Wikipedia

Jordan Botaka

Jordan Rolly Botaka (born 24 June 1993) is a Congolese professional footballer who plays for Ironi Tiberias and the DR Congo national team.[3]

Jordan Botaka
Botaka in 2020
Personal information
Full name Jordan Rolly Botaka[1]
Date of birth (1993-06-24) 24 June 1993 (age 31)
Place of birth Kinshasa, Zaire
Height 1.84 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position(s) Winger, forward
Team information
Current team
 F.C. Ashdod
Number 70
Youth career
2001–2004 Westlandia
2004–2004 ADO Den Haag
2005–2007 Anderlecht
2007–2008 Beveren
2008–2010 Lokeren
2010–2012 Club Brugge
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2012–2013 Club Brugge 0 (0)
2013 → Belenenses (loan) 1 (0)
2013–2015 Excelsior 73 (11)
2015–2017 Leeds United 13 (0)
2016–2017 → Charlton Athletic (loan) 26 (2)
2017–2020 Sint-Truiden 84 (11)
2020–2023 Gent 8 (0)
2021 → Charleroi (loan) 10 (0)
2022 → Fortuna Sittard (loan) 7 (0)
2022–2023 → Hapoel Jerusalem (loan) 34 (3)
2023–2024 F.C. Ashdod 25 (3)
2024– Ironi Tiberias 5 (0)
International career‡
2012 Netherlands U19 3 (0)
2015– DR Congo[2] 25 (4)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 15 April 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 11:56, 30 July 2020 (UTC)

He formerly played for Club Brugge, Belenenses (on loan), Excelsior, Sint-Truiden, Gent, Charleroi and Fortuna Sittard. He has been nicknamed 'The Wizard' due to his quick feet, trickery and skill with the ball.[4]

Career

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Botaka was born in Kinshasa, the son of Congolese parents, Botaka started his career at Dutch side Westlandia and ADO Den Haag, before his parents moved to Antwerp where Botaka joined the academies of Anderlecht, Beveren and KSC Lokeren.[5] He also has a Dutch passport.[6]

Club Brugge

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Following vague interest by Newcastle United,[7] Botaka joined Club Brugge from Lokeren on 23 January 2012, a 2 and half year contract.[5]

Botaka spent the whole year at the club, playing in the club's reserve.[8][9] To help gain first team experience, Botaka joined Portuguese Belenenses on loan in 2013,[10] where Mitchell van der Gaag was Manager. The club also stipulated an option to buy Botaka on a permanent deal. However, due to an administrative error, Botaka could not play official matches for the club.

Excelsior

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After his spell in Portugal, Botaka was released to Club Brugge and joined Feyenoord on trial but due to Feyenoord's close links with feeder club Excelsior, Botaka went on trial for the side in June 2013.[6] After impressing the club's management during his four weeks trial there,[11] he joined the then Eerste Divisie side Excelsior on 27 July 2013.[12]

Botaka made his Excelsior debut in the opening game of the season on 2 August 2013, where he started the whole game, in a 2–2 draw against Helmond Sport.[13] He then scored his first goals for the side on 6 October 2013, in a 3–1 win over Jong Ajax.[14] After missing out one game, due to illness,[15] he returned from injury and then scored again on 25 October 2013, in a 3–1 win over FC Eindhoven.[16] After ending his three months goal drought,[17] Botaka went on a goal-scoring spree between 14 February 2014 and 7 March 2014 against FC Eindhoven (twice),[18] VVV-Venlo,[19] Achilles '29[20] and Fortuna Sittard.[21] Shortly after, Botaka extended his contract with the club on 17 March 2014.[22] In first season at the club during the 2013–14 season, the club was managed by head coach Jon Dahl Tomasson and then Marinus Dijkhuizen and went on to score 10 goals in 36 league games to earn Excelsior's promotion to Eredivisie after finishing 3rd and earning promotion via the Eerste Divisie playoffs.[23]

