View source for Steven Defour

{{short description|Belgian footballer and manager (born 1988)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2024}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Steven Defour
| image = Dinamo-Anderleht (4).jpg
| image_size = 200
| caption = Defour playing for [[R.S.C. Anderlecht|Anderlecht]] in 2015
| fullname = Steven Arnold Defour<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.premierleague.com/news/698775|title=2017/18 Premier League clubs publish retained lists|publisher=[[Premier League]]|date=8 June 2018|access-date=12 May 2019}}</ref>
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1988|4|15|df=y}}<ref name=11v11>{{cite web|url=http://www.11v11.com/players/steven-defour-224995/|title=Steven Defour|publisher=11v11|access-date=16 April 2017}}</ref>
| birth_place = [[Mechelen]], Belgium
| height = 1.73 m<ref name=11v11/>
| position = [[Midfielder]]
| currentclub = 
| clubnumber =
| youthyears1 = 1993–1997 | youthclubs1 = Zennester Hombeek
| youthyears2 = 1997–2004 | youthclubs2 = [[K.V. Mechelen|Mechelen]]
| years1 = 2004–2006 | clubs1 = [[K.R.C. Genk|Genk]] | caps1 = 30 | goals1 = 1
| years2 = 2006–2011 | clubs2 = [[Standard Liège]] | caps2 = 127 | goals2 = 13
| years3 = 2011–2014 | clubs3 = [[FC Porto|Porto]] | caps3 = 65 | goals3 = 3
| years4 = 2014–2016 | clubs4 = [[R.S.C. Anderlecht|Anderlecht]] | caps4 = 63 | goals4 = 9
| years5 = 2016–2019 | clubs5 = [[Burnley F.C.|Burnley]] | caps5 = 51 | goals5 = 2
| years6 = 2019–2020 | clubs6 = [[Royal Antwerp F.C.|Antwerp]] | caps6 = 11 | goals6 = 0
| years7 = 2020–2021 | clubs7 = [[K.V. Mechelen|Mechelen]] | caps7 = 16 | goals7 = 0
| totalcaps = 363 | totalgoals = 28
| nationalyears1 = 2003 | nationalteam1 = [[Belgium national youth football team|Belgium U15]] | nationalcaps1 = 5 | nationalgoals1 = 1
| nationalyears2 = 2003–2004 | nationalteam2 = [[Belgium national youth football team|Belgium U16]] | nationalcaps2 = 11 | nationalgoals2 = 1
| nationalyears3 = 2004–2005 | nationalteam3 = [[Belgium national under-17 football team|Belgium U17]] | nationalcaps3 = 11 | nationalgoals3 = 1
| nationalyears4 = 2005 | nationalteam4 = [[Belgium national under-18 football team|Belgium U18]] | nationalcaps4 = 1 | nationalgoals4 = 0
| nationalyears5 = 2006–2017 | nationalteam5 = [[Belgium national football team|Belgium]] | nationalcaps5 = 52 | nationalgoals5 = 2
| manageryears1 = 2021–2022 | managerclubs1 = [[K.V. Mechelen|Mechelen]] (assistant)
| manageryears2 = 2022–2023 | managerclubs2 = [[K.V. Mechelen|Mechelen]]
| club-update =
| nationalteam-update = 
}}
'''Steven Arnold Defour''' (born 15 April 1988) is a Belgian former professional [[Association football|footballer]] who played as a [[midfielder]], currently a [[Manager (association football)|manager]].

He played 247 games and scored 23 goals in the [[Belgian Pro League]] for [[K.R.C. Genk|Genk]], [[Standard Liège]], [[R.S.C. Anderlecht|Anderlecht]], [[Royal Antwerp F.C.|Antwerp]] and [[K.V. Mechelen|Mechelen]], winning two league titles and a [[Belgian Cup|national cup]] with the second team. Abroad, he won the [[Primeira Liga]] twice at [[FC Porto|Porto]] and played in the [[Premier League]] for three years at [[Burnley F.C.|Burnley]].

Defour earned 52 [[Cap (sport)|caps]] for [[Belgium national football team|Belgium]] in an 11-year international career that began in 2006, and represented the nation in the [[2014 FIFA World Cup|2014 World Cup]].

