Alexander Hleb

Alexander Hleb

Hleb with Konyaspor in 2014
Personal information
Full name Aliaksandr Paulavich Hleb[1]
Date of birth (1981-05-01) 1 May 1981
Place of birth Minsk, Byelorussian SSR, Soviet Union
Height 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)[2]
Playing position Attacking midfielder / Winger
Youth career
1997–1998 Dinamo-Juni Minsk
1998–1999 BATE Borisov
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1998 Dinamo-Juni Minsk 11 (1)
1999–2000 BATE Borisov 25 (4)
2000–2001 VfB Stuttgart II 17 (1)
2000–2005 VfB Stuttgart 137 (13)
2005–2008 Arsenal 89 (7)
2008–2012 Barcelona 19 (0)
2009–2010 → VfB Stuttgart (loan) 27 (0)
2010–2011 → Birmingham City (loan) 19 (1)
2011 → VfL Wolfsburg (loan) 4 (1)
2012 Krylia Sovetov Samara 8 (0)
2012–2013 BATE Borisov 29 (3)
2014 Konyaspor 30 (2)
2015 Gençlerbirliği 15 (2)
2015 BATE Borisov 4 (0)
2016 Gençlerbirliği 12 (0)
2016 BATE Borisov 6 (0)
2017 Krylia Sovetov Samara 7 (0)
National team‡
2000–2004 Belarus U21 24 (5)
2001– Belarus 77 (6)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 1 May 2017.
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 13 November 2016

Aliaksandr Paulavich Hleb (Belarusian: Аляксандр Паўлавіч Глеб, pronounced [alʲaˈksandar ɣlʲeb]; Russian: Александр Павлович Глеб; born 1 May 1981), commonly referred to in English as Alexander Hleb, is a Belarusian professional footballer.

Hleb's natural and preferred position is attacking midfielder or "in the hole" behind the strikers, but he is often deployed on the wing. He is known for his passing, agility and dribbling ability.[3][4] A full international for Belarus since 2001, he has won over 70 caps for his country.

Early life

Hleb grew up in Minsk. His mother was a builder, while his father drove petrol tankers. His father had volunteered to help knock down uninhabitable houses in Ukraine as the result of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster. Hleb believes this exposure to radiation caused his father's ill health. Before getting involved with football, Hleb was a keen swimmer and gymnast.[5] His younger brother Vyacheslav is also a footballer.

Club career

Hleb developed playing football on the concrete pitches of Dinamo Minsk school. At the age of 17, he signed for BATE Borisov, a Belarusian Premier League team from Barysaw.

Stuttgart

Spotted by scouts, Alexander and his younger brother Vyacheslav were signed in 2000 by German Bundesliga side VfB Stuttgart for approximately €150,000.[6] He made his Bundesliga debut on 5 September 2000 in an away match at 1. FC Kaiserslautern, coming on as a substitute for the last 20 minutes.[7] Despite only making six league appearances in his first season with Stuttgart, Hleb became a regular at the club in his second season there and went on to establish himself as an important player for the team. In 2002, he was voted Belarusian Footballer of the Year.[8]

In 2002–03, Stuttgart finished as runners-up in the Bundesliga and enjoyed a UEFA Champions League victory over Manchester United and Hleb had become established as the team's playmaker. After team manager Felix Magath left to join Bayern Munich in the summer of 2004, however, Stuttgart were not as successful under new coach Matthias Sammer, having finished the 2004–05 season in fifth place.[9] Nevertheless, Hleb was on top of the assist chart in his last season in the Bundesliga.

Arsenal

Hleb playing for Arsenal.

In June 2005, Hleb joined English side Arsenal for a sum which may reach €15 million, on a four-year contract.[10] Arsène Wenger used Hleb at many different midfield positions, but he mainly played on the right wing for Arsenal. His competitive debut was made in August 2005, away to Chelsea. Soon after, Hleb sustained a knee injury while on international duty with Belarus and was out for several months, returning to the first team squad in December, and played 60 minutes in Arsenal's final UEFA Champions League group stage match against Ajax on 7 December. By January 2006, Hleb had established himself as a first choice player and scored his first goal for Arsenal in a 7–0 win over Middlesbrough. In May, Hleb became the first ever Belarusian footballer to play in the Champions League final.[11] He ended the season with 40 appearances and three goals.

Despite a hamstring injury, Hleb made 48 appearances in the 2006–07 season and scored three goals. In 2007–08, he was moved from the right wing and played behind Robin van Persie as a withdrawn striker. When strikers Emmanuel Adebayor and Eduardo recovered from injuries Arsène Wenger reverted to a 4–4–2 formation and Hleb returned to playing on the wing. His season was cut short after he was banned for three games by the FA after he was charged with violent conduct in an incident with Graeme Murty of Reading during their 2–0 win. Hleb admitted his offence, ending his season.

