A born winner and "the best defensive midfielder in the world": Introducing Bayern Munich's Arturo Vidal
Bayern Munich struck transfer gold once again with the signing of Chile midfielder Arturo Vidal in 2015, but what do you realArtikel#376644ly know about the two-time Copa America winner?
Allow bundesliga.com to beef up your knowledge on one of world football's most sought-after midfielders...
1)Europe calling
Born in Chilean capital Santiago on 22 May 1987, Vidal’s talents on the football pitch didn’t go unnoticed for long. His uncle pointed him in the direction of Chilean champions Colo-Colo, with whom he racked up a number of youth titles, before guiding the first team to two league championships by the time he was 19. A move to Europe was inevitable.
Watch: we chatted to the 'always unique' Vidal in summer 2016
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2) Bundesliga record
Vidal opted to sign for Bayer Leverkusen in 2007, enriching the Bundesliga with his fierce will to win. The tough-tackling midfielder found the net 15 times in 117 Bundesliga outings during his four-season spell at the BayArena, and to this day remains the German top flight’s record Chilean import - both in terms of goals and appearances.
4) Gives as good as he gets
Wherever he lines up, Vidal never shirks a challenge. Quite the opposite in fact. In four seasons on the books at reigning Serie A champions Juventus FC (between 2011 and 2015), he collected a league-high 53 yellow cards (one red). At Leverkusen, he picked up 46 cautions and three red cards, but he was also the Bundesliga’s most-fouled player in his final year at the club.
"Proud to be part of this team and proud to be Chilean!"
5) Set-piece specialist
It was at Juventus, meanwhile, where Vidal really honed his eye for goal, with his 48 strikes in 171 appearances representing a Serie A best-mark for a midfielder. It certainly helps that he’s so adept in dead-ball situations, another string to his bow which first came to light at Leverkusen in 2010/11 when he stuck away a league-high 13 set pieces.
7) On the box
As well as being a national hero, Vidal also enjoys soap-star status in his native Chile, having featured in a documentary alongside fellow Chilean internationals Alexis Sanchez, Humberto Suazo, Gary Medel and Fabian Orellana, entitled Nacidos para Ganar (Born to Win). In one memorable scene, Vidal’s mother is overcome with emotion when discussing how much she missed her son after he moved to Leverkusen.
9) Equine interest
Vidal also has a big heart and is particularly fond of horses. Although he doesn’t ride much himself, he owns a number of equine companions. He even has a tattoo of one of them on his stomach. On the subject of body art: many of his inkings are of family members, including a portrait of his mother, Jacqueline, on his upper arm, along with the names of his children.
"With my son visiting our horses!"
10) Like father, like son
As is the way with many footballers these days, Vidal is pretty active on social media. Whether it’s general updates and musings or family holiday snaps, there’s usually something of interest for @kingarturo23’s two million Twitter followers. If you’re already one of them, you’ll probably be familiar with his son and doppelganger, Filius Alonso, by now.
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