Player Profile: Daniel Van Buyten-Van Buteur!

Today’s Rode Duivels player profile is Daniel Van Buyten, Belgium’s talented defender.
Birth Date: February 7,1978 (30 years old).
Birth Place: Chimay, Belgium.
Height: 6” 5 inches (1m96).
Weight: 95 kg.
Position: Central Defender.
Youth Clubs:
1986–1991 JS Froidchapelle
1991–1993 Olympic Charleroi
1993–1994 UBS Auvelais
1994–1997 Somzee FC
Professional Clubs:
1997-1999: Sporting de Charleroi
1999-2001: Standard de Liège
2001-2004: Olympique de Marseille
2004: Manchester City
2004-2006: Hamburger SV
2006-present: FC Bayern München
Number of Caps for Belgium: 44 selections with 4 goals.
Club Stats:
Season Club Matches Goals
97-98 Charleroi SC 0 0
98-99 Charleroi SC 19 1
99-00 Standard de Liège 28 3
00-01 Standard de Liège 29 4
01-02 Marseille 23 2
02-03 Marseille 35 8
03-04 Marseille 18 2
03-04 Manchester City 5 0
04-05 Hambourg SV 34 5
05-06 Hambourg SV 27 2
06-07 Bayern Munich 31 3
07-08 Bayern Munich 19 1

Recent Rode Duivels Selections:
30/03/2005 San Marino 1-2 Belgium
04/06/2005 Serbia and Montenegro 0-0 Belgium
17/08/2005 Belgium 2-0 Greece
03/09/2005 Bosnia-Herzegovina 1-0 Belgium
07/09/2005 Belgium 8-0 San Marino
08/10/2005 Belgium 0-2 Spain
16/08/2006 Belgium 0-0 Kazakhstan
06/09/2006 Armenia 0-1 Belgium
07/10/2006 Serbia 1-0 Belgium
11/10/2006 Belgium 3-0 Azerbaijan
15/11/2006 Belgium 0-1 Poland
07/02/2007 Belgium 0-2 Czech Republic
24/03/2007 Portugal 4-0 Belgium
12/09/2007 Kazakhstan 2-2 Belgium
13/10/2007 Belgium 0-0 Finland
17/10/2007 Belgium 3-0 Armenia
17/11/2007 Poland 2-0 Belgium
21/11/2007 Azerbaijan 0-1 Belgium
26/03/2008 Belgium 1-4 Morocco
30/5/2008 Italy 3-1 Belgium

Euro 2008 Qualifying Stats: 10 matches played with 1 goal.

Daniel Van Buyten is a unique defender in that he can play tight defense and score. One of his nicknames is even Van Buteur (Van Scorer!) from the 10 goals that he scored with Marseille one season. He won the French Ligue 1 best player award during his second season with Olympique de Marseille. Van Buyten says his most memorable match with Belgium was his second match with the Rode Duivels against Scotland. He scored a valuable goal during that match sending Belgium to the 2002 World Cup. He doesn’t just love the beautiful game. Van Buyten says his other passion is fishing. According to his official fansite (yes he actually has one!) he also likes his family, sports in general, chocolate, Marseille, and RnB/Soul music. His dislikes include Brussels sprouts, and hypocrisy. Weird guy right? His reminds me of Frankenstein.