Vincent Kompany

Profile Football Stars | Vincent Kompany | Kompany began his professional career at Anderlecht, spending three years at the Belgian club before moving to German club Hamburger SV in 2006. In the summer of 2008, at the age of twenty-two, he completed a transfer to his current club, Premier League side Manchester City. Vincent Kompany Mpoy Jean) is a Belgian footballer of Congolese origin who plays for Manchester City and the Belgium national team. In the 2011-12 season he was awarded the captaincy of Manchester City. He has since established Himself as an integral part of the Manchester City squad and is one of the bargain buys of the revolutionized City era, blossoming into one of the Premier League's best center Backs as evidenced in his inclusion in the 2010-11 Premier League Team of the Year.

Kompany started his career at Anderlecht, winning Several Awards Including the Belgian Golden Shoe and the Belgian Ebony Shoe.  On 22 August 2008, the Premier League club Manchester City confirmed the transfer of Kompany from Hamburg on a four-year deal for an undisclosed fee thought to be in the region of £ 6 million. He was handed the number 33 shirt for the 2008-09 season by manager Mark Hughes. Two days later, Kompany made his Manchester City debut against West Ham United, On 28 September, Kompany scored his first goal in City's 2-1 away defeat to Wigan Athletic.

Kompany made his international debut aged just 17 for Belgium in February 2004 against France, as one of the youngest players ever. The Belgian Federation Kompany called up to the 2008 Olympics. After a dispute, Hamburg Decided to release him under the condition That he returns after Belgium's first two group games. The rocky relationship with Hamburg and Kompany is said to be a major factor in transferring Kompany to Manchester City. In November 2009, Kompany fell out with manager Dick Advocaat the Belgium. On 19 May 2010, Kompany scored a 90th minute goal to give Belgium a 2-1 win over Bulgaria in a friendly. On 10 November 2011, a day before the friendly against Romania, Georges Leekens named Vincent Kompany as the Belgium captain, succeeding Thomas Vermaelen.

Personal information
Full name Jean Vincent Kompany Mpoy
Date of birth 10 April 1986 (age 25)
Place of birth Uccle, Belgium
Height 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)
Playing position Centre back / Defensive midfielder

Club information
Current club Manchester City
Number 4

Youth career
1992 - 2003 Anderlecht

Senior career
years Team
2003 - 2006 Anderlecht 73 (5)
2006 - 2008 Hamburger SV 29 (1)
2008 - Manchester City 119 (5)

National team
2004 - Belgium 47 (2)

Honours

Anderlecht
     Belgian First Division: 2003-04, 2005-06
     Belgian Supercup: 2006

Hamburger SV
     UEFA Intertoto Cup: 2007

Manchester City
     FA Cup: 2010-11

Belgium
     Summer Olympics: 2008 (4th)

Individual
     Belgian Golden Shoe: 2004
     Belgian Young Professional Footballer of the Year: 2004, 2005
     Belgian Ebony Shoe: 2004, 2005
     Belgian Player Of The Year (Playing Abroad): 2010
     PFA Team of the Year: 2010-11
     Manchester City Official Supporter's Player of the Year: 2010-11
     Manchester City Player's Player of the Year: 2010-11

Rafael van der Vaart

Profile Football Stars | Rafael van der Vaart | Van der Vaart began his career at AFC Ajax 'famous youth academy and worked his way into the first team, debuting as a 17-year-old. Rafael Ferdinand van der Vaart is a Dutch footballer WHO plays for English Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur and the Dutch national team. Van der Vaart is well known for his passing, deadly finishing and the capacity to use both feet well. Following his performances in the Premier League in the 2010-11 season with Tottenham Hotspur, van der Vaart was nominated for the PFA Players' Player of the Year award, along with team-mate and eventual winner, Gareth Bale.

Van der Vaart was born in Heemskerk to a Dutch father and a Spanish mother from Chiclana de la Frontera, Cadiz. Before joining AFC Ajax, he played for a local club called De Kennemers based in Beverwijk. Van der Vaart has said of his upbringing, "That was the way my family lived. Van der Vaart CAME through the ranks at Ajax with national teammates John Heitinga and Wesley Sneijder. At the age of 17, Van der Vaart made his debut for the senior side Ajax in a 1-1 draw with FC Den Bosch on 19 April 2000 in the 1999-00 season. Van der Vaart's € 5.5 million transfer to Hamburg, on 1 June 2005, raised many eyebrows. Van der Vaart finished his first season as the team's top scorer as Hamburg finished third in the league and won the 2005 UEFA Intertoto Cup.

Towards the end of the 2007-08 season, Van der Vaart was linked to a move to Atlético Madrid Including Several clubs and Juventus. Van der Vaart was handed his original jersey number 23 while Granero was given number 24. After a wait of four games, Van der Vaart was finally included in Pellegrini's squad list to face Villarreal CF on 23 September. An injury to Kaká gave Van der Vaart a chance to Establish Himself as a key player for Los Blancos again. Van der Vaart Stated his desire to stay at Real Madrid, at least until the end of his contract.

On 31 August 2010, two hours before the transfer window closed, Tottenham Hotspur made an offer of £ 8 million for Van der Vaart. Van der Vaart scored his first two Premier League goals of the season against Wigan Athletic and Arsenal. Van der Vaart scored a penalty away against Newcastle United on 16 October to keep up a good run of goal scoring form and also scored twice in the 2-1 win over Blackburn Rovers.  Rafael van der Vaart gained the notice of the youth team coaches and was called up for the youth squads. The 18-year-old Van der Vaart then made his senior international debut against Andorra on 6 October 2001.

Personal information
Full name Rafael Ferdinand van der Vaart
Date of birth 11 February 1983 (age 29)
Place of birth Heemskerk, Netherlands
Height 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Playing position Attacking midfielder

Club information
Current club Tottenham Hotspur
Number 11

Youth career
Ajax 1993-2000

Senior career
years Team
Ajax 2000-2005 117 (52)
2005-2008 Hamburger SV 74 (29)
2008-2010 Real Madrid 58 (11)
2010 - Tottenham Hotspur 50 (20)

National team
1998-1999 Netherlands U17 13 (5)
1999-2000 Netherlands U19 8 (2)
2000-2001 Netherlands U21 4 (2)
2001 - The Netherlands 93 (17)

Honours

Club
AFC Ajax
     Eredivisie (2): 2001-02, 2003-04
     KNVB Cup (1): 2001-02
     Johan Cruijff-Schaal (1): 2002

Hamburger SV
     UEFA Intertoto Cup (2): 2005, 2007

Real Madrid CF
     Supercopa de España (1): 2008

Netherlands
     FIFA World Cup Runners-Up: 2010

Individual
     Ajax Talent of the Year: 1999, 2000, 2001
     Amsterdam Talent of the Year: 2000
     Amsterdam Sportsman of the Year: 2001
     Amsterdam Tournament Most Valuable Player: 2001
     Johan Cruijff Award: 2001
     European Talent of the Year: 2002
     Golden Boy Award: 2003
     Ballon d'Or: 2008 - nominated (top 30)
     Premier League Player of the Month (1): October 2010.