Amid to a transfer move to Heerenveen in the summer transfer window,[24] Botaka ended the speculation when he signed a two-year contract with the club, keeping him until 2016.[25] At the start of the 2014–15 season, Botaka made his Eredivisie debut in the opening game of the season, in a 1–1 draw against NAC Breda.[26] This was followed up by scoring in a 3–2 win over Go Ahead Eagles on 17 August 2014.[27] Two months later, on 30 October 2014, he scored in the third round of the KNVB Beker, in a 3–0 win over WKE Emmen.[28] At the end of the season 2014–15 season, Botaka made 33 appearances in Eredivisie scoring 1 goal and helped keep Excelsior in the Eredivisie, having missed one match over a thigh injury.[29][30]

In the summer transfer window of 2015, Botaka continued to be linked with a move away from Excelsior, with Swiss side Sion interested in signing him.[31] However, Botaka was not interested in a move to Sion and stayed there in the final months at Excelsior.[32] Amid to the transfer move, Botaka made four appearances for the side.[33][34]

Leeds United

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On transfer deadline day 1 September 2015, Botaka signed for English club Leeds United on a two-year deal, with a club option for a further two years;[35] the transfer fee was undisclosed but reported to be around £1 million.[36] He was given the number 20 shirt for the 2015/16 season.[37][38]

On 27 September, Botaka made his Leeds United debut, starting for Leeds in a 3–0 loss against Middlesbrough.[39] After originally becoming a bit part player at Leeds under new Head Coach Steve Evans, where Evans has questioned Botaka's work-rate, Botaka had impressed in training and came back into the team towards the end of the season with Evans saying that Leeds 'have a real player here' speaking of Botaka.[40] On 24 April 2016, after gaining an assist for Stuart Dallas in a 2–2 draw against Hull, on his return to form, Botaka credited his performances on to wanting to prove Evans earlier season criticism wrong.[41]

Ahead of the 2016–17 season, Botaka found his first team opportunity limited following the new management of Garry Monk.[42] As a result, he was subjected to be linked with a move away from Leeds United.[43] Botaka was released at the end of the 2016/17 season, following his loan at Charlton Athletic.[44]

Charlton Athletic (loan)

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On 11 August 2016, Botaka joined Charlton Athletic on a season long loan.[45]

Botaka made his Charlton Athletic debut, coming on as a second-half substitute for Ricky Holmes, in a 1–1 draw against Northampton Town on 13 August 2016.[46] During a 1–0 loss against Rochdale on 1 October 2016, he was subjected of boos from Charlton Athletic after coming on as a late substitute, with Manager Russell Slade described it as “slightly disrespectful”.[47] Although Botaka was out over an injury and international commitment by the end of the year,[48][49] he then got his first start, playing the whole game, in a 0–0 draw against Bradford City on 10 December 2016.[50] It wasn't until on 18 February 2017 when he scored in a 3–3 draw against Rochdale.[51] He scored again on 4 March 2017, in a 2–1 loss against Northampton Town.[52] Although he subsequently spent most of the season on the substitute bench,[53][54] Botaka went on to make a total of 29 appearances and scored 2 times.

Sint Truiden

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After being released by Leeds United, Botaka returned to Belgium, signing for Sint-Truiden, signing a three-year contract on 26 June 2017 before the start of the 2017–18 season.[55] He previously went on trial with the side four years prior to the move.[56]

Botaka made his Sint Truiden debut in the opening game of the season, coming on as a second-half substitute for Samuel Asamoah, in a 3–2 win over Gent.[57] In the third round of the Beker Van Belgie against Leuven on 19 September 2017, he scored his first goal for the club, in a 4–2 win.[58]

Gent

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After three season with Sint-Truiden, Botaka was signed by Gent in May 2020 on a four-year deal.[59] In January 2021, he was sent on loan to Charleroi with an option to buy.[60] Upon his return from loan, he was not registered by Gent on their squads for either Belgian First Division A[61] or UEFA Europa Conference League.[62] He reportedly had talks during the summer of 2021 with Turkish clubs BB Erzurumspor and Konyaspor,[63] but the transfer did not happen and he remained on Gent's books. On 28 January 2022, he was loaned to Fortuna Sittard in the Netherlands until the end of the season.[64]

On 15 August 2022, Botaka was loaned to Israeli Premier League club Hapoel Jerusalem.[65] He made his first appearance on August 20 in a league fixture against Hapoel Hadera F.C., in which he scored a goal in a 1–1 draw.

