David Alaba(German pronunciation:[ˈdeɪvɪdˈalaba];[5]born 24 June 1992) is an Austrian professionalfootballerwho plays as acentre-backorleft-backforLa LigaclubReal MadridandcaptainstheAustria national team. Considered one of the best defenders in the world, he is renowned for his versatility, technical skills and ability to contribute effectively in both defensive and offensive roles on the field.[6][7]
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 22:03, 17 December 2023 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 01:40, 21 November 2023 (UTC)
Alaba is Austria's second youngest player to play for their senior national team, debuting for them in 2009 as a 17-year-old.[9][8] He has earned over 100 caps and represented his country at UEFA Euro 2016 and UEFA Euro 2020. Widely regarded as one of the best Austrian players of all time, he was voted Austrian Footballer of the Year on ten occasions (including six consecutive times from 2011 to 2016).
Born in Vienna,[3] Alaba began his career with SV Aspern, his local club in Aspern, in the Vienna district Donaustadt, before joining the youth setup of FK Austria Wien at age 10. He rose through the ranks quickly, and in April 2008 he was named on the first-team substitutes' bench for an Austrian Bundesliga match.[10] He also played five times for Austria Wien's reserve team,[11] before leaving in summer 2008 to join German side Bayern Munich of the Bundesliga.[12]
He started out in Bayern's youth system, playing for the under 17 and under 19 teams, before being promoted to the reserve team for the 2009–10 season.[8] He made his debut in a 3. Liga match against Dynamo Dresden in August 2009[13] and scored his first professional goal for FC Bayern Munich II on 29 August 2009.[14] He was named in Bayern Munich's squad for the 2009–10UEFA Champions League,[15] where he was assigned the shirt number 27. In January 2010, it was announced that Alaba would train with the first team for the rest of the 2009–10 season,[16] along with reserve teammates Diego Contento and Mehmet Ekici.[17]
The trio were named on the first-team substitutes' bench for the first time on 10 February 2010, for a DFB-Pokal game against SpVgg Greuther Fürth, and Alaba came on in the 59th minute, replacing Christian Lell.[18] After one minute on the pitch, and with his second touch of the game, he set up Franck Ribéry to give Bayern a 3–2 lead, in a match they went on to win 6–2. He also became Bayern's youngest ever player in a competitive fixture, at 17 years, 7 months and 8 days old.[19]
In January 2011, Alaba joined TSG 1899 Hoffenheim on loan until the end of the 2010–11 season. Later that month, he scored his first-ever goal in the Bundesliga in a 2–2 draw with FC St. Pauli.[20]
Alaba returned to Bayern at the start of the 2011–12 season, where he became a regular member of the first-team squad. On 23 October 2011, Alaba scored his first league goal for Bayern in the 1–2 away loss against Hannover 96. On 20 December, Alaba was named Austrian Footballer of the Yearfor the first time.[21] During the second half of the 2011–12 Bundesliga season, he established himself as a starter for Bayern. On 25 April 2012, he played in the 2011–12 UEFA Champions League semi-final second leg against Real Madrid, and scored Bayern's first kick of the shootout as they won 3–1 on penalties. However, due to being booked in the semi-final, Alaba was unable to play in the 2012 UEFA Champions League Finalthrough suspension.[22]
On 18 December 2014, Alaba was named Austrian Footballer of the Year for the fourth year running.[33] In January 2015, he was voted as the left-back in the UEFA.com Team of the Year 2014 by users (352,070 votes)[34] for the second consecutive year.[35] On 31 March, Alaba suffered a medial ligament damage in his left knee during Austria's 1–1 friendly draw with Bosnia and Herzegovina. Alaba missed the rest of the season for Bayern because of the injury.[36]
In August 2015 against his former club 1899 Hoffenheim, Alaba's misplaced pass resulted in Kevin Volland scoring in nine seconds, the quickest Bundesliga goal of all time.[37] On 17 December, Alaba was named Austrian Footballer of the Year for the fifth consecutive year.[38] On 8 January 2016, Alaba was voted as the left-back in the UEFA.com Team of the Year 2015 for the third consecutive year.[39] On 18 March, he extended his contract until 2021.[40] On 21 December, Alaba was named Austrian Footballer of the Year for the sixth year running.[41] On 10 February 2018, Alaba made his 200th Bundesliga appearance in a 2–1 win over Schalke.[42]
During the 2019–20 season, Alaba was converted to the centre-back position, often partnering up with Jérôme Boateng, due to an injury crisis. He adapted to the position very well and soon became the leader of the defence. On 23 August 2020, he played the full 90 minutes at centre-back as Bayern beat Paris Saint-Germain 1–0 in the 2020 UEFA Champions League Final. Bayern Munich went on to have their second treble-winning season after 2012–13, and thereby Alaba securing his second continental treble in his career.
After several attempts to extend his contract, Alaba mentioned that Bayern Munich asked him earlier whether he was interested in a swap deal with Leroy Sané from Manchester City, which he considered as a "slap in the face".[43] On 16 February 2021, Alaba announced that he would leave Bayern Munich following the 2020–21 season after thirteen years with the club.[44]
On 28 May 2021, Spanish side Real Madridannounced they had signed Alaba on a five-year contract beginning on 1 July.[45] He inherited the number 4 jersey, previously worn by the last captain Sergio Ramos over the past 16 seasons.[46] He made his debut on 14 August, starting in a 4–1 win over Alavés.[47] He scored his first goal on 24 October in a 2–1 win over Barcelona, his first El Clásico, becoming the second Austrian player to score in El Clasico history after Hans Krankl(1979).[48] On 6 April 2022, Alaba made his 100th Champions League appearance in a 3–1 away win against Chelsea in the quarter-final of the competition.[49]
On 10 August 2022, he got the opening goal in the 2022 UEFA Super Cup against Eintracht Frankfurtwith Real Madrid going on to win 2–0.[50] On 14 August 2022, he scored the winning goal for Real Madrid from a free kick in a 2–1 away victory against Almería.[51]
During Real Madrid's La Liga match against Villarreal on 17 December 2023, Alaba suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee, requiring surgery and an extended recovery period.[52][53]
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