Romelu Lukaku

Romelu Lukaku

Lukaku with Chelsea in 2012
Personal information
Full nameRomelu Menama Lukaku[1]
Date of birth13 May 1993[1]
Place of birthAntwerp, Belgium
Height1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)[2]
Playing positionStriker
Club information
Current team
Everton
Number10
Youth career
1999–2003Rupel Boom
2003–2004KFC Wintam
2004–2006Lierse
2006–2009Anderlecht
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps†(Gls)†
2009–2011Anderlecht73(33)
2011–2014Chelsea10(0)
2012–2013→ West Bromwich Albion (loan)35(17)
2013–2014→ Everton (loan)31(15)
2014–Everton32(8)
National team‡
2008Belgium U154(1)
2011Belgium U181(0)
2009Belgium U215(1)
2010–Belgium35(8)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of match played 26 April 2015.

† Appearances (Goals).

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of match played 13 November 2014

Romelu Menama Lukaku (born 13 May 1993) is a Belgian footballer who plays as a striker for English club Everton and the Belgium national team. In January 2014, he was named by The Guardian as one of the ten most promising young players in Europe.[3] He is a left-footed player.[4]

He started his career with local side Rupel Boom, before joining Lierse, where he earned a move to Anderlecht of the Belgian Pro League in 2006. Lukaku made his professional debut while still at school at the age of 16, and became the 2009–10 top scorer in Belgium as Anderlecht won the Belgian championship. He also won the Belgian Ebony Shoe in 2011. In the 2011 summer transfer window, Lukaku joined Premier League club Chelsea for an undisclosed fee, signing a five-year contract with the London club. He did not appear regularly in his first season there, and spent the following two on loan at West Bromwich Albion and Everton respectively, signing permanently for the latter for a club record £28 million in 2014.

Lukaku made his senior international debut for Belgium in 2010, and has since earned over 30 caps. He represented the country at the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

Club career

Early career

Lukaku joined his local team Rupel Boom at the age of five. After four seasons at Rupel Boom, Lukaku was discovered by scouts of Lierse SK, a Belgian Pro League team with an established youth academy. He played for Lierse from 2004 until 2006, scoring 121 goals in 68 games.[5] After Lierse were relegated from the Belgian Pro League, Anderlecht bought no less than 13 youth players from Lierse in the 2006 mid-season, one of whom was Lukaku. He played three more years as a youth player with Anderlecht, scoring 131 goals in 93 games.

Anderlecht

When Lukaku turned 16 on 13 May 2009, he signed a professional contract with Anderlecht lasting until 2012.[6] and 11 days later, he made his Belgian First Division debut on 24 May 2009 in the championship play off match against Standard Liège as a 69th minute substitute for defender Víctor Bernárdez.[7] Anderlecht lost the match 1–0.

Lukaku became a regular member of Anderlecht's first team during the 2009–10 season, scoring his first goal at senior level against Zulte Waregem in the 89th minute after coming on as substitute for Kanu on 28 August 2009. He ended the season as the top goalscorer in the Pro League with 15 goals as Anderlecht won its 30th Belgian title.[8] He also scored four goals during the club's run to the quarter-finals of the Europa League.[8]

During the 2010–11 season, Lukaku scored 20 goals in all competitions but Anderlecht failed to retain their league title despite finishing top of the table during the regular season.[9]

Chelsea

Lukaku warming up prior to a friendly game against Roma in August 2013

In August 2011, Lukaku joined English club Chelsea for a fee reported to be around €12 million (£10 million), rising to €20 million (£17 million) in add-ons. Lukaku was given the number 18 shirt and signed a five-year contract.[10] He made his home debut in a 3–1 victory over Norwich City in the 83rd minute, coming on as a substitute for Fernando Torres.[11]

Lukaku made his first start for the club in the League Cup against Fulham. Chelsea went on to win the match on penalties. Lukaku spent the majority of the season playing for the reserves. On 13 May 2012, he started his first Premier League match, against Blackburn Rovers, and turned in a man of the match performance, providing an assist for John Terry's opener.[12] Lukaku stressed, however, that he was disappointed with his involvement at the end of his debut season, revealing that, after his side's UEFA Champions League win on 19 May, he refused to hold the trophy as he didn't feel like a winner.[13]

