Belgian · Etterbeek, Brussels · Born 22 November 1987Powerful Belgian midfielder whose aerial dominance and physical presence made him a unique asset at Everton and Manchester United.
Marouane Fellaini-Bakkioui was born on 22 November 1987 in Etterbeek, Brussels, Belgium, to Moroccan parents; his father had played as a goalkeeper in Morocco's domestic league without reaching the national team before relocating to Belgium. As a boy, Fellaini's first sporting focus was athletics, specialising in the 10,000 metres, before his father's footballing background steered him toward the sport that would define his career, joining Anderlecht's academy at eight. Fellaini progressed through several Belgian youth clubs before signing with Standard Liège, where he won the Belgian First Division title and the Ebony Shoe, awarded annually to the league's best player of African origin. Everton signed him in 2008, and his towering physical presence, aerial dominance, and distinctive afro hairstyle made him one of the Premier League's most recognisable and combative midfielders, earning the club's Young Player of the Season award in his debut campaign. Manchester United signed Fellaini in 2013 for £27.5 million, and he spent six seasons at Old Trafford, valued for his ability to change games as a physical presence from the bench as much as in the starting XI. He represented Belgium at the 2014 World Cup, where the team reached the quarter-finals, and at Euro 2016, forming part of the country's talented "golden generation" alongside Kevin De Bruyne and Eden Hazard. Fellaini earned over 80 caps for Belgium before moving to China's Shandong Taishan in 2019, where he spent the remainder of his career, becoming one of the most recognisable foreign players in Chinese football before retiring in 2023.
Distinctive afro hairstyle and aerial dominance in midfield
His distinctive large afro hairstyle became so iconic that it was featured in EA Sports' FIFA games as one of the most recognisable features of any player.
Did You Know?How They Played
Physical box-to-box midfielder with exceptional aerial ability and chest control
Lasting Impact
Polarizing figure who became a reliable squad player for club and country
Career Honours
- FA Cup 2016
- Europa League 2017
- League Cup 2017
| Club | Period | Fee | Apps | Goals | Shirt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard Liège | 2006–2008 | — | 84 | 4 | #27 |
| Everton | 2008–2013 | £15m | 141 | 15 | #25 |
| Manchester United | 2013–2019 | £27.5m | 177 | 22 | #25 |
| Shandong Taishan | 2019–2023 | — | 106 | 14 | #25 |
 Belgium | — | — | 87 | 18 | — |
Belgian Athletes