Antonio Rudiger is one of the well-known defenders of this generation, currently playing as a center-back at Real Madrid and for Germany. His aggressive mentality and aerial presence make him a huge force to reckon with at the back.
The 31-year-old was born in Berlin, Germany, and was attracted to the beautiful game from his childhood. He grew up in the Berlin neighborhood of Neukölln and later joined the VfB Stuttgart academy. However, he played for the reserve team in 3. La Liga and went on to even represent the club in the Bundesliga. Despite not having the physique of a center-back, his tall personality gave him an edge at the back, and he is also considered one of the most talented figures in the footballing world.
Antonio Rudiger Bio
- Full Name: Antonio Rüdiger
- Date of Birth: 3 March 1993
- Place of Birth: Berlin, Germany
- Professional Debut: 2011
- Jersey Number: 22
- Position: Centre-back
Antonio Rudiger: The Early Years of the Defensive Pillar
The boy from Berlin only meant mischief during his childhood days, which gave him a few hardships and pain while growing up. His neighborhood was all about hustling, as it was a crime center of the city. His parents escaped from Sierra Leone due to the civil war and had to find a new life in the European country. Sacrifices and struggle were part of the growing days of the defender. His first kick of the ball was in VfB Sperber Neukölln, a small Berlin club densely populated with immigrants who had to keep working to make ends meet. This resilience was built in him from his early days, which would later shape his career.
His African roots remain as he visited Sierra Leone at the age of 15, where everything began, and he also wishes to change the lives of the people living there.
During his early days, he represented Borussia Dortmund and Germany at the youth level, and playing for Borussia Dortmund was a springboard in his career after playing at Hertha Zehlendorf.
For Dortmund, he played in the U17 and U19 teams before moving to Stuttgart, which began his professional football dreams.
Clubs: Rudiger’s Journey from Stuttgart to Real Madrid
First Steps at Stuttgart (2008-2011)
VfB Stuttgart Youth Academy
The first touches began at the youth center of Stuttgart, one of Germany’s most preeminent clubs. Slow and steady, he grew through the ranks of the youth academy, due to his promising performance in games as he began climbing the ladder towards professional football.
VfB Stuttgart (2011-2015)
Rüdiger made his professional debut for VfB Stuttgart in the Bundesliga during the 2011-2012 season. He debuted on 29th January 2012 in the Bundesliga at home against Borussia Mönchengladbach, coming in as a sub in a game his side lost 3-0. In 2013, Rudiger extended his stay at his club till 2017. He played in the DFB Pokal Final where they lost 3-2 versus Bayern Munich. In his first full season, he finished with 24 appearances, plus 4 appearances and 2 goals for the reserve side. The 2013-14 season ended with playing 35 games and scoring 2 goals. Injury issues caused the player to miss a bulk of games as he only appeared 20 times and had one assist before his tenure ended at the club.
AS Roma (2015-2017): In August 2015, Rüdiger moved to Serie A after signing a deal with Roma, the top tier of Italian football. He was loaned for €4 million with an option to buy at the end of the one-year contract for €9 million.
September 12th marked his debut for the Italian side in a 2-0 win over Frosinone. He scored his first goal in January 2016 in the 4th minute in a 1-1 draw against Milan. The successful loan spell ended with 37 appearances and 2 goals, which was enough to initiate the buying clause as a 4-year deal was signed for €9 million + €0.5 million bonus.
A double yellow card in the Europa League round of 32 against Villareal for substitute Rudiger saw him sent off in the 81st minute in February 2017. He was sent off again in the Derby della Capitale in a 3-1 defeat versus Lazio. The second season came to an end with 35 appearances and 4 goals. His time at Roma saw him further refine his skills and gain exposure to a different style of football.
Chelsea FC (2017-2022)
On July 2017 Chelsea bought Rudiger, signing a five-year contract with the player. The move to Chelsea was a new chapter in his career, as he joined one of the top clubs in the Premier League. He debuted in a 4-1 penalty loss in Community Shield to Arsenal. He was introduced to the Premier League six days later in a 3-2 defeat to Burnley. His first goal for the London side came in the EFL Cup in a 2-1 win over Everton, and his first PL goal was a winner over Swansea City. Rudiger opened the scoring in a 2-2 draw against Manchester United in October 2018.