Loan to West Bromwich Albion

Lukaku playing for West Bromwich Albion in September 2012

After speculation linking Lukaku to a loan move to Fulham,[14] on 10 August 2012, he joined West Bromwich Albion on a season-long loan deal.[15] He scored his first league goal eight days later, coming on as a substitute in the 77th minute in a 3–0 win against Liverpool.[16] He made his full debut in a win against Reading at The Hawthorns, scoring the game's only goal.[17]

On 24 November, Lukaku came on as a 70th minute substitute for Shane Long and netted a penalty and provided an assist to Marc-Antoine Fortuné, as West Brom defeated Sunderland 4–2 away at the Stadium of Light.[18] The win proved to be West Brom's fourth consecutive win in the top flight for the first time since 1980.[19] On 12 January 2013, Lukaku had his first multi-goal game in the Premier League, giving West Brom a 0–2 lead against Reading, before a late comeback gave the Berkshire club a 3–2 victory at the Madejski Stadium.[20]

In the face of controversial claims that he wanted to stay with West Brom for another year asserted by English newspaper The Daily Mail,[21] Lukaku confirmed to the press that he still wished to become a legend at Stamford Bridge.[22] On 11 February, Lukaku came on off the bench and scored his tenth Premier League goal of the season against Liverpool in a match that ended 2–0.[23] He scored his second brace of the campaign, scoring both goals for West Brom in their 2–1 home defeat of Sunderland on 23 February.[24] On 9 March, in a league match against Swansea City, Lukaku scored the equalising goal before having a penalty kick saved; West Brom eventually won the game courtesy of a Jonathan de Guzmán own goal.[25] On 19 May, coming on as a second-half substitute, Lukaku scored an incredible second-half perfect hat-trick, as West Brom came from three goals down to draw 5–5 in the season's final home game against Manchester United.[26] The game was Sir Alex Ferguson's 1,500th and last match in charge of United and the highest scoring draw in the history of the Premier League.[27] Despite being loaned out by the club, Lukaku outscored all of his Chelsea teammates in the Premier League that season, being the sixth-highest goal scorer of the 2012–13 season with 17 goals.[28]

Loan to Everton

Lukaku warming-up for Everton.

Lukaku seemed to rule out a further loan spell,[29] and played two league games for Chelsea at the beginning of the 2013–14 season. He also came on as a substitute in the 2013 UEFA Super Cup, ultimately missing the deciding penalty in the shootout as Chelsea lost to Bayern Munich.

However, on the final day of the summer 2013 transfer window, he joined Everton on a season-long loan.[30] The striker made his début for the Toffees away to West Ham United on 21 September 2013, scoring the winning goal in a 3–2 victory for Everton. During the header, he had a collision with a West Ham defender and was taken off the pitch for some treatment. The physio had to tell him that he had scored the winner.[31] He scored twice on his home début nine days later in a 3–2 win against Newcastle United, as well assisting Ross Barkley's goal.[32] He then opened the scoring in a 3–1 defeat to Manchester City in the following game.[33] He continued his impressive start at the club by netting the opening goal in a 2–0 win over Aston Villa and then scored twice in the first Merseyside derby of the season as Everton drew 3–3 against Liverpool, with Lukaku stating afterwards that it was the best experience he has had in his short career.[34][35]

On 28 January 2014, he was taken off on a stretcher with an ankle ligament damage after Gareth Barry slipped and slid into the striker as he attempted to block Steven Gerrard's opening goal.[36] On that day, Everton lost to Liverpool 4–0 at Anfield.[37] On 1 March 2014, Lukaku made his return from injury against West Ham United, scoring the only goal of the match on the 81st minute after coming on as a second-half substitute.[38] On 6 April, he scored one goal and assisted another as Everton beat Arsenal 3–0 at Goodison Park to record a sixth consecutive Premier League win.[39] His final goal for the club came on the last day of the season as he scored the second in a 2–0 win over Hull City.[40] Lukaku found the net 15 times in 31 league games to help Everton to fifth place with a club record of 72 Premier League points.[41]

Everton

Lukaku with Everton in 2015

On 30 July 2014, Everton announced that Lukaku had signed a five-year deal with the club, for a record fee of £28 million. Lukaku was assigned the number 10 jersey.[42] He scored his first goal for the club on13 September 2014, against his former club West Bromwich Albion. Lukaku chose not to celebrate the goal, and was applauded by the West Bromwich Albion fans for his sign of respect.

