All you need to know about Breel Embolo!
He already has more than 300 professional matches despite his young age (25). A revelation in Switzerland at FC Basel where he completed his training and came of age in the Bundesliga, at Schalke and then at Mönchengladbach, becoming at the same time as part of the Swiss national team, Breel Embolo already has a lot of experience behind him. With 39 European matches, including 20 in the Champions League, he has thus strengthened AS Monaco, whom he has joined through 2026. Before seeing him in action, here is what you need to know about this very powerful and swift attacker.
Born in Cameroon, he grew up in Switzerland
Breel Embolo was born on February 14, 1997 in Yaoundé, the capital of the country of the great Samuel Eto’o. But at the age of only five, the French-speaking took youngster headed to Switzerland to live there with his mother. After passing the exams for Swiss nationality, he finally obtained his passport in December 2014 and then chose to represent his adopted country internationally. 🇨🇲🇨🇭
Lots of potential in FIFA and Football Manager
If you are a big fan of football simulation games, you must have heard of him about ten years ago! A part of FIFA 14, when he had not yet celebrated his 17th birthday, Breel Embolo had an overall rating of 66, with a potential rating of… 84! Football Manager buffs also will have seen his name, when it came to moving from the Danish 3rd division to the Champions League in three seasons. We know you know. 🎮
Mit einem Fallrückzieher schoss Breel Embolo die @borussia am 7. #Bundesliga-Spieltag in Führung! 💪 @EAFussball hat das Tor noch mal in #FIFA22 nachgestellt. 🎮 #BLrecreated | #FUT pic.twitter.com/2ATrPkQLC0
— BUNDESLIGA (@Bundesliga_DE) October 8, 2021
He only needed two minutes to score his first goal
What is certain is that he did not take long to confirm its potential! Having only been 17 for a month, the new number 36 for FC Basel struck in just his second pro match. After a brief appearance just before the final whistle against Salzburg in the Europa League on March 13, 2014, he put his second appearance to good use to score in the league against Aarau (5-0 success). He had only been on the pitch for a minute, when he found the net with his right foot on a pass from David Degen. No time was wasted! 💨
Sixth-youngest scorer in the Champions League in the 21st century
As you will have understood, Breel has always been precocious. He only had to wait eight months to see him score his first goal in the Champions League. Starting up front against Ludogorets Razgrad, he proved decisive in the 34th minute. At 17 years, 8 months and 21 days… this made him the 14th youngest scorer in the history of the competition, and the 6th in the 21st century behind former Barcelona players Ansu Fati, Cesc Fàbregas and Bojan Krkic. “Age is nothing but a number!” 🎯
His current coach gave him his start in Basel
The Swiss center-forward can in any case thank one person in particular for having believed in his qualities so early. His coach at the time is the current coach of the Swiss National Team: Murat Yakin. In the spring of 2014, the former Swiss international did not hesitate to throw his young player into the deep end at FC Basel. In a twist of fate, the two men find themselves together with the national team seven years later, in 2021. In the meantime, young Embolo has become a great player as a regular starter with 56 caps (9 goals). There are no coincidences in life… 🤝
An Italian role model as a youngster
In addition to his height and his imposing physique, the new Rouge et Blanc striker has many similarities with his childhood idol, who is none other than Mario Balotelli! Barely 10 years old when “Super Mario” had scored his first goals for Inter Milan, Breel Embolo was inspired by him to perfect his game. Very comfortable playing with his back to goal and playin on the turn , he also shows a very nice burst of pace along with his skill with both feet and his agility in the air…🇮🇹
Experience alongside a top Dutch striker
During his first spell in the Bundesliga at Schalke 04, the newest Monegasque had the opportunity to rub shoulders with a great scorer, one who was a finalist of the 2010 World Cup with the Netherlands. He the 2016-2017 season alongside a certain Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, before the latter returned to his home country to delight the fans of Ajax Amsterdam. Play like KJH! 🏆
His daughter was born during the World Cup
He’s said it himself bluntly, the year 2018 was probably the most important in his young life. In an interview with his former club in Gelsenkirchen, Breel revealed that he flew to Russia for the 2018 World Cup with Switzerland, when his wife was pregnant with their first child. Facing Costa Rica in the round of 16 of the competition, he delivered an assist before seeing his country draw to earn a place in the knockout rounds (2-2). As soon as the match was over, he is allowed to go back to attend the birth of his daughter, before facing Sweden in the next round. What a memory! 👶
A starter against France in Euro 2020
More recently, he made life miserable for the French national team with his Nati, at Euro 2020… which was played in in 2021 In the round of 16 of the competition, he led the attac alongside Haris Seferovic, seeing his teammates win a via penalty shootout thanks to a save from his teammate at Borussia Mönchengladbach, Yann Sommer, against Kylian Mbappé. 🇨🇭
Already well-known in Ligue 1
Besides the fact that he is French-speaking, Breel Embolo has already had a good overview of the level of the French top flight. In the Bundesliga, he indeed had the opportunity to play with, among others, with Benjamin Stambouli and Amine Harit at Schalke 04, where he also joined the former Monegasque Naldo. Before distinguishing himself in Mönchengladbach with ex-Rennes man Ramy Bensebaini, and French U-21s Marcus Thuram and Alssane Pléa, including former TFC man Kouadio Manu Koné. He’s arriving on familiar ground… 🇫🇷
Breel Embolo, @bensebainiRams, @MarcusThuram, Patrick Herrmann und @tonyjantschke – wer aus diesem Quintett ist euer #CichonPM Spieler des Monats Dezember❓ Stimmt jetzt ab in der #FohlenApp! pic.twitter.com/OkE1ffU4KR
— Borussia (@borussia) December 23, 2019
A big win over Bayern Munich in the German Cup
This was certainly one of the most successful matches in his career! Facing the winner of the 2020 Champions League and nine-time defending champion in the second round of the German Cup last season, Breel Embolo did not shrink from the task at hand. He even chose this big match to shine brightly, with a pair of assists that day… before scoring twice in the second half. The result was a Borussia win, 5-0 and he was logically named man of the match, being involved in four of the team’s five goals. Bravo, Breel!
His specialty? Acrobatic finishes
The story begins very early, again and again. Already a proven goalscorer at youth level, Breel quickly turned into a specialist in scissor kicks, such as this time when hefound the top conrner from the edge of the area. And this continued in Germany, where he took found success in the Bundesliga, thrilling the fans at Borussia Monchengladbach, such as in this match against Wolfsburg. Here’s hoping there’s more to come! ✂
And the winner of our Goal of the Year is… 🥁
Breel #Embolo's bicycle kick against Wolfsburg 🚲💥
We've included a short message from the winner himself too 🗣️#DieFohlen pic.twitter.com/fLqem2DEdk
— Gladbach (@borussia_en) December 31, 2021
