Johann Vogel
Personal information
Full name	Johann Louis François Vogel
Date of birth	8 March 1977 (1977-03-08) (age 32)
Place of birth	Geneva, Switzerland
Height	5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Playing position	Midfielder
Youth career
	FC Meyrin
Senior career1
Years	Club	App (Gls)*
1992–1999 1999–2005 2005–2006 2006–2007 2008–2009	Grasshoppers PSV Eindhoven A.C. Milan Real Betis Blackburn Rovers	133 (13) 169 0(7) 014 0(0) 017 0(0) 007 0(0)
National team2
1995–2007	Switzerland U21 Switzerland	007 0(0) 094 0(2)
1 Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 12:22, 13 December 2008 (UTC). 2 National team caps and goals correct as of 26 June 2006. * Appearances (Goals)

Johann Louis François Vogel (born 8 March 1977 in Geneva) is a Swiss former footballer.

[edit] Career

[edit] FC Meyrin & Grasshopper

Vogel joined Swiss amateur club FC Meyrin in his youth but made the cut into professional football by joining Grasshopper. In his time at Grasshoppers, he usually played central defence or rightback although on occasion, he could be called to feature in a central defensive midfield role.

In his role as a defensive midfield player, in which he uses his ability to pass accurately and to effectively retain possession of the ball, Vogel can be counted on to add depth to either defence or attack.

[edit] PSV Eindhoven

Dutch club PSV sought his services in 1999 and he became a prominent member of the team until he decided to leave to join Italian giants A.C. Milan at the end of the 2004-05 season. In his final season with PSV, he was noted for forming a formidable midfield partnership with Mark van Bommel and Phillip Cocu where the club managed to reach the semi-finals of the European UEFA Champions League tournament.

[edit] Milan and Betis

In 31 August 2006, he officially joined Real Betis club in an exchange deal for Betis striker Ricardo Oliveira. Vogel made his Betis debut against Athletic Bilbao on 10 September 2006 at the Manuel Ruiz de Lopera, which Betis won 3-0.

Vogel played his last La Liga game for Betis on 19 May 2007 against Gimnàstic de Tarragona.

This section requires expansion.

Everton confirmed they were in talks to sign the player after being told he could leave his then club Real Betis in July 2007.^[1] However the deal hit problems due to Real Betis wanting payment for him.^[2]

[edit] Blackburn Rovers

On the 27 December 2007 he agreed to leave Betis after suing them. On the 18 March 2008, he agreed a two and a half year contract (with Blackburn having an option for a further year) with Mark Hughes' Blackburn Rovers.^[3][4] Vogel joins fellow Swiss footballers Stéphane Henchoz and Bruno Berner at Ewood Park, as well as his former PSV-colleague André Ooijer. After receiving International clearance to play for Blackburn Rovers on the 25th of March, he was given the number 8 shirt^[5] by Mark Hughes, the shirt vacated by Robbie Savage after his move to Derby County.

Vogel made his debut for Rovers on the 5th of April by starting their Premiership game against Tottenham Hotspur.

However, in the 2008/2009 season, Vogel has found himself frozen out at Ewood Park. He came on as a sub in a 3-1 defeat by Liverpool.

On 7 April 2009, his contract was terminated by Blackburn Rovers with immediate effect and by mutual consent.^[6] On 5 November 2009, he announced he will immediately retire from professional football.^[7]

[edit] International career

He was handed his debut for Switzerland by Roy Hodgson on 8 March 1995 in a 1-1 draw against Greece.

Vogel played in the UEFA Euro 1996, UEFA Euro 2004, 2006 FIFA World Cup and has made 94 appearances in total for his country.

Until 8 March 2007 he was captain of Switzerland.

[edit] Career statistics

^[8]

[edit] Career honours/achievements

Club

Grasshopper-Club Zürich

• Swiss National League A: 1994-95, 1995-96, 1997-98
• Swiss Cup: 1994

PSV Eindhoven

• Eredivisie (Dutch League): 1999-00, 2000-01, 2002-03, 2004-05
• KNVB beker (Dutch Cup): 2004-05
• Johan Cruijff-schaal (Dutch Super Cup): 2000, 2001, 2003

Personal

• Gouden Schoen (Dutch Football Writers Player of the Year): 2001

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Johann Vogel FIFA competition record
• (German) (French) Official Website Of Johann Vogel
• (Spanish) Official La Liga career stats.
• Johann Vogel career stats at Soccerbase

[edit] Footnotes

v • d • e Switzerland squad – UEFA Euro 1996 1 Pascolo • 2 Hottiger • 3 Quentin • 4 Henchoz • 5 Geiger • 6 Wicky • 7 Fournier • 8 Sylvestre • 9 Grassi • 10 Sforza • 11 Chapuisat • 12 Lehmann • 13 Jeanneret • 14 Türkyilmaz • 15 Vega • 16 Koller • 17 Vogel • 18 Rothenbühler • 19 Sesa • 20 Comisetti • 21 Bonvin • 22 Corminbœuf • Coach: Artur Jorge

v • d • e Switzerland squad – UEFA Euro 2004 1 Stiel • 2 Haas • 3 Berner • 4 Henchoz • 5 Murat Yakin • 6 Vogel • 7 Cabanas • 8 Wicky • 9 Frei • 10 Hakan Yakin • 11 Chapuisat • 12 Zuberbühler • 13 Zwyssig • 14 Magnin • 15 Gygax • 16 Celestini • 17 Spycher • 18 Huggel • 19 Barnetta • 20 Müller • 21 Rama • 22 Vonlanthen • 23 Roth • Coach: Kuhn

v • d • e Switzerland squad – 2006 FIFA World Cup 1 Zuberbühler • 2 Djourou • 3 Magnin • 4 Senderos • 5 Margairaz • 6 Vogel • 7 Cabanas • 8 Wicky • 9 Frei • 10 Gygax • 11 Streller • 12 Benaglio • 13 Grichting • 14 D. Degen • 15 Džemaili • 16 Barnetta • 17 Spycher • 18 Lustrinelli • 19 Behrami • 20 Müller • 21 Coltorti • 22 Yakin • 23 P. Degen • Coach: Kuhn