{"id":245372,"first_name":"Manuel Obafemi","last_name":"Akanji","short_name":"M. Akanji","common_name":"Manuel Akanji","place_of_birth":"Winterthur","gender":"male","height":187,"weight":85,"status":"active","createdAt":"2024-11-06T10:11:17.742Z","updatedAt":"2025-05-26T10:31:17.190Z","locale":"en","age":29,"stb_id":"manuel-akanji","description":null,"tier":null,"common_name_en":"Manuel Akanji","top_position":null,"introduction":"Manuel Obafemi Akanji is a distinguished Swiss professional footballer known for his defensive prowess and technical skills. As of now, he plays as a defender for Premier League club Manchester City and represents the Switzerland national team. Akanji's career is marked by significant achievements, including winning a continental treble with Manchester City and numerous national and international trophies.","early_life_and_career":"## Early Years\nManuel Akanji was born on 19 July 1995 in Wiesendangen, Switzerland, to a diverse family background with a Swiss mother and a Nigerian father. Growing up in Wiesendangen, he was exposed to football from an early age and displayed a keen interest in the sport. His early environment supported his passion, which eventually led him to pursue a career in football professionally.\n\n## Youth Career\nAkanji's foray into football began at a local club in Wiesendangen. In May 2007, he shifted to FC Winterthur's youth academy, where he honed his skills through the under-18 squad and later played for the second team. During the 2014–15 season, he became a regular starter for Winterthur in the Challenge League, marking the beginning of his journey to professional football.","professional_career_and_highlights":"## Club Career\n### FC Winterthur\nAfter progressing through the youth ranks, Akanji made his professional debut in 2014 with FC Winterthur in the Swiss Challenge League. His performances there laid the groundwork for his future success.\n\n### FC Basel\nIn April 2015, Akanji transferred to FC Basel, entering the Swiss Super League. Making his league debut on 26 September 2015 against FC Lugano, he quickly established himself under manager Urs Fischer. Akanji was pivotal in Basel's back-to-back league title wins in the 2015–16 and 2016–17 seasons, the latter season also seeing them secure the Swiss Cup, achieving a historic double.\n\n### Borussia Dortmund\nAkanji's skills caught the eye of Borussia Dortmund, leading to his signing on 15 January 2018 for a fee of €18 million. He debuted for Dortmund on 2 February 2018 in a win over 1. FC Köln. Akanji was part of Dortmund's DFL-Supercup triumph in 2019 and played a crucial role in their 2020–21 DFB-Pokal win.\n\n### Manchester City\nAkanji joined Manchester City on 1 September 2022 for a reported fee of £15 million. His debut was marked by a strong performance in a 4–0 Champions League victory against Sevilla. During the 2022–23 season, he was voted the club’s Player of the Month in October and played more minutes than any other City defender. He contributed to City’s continental treble victory, scoring key goals including one against Real Madrid in the Champions League semi-final.\n\n## National Team Career\n### Youth National Teams\nAkanji began his international career with the Swiss U-20 team in 2014 and moved to the U-21 squad the same year, marking his debut against Italy.\n\n### Senior National Team\nAkanji debuted for the Swiss senior team on 9 June 2017 in a World Cup qualifier against the Faroe Islands. He has played a significant role in major international tournaments, starting in the 2018 FIFA World Cup and UEFA Euro 2020. Akanji scored his first international goal in a UEFA Nations League match against Spain in September 2022. He represented Switzerland in the 2022 World Cup and Euro 2024, where his performances earned him a place in the Team of the Tournament.","playing_style_and_skills":"## Player Characteristics\nManuel Akanji is recognized for his cultured defensive style, blending physical strength and technical skill. His ability to read the game and make interceptions is complemented by his adeptness in one-on-one situations and composure with the ball. His excellent passing range allows him to contribute to offensive plays, making him versatile enough to be deployed across multiple defensive positions.\n\n## Performance Statistics\nAkanji’s career statistics showcase his contributions across domestic and international platforms, although specific numeric data such as total matches, goals, and assists are not detailed in the source material.\n\n## Records\nAkanji’s career and team accolades include team achievements over personal records, showcasing his impact on the teams he has played for.","notable_achievements":"## Achievements\n### Team Achievements\n- Swiss Super League (2015–16, 2016–17) with FC Basel\n- Swiss Cup (2016–17) with FC Basel\n- DFB-Pokal (2020–21) and DFL-Supercup (2019) with Borussia Dortmund\n- Premier League (2022–23, 2023–24), FA Cup (2022–23), UEFA Champions League (2022–23) with Manchester City\n- UEFA Super Cup (2023) and FIFA Club World Cup (2023) with Manchester City\n\n### Individual Achievements\n- UEFA European Championship Team of the Tournament: 2024\n\n## Awards and Recognition\nAkanji’s individual accolades include being named in the UEFA European Championship Team of the Tournament in 2024, reflecting his high-level performances on the international stage.","impact_on_sport":"## Career Overview\nAkanji's impact on football is highlighted through his steady rise from the Swiss leagues to becoming a key player for Manchester City and the Swiss national team. His defensive capabilities have been integral to the successes of his teams both domestically and internationally.\n\n## Off the Field\nAkanji has demonstrated strong mental calculation skills, as shown on Swiss TV in 2018, reflecting his intellectual prowess beyond the football field.\n\n## Personal Life\nBorn to a Swiss mother and a Nigerian father, Manuel Akanji grew up in a multicultural environment. His sister, Sarah, is a politician with a football background. Akanji completed vocational training as a tradesman in 2017, a testament to his dedication both on and off the field.","stb_internal_id":"019300f5-01bc-769b-9f6d-3ead3e38464e","overrides":null,"type_code":"defender","position_type_code":"defender","detailed_position_type_code":"centre-back","roles":"player","has_biography":true,"has_membership_relations":true,"has_matches":true,"has_article_relations":null,"has_social_media_relations":null,"introduction_html":"

Manuel Obafemi Akanji is a distinguished Swiss professional footballer known for his defensive prowess and technical skills. As of now, he plays as a defender for Premier League club Manchester City and represents the Switzerland national team. Akanji's career is marked by significant achievements, including winning a continental treble with Manchester City and numerous national and international trophies.