Hleb was always a popular figure at Arsenal, and the fans reciprocated the effort he brought to the team by inventing a song to the tune of Johnnie Allan's Rubber Dolly, "Alexander Hleb, Alexander Hleb, He's good at football, Alexander Hleb".

Barcelona

On 16 July 2008, a medical examination was held for the player at FC Barcelona, with his transfer completed later that day for a fee of €15 million plus an additional €2 million if Barcelona won the La Liga title in 2008–09 or 2009–10 (which they did in 2008–09, bringing his total fee to €17 million). Hleb signed a four-year contract with a buy-out clause of €90 million.[12]

In March 2009, after featuring irregularly for the team – starting only five games in La Liga – Hleb admitted that he would readily accept an offer from Bayern Munich, if such an opportunity arose in the summer. He said, "I am right in the best years of my career and I do not want to spend those years on bench. Bayern Munich is a special club, their interest in me is a delightful honour. Bayern is among the best teams in the world."[13]

Hleb went on to win the 2008–09 treble with Barcelona in his first season with the club. Hleb featured briefly in the Copa del Rey final but did not play when Barcelona went on to beat Manchester United 2–0 in the Champions League final.

At the end of the season, Hleb turned down the opportunity to join, on loan, eventual 2009–10 treble winners Internazionale, and chose to join former club, VfB Stuttgart, on loan.

In July 2009, Hleb returned to VfB Stuttgart on a one-year loan.[14][15][16][17] Hleb played 55 minutes in the first game of the 2009–10 Bundesliga season, away to VfL Wolfsburg, a match Stuttgart lost 2–0. Then, after playing in Stuttgart's 4–2 victory over SC Freiburg, Hleb scored his first goal for Stuttgart, during a Champions League qualifier against Timișoara in a 2–0 away win for the German side.

Hleb with Birmingham in 2010 playing against his former club Arsenal.

On 31 August 2010, Hleb returned to England by signing a season-long loan deal with Premier League club Birmingham City.[18] An ankle injury sustained on international duty delayed his debut until 18 September, when he played 83 minutes in a 3–1 defeat at West Bromwich Albion.[19][20] Three days later, he opened the scoring as Birmingham beat Milton Keynes Dons 3–1 in the League Cup.[21] Injury disrupted his season, forcing him to miss Birmingham's victory over Arsenal in the League Cup final. Towards the end of the season, he ruled out a return to the club once his loan expired, suggesting that their style of football was not to his taste, although he wanted to remain in the Premier League, ideally at Arsenal.[22][23]

On 31 August 2011, Hleb was loaned out to VfL Wolfsburg.[24] Again, injury disrupted his stay at Wolfsburg, making only one start and three appearances as a substitute.[25] The club confirmed he would leave at the scheduled end of the loan on 31 December 2011.[26]

Krylia Sovetov Samara

After Hleb's contract with Barcelona was cancelled by mutual consent during the January 2012 transfer window,[27] he signed for Russian Premier League club Krylia Sovetov Samara until the end of the season.[28]

Return to BATE Borisov

On 26 July 2012, Hleb signed a contract with BATE Borisov and won the 2012 Belarusian Premier League in his return season. Hleb stated before BATE's 3–1 win against Bayern Munich that he expected the great performances of his team in the Champions League could help him to earn a move abroad, with the player wanting a move to a Bundesliga club.[29] However, he remained playing for BATE in the 2013 season.

Konyaspor

On 4 January 2014, Hleb signed a contract with Torku Konyaspor in the Turkish Süper Lig for one-and-a-half years, with an option to extend the contract for an additional year.[30]

Gençlerbirliği

In February 2015, Hleb left Konyaspor for Süper Lig rivals Gençlerbirliği.[31]

International career

Hleb playing for Belarus.

Hleb won over 20 caps for the Belarus under-21 side. He made his full international debut as a substitute in a 1–0 defeat against Wales in 2001. He scored on his second international start in a 5–2 victory over Hungary in April 2002. In November 2006, former Belarusian captain Sergei Gurenko launched a vicious criticism on Hleb for not working hard in national team settings. Hleb, however, rejected any suggestion that he was a "prima donna".[32] In August 2007, new national team manager Bernd Stange made him team captain despite the criticism. On 22 August, Hleb wore the captain's armband for the first time in a 2–1 win against Israel.

Miscellaneous

Hleb was called "Zauberlehrling" or "Sorcerer's Apprentice" for his silky skills and dazzling tricks in Germany when he played in the Bundesliga.[33]

Personal life

While playing for Arsenal, Hleb lived in Hampstead, North London.[34]

In 2003, he was involved in a car crash in Minsk. A passenger in the other car later died.[35]

His younger brother Vyacheslav is also a footballer.

