Aaron Hunt
{{short description|German footballer (born 1986)}}
{{For|the American/Canadian football player|Aaron Hunt (gridiron football)}}
{{EngvarB|date=February 2021}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2021}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Aaron Hunt
| image = Aaron Hunt 2018.jpg
| caption = Hunt in 2018
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1986|9|4|df=y}}{{WorldFootball.net|aaron-hunt}}
| birth_place = Goslar, West Germany
| currentclub =
| position = Attacking midfielder
| youthyears1 = 1993–1997 | youthclubs1 = VfL Oker
| youthyears2 = 1997–2001 | youthclubs2 = Goslarer SC
| youthyears3 = 2001–2003 | youthclubs3 = Werder Bremen
| years1 = 2003–2007 | clubs1 = Werder Bremen II | caps1 = 37 | goals1 = 9
| years2 = 2004–2014 | clubs2 = Werder Bremen | caps2 = 215 | goals2 = 46
| years3 = 2014–2015 | clubs3 = VfL Wolfsburg | caps3 = 17 | goals3 = 2
| years4 = 2015–2021 | clubs4 = Hamburger SV | caps4 = 144 | goals4 = 25
| totalcaps = 413 | totalgoals = 82
| nationalyears1 = 2002 | nationalteam1 = Germany U16 | nationalcaps1 = 4 | nationalgoals1 = 1
| nationalyears2 = 2002–2003 | nationalteam2 = Germany U17 | nationalcaps2 = 10 | nationalgoals2 = 6
| nationalyears3 = 2005–2009 | nationalteam3 = Germany U21 | nationalcaps3 = 13 | nationalgoals3 = 3
| nationalyears4 = 2009–2013 | nationalteam4 = Germany | nationalcaps4 = 3 | nationalgoals4 = 0
}}
Aaron Hunt (born 4 September 1986) is a German former professional footballer who played as an attacking midfielder.
He spent most of his career at Werder Bremen, making his first-team debut at the age of 18.{{cite news | url = https://www.kreiszeitung.de/werder-bremen/hunt-tendenz-ausland-3472690.html | title = Hunt: Tendenz Ausland | trans-title = Hunt: Slanting abroad | newspaper = Kreiszeitung | language = de | date = 10 April 2014 | access-date = 25 June 2015}}{{cite web | url = https://www.bundesliga.com/de/bundesliga/news/aaron-hunt-wechselt-zum-vfl-wolfsburg.jsp | title = Aaron Hunt wechselt nach Wolfsburg | trans-title = Aaron Hunt moves to Wolfsburg | publisher = Bundesliga | language = de | date = 27 May 2014 | access-date = 21 August 2018}} In the Bundesliga, he also represented VfL Wolfsburg and Hamburger SV, winning the DFB-Pokal with the first club as well as the second.
