Jordan Lukaku

Jordan Zacharie Lukaku Menama Mokelenge (born 25 July 1994) is a Belgian professional footballer who plays as a left back for Belgian club Antwerp, on loan from Italian club Lazio, and the Belgium national team. His older brother, Romelu, is also a footballer and a Belgian international.

Jordan Lukaku
Lukaku at Oostende in 2016
Personal information
Full name Jordan Zacharie Lukaku Menama Mokelenge
Date of birth (1994-07-25) 25 July 1994
Place of birth Antwerp, Belgium
Height 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)
Position(s) Left back
Club information
Current team
 Antwerp
(on loan from Lazio)
Number 94
Youth career
2000–2003 KFC Wintam
2003–2004 Boom FC
2004–2006 Lierse
2006–2011 Anderlecht
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2011–2013 Anderlecht 8 (0)
2013–2016 Oostende 79 (3)
2016– Lazio 66 (1)
2020– → Antwerp (loan) 11 (0)
National team‡
2009 Belgium U15 2 (0)
2010 Belgium U16 6 (0)
2011 Belgium U18 3 (0)
2011–2012 Belgium U19 7 (0)
2013–2015 Belgium U21 12 (0)
2015– Belgium 8 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 8 February 2021 (UTC).
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 14 November 2017

Starting his professional career at R.S.C. Anderlecht, he made nine appearances for the first team, before joining Oostende in 2013, where he became a regular player. He was signed by S.S. Lazio for €4 million in 2016. Lukaku made his senior international debut for Belgium in 2015, and was part of their squad at UEFA Euro 2016.

Club career

Anderlecht

Despite interests from Premier League side Arsenal,[1] Jordan signed his first professional contract with the club, keeping him until 2013.[2]

Having previously trained with the first team in the 2010–11 season,[3] along with his brother (who then left the club for Chelsea at the time), Lukaku was first included in a senior matchday squad on 1 December 2011, remaining an unused substitute in Anderlecht's 2–1 win at AEK Athens in the group stage of the season's UEFA Europa League.[4] His debut came the following on 21 March 2012 against Zulte Waregem, which saw Anderlecht win 2–1; Lukaku later said after the match: "it was the best day of his life".[5] Then on 6 April when he started in a goalless Pro League game at Standard Liège;[6] he totalled six appearances as his team won the league that season.

However, he did not play at all as they retained the title the following campaign, only making the bench twice. During the season, he missed out the start of the season, due to suffering a stress fracture.[7] As he struggled in the first team, Jordan was linked with a loan move to an unknown club in Eredivisie, but rejected the move and was sent to the reserve team instead.[8]

On 21 July 2013, he came on as an 87th-minute substitute for Matías Suárez as Anderlecht won the year's Belgian Super Cup 1–0 against Genk at the Constant Vanden Stock Stadium.[9] However, after appearing two matches at the start of the season, Jordan announced his desire to leave the club to get regular first team football.[10]

Oostende

Soon after playing in the Belgian Super Cup, Lukaku left Anderlecht to join Oostende on loan until the end of the season.[11]

Lukaku made his Oostende debut, where he came on as a substitute in the second half and played 45 minutes, in a 1–0 loss against Lokeren on 31 August 2013.[12] Since making his Oostende debut, Lukaku established himself as a regular in the first team, even he was in the substitute and in a match against Genk on 23 November 2013, he set up one of the goals, in a 4–0 win.[13] However, Lukaku's last appearance for the club came on 25 January 2014 against Waasland-Beveren.[14] Lukaku never made another appearance for the club again, as he suffered a pubalgia that kept him out of the season.[15] Despite this, Lukaku went on to make fifteen appearance in all competitions.

With his contract expiring at Anderlecht at the end of the season, Lukaku joined Oostende on a permanent basis, signing a four-year contract.[16] Lukaku's first game after signing for the club on a permanent basis came on 1 August 2014, playing his former club, Anderlecht, in a 2–0 loss.[17] Lukaku continued to be in a regular in the first team at Oostende despite being absence on two occasions,[18][19] including his sending off against Gent on 25 January 2015.[20] In his first permanent season at the club, Lukaku went on to make thirty appearances in all competitions.

