Felix Bastians

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Felix Bastians

| image = Felix Bastians 2012.jpg

| caption = Bastians with Hertha BSC in 2012

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1988|5|9|df=y}}

| birth_place = Bochum, West Germany

| height = 1.88 m

| currentclub =

| clubnumber =

| position = Centre-back, left-back

| youthyears1 = {{0|0000}}–1997 | youthclubs1 = SG Wattenscheid 09

| youthyears2 = 1997–2002 | youthclubs2 = VfL Bochum

| youthyears3 = 2002–2003 | youthclubs3 = Borussia Dortmund

| youthyears4 = 2003–2005 | youthclubs4 = Nottingham Forest

| years1 = 2005–2008 | clubs1 = Nottingham Forest | caps1 = 14 | goals1 = 0

| years2 = 2006–2007 | clubs2 = → Northwich Victoria (loan) | caps2 = 4 | goals2 = 1

| years3 = 2007 | clubs3 = → Halifax Town (loan) | caps3 = 9 | goals3 = 4

| years4 = 2007 | clubs4 = → Gillingham (loan) | caps4 = 5 | goals4 = 1

| years5 = 2007 | clubs5 = → Chesterfield (loan) | caps5 = 12 | goals5 = 1

| years6 = 2008 | clubs6 = → Notts County (loan) | caps6 = 5 | goals6 = 0

| years7 = 2008 | clubs7 = → Milton Keynes Dons (loan) | caps7 = 0 | goals7 = 0

| years8 = 2008–2009 | clubs8 = Young Boys | caps8 = 20 | goals8 = 2

| years9 = 2009–2011 | clubs9 = SC Freiburg | caps9 = 79 | goals9 = 1

| years10 = 2012–2014 | clubs10 = Hertha BSC | caps10 = 24 | goals10 = 0

| years11 = 2013 | clubs11 = → Hertha BSC II | caps11 = 2 | goals11 = 0

| years12 = 2013–2014 | clubs12 = → VfL Bochum (loan) | caps12 = 13 | goals12 = 0

| years13 = 2015–2018 | clubs13 = VfL Bochum | caps13 = 92 | goals13 = 9

| years14 = 2018–2021 | clubs14 = Tianjin TEDA | caps14 = 57 | goals14 = 2

| years15 = 2021 | clubs15 = Waasland-Beveren | caps15 = 9 | goals15 = 0

| years16 = 2021–2023 | clubs16 = Rot-Weiss Essen | caps16 = 63 | goals16 = 10

| nationalyears1 = 2006 | nationalteam1 = Germany U18 | nationalcaps1 = 6 | nationalgoals1 = 2

| nationalyears2 = 2007 | nationalteam2 = Germany U19 | nationalcaps2 = 3 | nationalgoals2 = 0

| nationalyears3 = 2009–2010 | nationalteam3 = Germany U21{{DFB|Felix-bastians}}

| nationalcaps3 = 9 | nationalgoals3 = 0

| club-update =

| nationalteam-update =

}}

Felix Bastians (born 9 May 1988) is a German former professional footballer who played as a centre-back or left-back.

Club career

=Early career=

Bastians began his career with SG Wattenscheid 09 and VfL Bochum before moving to Borussia Dortmund.{{cite web | url = https://www.scfreiburg.com/teams/profis/meldungen/felix-bastians-mag-es-britisch | title = Felix Bastians mag es britisch | language = de | publisher = SC Freiburg | access-date = 19 April 2010 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100622054743/http://www.scfreiburg.com/teams/profis/meldungen/felix-bastians-mag-es-britisch | archive-date = 22 June 2010 | df = dmy-all }} In November 2003 at 15 years old he signed for English club Nottingham Forest.{{cite web | url = http://www.reviersport.de/48678---schalke-ii-felix-bastians-traeumt-vom-profivertrag.html | title = Schalke II: Felix Bastians träumt vom Profivertrag | language = de | publisher = reviersport.de | access-date = 19 April 2010 | date = 27 March 2008}}

=England=

Bastians spent most of his time in England on the bench. He played as a defensive midfielder in the earlier stages of his career, always managing to get up for corners and head the ball goalways. Forest boss Colin Calderwood named him as an upcoming talent and already a huge asset to the club. He had a successful debut, assisting a goal in Forest's 3–2 defeat against Woking in the Football League Trophy in November 2005.{{Cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/4344750.stm|title = Woking 3-2 Nottm Forest|date = 18 October 2005}}

He joined Northwich Victoria on loan from Nottingham Forest in November 2006, scoring once in four appearances.{{cite web | url = https://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=42456 | title = Felix Bastians | publisher = Centurycomm Ltd | access-date = 25 September 2010}} He then joined Gillingham on 22 March 2007 on a loan until the end of the 2006–07 season. He made his Gillingham debut in the 5–0 away defeat to Carlisle United on 24 March 2007 and scored his first goal in a 3–2 away defeat to Rotherham United on 7 April 2007.

Bastians was part of the successful Forest reserve side who won the Pontins Holiday League Championship title for the 2006–07 season, beating Rotherham 2–0 in the play-off final, Bastians scored a number of goals throughout the season to help his side lift the title.

