Thibaut Courtois is a Belgian professional footballer renowned for his exceptional goalkeeping skills. Born on May 11, 1992, in Bree, Belgium, he stands 2 meters tall and is celebrated for his reflexes, acrobatic saves, and commanding presence in the penalty area.
Career Timeline:
- Early Career and Genk (2009–2011): Courtois began his professional journey with Racing Genk, making his debut at 16 and playing a pivotal role in their Belgian Pro League title win during the 2010–11 season.
- Chelsea and Loan to Atlético Madrid (2011–2014): In 2011, he signed with Chelsea but was loaned to Atlético Madrid, where he achieved significant success, including winning La Liga, the Copa del Rey, the UEFA Europa League, and reaching the UEFA Champions League final.
- Return to Chelsea (2014–2018): Courtois returned to Chelsea in 2014, securing two Premier League titles and the EFL Cup during his tenure.
- Real Madrid (2018–Present): In 2018, he joined Real Madrid for €35 million, becoming La Liga’s most expensive goalkeeper. With Real Madrid, Courtois has won three La Liga titles and two UEFA Champions League trophies.
International Career:
Courtois made his debut for the Belgian national team in 2011 at age 19, becoming their youngest senior international goalkeeper. He has since earned over 100 caps and participated in five major tournaments. At the 2018 FIFA World Cup, he won the Golden Glove award as the tournament’s best goalkeeper, aiding Belgium in achieving their highest-ever finish of third place.
Recent Developments:
In a recent Champions League match, Real Madrid advanced to the quarter-finals after a penalty shoot-out victory over Atlético Madrid. The decisive moment came when Atlético’s Julian Alvarez’s penalty was disallowed for a double-touch, allowing Real Madrid’s Antonio Rüdiger to score the winning penalty.
Following the match, Courtois addressed comments from Atlético Madrid’s coach, Diego Simeone, expressing his frustration with perceived “victimism” and constant complaints, stating he was “tired of that victimism and always crying.”
Personal Life:
Courtois is multilingual, fluent in Dutch, French, English, and Spanish. He has two children from a previous relationship and married Israeli model Mishel Gerzig in June 2023 in the south of France.