Club career
=Werder Bremen=
Hunt was born in Goslar, Lower Saxony. After spending his first season at Werder Bremen in the reserves the year the first team achieved the double, he made his Bundesliga debut on 18 September 2004, coming on as a substitute in a 3–0 home win against Hannover 96.{{cite web | url = https://www.kicker.de/bremen-gegen-hannover-2004-bundesliga-677715/analyse | title = Werder mit glanzlosem Pflichtsieg | trans-title = Werder with boring win | publisher = kicker | language = de | date = 18 September 2004 | access-date = 25 June 2015}} On his first appearance in the starting line-up, against Borussia Mönchengladbach on 12 February 2005, he scored his first goal, becoming the club's youngest-ever goalscorer at the age of 18 years and 161 days.{{cite news | url = https://www.welt.de/print-wams/article123099/Die-ersten-Tore-von-Hunt-und-Zidan.html | title = Die ersten Tore von Hunt und Zidan | trans-title = Hunt and Zidan's first goal | newspaper = Die Welt | first = Kai-Niels | last = Bogena | language = de | date = 13 February 2005 | access-date = 25 June 2015}}{{cite web | url = https://www.11freunde.de/artikel/aaron-hunt-werders-ewiges-versprechen | title = Hunt drauf! |trans-title=Get Hunting! | publisher = 11 Freunde | first = Gareth | last = Joswig | language = de | date = 28 November 2012 | access-date = 25 June 2015}}
Early in 2006, Hunt suffered a mysterious knee injury, which after some months was found to be bursitis. As a result, he missed the remainder of the season following the winter break. In November, he renewed his contract until 2010{{cite web | url = https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/01bb-0ea88b36f680-998dd2e626c8-1000--hunt-signs-bremen-extension/ | title = Hunt signs Bremen extension | publisher = UEFA | date = 27 November 2006 | access-date = 21 August 2018}} and, on 3 March 2007, netted a hat-trick in the 3–0 league victory over VfL Bochum.{{cite web | url = https://www.uefa.com/news-media/news/01bf-0f84abee9607-3d9599486c2f-1000--hunt-hat-trick-boosts-bremen-hopes/ | title = Hunt hat-trick boosts Bremen hopes | publisher = UEFA | date = 6 March 2007 | access-date = 21 August 2018}} He finished that campaign with nine goals, and his team eventually ranked third behind VfB Stuttgart and Schalke 04.
Hunt scored a career-best 11 goals in 2012–13, but Werder could only finish in 14th place. In March 2014, after being awarded a penalty during a match against 1. FC Nürnberg, he successfully asked the referee to reverse his decision, because the opposition player had not touched him.{{cite web | url = https://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/26522196 | title = Bundesliga player admits dive | publisher = BBC Sport | date = 10 March 2014 | access-date = 10 March 2014}}
=VfL Wolfsburg=
On 26 May 2014, Hunt signed for VfL Wolfsburg.{{cite news|url=http://www.sueddeutsche.de/sport/fussball-hunt-vor-wechsel-zum-vfl-wolfsburg-1.1975168|title=Hunt vor Wechsel zum VfL Wolfsburg|trans-title=Hunt moving to VfL Wolfsburg|newspaper=Süddeutsche Zeitung|language=de|date=26 May 2014|access-date=27 May 2014}} He made his debut for his new club on 17 August in a 5–4 penalty shoot–out win against Darmstadt 98 in the DFB-Pokal, being replaced at the start of extra time.{{cite web|url=https://www.kicker.de/darmstadt-gegen-wolfsburg-2014-dfb-pokal-2397932/spielbericht|title=Benaglio-Vertreter Grün ist im Krimi zur Stelle|trans-title=Benaglio replacement Grün is on the spot in thriller|publisher=kicker|language=de|date=17 August 2014|access-date=2 March 2015}} His first league appearance came five days later, in a 2–1 loss at Bayern Munich.{{cite web|url=https://www.kicker.de/bayern-gegen-wolfsburg-2014-bundesliga-2407218/analyse|title=Robben macht's besser als Malanda|trans-title=Robben fared better than Malanda|publisher=kicker|language=de|date=22 August 2014|access-date=2 March 2015}}