==Club career==
===Genk===
Born in [[Mechelen]], Defour played youth football with local [[K.V. Mechelen]], moving to [[K.R.C. Genk]] in 2004.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rtbf.be/article/steven-defour-a-participe-a-un-amical-avec-malines-10605161|title=Steven Defour a participé à un amical avec Malines|trans-title=Steven Defour participated in a friendly with Mechelen|publisher=[[RTBF]]|language=fr|date=9 October 2020|access-date=25 February 2023}}</ref> He made his [[Belgian Pro League|Pro League]] debut on 30 October 2004 as a 78th-minute [[Substitute (association football)|substitute]] for [[Paul Kpaka]] in a 1–0 home win against [[Sint-Truidense V.V.]] in a [[Limburg (Belgium)|Limburg]] derby, and scored his first goal on 5 November the following year, also [[Assist (association football)|assisting]] in the 4–1 victory over [[K.S.V. Roeselare]] at the [[Cegeka Arena|Fenixstadion]].<ref name=RTBF>{{cite web|url=https://www.rtbf.be/article/le-petit-steven-defour-illustre-en-15-dates-cle-10739771|title=Le petit Steven Defour illustré, en 15 dates-clé|trans-title=Little Steven Defour illustrated, in 15 key dates|publisher=RTBF|first=Erik|last=Libois|language=fr|date=11 May 2021|access-date=10 March 2023}}</ref> At just 17, he became first choice,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.uefa.com/news-media/news/01bc-0f848ff5f02d-56af66c8ea40-1000--defour-raises-belgian-standard/|title=Defour raises Belgian Standard|publisher=UEFA|first=Berend|last=Scholten|date=23 December 2006|access-date=25 February 2023}}</ref> finishing the [[2005–06 Belgian First Division|2005–06 campaign]] with 26 games and one goal to help his team to the fifth position.

When Genk failed to qualify for [[UEFA|European competition]], Defour tried to move to [[AFC Ajax]] in the summer of 2006. Enraged by earlier reports that Ajax had approached the player to broker a deal without their consent, Genk did not accept the proposed transfer fee, and after protracted negotiations, Ajax pulled out of the deal. Defour tried to force a transfer by threatening to leave, using a Belgian law that allowed professional athletes on fixed-term contracts to leave their employers before the end of the stipulated term, but Ajax did not express a renewed interest in his services, and he ended up signing for [[Standard Liège]] for a much-reduced transfer fee, effectively breaking a [[gentlemen's agreement]] between Belgian sides not to sign under-contract players using the aforementioned law.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nieuwsblad.be/sportwereld/cnt/gi8rr5fv|title=Defour 'slachtoffer' van 33 jaar oude vete|trans-title=Defour 'victim' of 33-year-old feud|newspaper=[[Het Nieuwsblad]]|language=nl|date=5 May 2006|access-date=9 January 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.vi.nl/nieuws/transfer-defour-naar-ajax-van-de-baan.htm|title=Transfer Defour naar Ajax van de baan|trans-title=Defour's transfer to Ajax not happening|publisher=[[Voetbal International]]|language=nl|date=7 June 2006|access-date=9 January 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.hbvl.be/Archief/guid/steven-defour-verbreekt-contract-bij-genk.aspx?artikel=cc86655b-7696-4656-8654-9124b6ad9238|title=Steven Defour verbreekt contract bij Genk|trans-title=Steven Defour breaks contract with Genk|newspaper=[[Het Belang van Limburg]]|language=nl|date=16 June 2006|access-date=9 January 2014}}</ref>

===Standard Liège===
Defour joined Standard on a five-year deal,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.voetbalbelgie.be/nl/article.php?id=4766|title=Standard neemt Steven Defour over|trans-title=Standard sign Steven Defour|publisher=Voetbal België|language=nl|date=11 July 2006|access-date=9 January 2014}}</ref> being appointed [[Captain (association football)|team captain]] at the start of his [[2007–08 Belgian First Division|second year]] after taking over from Portugal's [[Sérgio Conceição]] – he was just 19 years old.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.standaard.be/cnt/9h1m5p6f|title=Conceição praat met Standard|trans-title=Conceição in talks with Standard|newspaper=[[De Standaard]]|language=nl|date=4 January 2008|access-date=1 November 2020}}</ref> He received the [[Belgian Golden Shoe]] at the end of the season in the process, leading the ''Reds'' to their first league title in 25 years.<ref name=RSSSF>{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/belgpoy.html|title=Belgium – Player of the Year Awards|publisher=[[RSSSF]]|first=Razvan|last=Toma|access-date=26 April 2017}}</ref>

