Matthieu Epolo
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Matthieu Luka Epolo | ||
| Date of birth | 15 January 2005 | ||
| Place of birth | Belgium | ||
| Height | 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Goalkeeper | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Standard Liège | ||
| Number | 40 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Wemmel | |||
| Brussels | |||
| –2019 | Anderlecht | ||
| 2019–2024 | Standard Liège | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2022–2024 | Standard Liège B | 40 | (0) |
| 2024– | Standard Liège | 13 | (0) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2021–2022 | Belgium U17 | 8 | (0) |
| 2022–2023 | Belgium U18 | 2 | (0) |
| 2023 | Belgium U19 | 1 | (0) |
|
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 15:56, 3 October 2024 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 16:14, 3 October 2024 (UTC) | |||
Matthieu Luka Epolo (born 15 January 2005) is a Belgian professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Standard Liège.
Club career
[edit]Epolo began playing football at KVK Wemmel and later FC Brussels.[1] Aged 14, he moved from Anderlecht to Standard Liège in June 2019.[2] On 25 January 2023, shortly after his 18th birthday and with him being the third goalkeeper for the first team, Epolo extended his contract.[3]
On 27 April 2024, Epolo was given his first-team debut by manager Ivan Leko, amid reports that regular goalkeeper Arnaud Bodart would leave at the end of the season.[4] He drew 1–1 at home to Sint-Truiden on his debut, with 20-year-old Mattéo Godfroid on the bench as Bodart was injured, according to Leko.[5] Fewer than 10,000 fans saw his debut at the Stade Maurice Dufrasne due to a boycott of American owners 777 Partners, and Epolo said he understood the situation.[1] Leko said that Epolo would start the remaining games of the season.[1]
Epolo was the starting goalkeeper for 2024–25. In the first eight games of the season he kept six clean sheets, conceding three goals, ranking as the best in the league.[6][7]
International career
[edit]Epolo was called up to the Belgium under-17 team for the 2022 UEFA European Under-17 Championship in Israel. He played all three games in a group-stage elimination.[8]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c Woos, Loïc (30 April 2024). "Une première dans un contexte particulier pour Matthieu Epolo : "On espérait plus de soutien de la part des supporters"" [A debut in a particular context for Matthieu Epolo: "We were hoping for more support from the fans"] (in French). WalFoot. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
- ^ "Une promesse mauve file au Standard" [A purple promise joins Standard]. La Dernière Heure (in French). 4 June 2019. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
- ^ Fiammetti, Alexandre (25 January 2023). "Officiel : Le Standard de Liège prolonge Matthieu Epolo" [Official: Standard Liège extend Matthieu Epolo] (in French). WalFoot. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
- ^ "Du changement et une grosse surprise dans le onze du Standard face à Saint-Trond" [Change and a big surprise in Standard's starting XI against Sint-Truiden]. Foot News (in French). 27 April 2024. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
- ^ Woos, Loïc (28 April 2024). "Qui sera le gardien du Standard pour terminer la saison ? Ivan Leko n'a pas laissé de place au doute !" [Who will be Standard's goalkeeper to end the season?] (in French). WalFoot. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
- ^ Sauvage, Kevin (22 September 2024). "Trois buts encaissés, six clean-sheets et une place de choix dans le classement des portiers européens : les bons débuts de Matthieu Epolo au Standard" [Three goals conceded, six clean sheets and a choice place in the ranking of European goalkeepers: Mattheu Epolo's good start at Standard]. Le Soir (in French). Retrieved 3 October 2024.
- ^ Bleus, Frédéric (24 September 2024). "Préparation intensive, réserves, déclic pendant l'hiver : comment le Standard a façonné Matthieu Epolo, le gardien qui a le plus de clean sheets" [Intensive preparation, reserves, spur during winter: how Standard built Matthieu Epolo, the goalkeeper who has the most clean sheets]. La Dernière Heure (in French). Retrieved 3 October 2024.
- ^ "Buitenspel gezet door corona, maar bomvol talent: alles wat u moet weten over EK van jongste Duivels" [Sidelined by corona, but full of talent: everything you need to know about the European Championship of the youngest Devils]. Sporza (in Dutch). 17 May 2022. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
External links
[edit]- Matthieu Epolo at Soccerway
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- 2005 births
- Living people
- Belgian men's footballers
- Standard Liège players
- Belgian Pro League players
- Belgian National Division 1 players
- Challenger Pro League players
- Men's association football goalkeepers
- Belgium men's youth international footballers
- Black Belgian sportspeople
- Belgian football goalkeeper stubs