In the 2015–16 season, Lukaku started the season well when he set up one of the goals, in a 3–1 win over Mechelen in the opening game of the season,[21] followed up by scoring his first goal for the club, in a 2–1 win over Westerlo,[22] which he was named Team of the Week.[23] Lukaku continued to be in the first team until he was absence from late-2015, due to injuries.[24][25] Lukaku then scored his second goal of the season on 31 January 2016, in a 3–3 draw against Mouscron.[26] After returning from injury in early-May,[27] Lukaku scored from his injury, in a 2–1 win over Genk on 14 May 2016.[28] Lukaku finished his second season, making thirty-four appearances and scoring three times in all competitions.

Lazio

With a hint from the club's president, stating that Lukaku could leave the club in the summer,[29] it was announced on 22 July 2016, he signed with Italian club Lazio for €4 million[30] plus a reported €1 million in performance-related bonuses.[31] Upon joining the club, Lukaku was given a number six shirt and was presented to the club several days later.[32]

Lukaku made his Lazio debut, where he made his first start and played the whole game, in a 4–3 win over Atalanta in the opening game of the season.[33] He continued to remain in the first team until he suffered an injury during an international break that kept him out for a month.[34] It was not until on 27 November 2016 when he made his return from injury, coming on as a substitute in the second half, in a 1–0 win over Palermo.[35]

In the 2017 Supercoppa Italiana, Lukaku came on as a late substitute in a 3–2 win over Juventus at the Stadio Olimpico.[36] On 23 December that year, he scored his first goal for the club, finishing from a Ciro Immobile pass to open a 4–0 home win over Crotone.[37]

Injury problems during the 2018–19 season meant Lukaku only started three games in all competitions before a loan deal until the end of the season was agreed with English club Newcastle United on 24 January.[38] However, the deal was called off the following day after the Belgian reportedly failed a medical.[39]

Antwerp (loan)

On 5 October 2020, Lazio confirmed that Lukaku had joined Belgian club Royal Antwerp F.C. on a one-year loan.[40]

International career

After previously representing Belgium U15, Belgium U16, Belgium U18 and Belgium U19, Jordan rejected a chance to play for DR Congo, in favor of playing for Belgium instead.[41] It came after when Lukaku was called up by the national side in late-2011.[42]

Following his impressive performance at Oostende, Lukaku was called by the senior team for the first team.[43] On 10 October 2015, Lukaku made his senior debut for the national team in a 4–1 win in a Euro 2016 qualification match against Andorra; the victory qualified his team to the finals.[44] In his next game on the following 29 March, he replaced Guillaume Gillet in the 59th minute of a friendly away to Portugal in Leiria, and sent in the cross that was headed in by his brother as consolation in a 2–1 loss.[45]

After being included for the a 24-man preliminary squad,[46] Lukaku was selected for Euro 2016 squad,[47] wearing shirt number 21. He made one appearance in the tournament, playing 75 minutes in place of the injured Jan Vertonghen in Belgium's 3–1 quarterfinal defeat to Wales.[48]

In May 2018, he was named in Belgium’s preliminary squad for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.[49] However, he did not make the final 23.[50]

Style of play

Regarded as a promising player in his youth, Lukaku is a quick, hard-working, and powerful left-footed attacking full-back. He primarily plays as a left-back, but has demonstrated he is capable of playing anywhere along the left side of the pitch as a wing-back, as a wide midfielder, or even as a winger in an attacking trident. He is particularly well known for his outstanding pace, as well as his technique, crossing ability, physical strength, and stamina, which enables him to cover the flank effectively, get forward, exploit spaces, take on opponents, retain possession, and create chances for his teammates. He has drawn criticism at times from pundits over his tactical sense and the defensive aspect of this game, which have been cited as areas which have room for improvement. He has also struggled with injuries which have limited his playing time.[51][52][53][54][55][56][57][58][59][60][61][62]

Personal life

Lukaku was born in Antwerp. His father is Roger Lukaku, who played professional football and was capped at international level by Zaire.[63] He has an older brother, Belgium and Inter Milan striker Romelu Lukaku, who also progressed through the youth academy at Anderlecht. Their cousin Boli Bolingoli-Mbombo plays for Celtic.[64]

While at the youth academy at Anderlecht, Jordan, along with Romelu, used to be picked by their father and took them to training every morning. Unlike his older brother, Jordan grew up supporting Arsenal.[65] Around 2012, Jordan became a victim of fake profiling. It came after he was involved in a controversial circumstances, prompting angry response from social media.[66]