Hunt scored his first goal for the Wolves on 21 September 2014, in a 4–1 defeat of Bayer Leverkusen at the Volkswagen Arena.{{cite web|url=https://www.kicker.de/wolfsburg-gegen-leverkusen-2014-bundesliga-2407255/analyse|title=Rodriguez führt die Wölfe zum ersten Dreier|trans-title=Rodriguez leads the wolves to first three|publisher=kicker|language=de|date=21 September 2014|access-date=2 March 2015}} He made his European debut the following week in a 4–1 loss to Everton,{{cite web|url=https://www.kicker.de/everton-gegen-wolfsburg-2014-europa-league-2798821/analyse|title=Glückloser VfL erhält Lehrstunde in Sachen Effektivität|trans-title=Hapless VfL get crash course in effectiveness|publisher=kicker|language=de|date=18 September 2014|access-date=2 March 2014}} and netted for the first time in the UEFA Europa League on 6 November of that year, his brace helping the hosts to a 5–1 rout of Krasnodar;{{cite web|url=https://www.kicker.de/wolfsburg-gegen-krasnodar-2014-europa-league-2798827/analyse|title=Hunt und Bendtner schießen FK ab|trans-title=Hunt and Bendtner take FK down|publisher=kicker|language=de|date=6 November 2014|access-date=2 March 2015}} he finished the season with four goals in 22 competitive appearances.{{cite web|url=https://www.vfl-wolfsburg.de/info/aktuelles/detailseite/artikel/sieg-im-nordduell-35361.html|title=Sieg im Nordduell|trans-title=Win in northern duel|publisher=VfL Wolfsburg|language=de|date=9 November 2014|access-date=30 August 2018}}{{cite news|url=http://www.waz-online.de/Sportbuzzer/VfL-Wolfsburg/Aaron-Hunt-Spielen-statt-kassieren|title=Aaron Hunt: Spielen statt kassieren|trans-title=Aaron Hunt: Player instead of employer|newspaper=Wolfsburger Allgemeine|language=de|date=18 June 2015|access-date=30 August 2018}}
=Hamburger SV=
On 31 August 2015, having already played the two first matches of the new season with Wolfsburg,{{cite news|url=http://www.spiegel.de/sport/fussball/fussballbundesliga-vfl-wolfsburg-besiegt-eintracht-frankfurt-a-1048368.html|title=Wolfsburg bejubelt knappen Sieg gegen Frankfurt|trans-title=Wolfsburg celebrate narrow victory against Frankfurt|newspaper=Der Spiegel|language=de|date=16 August 2015|access-date=30 August 2018}}{{cite web|url=https://www.kicker.de/koeln-gegen-wolfsburg-2015-bundesliga-2854946/analyse|title=Abstoß, Kopfball, Tor: Zoller tanzt mit den Wölfen|trans-title=Goal kick, header, goal: Zoller dances with the wolves|publisher=kicker|language=de|date=22 August 2015|access-date=30 August 2018}} Hunt joined Hamburger SV.{{cite web|url=https://www.vfl-wolfsburg.de/info/aktuelles/detailseite/artikel/zum-hsv-39991.html|title=Zum HSV: Aaron Hunt wechselt nach Hamburg|trans-title=To HSV: Aaron Hunt moves to Hamburg|publisher=VfL Wolfsburg|language=de|date=31 August 2015|access-date=31 August 2015}} He finished his first year at Volksparkstadion with one goal in 21 matches,{{cite news|url=https://www.mopo.de/sport/hsv/hsv-star-zu-duenn--hunts-kampf-mit-den-kilos-24253400|title=HSV-Star zu dünn! Hunts Kampf mit den Kilos|trans-title=HSV star too thin! Hunt's fight with the kilos|newspaper=Hamburger Morgenpost|first=Florian|last=Rebien|language=de|date=19 June 2016|access-date=30 August 2018}} scoring four goals from 26 total games the following campaign.{{cite web|url=https://www.sport1.de/fussball/dfb-pokal/2016/08/dfb-pokal-1-runde-fsv-zwickau-hamburger-sv|title=Halilovic' Geniestreich erlöst HSV|trans-title=Halilovic's stroke of genius gets job done for HSV|publisher=Sport1|language=de|date=22 August 2016|access-date=30 August 2018}}{{cite web|url=https://www.vavel.com/en/international-football/2016/10/25/germany-bundesliga/712596-hallescher-fc-hamburger-sv.html|title=Hallescher FC 0–4 Hamburger SV: Wood stars as HSV grab Gisdol's first win|publisher=Vavel|first=Jonathan|last=Walsh|date=25 October 2016|access-date=30 August 2018}}{{cite