Antonio Rüdiger
From TheChels.info - The Chelsea Football Club Wiki
| Antonio Rüdiger | |
| |
| Full Name | Antonio Rüdiger |
| Date of Birth | 3 March 1993 |
| Place of Birth | Berlin, Germany |
| Position | Defender |
| Chelsea career | 2017 – 2022 |
| Debut | 6 August 2017 |
| Games (goals) | 203 (12) |
| Other clubs | VfB Stuttgart AS Roma Real Madrid |
Antonio Rüdiger is a German international defender who played for Chelsea from 2017 until 2022. At the end of the 2021-22 season, it was confirmed that he would leave the club upon the expiry of his contract. The German international joined Real Madrid shortly afterwards.
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Before Chelsea
Antonio Rüdiger began his professional career in Germany with VfB Stuttgart, where he made his Bundesliga debut in 2012. Known for his strength, pace, and aggressive defensive style, he quickly attracted attention from top clubs. After four seasons and 80 appearances with Stuttgart, he joined AS Roma in 2015, initially on loan and later on a permanent deal. At Roma, Rüdiger developed into a commanding centre-back, making 72 appearances over two seasons and becoming a regular in Serie A and European competitions. His performances earned him a move to Chelsea in July 2017 for a reported fee of £29 million.
Chelsea career
2017–18 Season
Rüdiger made an immediate impact in his first season at Chelsea under Antonio Conte. He featured in 27 Premier League matches and made 45 appearances in all competitions, often playing on the left side of a back three. He scored his first goal for the club in a win over Everton and later scored the winning goal in the FA Cup semi-final against Southampton. He also started in the FA Cup final, helping Chelsea defeat Manchester United 1–0. His aggressive defending, aerial strength, and commitment quickly earned him a place as a fan favourite.
2018–19 Season
Rüdiger remained a consistent starter under new manager Maurizio Sarri. He made 33 league appearances and played 44 times in total, forming a solid centre-back partnership with David Luiz. He was an important part of Chelsea’s successful Europa League campaign, though he missed the final due to a knee injury sustained late in the season. Chelsea finished third in the league and lifted the Europa League trophy after beating Arsenal 4–1.
2019–20 Season
This season proved challenging for Rüdiger due to recurring injuries. He made only 20 Premier League appearances and 26 in total, missing large portions of the first half of the campaign. Upon returning, he gradually regained form and was involved in key matches as Chelsea secured a top-four finish under Frank Lampard. He scored two goals in a thrilling 2–2 draw against Leicester City but struggled with consistency throughout the season.
2020–21 Season
Initially out of favour under Lampard, Rüdiger made a strong comeback under Thomas Tuchel, who took over mid-season. He re-established himself as a first-choice centre-back in Tuchel’s back three system and delivered several dominant defensive performances. He played a crucial role in Chelsea’s Champions League run, starting in the semi-finals and the final, where Chelsea beat Manchester City 1–0. Rüdiger made 34 appearances across all competitions, and his strong, no-nonsense defending became a key element in Chelsea's success. He was also part of the team that won the UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup in the following months.
2021–22 Season
Rüdiger played his final season at Chelsea as arguably the club’s most reliable defender. He made 34 Premier League appearances and featured 54 times in all competitions, more than any other Chelsea outfield player that season. He scored 5 goals, including long-range efforts against Brentford and Leicester. His leadership, defensive work rate, and ball progression were crucial, especially amid the club’s off-pitch uncertainty due to ownership changes. Despite Chelsea losing both the FA Cup and EFL Cup finals on penalties to Liverpool, Rüdiger’s performances were consistently excellent throughout.
Statistics
| Season | Prem | FA Cup | League Cup | Europe | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | |
| 2017-18 | 27 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 45 | 3 |
| 2018-19 | 33 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 44 | 1 |
| 2019-20 | 20 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 26 | 2 |
| 2020-21 | 19 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 34 | 1 |
| 2021-22 | 34 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 9 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 54 | 5 |
| Total | 133 | 9 | 21 | 0 | 12 | 2 | 32 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 203 | 12 |
- Correct as of the end of the 2021-22 season
Goals
| # | Season | Date | Year | Competition | Opponent | Score | Result | Venue |
| 1 | 2017-18 | 25 October | 2017 | League Cup | Everton | 1-0 | 2-1 | Stamford Bridge |
| 2 | 2017-18 | 29 November | 2017 | Premier League | Swansea City | 1-0 | 1-0 | Stamford Bridge |
| 3 | 2017-18 | 30 December | 2017 | Premier League | Stoke City | 1-0 | 5-0 | Stamford Bridge |
| 4 | 2018-19 | 20 October | 2018 | Premier League | Manchester United | 1-0 | 2-2 | Stamford Bridge |
| 5 | 2019-20 | 01 February | 2020 | Premier League | Leicester City | 1-0 | 2-2 | King Power Stadium |
| 6 | 2019-20 | 01 February | 2020 | Premier League | Leicester City | 2-2 | 2-2 | King Power Stadium |
| 7 | 2020-21 | 18 May | 2021 | Premier League | Leicester City | 1-0 | 2-1 | Stamford Bridge |
| 8 | 2021-22 | 19 September | 2021 | Premier League | Tottenham Hotspur | 3-0 | 3-0 | Tottenham Hotspur Stadium |
| 9 | 2021-22 | 20 November | 2021 | Premier League | Leicester City | 1-0 | 3-0 | King Power Stadium |
| 10 | 2021-22 | 12 January | 2022 | League Cup | Tottenham Hotspur | 1-0 | 1-0 | Tottenham Hotspur Stadium |
| 11 | 2021-22 | 02 April | 2022 | Premier League | Brentford | 1-0 | 1-4 | Stamford Bridge |
| 12 | 2021-22 | 12 April | 2022 | UEFA Champions League | Real Madrid | 2-0 | 3-2 | Santiago Bernabéu |
International
Rüdiger made his debut for the Germany national team in 2014. After missing Euro 2016 due to injury, he became a regular starter in the years that followed. He was part of the squad that won the FIFA Confederations Cup in 2017 and represented Germany at the 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cups, as well as UEFA Euro 2020 and Euro 2024.
Honours
- FA Cup: 2017-18
- UEFA Europa League: 2018-19
- UEFA Champions League: 2020-21
- UEFA Super Cup: 2021
- FIFA Club World Cup: 2021
