German · Stuttgart, Germany · Born 4 April 1987German midfielder who won the 2014 World Cup and Champions League titles with Real Madrid and Juventus, known for his box-to-box play and leadership.
Sami Khedira was born on 4 April 1987 in Stuttgart, Germany, to a German mother and Tunisian father, Lazhar, who had worked at a local steel company and met his wife in Hammamet, Tunisia. Lazhar was himself a serious football man, coaching Sami's earliest youth team, TV Oeffingen, before following his son to VfB Stuttgart's academy, where he continued to coach and mentor him, offering detailed feedback after nearly every training session and match. Khedira made his Bundesliga debut for VfB Stuttgart and won the league title with the club in 2007, developing into a powerful, athletic central midfielder renowned for his aerial ability, tireless ball-winning, and knack for arriving late into the penalty area to score important goals. His performances at the 2010 World Cup, where Germany reached the semi-finals with an exciting young squad, earned him a move to Real Madrid that same year. Khedira spent five trophy-laden seasons in Spain, winning the Champions League in 2014 alongside multiple domestic honours, before moving to Juventus in 2015 on a free transfer. He added further Serie A titles and Coppa Italia triumphs in Turin, becoming one of the most decorated German players of his generation across three of Europe's biggest leagues. Khedira was part of Germany's victorious 2014 World Cup squad, though a knee injury sustained just before the tournament final ruled him out of the biggest match of his career. He earned 77 caps for Germany in total, and his younger brother, Rani Khedira, also became a professional footballer, later opting to represent Tunisia internationally — following the heritage of their father rather than the country of their birth.
Key player in Germany's 2014 World Cup victory
He scored Germany's seventh goal in their famous 7-1 demolition of Brazil in the 2014 World Cup semi-final on home soil.
Did You Know?How They Played
Box-to-box midfielder with strong aerial ability and work rate
Lasting Impact
Versatile midfielder who achieved success at club and international level
Career Honours
- World Cup 2014
- La Liga 2012
- Champions League 2014
- Serie A 5x
- Champions League 2016
- Serie A 2015
- Serie A 2016
- Serie A 2017
- Serie A 2018
- Serie A 2020
| Club | Period | Fee | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| VfB Stuttgart II | 2004–2006 | — | 21 | 1 |
| VfB Stuttgart | 2006–2010 | — | 98 | 14 |
| Real Madrid | 2010–2015 | €14m | 102 | 6 |
| Juventus | 2015–2021 | Free transfer | 99 | 21 |
| Hertha BSC | 2021–2021 | — | 9 | 0 |
 Germany | — | — | 77 | 7 |
German Athletes