news|url=https://rp-online.de/sport/fussball/dfb-pokal/dfb-pokal-hamburger-sv-erreicht-viertelfinale-sieg-gegen-den-1-fc-koeln_aid-19224259|title=HSV räumt Köln aus dem Weg und steht im Viertelfinale|trans-title=HSV take Köln out of the way and reach quarter-finals|newspaper=Rheinische Post|language=de|date=7 February 2017|access-date=30 August 2018}}{{cite news|url=https://rp-online.de/sport/fussball/borussia/borussia-moenchengladbach-2-1-gegen-hsv-im-dfb-pokal-viertelfinale_aid-19351201|title=Gladbach per Doppel-Elfmeter ins Pokal-Halbfinale|trans-title=Gladbach to Cup semi-finals through double penalty|newspaper=Rheinische Post|first=Karsten|last=Kellermann|language=de|date=2 March 2017|access-date=30 August 2018}}{{cite web|url=https://www.sport.de/news/ne2818893/hunt-vor-hsv-abschied-einen-verein-habe-ich/|title=Hunt vor HSV-Abschied: "Einen Verein habe ich"|trans-title=Hunt before HSV farewell: "I have a club"|publisher=Sport.de|language=de|date=12 July 2017|access-date=30 August 2018}}
Hunt made 30 appearances in all competitions in 2017–18 (29 in the league), netting three times as the club was relegated to the 2. Bundesliga for the first time in its history.{{cite web|url=https://www.fussball.com/aaron-hunt-neuer-kapitaen-des-hamburger-sv/|title=Aaron Hunt neuer Kapitän des Hamburger SV|trans-title=Aaron Hunt new Hamburger SV captain|publisher=Fussball.com|language=de|date=11 July 2018|access-date=21 August 2018}}{{cite web|url=https://www.ndr.de/sport/fussball/Zehn-Osnabruecker-blamieren-Hamburger-SV-,osnabrueckhsv100.html|title=Zehn Osnabrücker blamieren den Hamburger SV|trans-title=Ten Osnabrück men embarrass Hamburger SV|publisher=Norddeutscher Rundfunk|first=Thorsten|last=Schettle|language=de|date=13 August 2017|access-date=21 August 2018}} In the ensuing off-season, he was made new team captain after stripping Gōtoku Sakai of that role.{{cite news|url=https://rp-online.de/sport/fussball/hamburger-sv/hamburger-sv-aaron-hunt-neuer-kapitaen-lewis-holtby-und-christoph-moritz-stellvertreter_aid-23892009|title=Hunt neuer HSV-Kapitän – Holtby und Moritz Stellvertreter|trans-title=Hunt new HSV captain – Holtby and Moritz understudies|newspaper=Rheinische Post|language=de|date=11 July 2018|access-date=21 August 2018}}
After Hunt's contract was not extended, he announced his retirement in February 2022 at the age of 35.{{cite web|url=https://www.kicker.de/hunt-beendet-seine-profikarriere-891314/artikel|title=Hunt beendet seine Profikarriere|trans-title=Hunt ends his professional career|publisher=kicker|language=de|date=22 February 2022|access-date=22 February 2022}} He played over 400 league matches in the top three tiers of the German league pyramid.{{Cite web | url = https://www.rsssf.org/players/dui-huntdata.html | title = Aaron Hunt - Matches and Goals in Bundesliga | first = Matthias | last = Arnhold | date = 21 December 2022 | accessdate = 22 December 2022 | publisher = RSSSF.com}}
International career
Having a German father and an English mother,{{cite web|url=http://www.uefa.com/competitions/Under21/news/Kind=1/newsId=335073.html|title=Hunt graces his fatherland|publisher=UEFA|first=Mark|last=Bennett|date=5 September 2005|access-date=10 January 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060527174403/http://www.uefa.com/competitions/Under21/news/Kind%3D1/newsId%3D335073.html|archive-date=27 May 2006}} Hunt was eligible to play for both Germany or England. His mother's family all hailed from the London area, and his grandfather went to the same north-east school as Bobby Charlton.{{cite web|url=https://www.goal.com/de/news/829/dfb-team/2009/11/02/1598527/bericht-kommt-england-l%C3%B6w-bei-aaron-hunt-zuvor|title=Bericht: Kommt England Löw bei Aaron Hunt zuvor?|trans-title=Report: Is England getting Aaron Hunt before Löw?|publisher=Goal|language=de|date=2 November 2009|access-date=20 June 2019}} However, Hunt stated that he would only play for his birth nation. When asked which team he would represent at international level, he said he was '... honoured about this. But I have decided to play for Germany. ...', adding that he was steadfast on his decision.{{cite news | url = https://www.theguardian.com/football/2009/nov/03/aaron-hunt-germany-england-fabio-capello | title = Aaron Hunt tells England: thanks but no thanks, I'll play for Germany | newspaper = The Guardian | first = David | last = Hytner | date = 3 November 2009 | access-date = 31 December 2019}}
