Jérôme Boateng

Jérôme Agyenim Boateng (German pronunciation: [ʒeˈʁoːm bo.aˈtɛŋ]; born 3 September 1988) is a German professional footballer who plays as a defender for German club Bayern Munich and the Germany national team. A versatile defender, Boateng primarily is a centre-back, although he can also play as a right-back. Physically strong and composed in possession, he has garnered a reputation as a tough-tackling defender, with good passing and an ability to read the game, and is considered to be one of the world's best at his position.

Boateng started his career at Hertha BSC where he developed from the youth ranks to the main team. After his first season at Hertha, he soon signed for Hamburger SV and established himself as an integral part of the team, helping Hamburg reach the two consecutive UEFA Europa League semi-finals. After an unsuccessful season in England with Manchester City, he joined Bayern Munich in 2011 and has since won domestic and European honours with the club, notably the continental treble in the 2012–13 season.

Boateng played in the Germany under-21 side, which won the 2009 Euro U-21 Championship and was soon promoted to the national side. Boateng has since accumulated over 60 caps and represented Germany at UEFA Euro 2012, Euro 2016, 2010 World Cup, and 2014 World Cup, the latter of which he was a key member of his country's victory. He is the younger brother of fellow footballer Kevin-Prince Boateng.

Club career

Early career

Boateng started his career with the youth team of Tennis Borussia Berlin, before joining Hertha BSC in 2002.

Hertha BSC

After emerging from the youth team set-up, he played for the reserves for one season, before winning a call-up to the first team squad on 31 January 2007. He made his debut against Hannover 96 in the AWD-Arena, during week 19 of the 2006–07 Bundesliga season. He then became a first-team regular, despite being barely 18 years of age.

Boateng was linked with a move to Hamburger SV in the summer of 2007. Because of this, according to the German media, Boateng did not want to sign a five-year professional contract with Hertha.

Hamburger SV

Boateng with Hamburg in 2009

Boateng moved to Hamburger SV on 22 August 2007 for a fee said to be around €1.1 million. Boateng spent two successful years at Hamburg, where he would go on to become an important part of the side's defence in the 2008–09 season which saw Hamburg in the race for the Bundesliga title, as well as reaching the semi-finals of the UEFA Europa League in both his years at the club. In the 2009–10 season, he broke into the Germany national side after impressing for Hamburg, earning himself a place in the squad for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

Manchester City

On 5 June 2010, English Premier League club Manchester City confirmed the transfer of Boateng to the English club for £10.4 million on a five-year deal, where he wore his favoured number 17 shirt. He made his City debut in a pre-season friendly against Valencia for the first half, alternating between centre back and right back with Micah Richards. After an impressive run, down the right flank, he provided the assisting cross for Gareth Barry to score.

During the week prior to the start of the 2010–11 Premier League season, Boateng suffered an injury setback on international duty with Germany during a friendly against Denmark. He tore a tendon in his left knee, which was then aggravated on the plane home after a collision with a drinks trolley.

He made his debut for Manchester City with a substitute appearance during a 1–0 victory against Chelsea on 25 September 2010. He followed this with a first competitive start in a 1–1 Europa League draw with Juventus, playing at right back. In his one season with City, Boateng won the 2010–11 FA Cup despite not being a member of the matchday squad for the final.

Bayern Munich

2011–12 season

Boateng (furthest right) playing for Bayern in the 2012 UEFA Champions League Final

In June 2011, Boateng expressed his desire to leave Manchester City for Bayern Munich, stating that playing for Bayern would help his chances of playing regularly for the Germany national team and that he was frustrated at having to play almost exclusively at right back.

On 14 July 2011, Bayern confirmed the transfer of Boateng to the German club for a fee of €13.5 million on a four-year deal. He was given the same number 17 shirt he wore at Manchester City and for most of his time with Hamburger SV. He made his debut on 27 July 2011 as a second-half substitute for Rafinha during the 2011 Audi Cup in a match against Milan. His Bundesliga debut for Bayern came in a 0–1 home defeat against Borussia Mönchengladbach, on 6 August; an error between himself and fellow new signing goalkeeper Manuel Neuer allowed Igor de Camargo to score the only goal. The team finished the season as runners-up in the Bundesliga, DFB-Pokal and Champions League, with Boateng playing the finals of the latter two tournaments in their entirety.

2012–13 season

During the 2012–13 season, Boateng was a regular member of the Bayern team that won a treble of the Bundesliga, DFB-Pokal and Champions League, in addition to the DFL-Supercup at the start of the season. On 5 December 2012, Boateng picked up a red card against BATE Borisov which resulted in a two-match ban. He scored his first Bundesliga goal with a header from Phillip Lahm's cross on 9 March 2013, the winner as Bayern came from behind for a 3–2 home win against Fortuna Düsseldorf. He netted a second on 13 April, an acrobatic half-volley to open a 5–0 home win over 1. FC Nürnberg, after Bayern had already won the league title.

2013–14 season

Boateng playing for Bayern Munich in 2012

On 2 October 2013, Boateng picked up a red card against former club Manchester City which resulted in a one-match ban in the Champions League. His only league goal of the season was on 9 November, finishing a corner after four minutes of a 3–0 home win over FC Augsburg. He extended his contract with Bayern on 11 December, which will keep him at the club until 2018. On 3 May 2014, Boateng picked up a red card which resulted in a two-match ban. Bayern ended the season as winners of a domestic double of the Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal.