International career

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After representing Netherlands U19 at international level in 2012,[66][67] Bokata was selected by Dutch coach Wim Van Zwam for the DR Congo national team and Botaka accepted the call up to the country of his birth, making his debut for Congo against Iran on 28 March 2015.[68][69]

On 9 June 2015, Botaka scored for DR Congo (and his first goal) in a 1–1 draw against Cameroon.[70] On 12 October 2015, Botaka scored his second goal for DR Congo in a 2–1 victory against Gabon, after scoring a rebound from Yannick Bolasie's shot.[71] The following year, Botaka scored two more goals against Madagascar.[72][73]

Botaka was named in the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations squad for DR Congo during the tournament in January 2017.[74]

Career statistics

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Club

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As of 1 June 2024[75]
Club Season League National Cup Continental Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Club Brugge 2011-12 Belgian Pro League 0 0 — — — 0 0
2012-13 0 0 — 0 0 — 0 0
Total 0 0 — 0 0 — 0 0
Excelsior 2013-14 Eerste Divisie 36 10 3 0 — 4[a] 0 43 10
2014-15 Eredivisie 33 1 5 1 — — 38 2
2015-16 4 0 — — — 4 0
Total 73 11 8 1 — 4 0 85 12
Leeds United 2015-16 Championship 13 0 1 0 — — 14 0
Charlton Athletic (loan) 2016-17 League One 26 2 3 0 — 0 0 29 3
Sint-Truiden 2017-18 Belgian Pro League 26 1 2 1 — 9[b] 3 37 5
2018-19 30 7 3 0 — 10[b] 2 43 9
2019-20 28 3 2 1 — — 30 4
Total 84 11 7 2 — 19 5 110 18
Gent 2020-21 Belgian Pro League 8 0 — 7[c] 0 — 15 0
2021-22 0 0 — — — 0 0
Total 8 0 — 7 0 — 15 0
Charleroi (loan) 2020-21 Belgian Pro League 10 0 1 0 — — 11 0
Fortuna Sittard (loan) 2021-22 Eredivisie 7 0 — — — 7 0
Hapoel Jerusalem (loan) 2022–23 Israeli Premier League 34 3 1 0 — 1[d] 0 36 3
Ashdod 2023–24 Israeli Premier League 25 3 1 0 — — 26 3
Ironi Tiberias 2024–25 0 0 0 0 — — 0 0
Career Total 280 30 22 3 7 0 25 5 334 38
  1. ^ Appearance(s) in Promotion/Relegation play-offs
  2. ^ a b Appearance(s) in Europa League play-offs
  3. ^ Two appearances in UEFA Champions League, Five appearances in UEFA Europa League
  4. ^ Appearance(s) in Toto Cup

International

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Scores and results list DR Congo's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Botaka goal.
List of international goals scored by Jordan Botaka[2]
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1 9 June 2015 Stade Charles Tondreau, Mons, Belgium   Cameroon 1–0 1–1 Friendly
2 12 October 2015 Stade de la Cité l'Oie, Visé, Belgium   Gabon 1–0 2–1 Friendly
3 5 June 2016 Mahamasina Municipal Stadium, Antananarivo, Madagascar   Madagascar 6–1 6–1 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualification
4 4 September 2016 Stade des Martyrs, Kinshasa, DR Congo   Central African Republic 4–1 4–1 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualification

References

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  1. ^ "EFL: Retained list: 2015/16" (PDF). English Football League. p. 29. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 December 2016. Retrieved 29 June 2016.
  2. ^ a b Jordan Botaka at National-Football-Teams.com
  3. ^ Jordan Botaka at WorldFootball.net
  4. ^ "Excelsior winger Jordan Botaka absolutely destroys Cambuur defence with amazing skill". Metro. 14 October 2014. Retrieved 8 October 2017.
  5. ^ a b "BOTAKA TEKENT CONTRACT BIJ CLUB BRUGGE" (in Dutch). Voetbal Belgie. 23 January 2012. Retrieved 8 October 2017.
  6. ^ a b "Aanvaller Botaka op proef bij Excelsior" (in Dutch). RTV Rijnmood. 27 June 2013. Retrieved 8 October 2017.
  7. ^ "Club Brugge doet ultieme poging voor Colombiaanse spits Bacca" (in Dutch). Nieuwsblad. 30 January 2012. Retrieved 8 October 2017.
  8. ^ "Beloften KRC Genk verslaan Club Brugge met 2–1" (in Dutch). Nieuwsblad. 6 March 2012. Retrieved 8 October 2017.
  9. ^ "Eerste nederlaag voor beloften KRC Genk" (in Dutch). Nieuwsblad. 29 September 2012. Retrieved 8 October 2017.
  10. ^ "Botaka op uitleenbasis naar Belenense" (in Dutch). Club Brugge. 31 January 2013. Archived from the original on 5 November 2016. Retrieved 8 October 2017.
  11. ^ "Excelsior wil door met proefspeler Botaka" (in Dutch). RTV Rijnmond. 23 July 2013. Retrieved 8 October 2017.
  12. ^ Botaka tekent bij Excelsior – Rijnmond (in Dutch)
  13. ^ "Excelsior opent competitie met gelijkspel" (in Dutch). RTV Rijnmond. 2 August 2013. Retrieved 8 October 2017.
  14. ^ "Excelsior rekent thuis af met Jong Ajax" (in Dutch). RTV Rijnmond. 6 October 2013. Retrieved 8 October 2017.
  15. ^ "Botaka twijfelgeval bij Excelsior" (in Dutch). RTV Rijnmond. 17 October 2013. Retrieved 8 October 2017.
  16. ^ "Excelsior wint in Eindhoven" (in Dutch). RTV Rijnmond. 25 October 2013. Retrieved 8 October 2017.
  17. ^ "Excelsior verliest van Helmond Sport" (in Dutch). RTV Rijnmond. 31 January 2014. Retrieved 8 October 2017.
  18. ^ "Excelsior vijfde na ruime zege op FC Eindhoven" (in Dutch). RTV Rijnmond. 14 February 2014. Retrieved 8 October 2017.
  19. ^ "Excelsior boekt knappe zege bij VVV-Venlo" (in Dutch). RTV Rijnmond. 21 February 2017. Retrieved 8 October 2017.
  20. ^ "Excelsior wint ook van Achilles '29" (in Dutch). RTV Rijnmond. 1 March 2014. Retrieved 8 October 2017.
  21. ^ "Excelsior verspeelt voorsprong bij Fortuna Sittard" (in Dutch). RTV Rijnmond. 7 March 2014. Retrieved 8 October 2017.
  22. ^ "Jordan Botaka jaar langer bij Excelsior" (in Dutch). RTV Rijnmond. 17 March 2014. Retrieved 8 October 2017.
  23. ^ "Excelsior keert terug in de eredivisie" (in Dutch). RTV Rijnmond. 18 May 2014. Retrieved 8 October 2017.
  24. ^ "Heerenveen toont interesse in Jordan Botaka" (in Dutch). RTV Rijnmond. 11 June 2014. Retrieved 8 October 2017.
  25. ^ "Excelsior verlengt contract Botaka" (in Dutch). RTV Rijnmond. 24 June 2014. Retrieved 8 October 2017.
  26. ^ "Excelsior en NAC Breda in evenwicht" (in Dutch). RTV Rijnmond. 9 August 2014. Retrieved 8 October 2017.
