15 Facts About Steven Defour

Steven Arnold Defour was born on 15 April 1988 and is a Belgian former professional footballer who played as a midfielder, currently a manager.

Steven Defour played 247 games and scored 23 goals in the Belgian Pro League for Genk, Standard Liege, Anderlecht, Antwerp and Mechelen, winning two league titles and a national cup with the second team.

When Genk failed to qualify for European competition, Steven Defour tried to move to AFC Ajax in the summer of 2006.

Steven Defour tried to force a transfer by threatening to leave, using a Belgian law that allowed professional athletes on fixed-term contracts to leave their employers before the end of the stipulated term, but Ajax did not express a renewed interest in his services, and he ended up signing for Standard Liege for a much-reduced transfer fee, effectively breaking a gentlemen's agreement between Belgian sides not to sign under-contract players using the aforementioned law.

Steven Defour received the Belgian Golden Shoe at the end of the season in the process, leading the Reds to their first league title in 25 years.

In late 2009, shortly after scoring four goals in 31 games to help Standard renew their domestic supremacy, Steven Defour broke his right foot.

Steven Defour finished his first year with 37 official appearances and added two goals, helping his new team to win the Primeira Liga championship.

Steven Defour netted Porto's second goal against GNK Dinamo Zagreb on 18 September 2012 in the group stage of the UEFA Champions League.

Steven Defour's ejection caused the visiting supporters to rip out their seats and throw them onto the pitch, and the banner received criticism from both the Royal Belgian Football Association and the league.

Steven Defour's contract was extended in September 2018 to last until June 2020, but on 31 August 2019, he had it terminated citing personal reasons and a need to return to Belgium.

In September 2019, aged 31, Steven Defour joined Antwerp on a one-year deal.

Steven Defour was first called up for the Belgian senior team by manager Rene Vandereycken in May 2006, aged just 18.

Steven Defour missed UEFA Euro 2016 due to injury and the 2018 World Cup, having been sidelined since that January.

On 17 October 2022, Steven Defour returned to Mechelen as head coach; previously an assistant, he replaced the dismissed Danny Buijs.

On 2 November 2023, after having been ousted by lowly Royal Knokke FC in the round of 32 of the domestic cup and with the team inside the relegation zone in the league, Steven Defour was shown the door.