2014–15 season

On 17 September 2014, Boateng scored his first European goal for Bayern in the 2014–15 Champions League season with a strike which was the only goal in the opening group stage match against his former club Manchester City. Boateng picked up a red card against Schalke 04 on 3 February 2015 which resulted in a three-match ban in the Bundesliga.

Boateng scored in a 7–0 Champions League round of 16 win against Shakhtar Donetsk on 11 March 2015, and in a 6–1 quarter-final win over Porto on 21 April.

2015–16 season

Boateng picked up a red card against 1899 Hoffenheim on 22 August 2015. On 18 December, Boateng signed a new contract with Bayern, keeping him at the club until 2021.

International career

Boateng lining up for Germany with Mario Götze (left) and Mesut Özil (right) prior to a match in 2011

Boateng has played for the German under-17 and under-19 national teams. On 5 July 2007 he was called up to the German under-19 squad by coach Frank Engel for the 2007 UEFA European Under-19 Football Championship held in Austria, from 16 July until 27 July.

Boateng is also a former Germany under-21 international and won with the team the 2009 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship. He made his debut with the Germany senior team on 10 October 2009 against Russia, becoming the first German international to get sent off on his debut; he received a second booking in the second half. Despite this shaky start, he was called up regularly ever since.

Boateng challenging Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal during a UEFA Euro 2012 group stage match

2010 FIFA World Cup

Boateng was included in Joachim Löw's final 23-man squad for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

On 23 June 2010, Boateng played for Germany against his half-brother; Kevin-Prince who represents Ghana. The game ended in a 1–0 victory for Germany. It was the first time that two brothers played on opposite teams at the FIFA World Cup.

Boateng started his second straight game as Germany beat England 4–1, and Argentina 4–0 in the quarter-final, as well as the 1–0 loss to Spain in the semi-final.

Boateng featured in the third-place game against Uruguay. He aided Germany to a 3–2 win by providing the assist for Germany's second goal by Marcell Jansen, helping to secure third place at a second straight World Cup.

UEFA Euro 2012

Boateng was included in Germany's 23-man squad for Euro 2012. He played at right-back and featured in four of their five matches as the nation reached the semi-final, but were eliminated by Italy.

2014 FIFA World Cup

Fred and Boateng battling for the ball in the 2014 World Cup semi-final between Brazil and Germany

Boateng and his brother played against each other again four years later during the next World Cup, when Ghana and Germany were once again drawn in the same group. On 8 July 2014, Boateng played the full match for Germany in their record-breaking 7–1 semi-final defeat of Brazil.

On 13 July 2014, Boateng won the 2014 World Cup with Germany after they defeated Argentina 1–0 in the final. He played a central role in Germany's victory in the final, winning 83% of his duels and making several good tackles alongside teammate Mats Hummels, while only committing 1 foul throughout the entire 120 minutes. Several media sources named him as man of the match, although the official man of the match was Mario Götze.

UEFA Euro 2016

Boateng scored his first international goal in the round of 16 match against Slovakia, opening the scoring with a long-range volley in the 3–0 victory.

International goals

International goals by date, venue, cap, opponent, score, result and competition

No.	Date	Venue	Cap	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1	26 June 2016	Stade Pierre-Mauroy, Villeneuve-d'Ascq, France	63	Slovakia	1–0	3–0	UEFA Euro 2016

Personal life

Boateng in 2013

Boateng is an Afro-German and was born to a German mother named Martina Boateng and Ghanaian father in Berlin. He has never been to Ghana. He is the younger, paternal half-brother of fellow professional footballer Kevin-Prince Boateng.

Boateng is engaged to his long-time girlfriend Sherin Senler. Boateng and Senler have two children together, Soley and Lamia; twin girls born on 8 March 2011. The pair separated for a couple of years, following allegations of Boateng's infidelity but they reunited in November 2013. Boateng allegedly had an affair with model Gina-Lisa Lohfink although both Boateng and Lohfink have denied ever having an affair.

Career statistics

Club

• 1.^ Includes German FA Cup and English FA Cup.
• 2.^ Includes UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League.
• 3.^ Includes German Super Cup, UEFA Super Cup, and FIFA Club World Cup.

International

As of 11 October 2016

Honours

Jérôme Boateng with Bayern Munich

Club

• FA Cup: 2010–11

• Bundesliga: 2012–13, 2013–14, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2016–17
• DFB-Pokal: 2012–13, 2013–14, 2015–16
• DFL-Supercup: 2012, 2016
• UEFA Champions League: 2012–13
• UEFA Super Cup: 2013
• FIFA Club World Cup: 2013

International

Boateng (back, second right) celebrates winning the 2014 World Cup with the Germany national team

• UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship: 2009

• FIFA World Cup: 2014

Individual

• Fritz-Walter-Medal U19 Bronze Medal 2007
• Bundesliga Team of the Season: 2015–16
• UEFA European Championship Team of the Tournament: 2016
• Footballer of the Year in Germany: 2015–16
• UEFA Team of the Year: 2016