Johann Vogel (footballer)

Johann Vogel
Personal information
Full name	Johann Vogel
Height	5 ft 9 in (175cm)
Position(s)	Midfielder
Team information
Current team	Real Betis
Number	16
	‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 26 June 2006

Johann Vogel (born March 8, 1977 in Geneva) is a Swiss footballer. He currently plays for Real Betis. Until 8th of March 2007 he was captain of the Switzerland national football team.

Vogel joined Swiss amateur club FC Meyrin in his youth but made the cut into professional football by joining Grasshopper. He was handed his debut for Switzerland on 8 March 1995 in a 1-1 draw against Greece. In his time at Grasshoppers, he usually played central defence or rightback although on occasion, he could be called to feature in a central defensive midfield role.

Dutch club PSV Eindhoven sought his services in 1999 and he became a prominent member of the team until he decided to leave to join Italian giants AC Milan at the end of the 2004/2005 season. In his final season with PSV, he was noted for forming a formidable midfield partnership with Mark van Bommel and Philip Cocu where the club managed to reach the semi-finals of the European UEFA Champions League tournament.

In his role as a defensive midfield player, in which he uses his ability to pass accurately and to effectively retain possession of the ball, Vogel can be counted on to add depth to either defence or attack.

Vogel played in the Euro 1996, Euro 2004, World Cup 2006 and has made 89 appearances in total for his country.

In August 31, 2006, he officially joined Real Betis club in an exchange deal for Betis striker Ricardo Oliveira. Vogel made his Betis debut against Athletic Bilbao on 10 September, 2006 at the Manuel Ruiz de Lopera stadium, which Betis won 3-0.

External links

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