On 19 February 2015, Lukaku scored his first Everton hat-trick in a 4–1 win for Everton against BSC Young Boys; he struck with a header, a right-foot shot and a left-foot shot.[43] He added another two goals in a 3–1 win in the second leg a week later.[44]

International career

Lukaku (left) with Belgian team-mate Jan Vertonghen

Lukaku was a member of the Belgium under-21 team and scored a goal on his debut against Slovenia.

On 24 February 2010, Lukaku was named for the first time in the Belgium squad for a friendly match against Croatia.[45] On 17 November 2010, he scored his first two international goals in a friendly against Russia.[46]

Lukaku scored his first goal in almost two years for the national team, netting the winner in a 4–2 friendly victory over rivals the Netherlands on 15 August 2012.[47] On 11 October 2013, Lukaku scored two goals as Belgium defeated Croatia 2–1 to secure a place in the World Cup finals.[48]

In May 2014, Lukaku was named in Belgium's squad for the 2014 FIFA World Cup. On 26 May, he scored his first international hat-trick in a pre-tournament friendly against neighbouring Luxembourg;[49] however, as Belgium made seven substitutions during this match instead of the permitted six, it was not recognised as an official match by FIFA.[50] On 1 June, he scored first of Belgium's two goals in the 2–0 victory in a friendly match against Sweden.[51]

In their first game of the tournament, a 2–1 win against Algeria in Belo Horizonte, Lukaku started the match and played 58 minutes before being replaced by Divock Origi.[52] In the round of 16, Lukaku came on as a substitute prior to extra time and assisted Kevin De Bruyne's opening goal three minutes later. In the 105th minute, he scored his first goal of the tournament as Belgium defeated the United States 2–1.[53]

Personal life

Lukaku was born in Antwerp,[54] a city in northern Belgium. His father, Roger Lukaku,[55] played professional football and was capped at international level by Zaire.[56] He has a younger brother named Jordan, who has progressed through the youth academy at Anderlecht.[55] Lukaku was the subject of an acclaimed television documentary series called De School Van Lukaku (Lukaku's School) shown on the Dutch-speaking Eén network. The reality show followed the teenage Lukaku and his classmates during the course of a year at the Saint-Guidon Institute, a school in Brussels, where the footballer was based while with the Anderlecht youth team.[57] In 2009, the series followed the school as it made a field trip to London visiting Chelsea's Stamford Bridge ground. Lukaku said at the time “What a stadium. If one day in my life I will cry, it will be the day I play here. I love Chelsea.”[58]

Lukaku has always focused on his education, encouraged to do so by his parents, and did not want to transfer to Chelsea before he had his degrees at school. He speaks Dutch, French, Spanish, Portuguese, and English and understands German, being able to speak the language in small amounts. Lukaku has stated that his childhood hero and biggest idol was Didier Drogba.[59]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 26 April 2015.[1][54][60]
Club Season League National Cup[lower-alpha 1] League Cup[lower-alpha 2] Europe Total
Division AppsGoals AppsGoals AppsGoals AppsGoals AppsGoals
Anderlecht 2008–09 First Division 1000—0010
2009–10 Pro League 331510—11[lower-alpha 3]44519
2010–11 Pro League 371620—11[lower-alpha 4]45020
2011–12 Pro League 2200—0022
Total 733330—2289841
Chelsea 2011–12 Premier League 80103000120
2013–14 2000001[lower-alpha 5]030
Total 100103010150
West Bromwich Albion (loan) 2012–13 Premier League 35172010—3817
Total 35172010--3817
Everton (loan) 2013–14 Premier League 31151110—3316
Everton 2014–15 3282210984418
Total 63233320987734
Career total 181739360321622892
  1. ↑ Belgium – Belgian Cup, England – FA Cup.
  2. ↑ England – League Cup.
  3. ↑ Ten appearances, four goals in the UEFA Champions League; One appearance in the UEFA Europa League.
  4. ↑ Three appearances, three goals in the UEFA Champions League; Eight appearances, one goal in the UEFA Europa League.
  5. ↑ Appearance in the UEFA Super Cup.

