Anton Gaaei(born 19 November 2002) is a Danish professionalfootballerwho plays as aright-backforEredivisieclubAjax.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 19 November 2002 | ||
| Place of birth | Viborg,Denmark | ||
| Height | 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Right-back | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Ajax | ||
| Number | 3 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Bruunshåb/Tapdrup IF | |||
| Overlund GF | |||
| Viborg | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2021–2023 | Viborg | 38 | (0) |
| 2023– | Ajax | 33 | (1) |
| 2023– | Jong Ajax | 8 | (0) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2022 | Denmark U20 | 2 | (0) |
| 2023– | Denmark U21 | 7 | (0) |
|
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 18:41, 24 November 2024 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 17:50, 30 December 2023 (UTC) | |||
Club career
editViborg FF
editAnton Gaaei started his career in Bruunshåb/Tapdrup IF and then passed by Overlund GF, before he moved toViborg.[1]From the summer 2020, Gaaei began training regular with the first team. On 2 September 2020, Gaaei got his official debut for Viborg, as he came on from the bench in the 76th minute againstFC Fredericiain theDanish Cup.[2]Three months later, in December 2020, Gaaei signed a new deal with Viborg until June 2023.[1]
In his youth, Gaaei was primarily a winger, but was later converted to right-back. On 1 April 2022, Gaaei got his league debut for Viborg andDanish Superligadebut in a game an againstSønderjyskE.[3]Gaaei ended the 2021–22 season with six appearances.
Ajax
editOn 17 August 2023, Gaaei officially joinedEredivisiesideAjaxfor a reported fee ofDKr35 million[4](about€4.5 million),[5]signing a five-year contract with the Dutch club.[4][5][6]In the process, he broke the transfer record as Viborg's highest-grossing sale.[4][7]
Gaaei made his competitive debut for the club on 3 September, replacingDevyne Renschin the 62nd minute of a 0–0 away league draw againstFortuna Sittard.[8][9]He faced criticism for his early performances, with analysts highlighting his deficient defensive skills and frequent loss of possession.[10]InDe Klassiekeron 24 September, Gaaei started in the lineup, and went on to make two pivotal mistakes resulting in goals bySantiago Giménez.Consequently, he was substituted for Rensch in the 32nd minute, before the match was temporarily halted due to disruptions from the crowd. Gaaei's performance received scathing reviews, being labeled as "poor" and "naive", and analyst and former coachMario Beenstated that Gaaei did not meet the standards expected to play for Ajax.[11][12]On 25 February 2024, in a match against AZ, Gaaei again was substituted in the first half after a weak performance.[13]
Gaaei won theAjaxGoal of the Month award for April 2024, after scoring a stunning volley in the home match againstGo Ahead Eagles.[14]
On 15 August 2024, Gaaei scored the winning penalty in theUEFA Europa League third qualifying roundshootout againstPanathinaikos,helping his club advance to theplay-off round.[15]As the taker of the 34th penalty, Gaaei played the decisive role in the longest-ever penalty-shootout inUEFAcompetition.
Personal life
editAnton Gaaei is the son of formerViborg FFplayer,Carsten Gaaei,who later also coached at several clubs.[16][17]
Career statistics
editClub
edit- As of match played 24 November 2024[18]
| Club | Season | League | National cup[a] | Continental | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Viborg | 2021–22 | Danish Superliga | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 7 | 0 | |
| 2022–23 | Danish Superliga | 28 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 5[b] | 0 | 37 | 1 | |
| 2023–24 | Danish Superliga | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | |
| Total | 38 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 46 | 1 | ||
| Ajax | 2023–24 | Eredivisie | 25 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 8[c] | 0 | 34 | 1 |
| 2024–25 | Eredivisie | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7[d] | 0 | 15 | 0 | |
| Total | 33 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 15 | 0 | 49 | 1 | ||
| Jong Ajax | 2023–24 | Eerste Divisie | 8 | 0 | — | — | 8 | 0 | ||
| Career total | 79 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 20 | 0 | 103 | 2 | ||
- ^IncludesDanish Cup
- ^Appearances inUEFA Europa Conference League
- ^Five appearances inUEFA Europa League,three appearances inUEFA Europa Conference League
- ^Appeaeances in UEFA Europa League
References
edit- ^abGaaei belønnes med kontrakt,vff.dk, 6 December 2020
- ^FREDERICIA VS. VIBORG 1 - 1,fcn.dk, 2 September 2020
- ^VIBORG VS. SØNDERJYSKE 2 - 1,soccerway, 1 April 2022
- ^abcKorse, Otto Christian (17 August 2023)."Officielt: Anton Gaaei skifter til Ajax i rekordhandel".bold.dk(in Danish).Retrieved18 August2023.
- ^ab"Zevende nieuwe speler voor Ajax: rechtsback Gaaei komt over van Viborg".NOS.nl(in Dutch). 17 August 2023.Retrieved18 August2023.
- ^"Ajax contracteert Anton Gaaei".AFC Ajax(in Dutch). 17 August 2023.Retrieved18 August2023.
- ^"Anton Gaaei solgt til AFC Ajax".Viborg FF(in Danish). 17 August 2023.Retrieved18 August2023.
- ^"Fortuna Sittard vs. Ajax 0-0: Summary".Soccerway.Perform Group. Archived fromthe originalon 25 September 2023.Retrieved25 September2023.
- ^"Vernieuwd Ajax raakt verder achterop door teleurstellend gelijkspel bij Fortuna".NU(in Dutch). 3 September 2023. Archived fromthe originalon 23 September 2023.Retrieved25 September2023.
- ^Rofekamp, Tom (21 September 2023)."Jack van Gelder test Ajacied nu al af: 'Heb liever iemand die kan verdedigen'".Voetbalzone(in Dutch). Archived fromthe originalon 25 September 2023.Retrieved25 September2023.
- ^"Dissonant Gaaei krijgt wind gigantisch van voren: 'Zo naïef, dit is echt zielig'".Voetbalprimeur(in Dutch). 24 September 2023.Retrieved25 September2023.
- ^Vlietstra, Bart (24 September 2023)."Een schouderduw van Feyenoorder Timber en Ajacied Gaaei kukelt omver, het past binnen de nieuwe machtsverhoudingen".De Volkskrant(in Dutch).Retrieved25 September2023.
- ^"'Gaaei na bijna fatale fout opnieuw voor rust gewisseld bij Ajax'"(in Dutch). 25 February 2023.Retrieved26 February2023.
- ^"Gaaei wint Goal of the Month: 'Beste gevoel dat ik dit seizoen heb gehad'".Ajax.nl.Retrieved5 September2024.
- ^"Penaltyreeks Ajax gaat wereld over: 'Misschien de meest dramatische ooit'".Voetbal Primeur.Retrieved5 September2024.
- ^Vild forvandling: Nu afslører dansker genistregen,tipsbladet.dk, 14 April 2024
- ^Carsten har altid været sælger og sportsmand: Han blev kendt, da han spillede på Viborg FF's førstehold, hvor sønnen Anton i dag spiller,viborg-folkeblad.dk, 17 June 2023
- ^Anton Gaaeiat Soccerway
External links
edit- Anton Gaaeiat Soccerway
- Anton Gaaeinational team profile at theDanish Football Association(in Danish)