In late 2009, shortly after scoring four goals in 31 games to help Standard [[2008–09 Belgian First Division|renew their domestic supremacy]], Defour broke his right foot. During his period of recovery he received a letter from [[Alex Ferguson]], manager of [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]], wishing him all the best in his recovery,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=836270&sec=transfers&cc=4716|title=Defour ready to make next step|publisher=[[ESPN FC|ESPN Soccernet]]|date=26 October 2010|access-date=27 October 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101029173123/http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=836270&sec=transfers&cc=4716|archive-date=29 October 2010}}</ref> and this led to persistent rumours of a switch to the English club, but he refuted these by saying "I do know that Manchester United are monitoring me – if everything goes well and I continue playing as I am, there is a better chance of me leaving than there was at the start of the season";<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.talksport.co.uk/sports-news/football/premier-league/transfer-rumours/2079/5/defour-ready-make-manchester-united-move|title=Defour ready to make Manchester United move|publisher=[[Talksport]]|first=Alex|last=Shaw|date=26 October 2010|access-date=27 October 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101029202027/http://www.talksport.co.uk/sports-news/football/premier-league/transfer-rumours/2079/5/defour-ready-make-manchester-united-move|archive-date=29 October 2010}}</ref> eventually, nothing came of it.

===Porto===
[[File:OM - FC Porto - Valais Cup 2013 - Steven Defour.jpg|120px|thumb|right|Defour playing for Porto in 2013]]
On 15 August 2011, Portuguese club [[FC Porto]] agreed to buy the sporting rights of Defour for [[Euro|€]]6&nbsp;million, and he signed a five-year contract.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fcporto.pt/IncFCP/PDF/Investor_Relations/FactosRelevantes/ir_compradefour_15082011.pdf|title=Comunicado|trans-title=Announcement|publisher=FC Porto|language=pt|date=15 August 2011|access-date=18 August 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111224082944/http://www.fcporto.pt/IncFCP/PDF/Investor_Relations/FactosRelevantes/ir_compradefour_15082011.pdf|archive-date=24 December 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fcporto.pt/IncFCP/PDF/Investor_Relations/FactosRelevantes/CompraDefour16082011.pdf|title=Comunicado|trans-title=Announcement|publisher=FC Porto|language=pt|date=16 August 2011|access-date=18 August 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111215231444/http://www.fcporto.pt/IncFCP/PDF/Investor_Relations/FactosRelevantes/CompraDefour16082011.pdf|archive-date=15 December 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story/_/id/944429/fc-porto-deal-for-standard-liege%27s-steven-defour?cc=5739|title=FC Porto deal for Defour|publisher=ESPN Soccernet|first=Wim|last=Van Walle|date=16 August 2011|access-date=30 August 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130102194807/http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story/_/id/944429/fc-porto-deal-for-standard-liege's-steven-defour?cc=5739|archive-date=2 January 2013}}</ref> He finished his [[2011–12 Primeira Liga|first year]] with 37 official appearances and added two goals,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.publico.pt/2011/10/15/desporto/noticia/fc-porto-cumpriu-e-goleou-pero-pinheiro-1516665|title=FC Porto cumpriu e goleou Pêro Pinheiro|trans-title=FC Porto got job done and routed Pêro Pinheiro|newspaper=[[Público (Portugal)|Público]]|language=pt|date=15 October 2011|access-date=20 September 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.dn.pt/desporto/fc-porto/interior/no-meio-da-tempestade-veio-a-bonanca-5-0-2076911.html|title=No meio da tempestade, veio a bonança (5–0)|trans-title=Amid the storm, came the calm (5–0)|newspaper=[[Diário de Notícias]]|language=pt|date=23 October 2011|access-date=20 September 2019}}</ref> helping his new team to win the [[Primeira Liga]] championship.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://desporto.sapo.pt/futebol/primeira-liga/artigos/dragao-em-branco-na-festa-de-apresentacao|title=Dragão em branco na festa de apresentação|trans-title=Dragon drew a blank in presentation party|publisher=[[SAPO (company)|SAPO]]|language=pt|date=4 August 2012|access-date=20 September 2019}}</ref>