He joined Chesterfield on a month's loan in October 2007.{{cite news | title = Chesterfield net Bastians on loan | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/chesterfield/7022795.stm | publisher = BBC Sport | date = 1 October 2007 | access-date = 28 October 2007}} He impressed in his spell at Chesterfield, scoring one goal in thirteen appearances. His loan spell there ended on 2 January 2008.{{Cite news |url=http://world.nottinghamforest.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10308~1204640,00.html |title=Loanees Return |date=2 January 2008 |work=nottinghamforest.premiumtv.co.uk |publisher=Nottingham Forest F.C. |access-date=12 March 2018 |archive-date=13 March 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180313093301/http://world.nottinghamforest.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10308~1204640,00.html |url-status=dead }} Bastians signed for Notts County two days later on a month's loan.{{Cite news |url=http://world.nottinghamforest.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10308~1206543,00.html |title=Felix Is A Magpie |date=4 January 2008 |work=nottinghamforest.premiumtv.co.uk |access-date=19 April 2010 |publisher=Nottingham Forest F.C. |archive-date=13 March 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180313093103/http://world.nottinghamforest.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10308~1206543,00.html |url-status=dead }} On 14 February 2008, he joined another League Two club, MK Dons, once again on a month's loan.{{Cite news |url=http://world.mkdons.com/page/NewsDetail/0,,10420~1241618,00.html |title=Dons Bag Bastians |date=21 February 2008 |work=mkdons.premiumtv.co.uk |access-date=14 February 2008 |publisher=Milton Keynes Dons F.C. }} He later returned to The Reds, but failed to earn himself a new deal at the club and was released by mutual consent by manager Colin Calderwood on 21 May 2008.

Bastians ended his forest career having played 33 games and scoring five goals in the process. He is the third youngest player ever to play for Forest, behind Gary Mills and Craig Westcarr.

=Young Boys Bern=

Bastians moved to Swiss Super League side Young Boys Bern in 2008. On 10 August 2008, he scored his first goal for his new team, the equaliser in a 2–1 win against Neuchâtel Xamax in front of over 16,000 supporters at the Stade de Suisse in Bern.

=SC Freiburg=

After just one year with Young Boys Bern he left on 7 July 2009 in order to transfer to SC Freiburg. At Freiburg, Bastians swapped his position from a winger to a defender, being mainly used as a centre back alongside Pavel Krmaš.

=Hertha BSC=

On 28 January 2012, Bastians completed a move to Hertha BSC which would see him there until the summer of 2016.{{cite web|title=Felix Bastians kommt sofort|trans-title=Felix Bastians is coming immediately|language=de|date=26 January 2012|access-date=26 January 2012|publisher=Hertha BSC|work=official website|url=http://www.herthabsc.de/index.php?id=3631&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=12348&cHash=3e383da1d46470afd25ebafd7b383bb2|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120128205503/http://www.herthabsc.de/index.php?id=3631&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=12348&cHash=3e383da1d46470afd25ebafd7b383bb2|archive-date=28 January 2012}}

=VfL Bochum=

In June 2013, he was loaned out to Bochum. After the loan spell, Bastians returned to Hertha Berlin. On 9 October 2014, Hertha released him.{{cite web | url = https://www.kicker.de/causa-bastians-abgeschlossen-613164/artikel | title = Causa Bastians abgeschlossen | language = de | publisher = kicker | access-date = 9 October 2014}} On 17 November 2014, VfL Bochum announced the signing of Bastians starting 1 January 2015.{{Cite web|title=Felix Bastians zurück in Bochum|language=de|date=17 November 2014|access-date=17 November 2014|publisher=VfL Bochum|url=http://vfl-bochum.de/site/_home/_aktuelles/aktuelles/14963_felixbastianszuruuml_x_semi_x_ckinbochump.htm|archive-url=https://archive.today/20141120160644/http://vfl-bochum.de/site/_home/_aktuelles/aktuelles/14963_felixbastianszuruuml_x_semi_x_ckinbochump.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=20 November 2014}}

=Tianjin Teda=

In January 2018 he moved to Tianjin Teda in the Chinese Super League who, managed by countryman Uli Stielike whose daughter is reportedly married to Bastian's brother, paid around €1 million for his services.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nottinghampost.com/sport/football/now-former-nottingham-forest-winger-1210174|title = 'It was exciting' - the 15-year-old whose Nottingham Forest dream turned sour|date = 20 May 2020}}

=Rot-Weiss Essen=

On 9 November 2023, Bastians's contract with Rot-Weiss Essen was terminated by mutual consent.{{cite web|publisher=Rot-Weiss Essen|url=https://www.rot-weiss-essen.de/2023/11/09/rot-weiss-essen-felix-bastians/|title=VERTRAG VON FELIX BASTIANS AUFGELÖST|trans-title=FELIX BASTIANS' CONTRACT TERMINATED|date=9 November 2023|access-date=13 January 2024|language=de}} He decided to retire from playing shortly thereafter.{{cite web|publisher=WAZ|url=https://www.waz.de/sport/fussball/rwe/kapitaen-bei-vfl-bochum-und-rwe-felix-bastians-macht-schluss-id240880486.html|title=Kapitän beim VfL Bochum und RWE: Felix Bastians macht Schluss|date=27 December 2023|access-date=13 January 2024|language=de}}

International career

Bastians represented Germany at U18, U19 and U21 international levels.

