Thibaut Courtois performed so outstandingly in the 2021-2022 Champions League final. Thanks to his brilliant action, Real Madrid successfully returned to being king of Europe.
The Liverpool vs Real Madrid Champions League final was held at the Stade de France Stadium, Saint-Denis, France, Sunday (29/5/2022). Real Madrid won the 2022 Champions League after beating Liverpool 1-0. Vinicius Junior’s goal in the 59th minute ensured Los Blancos won their 14th title. In addition to the young Brazilian star, Courtois also performed brilliantly so he deserves to be called a Real Madrid hero.
Courtois made nine saves in the Liverpool vs Real Madrid match in the 2022 Champions League final. Reporting from Squawka, Courtois became the first goalkeeper to make nine saves in one Champions League match since data was compiled in 2003-2004.
Moreover, there are a number of interesting facts that you may not have known about Courtois. Here are 4 Interesting Facts About Courtois:
1. Courtois was originally a left-back
Thibaut Courtois is one of the best goalkeepers in the world, but he didn’t really start his football journey as a goalkeeper. The Belgian was originally a left-back for his first team, Bilzerse Waltwilder.
However, when he arrived at Genk, the coaching team saw his skills as a goalkeeper and decided to give it a try in that position. It wasn’t until the age of seven or eight that he became a goalkeeper for the first time. Then, Courtois’ prowess in goal saw him move up to the senior side to make his debut in 2009 against Gent.
2. Courtois Family Good at Volleyball
Although Courtois has spent his entire life playing football, his family loves a different sport. The 200 cm keeper revealed that his talent as a goalkeeper is partly due to genetic factors, since his parents used to play volleyball.
“They (Courtois’ parents) were volleyball players and this is a sport where you need tall people to play very quickly,” Courtois said in an interview with Real Madrid TV. “Since I was little, I used to play in the park and play beach volleyball. It also made me good at being a goalkeeper, and it helped me a lot,” he said. “Being almost two meters tall and being able to move quickly means you can parry a lot of balls,” he said.
Even though her parents didn’t play at a professional level, her sister, Valerie, was able to. Valerie Courtois (31 years old) plays as a libero for the Stade Francais Paris Saint Cloud, and for the Belgium national volleyball team. She was also named the best libero at the European Championships in 2013.
3. Courtois’ celebration
Courtois once discussed the way he celebrates his team-mates’ goals and the difference between doing so at home and away. “I always make small jumps. When we play at home, I celebrate with the fans,” Courtois said. “But at the away stadium, the opposing team’s supporters are not always happy with you, and they boo us. I always touch both the post and the crossbar, when my teammates come back to our side of the pitch, we make a movement with our fingers,” said the 30-year-old goalkeeper.
4. Courtois Has an Esports and Football Team
In partnership with Borja Iglesias of Real Betis, Courtois owns the eSports team DUX Gaming. Hence, Courtois is known for his love of Esports and he is even seen sharing screens with famous streamers. In June 2020, Courtois and Iglesias bought a soccer team in the Madrid region, Inter de Madrid, which was renamed DUX Internacional de Madrid and played in the RFEF Primera Division league.