National team

As of 13 November 2014[61]
Belgium national team
YearAppsGoals
201082
201150
201251
201382
201493
Total358

Honours

Club

Anderlecht[62]
Chelsea[62]

Individual

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Romelu Menama Lukaku". Soccerway. Global Sports Media. Retrieved 3 August 2011.
  2. ↑ "Player Profile: Romelu Lukaku". Premier League. Retrieved 31 July 2012.
  3. ↑ "The next 10 big things: Europe's top youngsters and stars of the future". The Guardian. 18 January 2014.
  4. ↑ Veysey, Wayne (2011-08-06). Belgium international shares his dreams and ambitions and reveals his intention to learn from the Ivorian at Stamford Bridge. Goal. Retrieved on 2014-12-24.
  5. ↑ "The Full Interview: Teenage Sensation Reveals All About His Life, Loves And His Footballing 'Gift From God'". Goal.com. 17 January 2011. Retrieved 20 January 2011.
  6. ↑ "Lukaku : " Je sais que je serai récompensé de mes efforts "" (in French). FootGoal.net. 2 September 2009. Retrieved 17 November 2010.
  7. ↑ "Standard is opnieuw kampioen van België" (in Dutch). Sporza. 24 May 2009. Retrieved 26 May 2009.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 "Anderlecht's Romelu Lukaku punches his weight and some – aged only 16". The Guardian. 2 April 2010. Retrieved 13 April 2014.
  9. ↑ "Chelsea striker Romelu Lukaku dreams of playing alongside his brother Jordan". Goal.com. 28 August 2011. Retrieved 13 April 2014.
  10. ↑ "Chelsea betaalt 12 miljoen voor Lukaku (maar het kan oplopen tot 20 miljoen)". Sportwereld. 12 August 2011.
  11. ↑ "Chelsea 3–1 Norwich". BBC Sport. 27 August 2011. Retrieved 29 December 2011.
  12. ↑ Szczepanik, Nick (14 May 2012). "Chelsea cruise against Blackburn Rovers ahead of Champions League final in Munich". The Independent (London).
  13. ↑ "Romelu Lukaku felt no joy at Chelsea's Champions League win". BBC Sport. 31 May 2012. Retrieved 24 August 2012.
  14. ↑ "Fulham in talks to loan Lukaku from rivals Chelsea". Goal.com. 17 July 2012. Retrieved 24 August 2012.
  15. ↑ "LUKAKU WEST BROM LOAN". chelseafc.com. 2012-08-10. Retrieved 2012-08-10.
  16. ↑ McNulty, Phil (18 August 2012). "West Brom 3–0 Liverpool". BBC Sport. BBC. Retrieved 3 September 2013.
  17. ↑ "West Brom 1–0 Reading" BBC Sport. 22 September 2012. Retrieved 14 January 2013.
  18. ↑ "Sunderland 2 West Brom 4: Albion rewrite the history books as they go up to third". Daily Mail. 24 November 2012.
  19. ↑ "West Brom went third in the Premier League after recording four successive top-flight wins for the first time since 1980 with victory at Sunderland.". BBC Sport. 24 November 2012. Retrieved 5 February 2013.
  20. ↑ "Reading 3–2 West Bromwich Albion". ESPNFC. 12 January 2013.
  21. ↑ "I don't care what Chelsea are doing at the moment: Lukaku wants to stay at West Brom". Daily Mail. 14 January 2013.
  22. ↑ "Romelu Lukaku believes he can become a legend at Chelsea". Sky Sports. 5 February 2013.
  23. ↑ "Gareth McAuley and Romelu Lukaku scored late goals as West Brom pinched a remarkable victory at Liverpool to end a sequence of six games without a win.". BBC Sport. 11 February 2013.
  24. ↑ "West Brom 2 Sunderland 1: Lukaku at the double as Baggies ease past Black Cats". Daily Mail. 23 February 2013.
  25. ↑ "Romelu Lukaku continued his good form as West Brom beat Swansea to move up to seventh in the Premier League.". BBC Sport. 9 March 2013.
  26. ↑ "West Brom 5 Manchester United 5: Fergie's career ends with ten-goal thriller". Daily Mail. 19 May 2013. Retrieved 19 May 2013.
  27. ↑ "Manchester United share 10 goals with West Brom in Alex Ferguson's finale". The Guardian. 19 May 2013. Retrieved 19 May 2013.
  28. ↑ "Will Romelu Lukaku come back to haunt West Bromwich Albion?". Metro. 18 January 2014. Retrieved 4 August 2014.
