Eagle Winged
Youth Team
Remember the name; Johan Vonlanthen.
COIMBRA, Portugal (AFP) - Switzerland's 18-year-old striker Johan Vonlanthen became the youngest ever scorer in a European championships finals, beating the record set last week by Wayne Rooney of England, when he found the net against France.
Vonlanthen was born on February 1, 1986, making him more than three months younger than Rooney, who was born on October 24, 1985.
In the Group B match, France defender Mikael Silvestre gave the ball away, allowing Ricardo Cabanas to flick a pass through the French defence and PSV Eindhoven forward Vonlanthen stroked the ball past French goalkeeper Fabien Barthez in the 26th minute.
The son of a Colombian mother and Swiss father, Volanthen lived in Colombia until the age of 12.
He only made his international debut in Switzerland's last friendly before Euro 2004, the 1-0 victory over Liechtenstein.
Rooney had gained the record when he scored twice against Switzerland in England's 3-0 victory last Thursday, coincidentally in the same Coimbra City Stadium.
The Everton striker took over the honour from Dragan Stojkovic, who hit the net for Yugoslavia against France at the 1984 finals aged 19 years, three months and 16 days.
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One of Swiss football's most promising talents, Johan Vonlanthen is a striker of whom great things are expected.
National team
Born in 1985, Vonlanthen made his mark for Switzerland by scoring regularly in his country's 2003/04 UEFA European Under-17 Championship campaign. A late inclusion in Switzerland's UEFA EURO 2004? squad, he made his debut in the final pre-Portugal friendly against Liechtenstein.
Club
Vonlanthen began his career with Swiss club BSC Young Boys and quickly became recognised as a bright young thing, scoring four goals in 27 games for Young Boys, 23 as a substitute.
2002: PSV Eindhoven moved to acquire his services in November 2002, but his Colombian passport meant, under EU law, he was only allowed to join the Dutch champions-elect on his 18th birthday, in February 2004. However, a change to the law in the summer of 2003 meant PSV signed him in July. PSV assistant coach Erwin Koeman said: "It seems that he is a very good player. And if he's good enough, he can play from the start."
2003/04: That did not prove to be the case, the youngster coming off the bench for all his 19 appearances. He scored his first goal against FC Zwolle in January, following it up with two more.
Did you know?
Vonlanthen, the son of a Colombian mother and Swiss father, lived in Colombia until the age of 12.
COIMBRA, Portugal (AFP) - Switzerland's 18-year-old striker Johan Vonlanthen became the youngest ever scorer in a European championships finals, beating the record set last week by Wayne Rooney of England, when he found the net against France.
Vonlanthen was born on February 1, 1986, making him more than three months younger than Rooney, who was born on October 24, 1985.
In the Group B match, France defender Mikael Silvestre gave the ball away, allowing Ricardo Cabanas to flick a pass through the French defence and PSV Eindhoven forward Vonlanthen stroked the ball past French goalkeeper Fabien Barthez in the 26th minute.
The son of a Colombian mother and Swiss father, Volanthen lived in Colombia until the age of 12.
He only made his international debut in Switzerland's last friendly before Euro 2004, the 1-0 victory over Liechtenstein.
Rooney had gained the record when he scored twice against Switzerland in England's 3-0 victory last Thursday, coincidentally in the same Coimbra City Stadium.
The Everton striker took over the honour from Dragan Stojkovic, who hit the net for Yugoslavia against France at the 1984 finals aged 19 years, three months and 16 days.
------------------------------------------------
One of Swiss football's most promising talents, Johan Vonlanthen is a striker of whom great things are expected.
National team
Born in 1985, Vonlanthen made his mark for Switzerland by scoring regularly in his country's 2003/04 UEFA European Under-17 Championship campaign. A late inclusion in Switzerland's UEFA EURO 2004? squad, he made his debut in the final pre-Portugal friendly against Liechtenstein.
Club
Vonlanthen began his career with Swiss club BSC Young Boys and quickly became recognised as a bright young thing, scoring four goals in 27 games for Young Boys, 23 as a substitute.
2002: PSV Eindhoven moved to acquire his services in November 2002, but his Colombian passport meant, under EU law, he was only allowed to join the Dutch champions-elect on his 18th birthday, in February 2004. However, a change to the law in the summer of 2003 meant PSV signed him in July. PSV assistant coach Erwin Koeman said: "It seems that he is a very good player. And if he's good enough, he can play from the start."
2003/04: That did not prove to be the case, the youngster coming off the bench for all his 19 appearances. He scored his first goal against FC Zwolle in January, following it up with two more.
Did you know?
Vonlanthen, the son of a Colombian mother and Swiss father, lived in Colombia until the age of 12.
