Walter Baseggio
Encyclopedia
Walter Baseggio is a Belgian
footballer who plays for AFC Tubize, as a central midfielder.
aged 17, against old rivals Standard Liège
, and scored his first goal on the same occasion. At the time a hot prospect for the future, he was in direct competition with Swede
Pär Zetterberg
and Enzo Scifo, two players whose talent was already confirmed. Eventually, Baseggio became a first team regular, and then the maestro of the team after the departures of the pair in the late 1990s.
With the return of Zetterberg in the summer of 2003, Anderlecht coach Hugo Broos decided that there was no room for both players, and Baseggio found himself with few game opportunities, until the manager was fired in February 2005. After a disappointing end of season, he also played second-choice for new coach Franky Vercauteren
.
In 2005–06, Baseggio was transfer listed, joining Italy
's Treviso F.B.C. 1993 in January 2006, being relegated in his first year. However, in the mid-season interval of the next season, he returned to Anderlecht. In his two stints with the Brussels
outfit, he won four national leagues, although he was only a fringe player in the last.
After only three matches in the first part of 2007–08, Baseggio again moved in January, joining R.E. Mouscron
for an undisclosed fee, with a contract due to expire in June 2010.
On 20 May 2010, the 31-year old signed a three-year deal with AFC Tubize in the second division
, being a free agent since late in the previous year, after Mouscron had folded due to serious financial problems.
, going on to collect a further 26 caps
.
He did not take part, however, in any major international tournament, being injured for both the UEFA Euro 2000 and 2002 FIFA World Cup
competitions.
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
footballer who plays for AFC Tubize, as a central midfielder.
Club career
Baseggio made an impressive debut for R.S.C. AnderlechtR.S.C. Anderlecht
Royal Sporting Club Anderlecht, usually known as Anderlecht or RSCA , is a Belgian professional football club based in Anderlecht in the Brussels Capital Region. Anderlecht plays in the Belgian Pro League and is the most successful Belgian football team in European competitions as well as in the...
aged 17, against old rivals Standard Liège
Standard Liège
Royal Standard de Liège, commonly referred to as Standard Liège Royal Standard de Liège, commonly referred to as Standard Liège Royal Standard de Liège, commonly referred to as Standard Liège (Dutch: Standard Luik [], German: Standard Lüttich , is a Belgian football club from the city of Liège....
, and scored his first goal on the same occasion. At the time a hot prospect for the future, he was in direct competition with Swede
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
Pär Zetterberg
Pär Zetterberg
Pär Zetterberg is a Swedish former football midfielder, who played most of his career for R.S.C. Anderlecht.Zetterberg started his career at his local club, Falkenbergs FF, but after only seven games at senior level he became professional, joining the Belgian team RSC Anderlecht...
and Enzo Scifo, two players whose talent was already confirmed. Eventually, Baseggio became a first team regular, and then the maestro of the team after the departures of the pair in the late 1990s.
With the return of Zetterberg in the summer of 2003, Anderlecht coach Hugo Broos decided that there was no room for both players, and Baseggio found himself with few game opportunities, until the manager was fired in February 2005. After a disappointing end of season, he also played second-choice for new coach Franky Vercauteren
Franky Vercauteren
François Vercauteren , nicknamed "The Little Prince", is a former Belgian football left winger and is now a football manager, who is currently working for Al Jazira Club.- Career :...
.
In 2005–06, Baseggio was transfer listed, joining Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
's Treviso F.B.C. 1993 in January 2006, being relegated in his first year. However, in the mid-season interval of the next season, he returned to Anderlecht. In his two stints with the Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
outfit, he won four national leagues, although he was only a fringe player in the last.
After only three matches in the first part of 2007–08, Baseggio again moved in January, joining R.E. Mouscron
R.E. Mouscron
R.E. Mouscron was a Belgian association football club from the municipality of Mouscron, Hainaut. In December 2009 they were declared bankrupt and suspended operations soon after marking the end of professional football in Mouscron.-History:...
for an undisclosed fee, with a contract due to expire in June 2010.
On 20 May 2010, the 31-year old signed a three-year deal with AFC Tubize in the second division
Belgian Second Division
The Belgian Second Division is the second-highest division in the Belgian football league system after the Belgian Pro League. It was created by the Belgian Football Association in 1905. Between 2008 and 2010 it was named EXQI League after a television channel owned by the league main sponsor,...
, being a free agent since late in the previous year, after Mouscron had folded due to serious financial problems.
International career
Baseggio made his Belgium debut on 27 March 1999 (aged 20) in a 0-1 friendly loss in BulgariaBulgaria national football team
The FIFA Bulgaria national football team is an association football team fielded by the Bulgarian Football Union, a member association of UEFA. The team's home ground is Vasil Levski in Sofia and Luboslav Penev is in charge manager after replacement of Lothar Matthäus...
, going on to collect a further 26 caps
Cap (sport)
In sports, a cap is a metaphorical term for a player's appearance on a select team, such as a national team. The term dates from the practice in the United Kingdom of awarding a cap to every player in an international match of association football...
.
He did not take part, however, in any major international tournament, being injured for both the UEFA Euro 2000 and 2002 FIFA World Cup
2002 FIFA World Cup
The 2002 FIFA World Cup was the 17th staging of the FIFA World Cup, held in South Korea and Japan from 31 May to 30 June. It was also the first World Cup held in Asia, and the last in which the golden goal rule was implemented. Brazil won the tournament for a record fifth time, beating Germany 2–0...
competitions.