Career statistics

{{updated|match played on 1 July 2022}}{{cite web |title=Felix Bastians |url=https://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=42456&season_id=135 |website=Soccerbase |publisher=CENTURYCOMM LIMITED |access-date=30 January 2019}}{{cite web |title=Felix Bastians |url=https://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=42456&season_id=136 |website=Soccerbase |publisher=CENTURYCOMM LIMITED |access-date=30 January 2019}}{{cite web |title=Felix Bastians |url=https://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=42456&season_id=137 |website=Soccerbase |publisher=CENTURYCOMM LIMITED |access-date=30 January 2019}}{{cite web |title=Felix Bastians » Club matches |url=https://www.worldfootball.net/player_summary/felix-bastians/2/ |publisher=World Football |access-date=30 January 2019}}{{cite web |title=F. Bastians |url=https://int.soccerway.com/players/felix-bastians/45067/ |website=Soccerway |publisher=Perform Group |access-date=30 January 2019}}

rowspan="2"\|Club	rowspan="2"\|Season	colspan="3"\|League	colspan="2"\|Cup	colspan="2"\|Other	colspan="2"\|Total
class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" \|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
rowspan="4"\|Nottingham Forest	2005–06	League One \|11	0	1	0	1{{efn\|name=EFLT\|Appearances in the Football League Trophy}}	0	13	0
2006–07	League One \|2	0	0	0	colspan="2"\|—	2	0
2007–08	League One \|1	0	0	0	2{{efn\|Appearances in the League Cup and Football League Trophy}}	0	3	0
colspan="2"\|Total	14	0	1	0	3	0	18	0
Northwich Victoria (loan)	2006–07	Conference National \|4	1	1	0	colspan="2"\|—	5	1
Halifax Town (loan)	2006–07	Conference National \|9	4	0	0	1{{efn\|name=EFLT}}	0	10	4
Gillingham (loan)	2006–07	League One \|5	1	0	0	colspan="2"\|—	5	1
Chesterfield (loan)	2007–08	League Two \|12	1	1	0	colspan="2"\|—	13	1
Notts County (loan)	2007–08	League Two \|5	0	0	0	colspan="2"\|—	5	0
Milton Keynes Dons (loan)	2007–08	League Two \|0	0	0	0	colspan="2"\|—	0	0
Young Boys Bern	2008–09	Swiss Super League \|21	2	4	0	4{{efn\|Appearances in the UEFA Cup}}	0	29	2
rowspan="4"\|SC Freiburg	2009–10	Bundesliga \|34	1	2	0	colspan="2"\|—	36	1
2010–11	Bundesliga \|29	0	2	0	colspan="2"\|—	31	0
2011–12	Bundesliga \|16	0	1	0	colspan="2"\|—	17	0
colspan="2"\|Total	79	1	5	0	colspan="2"\|—	84	1
rowspan="3"\|Hertha BSC	2011–12	Bundesliga \|13	0	1	0	1{{efn\|Appearances in the Bundesliga relegation playoff}}	0	15	0
2012–13	2. Bundesliga \|11	0	1	0	colspan="2"\|—	12	0
colspan="2"\|Total	24	0	2	0	1	0	27	0
Hertha BSC II	2012–13	Regionalliga Nordost \|2	0	colspan="2"\|—	colspan="2"\|—	2	0
VfL Bochum (loan)	2013–14	2. Bundesliga \|13	0	0	0	colspan="2"\|—	13	0
rowspan="5"\|VfL Bochum	2013–14	2. Bundesliga \|15	0	0	0	colspan="2"\|—	15	0
2015–16	2. Bundesliga \|31	2	4	0	colspan="2"\|—	35	2
2016–17	2. Bundesliga \|30	3	1	0	colspan="2"\|—	31	3
2017–18	2. Bundesliga \|16	4	2	0	colspan="2"\|—	18	4
colspan="2"\|Total	105	9	7	0	colspan="2"\|—	112	9
rowspan="4"\|Tianjin TEDA	2018	Chinese Super League \|29	1	2	0	colspan="2"\|—	31	1
2019	Chinese Super League \|14	0	2	0	colspan="2"\|—	16	0
2020	Chinese Super League \|14	1	0	0	colspan="2"\|—	14	1
colspan="2"\|Total	57	2	4	0	colspan="2"\|—	61	2
Waasland-Beveren	2020–21	Belgian First Division A \|9	0	1	0	1{{efn\|Appearance in relegation play-offs}}	0	11	0
Rot-Weiss Essen	2021–22	Regionalliga West \|27	3	0	0	colspan="2"\|—	27	3
colspan="3"\|Career total	371	24	26	0	10	0	407	24