Julian Draxler is a German professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for Bundesliga
club Schalke 04 and the German national team.
In January 2014, he was named by The Guardian as one of the ten most promising young players
in Europe.
Club career Schalke 04
Draxler made his Bundesliga debut on 15 January 2011 in a 0–1 loss to Hamburger SV.
At that time, he was the fourth youngest Bundesliga player ever.
One week later, in Schalke's 1–0 win against Hannover 96, he became the second youngest
field player after Nuri Şahin to ever start a Bundesliga game.
On 25 January 2011, Julian Draxler came on as a substitute for Peer Kluge in the quarter
finals of the DFB-Pokal against 1.
FC Nürnberg in the second half of extra time.
He scored his first goal for Schalke 04 in the dying seconds of the game to win the match
3–2 for his club.
He scored his first goal in the Bundesliga on 1 April 2011 against St. Pauli.
Draxler opened the scoring in Schalke's 2011 DFB-Pokal Final victory over MSV Duisburg,
volleying in from outside the area, scoring the first of what proved to be five unanswered
goals for Schalke.
In the 2011–12 season, Draxler played an important part in securing third place and
Champions League qualification for Schalke, appearing in 30 of 34 league games, mainly
on the left side of midfield to accommodate Lewis Holtby in a central role.
The following season, Draxler continued to prove himself to be an important first team
player, scoring in matches against Greuther Fürth, Werder Bremen, Borussia Mönchengladbach,
and in a high-scoring 5–4 victory against Hannover 96.
Draxler continued to play an important role after Holtby's departure and the signing of
Michel Bastos, allowing Draxler to impress in his favoured attacking midfield position,
including two goals in a 4–1 victory at Wolfsburg.
While scoring in a 2–1 win to complete a league double over rivals Borussia Dortmund,
Draxler became Schalke's youngest ever player to appear in 100 competitive games.
On 3 May, he scored the game's only goal as Schalke beat Borussia Mönchengladbach 1–0
at Borussia-Park.
Draxler finished the 2012/13 season as Schalke's joint top goal scorer in the league along
with Klaas-Jan Huntelaar after finishing the season with 10 goals and 3 assists.
In May 2013, amid rumours of interest from English Premier League clubs as well as from
Borussia Dortmund, Draxler extended his contract for a further two years, until 30 June 2018.
On 2 October 2013, Draxler scored the only goal in an away game against FC Basel in the
2013–14 UEFA Champions League, and his goal resulted in a 1–0 victory for Schalke.
This win took Schalke 04 to the top of their group.In the final match of Champions league
group stage, Draxler opened scoring for Schalke in 2–0 victory against Basel, taking them
through to knock-out stages of Champions League.
International career On 9 August 2011, Draxler scored on his debut
for the Germany U-21 side in the 4–1 win over Cyprus U-21 in a 2013 UEFA European Under-21
Football Championship qualifier.
On 7 May 2012, he was one of two uncapped players called up into the provisional squad
for the UEFA Euro 2012 senior side for Germany.
On 26 May 2012, Draxler made his debut for the senior side playing in Germany's 5–3
loss to Switzerland, coming on as a substitute replacing Lukas Podolski in the 62nd minute.
His first international goal was scored on 2 June 2013 in a friendly against the United
States.
The goal was scored in the 81st minute to bring the score to 3–4, finishing a rebound
off goalkeeper Tim Howard.
In June 2014, he was named in Germany's 23-man squad for the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
Draxler made his first World Cup appearance as a 76th-minute substitute for Sami Khedira
in the semi-final 7–1 victory over Brazil.
Personal life Draxler attended the Heisenberg-Gymnasium
in Gladbeck before changing to Gesamtschule Berger Feld in 2011.
Career statistics Club
As of 11 May 2014 International goals
Scores and results list Germanys' goal tally first.
Honours Club
Schalke 04 DFB-Pokal: 2010–11
DFL-Supercup: 2011 International
Germany FIFA World Cup: 2014
Individual Fritz Walter Medal: U18 Gold Medal 2011
Sportschau Goal of the Year Award: 2013 References
External links
Official website Julian Draxler at fussballdaten.de
Julian Draxler – FIFA competition record Julian Draxler – UEFA competition record
Julian Draxler at ESPN FC