2021 was his best year as his 100th appearance for the club saw him score a brace in a 2-2 draw at King Power Stadium against Leicester City. The move to Chelsea was all about silverware, and the most remarkable ones did happen with his first-ever UEFA Champions League, and then went on to lift the UEFA Super Cup as well, winning 6-5 on penalties against Villarreal. The FIFA Club World Cup also had Chelsea’s name on it that year after a 2-1 win over Palmeiras in extra time, with Rudiger winning the man of the match.
The last year at the club had nerve-breaking defeats under the hands of Real Madrid in the quarter-finals and the third-place finish in the Premier League. 2022 was the last year for the German at the club as he announced his exit at the end of his five-year contract.
Real Madrid (2022-Present)
In 2022, Real Madrid announced the signing of Rudiger as a free agent on a four-year deal. On June 20th, he was unveiled as a Los Blancos player with the number 22. His debut for the Spanish giants was in the UEFA Super Cup 2-0 victory over Eintracht Frankfurt and also winning the Club World Cup that year. He got his name on the score sheet for the first time against Shakhtar Donetsk in the UCL group stage. A jump turned fatal against Shakhtar Donetsk after colliding with the goalkeeper, leaving the defender with 20 stitches. Injuries have kept the player sidelined since and have made very few appearances for the side.
Outside Football
Rudiger spoke about racism in the sport when he was a victim against Tottenham in February 2020, later he wrote an article in The Players’ Tribune entitled “This Article Will Not Solve Racism in Football”, discussing his experiences with racism throughout his life and career, and potential ways to fight it.
Career and Stats:
| Club | Season | Apps | Goals |
| VfB Stuttgart II | 2011–12 | 17 | 1 |
| 2012-13 | 4 | 2 | |
| 2014–15 | 1 | 0 | |
| VfB Stuttgart | 2011–12 | 1 | 0 |
| 2012-13 | 16 | 0 | |
| 2013-14 | 30 | 2 | |
| 2014–15 | 19 | 0 | |
| Roma (loan) | 2015–16 | 30 | 2 |
| Roma | 2016–17 | 26 | 0 |
| Chelsea | 2017–18 | 27 | 2 |
| 2018–19 | 33 | 1 | |
| 2019–20 | 20 | 2 | |
| 2020–21 | 19 | 1 | |
| 2021–22 | 34 | 3 | |
| Real Madrid | 2022–23 | 33 | 1 |
| 2023–24 | 26 | 1 | |
| Total | 336 | 18 | |
Germany
| National Team | Year | Apps | Goals |
Germany | 2014 | 5 | 0 |
| 2015 | 2 | 0 | |
| 2016 | 4 | 0 | |
| 2017 | 11 | 1 | |
| 2018 | 7 | 0 | |
| 2019 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2020 | 7 | 0 | |
| 2021 | 12 | 1 | |
| 2022 | 8 | 0 | |
| 2023 | 9 | 1 | |
| 2024 | 2 | 0 | |
| Total | 68 | 3 | |
Personal life
Rudiger was born to Matthias and Lily from Sierra Leonean making him an Afro-German. Most of his childhood was spent in the neighborhood of Neukölln where he has a half-brother Sahr Senesie. He is married to Laura with whom he has a son and daughter.
Rudiger Net worth
As of the 2023-2024 season, Rüdiger has a contract with Real Madrid that extends until June 30, 2026.
This contract secures him a salary of €43,740,000 over three years, breaking down to an annual gross salary of €14,580,000, or approximately €280,385 per week.
FAQ’s
Q- Is Antonio Rudiger married?
Yes. He is married to Laura and he has a son and a daughter.
Q- Where is Antonio Rudiger from?
He is from Berlin, Germany.
Q- Where is Antonio Rudiger originally from?
He was born in Berlin. He grew up in the Berlin neighborhood of Neukölln and is the half-brother of Sahr Senesie.
Q- Where are Antonio Rudiger’s parents from?
His father, Matthias, is of Afro-German descent, and his mother, Lily, is from Sierra Leone. They are both from Berlin
Q- Who is Antonio Rudiger’s father?
Matthias is the father of Antonio Rudiger.
Also Read: Real Madrid: Players, History, Records, Achievements, and Future Goals