  27. ^ "Excelsior op valreep langs Go Ahead Eagles" (in Dutch). RTV Rijnmond. 17 August 2014. Retrieved 8 October 2017.
  28. ^ "Excelsior bekert verder na zege bij WKE" (in Dutch). RTV Rijnmond. 30 October 2014. Retrieved 8 October 2017.
  29. ^ "Jordan Botaka mist duel met Ajax" (in Dutch). RTV Rijnmond. 18 December 2014. Retrieved 8 October 2017.
  30. ^ "Excelsior gehandhaafd in eredivisie" (in Dutch). RTV Rijnmond. 10 May 2015. Retrieved 8 October 2017.
  31. ^ "Excelsior weigert bod op Jordan Botaka" (in Dutch). RTV Rijnmond. 3 July 2015. Retrieved 8 October 2017.
  32. ^ "Botaka zegt niet gelijk nee tegen FC Sion" (in Dutch). RTV Rijnmond. 7 July 2015. Retrieved 8 October 2017.
  33. ^ "Excelsior boekt eerste zege op De Graafschap" (in Dutch). RTV Rijnmond. 29 August 2015. Retrieved 8 October 2017.
  34. ^ "Botaka op weg naar Leeds United" (in Dutch). RTV Rijnmond. 29 August 2015. Retrieved 8 October 2017.
  35. ^ "Leeds United: Botaka delight at joining Whites". Yorkshire Evening Post. 2 September 2015. Retrieved 2 September 2015.
  36. ^ Phil Hay (1 September 2015). "Leeds United: Botaka becomes eighth summer signing at Elland Road". Yorkshire Evening Post. Retrieved 1 September 2015.
  37. ^ "WINGER COMPLETES DEADLINE DAY SWITCH". Leeds United Official site. 1 September 2015. Retrieved 1 September 2015.
  38. ^ "Jordan Botaka: Excelsior winger signs for Leeds United". BBC Sport. 1 September 2015. Retrieved 1 September 2015.
  39. ^ "Middlesbrough 3 Leeds United 0". BBC Sport. 27 September 2015. Retrieved 27 September 2015.
  40. ^ "Evans U-turn: Leeds United may have a player in Botaka after all". Yorkshire Evening Post. 15 March 2016. Retrieved 15 March 2016.
  41. ^ "Leeds United: Botaka wanted to "prove Evans wrong"". Yorkshire Evening Post. 24 April 2016. Retrieved 24 April 2016.
  42. ^ "Leeds United: First-time outing for Monk at Elland Road training session". Yorkshire Evening Post. 28 July 2016. Retrieved 8 October 2017.
  43. ^ "Leeds United: Monk admits departures are imminent ahead of transfer window". Yorkshire Evening Post. 10 August 2016. Retrieved 8 October 2017.
  44. ^ "2017/18 RETAINED LIST". Leeds United F.C. 17 May 2017. Retrieved 8 October 2017.
  45. ^ "Jordan Botaka signs on season-long loan from Leeds United". Charlton Athletic Official Site. 11 August 2016. Archived from the original on 26 January 2017. Retrieved 11 August 2016.
  46. ^ "Charlton Athletic 1 – 1 Northampton Town". BBC Sport. 13 August 2016. Retrieved 8 October 2017.
  47. ^ "Fans' response to sub during Rochdale defeat was 'slightly disrespectful', says Charlton boss Russell Slade". The News Shopper. 1 October 2016. Retrieved 8 October 2017.
  48. ^ "Charlton Athletic boss Slade wants focus amid the protests". London News Online. 28 October 2016. Retrieved 8 October 2017.
  49. ^ "Charlton sweating on three players for Swindon game". London News Online. 10 November 2016. Retrieved 8 October 2017.
  50. ^ "Bradford City 0 – 0 Charlton Athletic". BBC Sport. 10 December 2016. Retrieved 8 October 2017.
  51. ^ "Rochdale 3 – 3 Charlton Athletic". BBC Sport. 18 February 2017. Retrieved 8 October 2017.