In December 2014, Jordan Lukaku was charged with speeding and had his driving license revoked for fifteen days, as well as, being fined €600.[67] The following month, his closest friend, Junior Malanda, was killed in a car crash.[68] Three months later, he was charged with the same offence and was banned from driving for a year.[69] He was given a final warning and told that if he did it again, he would be jailed.[70] The following year, he was charged with the same offence for the third time and was banned from driving for fifteen months.[71]

Career statistics

Club
As of match played 23 January 2021[72]
Club Season League Cup Europe Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Anderlecht 2011–12 Belgian Pro League 6000000060
2012–13 Belgian Pro League 0000000000
2013–14 Belgian Pro League 2000001[lower-alpha 1]030
Total 8000001090
Oostende 2013–14 Belgian Pro League 16030——190
2014–15 Belgian Pro League 29010——300
2015–16 Belgian Pro League 34300——343
Total 793400000833
Lazio 2016–17 Serie A 16040——200
2017–18 Serie A 30140901[lower-alpha 2]0441
2018–19 Serie A 701000—80
2019–20 Serie A 130000000130
2020–21 Serie A 0000000000
Total 661909010851
Royal Antwerp 2020–21 Belgian First Division A 80003000110
Career total 1624130120201864
  1. Appearance in the Belgian Super Cup
  2. Appearance in the Supercoppa Italiana

International
As of 14 November 2017[73]
Belgium
YearAppsGoals
201510
201660
201710
Total80

Honours
Anderlecht
Lazio[72]

