Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is a young but already well-known English footballer who has been defending the colors of London's Arsenal for five years now. He is a very talented extreme midfielder who is actively interested in the best European clubs. However, his career and life are worth a little more detail.
early years
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was born in Portsmouth on August 15, 1993. In the boy's early childhood, his parents moved to Southampton, where his path to success began. It is interesting that the father and uncle of the young midfielder are professional footballers - Mark and Neville. They instilled in the boy a love for this sport. Mark, the father, defended the honor of Stoke City and Portsmouth, and also played for the English national team. At one time, Uncle played for Port Vale, Mansfield Town and many other clubs.
Interestingly, Alex played rugby quite well in his school years, he was even prophesied a promising future in this sport. And he also succeeded in cricket. The football player himself in one of his interviews said that practicing various sports helped him become more athletic and resilient. Indeed, from each kind of activity you can take the best and embody it in yourself. And Alex said that he was capable of anything, even if he was embarrassed to boast of it. The midfielder believes that it was thanks to his abilities and a certain “universality” that he managed to achieve success.
Carier start
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is a graduate of Southampton. With the same club, a promising midfielder and signed his first professional contract. That was in 2010. His debut took place on the second of March - at that time the young man was 16 years old and 199 days old. It was thanks to entering the field at such an early age that Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain became the second youngest footballer to play as part of the Southampton in the Premier League. The first, as everyone knows, is Theo Walcott.
By the way, the first goal was not long in coming. His Englishman scored in the same year, but on August 10. This happened in a match held within the League Cup. And Southampton then played against Bournemouth.
Transition to Arsenal
In 2011, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain officially became a player in one of the best English clubs. London Arsenal bought a talented football player for 12 million pounds. Interestingly, the contract was written - if Alex will successfully play for the new club, then the amount will increase to 15 million.
His debut took place on August 28, in 2011. Then Arsenal lost to Manchester United with a big score of 2: 8. Alex was released as a substitute in the middle of the second half, but he did not save the situation.
But the next match was complete for the player. Then the player was released on the field as part of one of the League Cup meetings. And in that match, Alex scored a goal, demonstrating his skills.
A little later, the Champions League match took place. And in that game, Alex also scored a goal. It was a special match for him. After all, then he became the youngest player to score for the “Gunners” in the Champions League.
Way to success
But, despite the fact that Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain showed himself very well, the midfielder still almost never entered the field in the Premier League, because he had a solid competition - Arshavin, Walcott and Gervinho. But when Gervais Yao (the last of these) went to Italy to defend the colors of Roma, the Englishman came.
In 2012, on January 22, Alexa was declared as a player in the starting lineup for the match with Manchester United. Then the “gunners” lost with a slippery score of 1: 2. The only goal was sent to the goal by Robin Van Persie, the transfer to which was performed by Alex. The young midfielder was replaced at 78 minutes. This was met with disapproving whistles in the stands and Van Persie's indignation. True, it turned out that Alex had little damage, so the decision to replace him was justified. By the way, after this match, the young man said that he expects to secure a place in the first team.
Which, however, turned out to be true. He spent the next match on February 4, and it was his goals that opened the second half of the Premier League season. Then he designed a double with a gap of 11 minutes between the balls.
Team appearances
Oxlade-Chamberlain Alex considers football an integral part of his life. Which, however, is not surprising - he is a talented player, which almost everyone will confirm. They also counted in the England team. He played his first match in 2010, in the youth squad (under 18 years old). Then the young midfielder spent the entire first half on the field. Then there were three games in the national team under 19 years old, and then - 8 matches in the youth squad (under 21). For 8 meetings, he scored 4 goals.
Since 2012, Alex plays for the main team of England. On May 16, 2012, he was included in the team’s application for the 2012 European Championship. And ten days later, his debut took place. It was a game against Norway, and at 73 minutes the Englishman was released as a substitute for Ashley Young.
And he scored the first goal on October 12 of that year. Then England played with San Marino. By the way, an interesting fact: Alex and Mark Chamberlain became the first son and father in the history of football who managed to score for their team. The achievement is unusual, it is unlikely that it will be possible to repeat it with anyone in the coming years.