Defour netted Porto's second goal against [[GNK Dinamo Zagreb]] on 18 September 2012 in [[2012–13 UEFA Champions League|the group stage]] of the [[UEFA Champions League]] (2–0 away win).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/0253-0d7ed1f434dc-bc83e3ea97e0-1000--porto-extend-dinamo-losing-streak/|title=Porto extend Dinamo losing streak|publisher=UEFA|first=David|last=Crossan|date=18 September 2012|access-date=7 January 2014}}</ref> The following 13 March, for the same competition but in the [[Single-elimination tournament|round of 16]], he was [[Penalty card#Yellow card|booked]] twice and subsequently [[Ejection (sports)|sent off]] in the 49th minute of the second leg of the tie at [[Málaga CF]], as the [[Porto|northerners]] lost 2–0 at [[La Rosaleda Stadium]] and 2–1 on aggregate.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/0207-0e9efe194916-376483800444-1000--santa-cruz-sends-malaga-into-last-eight/|title=Santa Cruz sends Málaga into last eight|publisher=UEFA|first=Graham|last=Hunter|date=13 March 2013|access-date=7 January 2014}}</ref>

===Anderlecht===
On 13 August 2014, Defour moved to [[R.S.C. Anderlecht]] on a five-year deal, for €6&nbsp;million. On 25 January of the following year, when playing at Standard Liège, he was sent off for deliberately kicking the ball at home fans who had unfurled a banner depicting his severed head under the slogan "Red or Dead". His ejection caused the visiting supporters to rip out their seats and throw them onto the pitch,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/jan/25/anderlecht-steven-defour-standard-liege-banner|title=Anderlecht's Steven Defour sees red over Standard Liège fans' banner|newspaper=[[The Guardian]]|date=25 January 2015|access-date=25 January 2015}}</ref> and the banner received criticism from both the [[Royal Belgian Football Association]] and the league.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/30975769|title=Standard Liege: Steven Defour sent off after fans' horror banner|publisher=[[BBC Sport]]|date=25 January 2015|access-date=25 January 2015}}</ref>

===Burnley===
On 16 August 2016, Defour signed for [[Premier League]] club [[Burnley F.C.|Burnley]] on a three-year deal for a club-record transfer fee of £8&nbsp;million.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11708/10538645/burnley-sign-steven-defour-from-anderlecht-for-club-record-fee|title=Burnley sign Steven Defour from Anderlecht for club-record fee|publisher=[[Sky Sports]]|first=Nick|last=Lustig|date=16 August 2016|access-date=25 February 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/37064070|title=Steven Defour: Burnley sign Belgium midfielder from Anderlecht|publisher=BBC Sport|date=16 August 2016|access-date=16 August 2016}}</ref> He made his competitive debut four days later, starting in a 2–0 home win over [[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]] in which he helped create the second goal by [[Andre Gray]] but was substituted early in the second half due to a lack of fitness.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.espnfc.com/club/burnley/379/blog/post/2934285/michael-keane-steven-defour-and-andre-gray-stand-out-as-burnley-stun-liverpool|title=Keane, Defour and Gray stand out as Burnley stun Liverpool|publisher=ESPN FC|first=Jamie|last=Smith|date=20 August 2016|access-date=4 March 2017}}</ref> On 10 September, also at [[Turf Moor]], he scored his first goal for his new team to open a 1–1 draw with fellow promotee [[Hull City A.F.C.|Hull City]], and was praised after the match by manager [[Sean Dyche]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/37330153|title=Defour is cheap as chips – Dyche|publisher=BBC Sport|date=10 September 2016|access-date=4 March 2017}}</ref>

Defour scored a 25-yard [[Free kick (association football)|direct free kick]] on 26 December 2017, as Burnley led 2–0 at [[half-time]] in an eventual draw at Manchester United.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/15793170.manchester-united-2-burnley-2-match-verdict/|title=Manchester United 2 Burnley 2: Match verdict|newspaper=[[Lancashire Telegraph]]|first=Tyrone|last=Marshall|date=26 December 2017|access-date=25 February 2023}}</ref> During his later spell, he was constantly bothered by injury problems.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.90min.com/posts/6314576-steven-defour-unlikely-to-return-this-season-after-undergoing-operation-on-persistent-calf-issue|title=Steven Defour 'unlikely' to return this season after undergoing operation on persistent calf issue|publisher=90 Minut|first=Robbie|last=Copeland|date=8 March 2019|access-date=20 September 2019}}</ref> His contract was extended in September 2018 to last until June 2020,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/16861536.burnley-extend-steven-defours-contract-2020-midfielder-nears-return/|title=Burnley extend Steven Defour's contract until 2020 as midfielder nears return|newspaper=Lancashire Telegraph|first=Tyrone|last=Marshall|date=14 September 2019|access-date=25 February 2023}}</ref> but on 31 August 2019, he had it terminated citing personal reasons and a need to return to Belgium.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/49540015|title=Steven Defour: Burnley midfielder's contract cancelled 'for personal reasons'|publisher=BBC Sport|date=31 August 2019|access-date=31 August 2019}}</ref>