In October 2006, Hunt appeared for the German under-21s in a 1–0 loss against England in Coventry for the 2007 UEFA European Championship qualification playoff (eventually 3–0 on aggregate).{{cite web | url = https://www.uefa.com/under21/news/0257-0de6892bc219-7116ca262db8-1000--hunt-graces-his-fatherland/ | title = Hunt ready to put Germany first | publisher = UEFA | date = 6 October 2006 | access-date = 9 January 2010}} In November 2006, Hunt was charged by UEFA for serious unsporting behaviour, after complaints of racist remarks in the second leg of the under-21 playoff against England. He was banned for two games{{cite web | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/6125942.stm | title = Germans appeal against Hunt ban | publisher = BBC Sport | date = 13 November 2006 | access-date = 26 October 2007}} but, following an appeal, the decision was reversed.{{cite web | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/internationals/6163627.stm | title = U21 star cleared of racist abuse | publisher = BBC Sport | date = 8 December 2006 | access-date = 26 June 2017}}{{cite news|url=http://www.spiegel.de/sport/fussball/rassismus-vorwurf-uefa-spricht-bremer-hunt-frei-a-453421.html|title=Uefa spricht Bremer Hunt frei|trans-title=Uefa acquit Bremen's Hunt|newspaper=Der Spiegel|language=de|date=8 December 2006|access-date=26 June 2017}}
On 6 November 2009, he was called up to the full side for two friendlies with Chile and Ivory Coast to be held during that month,{{cite news|url=http://www.bild.de/sport/fussball/wie-gut-ist-deutschland-nach-dem-enke-selbstmord-10491316.bild.html|title=Wie gut können sie heute spielen?|trans-title=How well can they play today?|newspaper=Bild|language=de|date=18 November 2009|access-date=25 June 2017}} making his debut in the latter after coming on late in the game for Bastian Schweinsteiger (the former had been cancelled following Robert Enke's suicide).{{cite news|url=https://www.merkur.de/sport/fussball/kleines-stueck-normalitaet-533710.html|title=Ein kleines Stück Normalität – 2:2 gegen die Elfenbeinküste|trans-title=A little bit of normality – 2:2 against the Ivory Coast|newspaper=Münchner Merkur|first=Günter|last=Klein|language=de|date=19 November 2009|access-date=25 June 2017}} His third and last international was the friendly against Ecuador in May 2013. The German national team won in Boca Raton against the South Americans 4-2.{{Cite web | url = https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/dui-hunt-intl.html | title = Aaron Hunt - International Appearances | first = Matthias | last = Arnhold | date = 21 December 2022 | accessdate = 22 December 2022 | publisher = RSSSF.com}}
Career statistics
{{notelist}}
Honours
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Worldfootball.net|aaron-hunt}}
- {{kicker|aaron-hunt}}
- {{Fussballdaten}}
- {{DFB}}
- {{NFT}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hunt, Aaron}}
Category:German people of English descent
Category:German men's footballers
Category:Footballers from Lower Saxony
Category:Men's association football midfielders
Category:2. Bundesliga players
Category:SV Werder Bremen II players
Category:SV Werder Bremen players
Category:VfL Wolfsburg players
Category:Germany men's youth international footballers
Category:Germany men's under-21 international footballers