| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Lewis Holtby | ||
| Date of birth | 18 September 1990 | ||
| Place of birth | Erkelenz, West Germany | ||
| Height | 1.74 m (5 ft 8 1⁄2 in) | ||
| Playing position | Midfielder | ||
| Club information | |||
| Current club | Schalke 04 | ||
| Number | 10 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1994–2001 | Sparta Gerderath | ||
| 2001–2004 | Borussia Mönchengladbach | ||
| 2004–2007 | Alemannia Aachen | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 2007–2009 | Alemannia Aachen | 33 | (8) |
| 2009– | Schalke 04 | 25 | (3) |
| 2010 | → VfL Bochum (loan) | 14 | (2) |
| 2010–2011 | → Mainz 05 (loan) | 30 | (4) |
| National team‡ | |||
| 2007 | Germany U18 | 2 | (0) |
| 2008 | Germany U19 | 12 | (4) |
| 2009 | Germany U20 | 6 | (2) |
| 2009– | Germany U21 | 12 | (8) |
| 2010– | Germany | 2 | (0) |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 21:58, 10 December 2011 (UTC). † Appearances (Goals). |
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Lewis Holtby (born 18 September 1990) is a German footballer who plays for FC Schalke 04 in the Bundesliga.
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Holtby began his career at age four with Sparta Gerderath. When he was eleven years old he moved to Borussia Mönchengladbach.[1] Mönchengladbach eventually released the player for what they saw as having physical deficiencies, which included being too small and too slow.[2] After leaving Borussia Mönchengladbach, Holtby joined Alemannia Aachen.
Holtby was promoted to the Alemannia Aachen first team squad by caretaker manager Jörg Schmadtke. He made his first appearance in the 2007–08 season when he was substituted on in the 80th minute for Mirko Casper in a 2–2 draw against FC St. Pauli.[3] For the rest of the season he only made one more appearance, a 1–3 loss on the last match day to TuS Koblenz.[4]
He scored his first goal for Alemannia Aachen on 5 December 2008 against 1860 Munich. On 15 February, he scored his first brace in a 6–2 home victory against 1. FC Nuremberg.
Holtby left Alemannia Aachen after five years and signed a four-year contract with Schalke 04 until 30 June 2013.[5] On 29 January 2010, he was loaned out to VfL Bochum to get more playing experience.[6]
In May 2010, Holtby returned to Schalke 04 and on 28 May 2010, he was loaned out to FSV Mainz 05 for the 2010–11 season.[7]
On 18 March 2011, Horst Heldt announced the return of Holtby to FC Schalke 04 on 30 June 2011.[8] On 13 August 2011, Holtby scored his first goal for Schalke in a 5–1 win over 1. FC Köln.[9]
Heiko Herrlich, the then coach of the German U18 team, called up Holtby in 2007. He went on to make five appearances.
Holtby was a member of the German U19 team, he made his debut for the U19's in September 2008 and has been capped twelve times overall. He scored his first international goal for the German U19 team on 11 October 2008 against Lithuania in a 5–0 victory.[10]
In September 2009 German Youth coach, Horst Hrubesch, announced that Holtby will play in the U20 World Cup in Egypt.[11] He scored two goals in the tournament. One of which was against Brazil in the quarter finals.[12]
On 29 March 2011, Holtby captained the German U-21 team, and scored two goals in an international friendly against Italy.
When Holtby made on 7 June 2011 his first appearance in the UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying against Azerbaijan he became definitely only eligible to play for Germany.
Holtby's father, Chris Holtby, is a former English soldier from Liverpool who was stationed at the Rheindahlen RAF base in Mönchengladbach.[13] Holtby's mother is German. Lewis, like his father is a fan of Everton and has said it would be a dream come true to play for them.
Lewis said: "My father was born in England and was a Everton fan since the age of five. He immediately infected me with the Everton virus! Since then I have been a Everton fan and have always followed their games."[14]
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