\n","early_life_and_career_html":"

Early Years

Manuel Akanji was born on 19 July 1995 in Wiesendangen, Switzerland, to a diverse family background with a Swiss mother and a Nigerian father. Growing up in Wiesendangen, he was exposed to football from an early age and displayed a keen interest in the sport. His early environment supported his passion, which eventually led him to pursue a career in football professionally.

Youth Career

Akanji's foray into football began at a local club in Wiesendangen. In May 2007, he shifted to FC Winterthur's youth academy, where he honed his skills through the under-18 squad and later played for the second team. During the 2014–15 season, he became a regular starter for Winterthur in the Challenge League, marking the beginning of his journey to professional football.

\n","professional_career_and_highlights_html":"

Club Career

FC Winterthur

After progressing through the youth ranks, Akanji made his professional debut in 2014 with FC Winterthur in the Swiss Challenge League. His performances there laid the groundwork for his future success.

FC Basel

In April 2015, Akanji transferred to FC Basel, entering the Swiss Super League. Making his league debut on 26 September 2015 against FC Lugano, he quickly established himself under manager Urs Fischer. Akanji was pivotal in Basel's back-to-back league title wins in the 2015–16 and 2016–17 seasons, the latter season also seeing them secure the Swiss Cup, achieving a historic double.

Borussia Dortmund

Akanji's skills caught the eye of Borussia Dortmund, leading to his signing on 15 January 2018 for a fee of €18 million. He debuted for Dortmund on 2 February 2018 in a win over 1. FC Köln. Akanji was part of Dortmund's DFL-Supercup triumph in 2019 and played a crucial role in their 2020–21 DFB-Pokal win.

Manchester City

Akanji joined Manchester City on 1 September 2022 for a reported fee of £15 million. His debut was marked by a strong performance in a 4–0 Champions League victory against Sevilla. During the 2022–23 season, he was voted the club’s Player of the Month in October and played more minutes than any other City defender. He contributed to City’s continental treble victory, scoring key goals including one against Real Madrid in the Champions League semi-final.

National Team Career

Youth National Teams

Akanji began his international career with the Swiss U-20 team in 2014 and moved to the U-21 squad the same year, marking his debut against Italy.

Senior National Team

Akanji debuted for the Swiss senior team on 9 June 2017 in a World Cup qualifier against the Faroe Islands. He has played a significant role in major international tournaments, starting in the 2018 FIFA World Cup and UEFA Euro 2020. Akanji scored his first international goal in a UEFA Nations League match against Spain in September 2022. He represented Switzerland in the 2022 World Cup and Euro 2024, where his performances earned him a place in the Team of the Tournament.

\n","playing_style_and_skills_html":"

Player Characteristics

Manuel Akanji is recognized for his cultured defensive style, blending physical strength and technical skill. His ability to read the game and make interceptions is complemented by his adeptness in one-on-one situations and composure with the ball. His excellent passing range allows him to contribute to offensive plays, making him versatile enough to be deployed across multiple defensive positions.

Performance Statistics

Akanji’s career statistics showcase his contributions across domestic and international platforms, although specific numeric data such as total matches, goals, and assists are not detailed in the source material.

Records

Akanji’s career and team accolades include team achievements over personal records, showcasing his impact on the teams he has played for.

\n","notable_achievements_html":"

Achievements

Team Achievements

Swiss Super League (2015–16, 2016–17) with FC Basel
Swiss Cup (2016–17) with FC Basel
DFB-Pokal (2020–21) and DFL-Supercup (2019) with Borussia Dortmund
Premier League (2022–23, 2023–24), FA Cup (2022–23), UEFA Champions League (2022–23) with Manchester City
UEFA Super Cup (2023) and FIFA Club World Cup (2023) with Manchester City

Individual Achievements

UEFA European Championship Team of the Tournament: 2024

Awards and Recognition

Akanji’s individual accolades include being named in the UEFA European Championship Team of the Tournament in 2024, reflecting his high-level performances on the international stage.

\n","impact_on_sport_html":"

Career Overview

Akanji's impact on football is highlighted through his steady rise from the Swiss leagues to becoming a key player for Manchester City and the Swiss national team. His defensive capabilities have been integral to the successes of his teams both domestically and internationally.

Off the Field

Akanji has demonstrated strong mental calculation skills, as shown on Swiss TV in 2018, reflecting his intellectual prowess beyond the football field.

Personal Life

Born to a Swiss mother and a Nigerian father, Manuel Akanji grew up in a multicultural environment. His sister, Sarah, is a politician with a football background. Akanji completed vocational training as a tradesman in 2017, a testament to his dedication both on and off the field.

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Manuel Akanji: Profile