References
  1. "Arsenal ziet wel wat in Jordan Lukaku" (in Dutch). Gazet van Antwerpen. 26 August 2010. Retrieved 15 December 2016.
  2. "Arsenal toont interesse in broertje Lukaku" (in Dutch). Nieuwsblad. 26 August 2010. Retrieved 15 December 2016.
  3. "Jordan Lukaku traint met A-kern Anderlecht" (in Dutch). Nieuwsblad. 9 March 2011. Retrieved 15 December 2016.
  4. "Mbokani niet mee naar Athene, Jordan Lukaku wel" (in Dutch). Nieuwsblad. 29 November 2011. Retrieved 15 December 2016.
  5. "Jordan Lukaku bezorgt Romelu 'mooiste dag van zijn leven'" (in Dutch). Nieuwsblad. 21 March 2012. Retrieved 15 December 2016.
  6. "Geen goals in ondermaatse topper" (in Dutch). Sporza. 6 April 2012. Retrieved 15 December 2016.
  7. "Jordan Lukaku moet zes weken rusten" (in Dutch). Sporza.be. 1 July 2012. Retrieved 15 December 2016.
  8. "Jordan Lukaku: 'Ik besta nog altijd'" (in Dutch). Nieuwsblad. 9 February 2013. Retrieved 15 December 2016.
  9. "Anderlecht bat Genk et remporte sa 11e Supercoupe (1–0)" [Anderlecht beat Genk and win their 11th Super Cup]. L'Avenir (in French). 21 July 2013. Retrieved 25 January 2016.
  10. "Jordan Lukaku haalt uit naar Anderlecht: 'Ik wil weg'" (in Dutch). Nieuwsblad. 17 June 2013. Retrieved 15 December 2016.
  11. "Oostende leent Lukaku en Canesin van Anderlecht" (in Dutch). Sporza. 27 August 2013. Retrieved 15 December 2016.
  12. "Harbaoui velt Oostende na de rust" (in Dutch). Sporza. 31 August 2013. Retrieved 15 December 2016.
  13. "KV Oostende stunt tegen Genk" (in Dutch). Sporza. 23 November 2013. Retrieved 15 December 2016.
  14. "Opnieuw als één hecht blok" (in Dutch). Nieuwsblad. 25 January 2014. Retrieved 15 December 2016.
  15. "26/02" (in Dutch). Nieuwsblad. 25 February 2015. Retrieved 15 December 2016.
  16. "Jordan Lukaku definitief naar KV Oostende" (in Dutch). HLN.be. 20 May 2014. Retrieved 15 December 2016.
  17. "Bleek Anderlecht wint met 0–2 bij Oostende" (in Dutch). Sporza. 1 August 2014. Retrieved 15 December 2016.
  18. "Hecht teamwerk loont" (in Dutch). Nieuwsblad. 24 November 2014. Retrieved 15 December 2016.
  19. "10/12" (in Dutch). Nieuwsblad. 9 December 2014. Retrieved 15 December 2016.
  20. "Jordan Lukaku: 'Tackle was op de bal'" (in Dutch). Nieuwsblad. 25 January 2015. Retrieved 15 December 2016.
  21. "Oostende moet knokken om KV Mechelen af te houden" (in Dutch). Sporza. 25 July 2015. Retrieved 15 December 2016.
  22. "Oostende staat weer op kop in eerste klasse" (in Dutch). Sporza. 1 August 2015. Retrieved 15 December 2016.
  23. "Eerste doelpunt Jordan Lukaku is meteen goal van de week" (in Dutch). Sporza. 1 August 2015. Retrieved 15 December 2016.
  24. "Mirallas en Kums vervangen Fellaini en Jordan Lukaku bij de Duivels" (in Dutch). Sporza. 6 November 2015. Retrieved 15 December 2016.
  25. "CLUBNIEUWS. Bekijk hier hoe uw favoriete eersteklasser aan de aftrap komt" (in Dutch). Nieuwsblad. 11 December 2015. Retrieved 15 December 2016.
  26. "KV Oostende komt niet verder dan gelijkspel tegen Moeskroen-Péruwelz" (in Dutch). Sporza. 31 January 2015. Retrieved 15 December 2016.
  27. "Anderlecht moet Jordan Lukaku niet vrezen" (in Dutch). Sporza. 7 May 2016. Retrieved 15 December 2016.
  28. "Anderlecht moet Jordan Lukaku niet vrezen" (in Dutch). Sporza. 14 May 2016. Retrieved 15 December 2016.
  29. "Marc Coucke zinspeelt op vertrek van Jordan Lukaku (en toptransfer als vervanger)" (in Dutch). Nieuwsblad. 19 May 2016. Retrieved 15 December 2016.
  30. "RELAZIONE FINANZIARIA SEMESTRALE CONSOLIDATA AL 31 DICEMBRE 2016" (PDF) (in Italian). S.S. Lazio. 30 March 2017. Retrieved 2 April 2017.
  31. "KV Oostende bevestigt "grootste uitgaande transfer" van Jordan Lukaku naar Lazio" (in Dutch). Sporza. 22 July 2016. Retrieved 15 December 2016.
  32. "Lazio, ecco Jordan Lukaku: "Pronto a stupire"" (in Italian). Corriere Dello Sport. 28 July 2016. Retrieved 15 December 2016.
  33. "Serie A, Atalanta—Lazio 3–4. Immobile trascina i biancocelesti" (in Italian). La Gazzetta Dello Sport. 21 August 2016. Retrieved 15 December 2016.
  34. "Lazio, Lukaku si ferma con il Belgio: infortunio alla caviglia" (in Italian). La Gazzetta Dello Sport. 8 October 2016. Retrieved 15 December 2016.
  35. "Serie A, Palermo-Lazio 0–1: E ora il derby!" (in Italian). Corriere Dello Sport. 27 November 2016. Retrieved 15 December 2016.
  36. Bocca, Fabrizio (13 August 2017). "Supercoppa: non basta Dybala alla Juventus, la Lazio vince 3-2" [Dybala not enough for Juventus, Lazio win 3–2]. La Repubblica (in Italian). Retrieved 2 February 2018.
  37. "Lazio put four past Crotone". Football Italia. 23 December 2017. Retrieved 2 February 2018.