  29. ↑ "Lukaku set to STAY at Chelsea as Mourinho assures young striker he will get his chance". Daily Mail. 7 June 2013. Retrieved 4 August 2013.
  30. ↑ "Transfer deadline day: Everton sign James McCarthy and Romelu Lukaku, Lukaku scored on his debut after replacing Steven Naismith at half time.". Sky Sports. BSkyB. 3 September 2013. Retrieved 3 September 2013.
  31. ↑ http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/24089772
  32. ↑ "Everton 3–2 Newcastle" BBC Sport. 30 September 2013. Retrieved 7 October 2013.
  33. ↑ "Manchester City 3–1 Everton" BBC Sport. 5 October 2013. Retrieved 7 October 2013.
  34. ↑ "Aston Villa 0–2 Everton". BBC Sport. Retrieved 1 December 2013.
  35. ↑ "Romelu Lukaku claims Everton's draw with Liverpool is the 'best derby' he has played in". Sky Sports. Retrieved 1 December 2013.
  36. ↑ "Romelu Lukaku: Everton striker out for 'weeks rather than months'". BBC Sport. Retrieved 29 January 2013.
  37. ↑ "Liverpool 4–0 Everton". BBC Sport. Retrieved 29 January 2014.
  38. ↑ "Everton 1–0 West Ham". BBC Sport. Retrieved 1 March 2014.
  39. ↑ "Everton 3-0 Arsenal". BBC. 6 April 2014. Retrieved 13 April 2014.
  40. ↑ "Hull City 0–2 Everton". BBC Sport. Retrieved 26 May 2014.
  41. ↑ "Magic Numbers: Roberto's Record-Breakers". Everton F.C. Retrieved 26 May 2014.
  42. ↑ "Lukaku Becomes Club Record". Everton F.C. 30 July 2014. Retrieved 30 July 2014.
  43. ↑ "BSC Young Boys 1-4 Everton". BBC Sport. 30 July 2014. Retrieved 30 July 2014.
  44. ↑ Baker, Ian (26 February 2015). "Everton 3-1 BSC Young Boys". BBC Sport. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
  45. ↑ "Romelu Lukaku est officiellement Diable Rouge" (in French). DH.be. 24 February 2010. Retrieved 17 November 2010.
  46. ↑ "Russia vs Belgium Player Ratings". Goal.com. 17 November 2010.
  47. ↑ "Belgium 4–2 Netherlands: Mertens inspires impressive win for hosts". Goal.com. 15 August 2012.
  48. ↑ "Croatia 1 Belgium 2: Lukaku double secures World Cup qualification for Red Devils". Daily Mail. 11 October 2013. Retrieved 11 October 2013.
  49. ↑ "Belgium 5-1 Luxembourg". BBC. 26 May 2014. Retrieved 27 May 2014.
  50. ↑ "Debuut Bossut en Januzaj, én hattrick Lukaku zijn ongeldig" (in Dutch). Het Laatste Nieuws. 4 June 2014. Retrieved 4 June 2014.
  51. ↑ "Lukaku and Hazard score in comfortable Belgium win over Sweden". Yahoo Eurosport UK. 1 June 2014. Retrieved 1 June 2014.
  52. ↑ Chowdhury, Saj (17 June 2014). "Belgium 2-1 Algeria". BBC Sport. Retrieved 22 June 2014.
  53. ↑ "Belgium 2-1 USA". BBC. 1 July 2014. Retrieved 2 July 2014.
  54. ↑ 54.0 54.1 "Romelu Lukaku". ESPN Soccernet. Retrieved 28 March 2011.
  55. ↑ 55.0 55.1 Wilson, Jeremy (28 October 2010). "Jose Mourinho and Real Madrid rival Chelsea for 'new Didier Drogba'". The Daily Telegraph (London). Retrieved 6 August 2011.
  56. ↑ "Menama Lukaku". FIFA. Retrieved 6 August 2011.
  57. ↑ Is it true Romelu Lukaku starred in a documentary tv series about his schooldays? Socqer.com retrieved 7 August 2011.
  58. ↑ Chelsea new signing Romelu Lukaku says move to Stamford Bridge is a dream come true. Daily Telegraph, 8, August, 2011.
  59. ↑ "West Brom loan star Lukaku tired of comparisons with Drogba". Daily Mail. 23 September 2012.
  60. ↑ "Top scorer Romelu Lukaku : Title is next goal". R.S.C. Anderlecht. Retrieved 17 November 2010.
  61. ↑ Romelu Lukaku at National-Football-Teams.com
  62. ↑ 62.0 62.1 "R. Lukaku - Trophies". Retrieved 27 October 2014.
  63. ↑ http://uk.soccerway.com/players/romelo-lukaku/79495/
  64. ↑ "The Belgian Ebony Shoe 2014 goes to Standard Liège’s Michy Batshuayi". Benefoot. 6 May 2014. Retrieved 27 October 2014.

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