2015 accepted a call up to the country of his birth DR Congo, making his debut for Congo against Iran on 28 March 2015.
On 9 June 2015, Botaka scored for DR Congo in a 1-1 draw against Cameroon. On 13 October 2015, Botaka scored his second goal for DR Congo in a 2-1 victory against Gabon, after scoring a rebound from Yannick Bolasie's shot.
References
- ↑ Jordan Botaka at National-Football-Teams.com
- ↑ http://www.leopardsfoot.com/leopards-le-point-sur-les-deux-matchs-amicaux/
- ↑ http://metro.co.uk/2014/10/14/excelsior-winger-jordan-botaka-absolutely-destroys-cambuur-defence-with-amazing-skill-4905420/
- ↑ "Leeds United: Botaka delight at joining Whites". Yorkshire Evening Post. 2 September 2015. Retrieved 2 September 2015.
- ↑ Phil Hay (1 September 2015). "Leeds United: Botaka becomes eighth summer signing at Elland Road". Yorkshire Evening Post. Retrieved 1 September 2015.
- ↑ "WINGER COMPLETES DEADLINE DAY SWITCH". Leeds United Official site. 1 September 2015. Retrieved 1 September 2015.
- ↑ "Jordan Botaka: Excelsior winger signs for Leeds United". BBC Sport. 1 September 2015. Retrieved 1 September 2015.
- ↑ "Middlesbrough 3 Leeds United 0". BBC Sport. 27 September 2015. Retrieved 27 September 2015.
External links
- Voetbal International profile (Dutch)
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