  52. ^ "Northampton Town 2 – 1 Charlton Athletic". BBC Sport. 4 March 2017. Retrieved 8 October 2017.
  53. ^ "Charlton boss Slade: We must make the most of our chances". London News Online. 29 October 2016. Retrieved 8 October 2017.
  54. ^ "Charlton fear defender has suffered major hamstring injury". London News Online. 15 March 2017. Retrieved 8 October 2017.
  55. ^ "STVV haalt Congolese international met verleden bij Club Brugge" (in Dutch). Nieuwsblad. 26 June 2017. Retrieved 8 October 2017.
  56. ^ "Club-belofte op proef bij STVV" (in Dutch). Nieuwsblad. 6 December 2012. Retrieved 8 October 2017.
  57. ^ "AA Gent mist ook start in competitie, meteen stunt voor STVV" (in Dutch). Sporza.be. 30 July 2017. Archived from the original on 26 May 2018. Retrieved 8 October 2017.
  58. ^ "Vetokele geeft negen Leuvenaars pas in verlengingen het nekschot" (in Dutch). Sporza.be. 19 September 2017. Archived from the original on 20 November 2017. Retrieved 8 October 2017.
  59. ^ "Nieuwe versterking voor Gent: Jordan Botaka komt over van STVV". sporza.be (in Dutch). 19 May 2020.
  60. ^ "AA Gent verhuurt Jordan Botaka aan Charleroi". Het Nieuwsblad (in Flemish). 23 January 2021.
  61. ^ "Gent 2021–22 Pro League squad" (in Dutch). Belgian First Division A. Retrieved 13 October 2021.
  62. ^ "Gent 2021–22 UEFA Europa Conference League". UEFA. Retrieved 13 October 2021.
  63. ^ "TURKS AVONTUUR VOOR JORDAN BOTAKA" (in Dutch). VoetbalBelgie. 4 July 2021. Retrieved 13 October 2021.
  64. ^ "FORTUNA SITTARD HUURT JORDAN BOTAKA VOOR RESTANT SEIZOEN" (Press release) (in Dutch). Fortuna Sittard. 28 January 2022. Archived from the original on 29 January 2022. Retrieved 3 February 2022.
  65. ^ "JORDAN BOTAKA TREKT NAAR HAPOEL JERUSALEM" (in Dutch). Gent. 15 August 2022. Retrieved 18 August 2022.
  66. ^ "SELECTIE O-19 VOOR OEFENINTERLAND" (in Dutch). Onsoranje. 21 February 2012. Archived from the original on 8 October 2017. Retrieved 8 October 2017.
  67. ^ "SELECTIE ONDER 19 VOOR ELITERONDE" (in Dutch). Onsoranje. 11 May 2012. Archived from the original on 8 October 2017. Retrieved 8 October 2017.
  68. ^ "Léopards : Le point sur le dernier entraînement" (in French). Leopards Foot. 28 March 2015. Retrieved 8 October 2017.
  69. ^ "Botaka verliest eerste duel met Congo" (in Dutch). RTV Rijnmond. 28 March 2015. Retrieved 8 October 2017.
  70. ^ "Congo en Kameroen spelen gelijk in Bergen" (in Dutch). Sporza.be. 9 June 2015. Archived from the original on 9 October 2017. Retrieved 8 October 2017.
  71. ^ "DR Congo – Gabon: 2–1" (in French). L'Equipe. 12 October 2015. Retrieved 8 October 2017.
  72. ^ "CAN 2017 – RD Congo A Gagné 6–1 À Madagascar" (in French). Le Congolais. 5 June 2016. Retrieved 8 October 2017.
  73. ^ "La RD Congo Écarte La Centrafrique Et Disputera La CAN 2017 Parmi Les Favoris" (in French). Le Congolais. 4 September 2016. Retrieved 8 October 2017.
  74. ^ "RDC : Kage finalement écarté, Kabananga dans les 23!" (in French). Afrik-Foot. 9 January 2017. Retrieved 8 October 2017.
  75. ^ Jordan Botaka at Soccerway
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