  38. "Newcastle agree to sign Jordan Lukaku on loan from Lazio". Sky Sports. 24 January 2019. Retrieved 28 March 2019.
  39. "Jordan Lukaku loan move to Newcastle from Lazio falls through". Sky Sports. 25 January 2019. Retrieved 28 March 2019.
  40. "Statement 05.10.2020". S.S. Lazio. 5 October 2020. Retrieved 6 October 2020.
  41. "Vader Lukaku: "Jordan speelt nooit voor Congo"" (in Dutch). Sporza.be. 21 September 2011. Retrieved 15 December 2016.
  42. "Mbokani, Jordan Lukaku en Tiko in Congolese voorselectie" (in Dutch). Nieuwsblad. 21 September 2011. Retrieved 15 December 2016.
  43. "Wilmots verrast met Gent-trio, Cavanda en Bakkali" (in Dutch). Sporza. 2 October 2015. Retrieved 15 December 2016.
  44. "BBC Sport – Andorra 1–4 Belgium". BBC Sport. 10 October 2015. Retrieved 11 October 2015.
  45. https://www.skysports.com/football/portugal-vs-belgium/353945
  46. "Bondscoach selecteert Batshuayi, Engels en Jordan Lukaku voor EK, Chadli reserve" (in Dutch). Sporza. 12 May 2016. Archived from the original on 24 December 2017. Retrieved 15 December 2016.
  47. "Belgium name eight forwards in final squad". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 31 May 2016. Retrieved 15 December 2016.
  48. "Wales 3–1 Belgium". BBC Sport. 1 July 2016. Retrieved 15 December 2016.
  49. "World Cup 2018: Belgium announce initial 28-man squad for Russia". The Independent. 21 May 2018.
  50. "World Cup 2018: Belgium include Vincent Kompany but Christian Benteke misses out". BBC Sport. 4 June 2018.
  51. Di Marzio, Gianluca (24 October 2017). ""Io, scopritore di due frecce". Vanderhaeghe racconta Marusic e Lukaku: "Corsa, assist e gol, due talenti"" (in Italian). gianlucadimarzio.com. Retrieved 13 February 2020.
  52. Di Marco, Perisse (23 April 2019). "Mbappé è più veloce di Bolt" (in Italian). GQ Italia. Retrieved 13 February 2020.
  53. "L'altro Lukaku: alla scoperta di Jordan". La Repubblica (in Italian). 9 August 2016. Retrieved 13 February 2020.
  54. Bocci, Alessandra (30 June 2016). "Dal Viareggio 2013 a Euro 2016 Jordan Lukaku, che Berlusconi voleva al Milan". La Gazzetta dello Sport (in Italian). Retrieved 13 February 2020.
  55. Motisi, Domenico (29 March 2018). "Bolt diventa calciatore? Ecco i velocisti che potrebbero marcarlo" (in Italian). sport.sky.it. Retrieved 13 February 2020.
  56. "Lukaku's Newcastle move is off". Football Italia. 25 January 2019. Retrieved 13 February 2020.
  57. "Lukaku corre verso il rientro" (in Italian). S.S. Lazio. 11 October 2018. Retrieved 13 February 2020.
  58. Edwards, Luke (25 January 2019). "Newcastle United's loan move for Jordan Lukaku falls through following fitness concerns over Lazio winger". The Telegraph. Retrieved 13 February 2020.
  59. "LUKAKU JORDAN" (in Italian). TuttoCalciatori.net. Retrieved 13 February 2020.
  60. "Lazio, ecco Jordan Lukaku: "Pronto a stupire"". Il Corriere dello Sport (in Italian). 28 July 2016. Retrieved 13 February 2020.
  61. De Bari, Gabriele (2 November 2017). "Lazio, Lukaku scatena l'applauso e la gioia dei tifosi biancocelesti". Il Messaggero (in Italian). Retrieved 13 February 2020.
  62. "Lazio, l'esterno è in partenza: dubbi sulla sua integrità fisica..." (in Italian). www.calciomercato.com. 26 December 2019. Retrieved 13 February 2020.
  63. "Menama Lukaku". FIFA. Retrieved 6 August 2011.
  64. "Rapid verpflichtet Bolingoli-Mbombo von Brügge" (in German). Sky Sports. 22 June 2017. Retrieved 31 March 2018.
  65. "De 5 verschillen tussen de broers Lukaku" (in Dutch). Nieuwsblad. 23 March 2012. Retrieved 15 December 2016.
  66. "Jordan Lukaku: 'Ik beledigde Vanessa Hoefkens niet'" (in Dutch). Nieuwsblad. 16 July 2012. Retrieved 15 December 2016.
  67. "Politierechter verwijst naar dood Sterchele tijdens zitting snelheidsduivel Lukaku" (in Dutch). HLN.be. 18 December 2014. Retrieved 15 December 2016.
  68. "Lukaku's brengen mooie hulde aan hun maatje Malanda" (in Dutch). HLN.be. 11 January 2015. Retrieved 15 December 2016.
  69. "Jordan Lukaku is rijbewijs kwijt voor een jaar" (in Dutch). Sporza. 22 April 2015. Retrieved 15 December 2016.
  70. "Rechter tegen Jordan Lukaku: "Volgende keer stuur ik je naar de gevangenis"" (in Dutch). Sporza. 8 July 2015. Retrieved 15 December 2016.
  71. "Jordan Lukaku alweer veroordeeld, ditmaal omdat hij rijbewijs niet inleverde" (in Dutch). Nieuwsblad. 3 October 2016. Retrieved 15 December 2016.
  72. Jordan Lukaku at Soccerway
  73. "Jordan Lukaku". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmerman.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.