Joel Matip is currently a renowned Cameroonian footballer who has made vital contributions at both club and international levels. Into the latter part of August 1991, he was born in Bochum, Germany. He started out as a junior at VfL Bochum but eventually made fame by joining Schalke 04. In this article, his achievements are covered in terms of trophies and records that he has put under his belt.
Early Career at Schalke 04
Matip joined Schalke in not the late 1991’s period. Under the influence of the youth section of the club, he reached professional ranks in 2009 when he became a central defender of repute, bursting into national and international level recognition. Over the course of his played matches, Matip earned several honors during his career.
DFB-Pokal: In 2011, Matip enjoyed lifting this eminent cup while contributing to the victories of the club during national competitions.
UEFA Europa League: During Matip’s days at the club, Schalke reached the semifinals, but in the space of one year, Matip could celebrate bit of a highlight in his career when Schalke won the title in 2011.
The Move to Liverpool
In 2016, Matip had taken a giant step in adjusting to Liverpool FC. That was the turning point of his career whereby he gained importance in his defensive role with the club.
Premier League: This is the marquee achievement for Matip and August 2019-20 is the season when the 30-long wait to lift the top-flight title came to an end. Matip was one of the pivotal defenders of the side, hence contributing proactively to the solid defensive ranks of the team.
UEFA Champions League: As part of the Liverpool team that in June lifted the Champions League trophy after defeating Tottenham 2-0 in the final, Matip undoubtedly proved vital to Liverpool’s success throughout the tournament in 2019.
FIFA Club World Cup: This feat earned Liverpool the title in December 2020, with the contribution of Matip to the great deeds of the defense.
Further Trophies
Furthermore, under Matip, Liverpool won several individual accolades, which include the following:
UEFA Super Cup: In 2019, this accolade was awarded to Liverpool after defeating Chelsea at the penalty shootouts. Matip’s defending played an important role in the team’s ability to get the trophy.
Carabao Cup: Matip provided an explicit role in Liverpool’s victorious quest for Carabao Cup in 2022, displaying his role in domestic cup competitions.
Records and Milestones
Across his career, Matip’s bag of records involves many personal and team achievements:
Premier League Matches: Matip has, since then, been a First XI regular and has crossed the 100 match mark, which shows high endurance and fitness.
International Career: To-date, Matip has represented Cameroon at so many levels, presently playing in the senior national team, although after a couple of successes in the international competitions, he has now decided to pull out of the international scene for club football.
Conclusion
Joel Matip’s career is one that represents his skill and determination on the pitch. From his early career in Schalke 04 to being at the center of it all at Liverpool FC, Matip has won numerous trophies and broken many records attesting to his influence in football. More milestones are thus anticipated, moving forward, as he is still expected to perform at an optimal level within his ongoing career.