Hleb was married to Anastasia Kosenkova, ex-singer of the Belarusian pop group Topless, from 2008[36] until 2014.

In an interview with The Guardian newspaper, Hleb confessed that the biggest regret of his life was leaving Arsenal for Barcelona.[37]

Career statistics

As of 14 June 2014[38][39][40]
Club performance League Cup League Cup Continental Total
Season Club League Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Belarus League Belarusian Cup League Cup Europe Total
1998Dinamo-Juni MinskFirst League111111
1999BATE BorisovPremier League131131
2000123123
Germany League DFB-Pokal DFB Ligapokal Europe Total
2000–01VfB StuttgartBundesliga6020-1090
2001–0232230--352
2002–0334421-83448
2003–0431530-80425
2004–0534232-80454
England League FA Cup League Cup Europe Total
2005–06ArsenalPremier League2531030100393
2006–073323020101483
2007–08312201082424
Spain League Copa del Rey Copa de la Liga Europe Total
2008–09BarcelonaLa Liga19080-90360
Germany League DFB-Pokal DFB Ligapokal Europe Total
2009–10VfB StuttgartBundesliga27010-81361
England League FA Cup League Cup Europe Total
2010–11Birmingham CityPremier League1910011-202
Germany League DFB-Pokal DFB Ligapokal Europe Total
2011–12VfL WolfsburgBundesliga4100-0041
Russia League Russian Cup Premier League Cup Europe Total
2011–12Krylia SovetovPremier League8000--80
Belarus League Belarusian Cup Belarusian Cup Europe Total
2012BATE BorisovPremier League6000-100160
2013BATE BorisovPremier League23300-40273
Turkey League Turkish Cup Super League Cup Europe Total
2013–14KonyasporSüper Lig16200--162
2014–1514010--150
Gençlerbirliği15240--192
Country Belarus 658140798
Germany 16814143-33421521
England 1088607128314912
Spain 19080-90360
Russia 8000-0080
Turkey 45450-00504
Total 413343337184753745
As of 13 Nov 2016
Belarus national team
YearAppsGoals
200110
200272
200330
200420
200581
200671
2007100
200870
200951
201041
201110
201220
201370
201420
201550
201660
Total776

International goals

# Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1 17 April 2002 Stadion Oláh Gábor Út, Debrecen, Hungary  Hungary 1 – 1 5–2 Friendly
2 19 May 2002 Dynamo Stadium, Moscow, Russia  Ukraine 2 – 0 2–0 LG Cup
3 9 February 2005 Dyskobolia Stadium, Grodzisk Wielkopolski, Poland  Poland 1 – 0 3–1 Friendly
4 16 August 2006 Dinamo Stadium, Minsk, Belarus  Andorra 1 – 0 3–0 Friendly
5 1 April 2009 Almaty Central Stadium, Almaty, Kazakhstan  Kazakhstan 1 – 1 5–1 World Cup 2010 qualifier
6 3 March 2010 Antalya Atatürk Stadium, Antalya, Turkey  Armenia 2 – 1 3–1 Friendly

Honours

Club

Arsenal
BATE Borisov
VfB Stuttgart
Barcelona
Birmingham City

Individual

References

  1. ↑ Matthews, Tony, ed. (2012). The Birmingham City Miscellany. Stroud: The History Press. ISBN 978-0-7524-6343-8.
  2. ↑ "Alexander Paulavic Hleb". FC Barcelona. Retrieved 16 March 2011.
  3. ↑ Frith, Chris. "Alexander Hleb: Where is he now?".
  4. ↑ Nine, The False (4 February 2014). "Alexander Hleb: Arsenal’s most beautiful loser".
  5. ↑ "Aleks Hleb on Futbol Mundial". arsenalist.tistory.com. Archived from the original on 6 January 2014.
  6. ↑ "Aliaksandr Hleb profile on MasterCard UEFA Champions League". MasterCard. Archived from the original on 4 January 2013. Retrieved 18 July 2006.
  7. ↑ "2000–01 player stats" (in German). Weltfussball.de. Archived from the original on 18 May 2008. Retrieved 13 April 2008.
  8. ↑ "Gleb wins Belarus gong". UEFA.com. 31 December 2002. Retrieved 2 October 2011.
  9. ↑ "2004–05 Bundesliga table" (in German). Weltfussball.de. Archived from the original on 18 May 2008. Retrieved 13 April 2008.
  10. ↑ "International Midfielder Agrees To Join Arsenal". plusmarketsgroup.com. Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 27 August 2007.
  11. ↑ "UEFA Champions League 2005/6 History - Barcelona/Arsenal Lineups". UEFA. Archived from the original on 10 January 2016. Retrieved 14 September 2015.
  12. ↑ "Hleb signs four-year deal". FCBarcelona.cat. 16 July 2008. Archived from the original on 4 August 2008. Retrieved 16 July 2008.
  13. ↑ Zocher, Thomas (5 March 2009). "Hleb honoured by Bayern link". Sky Sports. Retrieved 16 July 2009.
  14. ↑ "Hleb vor Wechsel zum VfB Stuttgart" (in German). sportbild.de. Archived from the original on 30 July 2009.
  15. ↑ "Hleb, cedit a l'Stuttgart" [Hleb on loan to Stuttgart] (in Catalan). FCBarcelona.cat. 30 July 2009. Archived from the original on 30 July 2012. Retrieved 2 October 2011.
  16. ↑ "Hleb returns to VfB". vfb.de. 30 July 2009. Retrieved 30 July 2009.
  17. ↑ Pearce, Nick (30 July 2009). "Alexander Hleb joins Stuttgart on season-long loan from Barcelona". Daily Telegraph. London. Retrieved 30 July 2009.
  18. ↑ "Blues Land Hleb". Birmingham City F.C. 31 August 2010. Archived from the original on 3 September 2010. Retrieved 31 August 2010.
  19. ↑ "Alexander Hleb relishing challenge at Birmingham City". BBC Sport. 11 September 2010. Archived from the original on 14 September 2010. Retrieved 23 September 2010.
  20. ↑ Ashenden, Mark (18 September 2010). "West Brom 3–1 Birmingham". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 20 September 2010. Retrieved 23 September 2010.
  21. ↑ "Birmingham 3–1 MK Dons". BBC Sport. 22 September 2010. Archived from the original on 23 September 2010. Retrieved 23 September 2010.
  22. ↑ Tattum, Colin (18 April 2011). "Aleksandr Hleb rules out return to Birmingham City". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 22 April 2011.
  23. ↑ James, Stuart (20 April 2011). "'Birmingham can play football,' Alex McLeish tells Alexander Hleb". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 22 April 2011.
  24. ↑ "Hleb to Wolfsburg on loan". FC Barcelona. 31 August 2011. Archived from the original on 30 July 2012. Retrieved 31 August 2011.
  25. ↑ "Wolfsburg opt against extending injury-hit Alexander Hleb's loan". The Guardian. London. 13 December 2011. Retrieved 21 March 2012.
  26. ↑ "Wolfsburg will not extend Hleb deal". FIFA. Press Association. 13 December 2011. Retrieved 14 December 2011.
  27. ↑ "Acuerdo para la desvinculación de Hleb" [Agreement for Hleb's release]. FC Barcelona. 31 January 2012. Retrieved 31 January 2012.
  28. ↑ "Ex-Barça Star Hleb Joins Russian Side Krylya Sovietov". RIA Novosti. 17 February 2012. Retrieved 17 February 2012.
  29. ↑ Chambers, Miles. "BATE's Hleb eyes Bayern shock". Goal.com. Retrieved 4 June 2013.
  30. ↑ "Konyaspor Hleb'i 1,5 yıllığına renklerine bağladı". 5 January 2014.
  31. ↑ Withnall, Adam (2 February 2015). "Alexander Hleb: Former Arsenal favourite joins Turkish club Genclerbirligi SK - Transfers - Football - The Independent". independent.co.uk. The Independent. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
  32. ↑ Jackson, Phil. "Ex-Belarus captain blasts Hleb". SkySports. Retrieved 2 October 2011.
  33. ↑ Harrold, Michael (15 March 2010). "Hleb plots happy return to Camp Nou". UEFA.com. Retrieved 2 October 2011.
  34. ↑ Kessel, Anna (26 March 2006). "Playboy from Minsk making capital gains". London: Guardian Unlimited. Retrieved 18 July 2006.
  35. ↑ Sheehan, Pat (29 June 2005). "Hleb death smash hell". London: The Sun Online. Retrieved 18 July 2006.
  36. ↑ "Hleb's girl is a Topless stunner". London: The Sun Online. 21 December 2007. Retrieved 2 October 2011.
  37. ↑ "Alexander Hleb reveals regret at leaving Arsène Wenger and Arsenal". London: The Guardian. 12 August 2009. Retrieved 22 April 2015.
  38. ↑ Alexander Hleb at National-Football-Teams.com
  39. ↑ "Alexander Hleb". Birmingham City FC. Archived from the original on 31 August 2011. Retrieved 2 October 2011.
  40. ↑ "A. Hleb: Summary". Soccerway. Global Sports Media. Retrieved 23 December 2011.
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