In September 2022, Dyche named Defour as the most talented player he ever coached in his ten years at Burnley.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nieuwsblad.be/cnt/dmf20220923_97273572|title=Steven Defour krijgt mooi compliment van Burnley-legende: "Meest getalenteerde speler die ik gecoacht heb"|trans-title=Steven Defour earns praise from Burnley legend: "Most talented player I ever coached"|newspaper=Het Nieuwsblad|first=Sam|last=Varewyck|language=nl|date=23 September 2022|access-date=24 September 2022}}</ref>

===Later career===
In September 2019, aged 31, Defour joined [[Royal Antwerp F.C.|Antwerp]] on a one-year deal.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://sporza.be/nl/2019/09/02/pc-antwerp-transfers/|title=Antwerp pakt uit met kwartet: Defour, Hoedt, Gano en Benson trekken naar de Bosuil|trans-title=Antwerp unveil four: Defour, Hoedt, Gano and Benson go to Bosuil|publisher=[[Sporza]]|language=nl|date=2 September 2019|access-date=20 September 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/49569902|title=Steven Defour: Ex-Burnley midfielder joins Royal Antwerp|publisher=BBC Sport|date=3 September 2019|access-date=4 November 2019}}</ref> On 16 October 2020, he returned to [[KV Mechelen|Mechelen]] 13 years after leaving the [[Achter de Kazerne]], agreeing to a performance-oriented contract.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.hln.be/kv-mechelen/steven-defour-voorgesteld-bij-kv-mechelen-emotioneel-de-belangrijkste-transfer-uit-mijn-carriere~aa46bd91/|title=Steven Defour voorgesteld bij KV Mechelen: "Emotioneel de belangrijkste transfer uit mijn carrière"|trans-title=Steven Defour presented at KV Mechelen: "Emotionally the most important transfer of my career"|newspaper=[[Het Laatste Nieuws]]|first=Axel|last=Brisart|language=nl|date=16 October 2020|access-date=1 November 2020}}</ref>

Defour announced his retirement on 11 May 2021.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.hln.be/belgisch-voetbal/afscheid-in-mineur-defour-stopt-er-nu-al-mee-door-blessure-aan-quadriceps~a96e91cf/|title=Afscheid in mineur: Defour stopt er nu al mee door blessure aan quadriceps|trans-title=Dramatic goodbye: Defour retires after quadriceps injury|newspaper=Het Laatste Nieuws|language=nl|date=11 May 2021|access-date=3 June 2021}}</ref>

==International career==
[[File:Steven Defour - Belgium.jpg|180px|thumb|right|Defour lining up for [[Belgium national football team|Belgium]] in 2011]]
Defour was first called up for the [[Belgium national football team|Belgian senior team]] by manager [[René Vandereycken]] in May 2006, aged just 18.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.hbvl.be/Archief/guid/rene-vandereycken-roept-negen-debutanten-op.aspx?artikel=2c4deaaf-1b7e-46ef-8b9a-b491631db866|title=René Vandereycken roept negen debutanten op|trans-title=René Vandereycken calls up nine first-timers|newspaper=Het Belang van Limburg|language=nl|date=6 May 2006|access-date=9 January 2014}}</ref> He made his debut on 11 May in a [[Exhibition game#International football|friendly]] against [[Saudi Arabia national football team|Saudi Arabia]] in [[Sittard]] in the Netherlands, playing all but the last minute of a 2–1 win;<ref name=RTBF/> he scored his first goal on 6 September 2008, in a 3–2 victory over [[Estonia national football team|Estonia]] at his club ground the [[Stade Maurice Dufrasne]] for the [[2010 FIFA World Cup]] [[2010 FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA)|qualifiers]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rtbf.be/sport/football/diablesrouges/detail_defour-a-deja-marque-contre-l-estonie-ah-bon-j-avais-oublie?id=9453361|title=Defour a déjà marqué contre l'Estonie: "Ah bon? J'avais oublié"|trans-title=Defour already scored against Estonia: "Ah good? I had forgotten"|publisher=RTBF|language=fr|date=12 November 2016|access-date=4 March 2017}}</ref>

Defour scored once in three appearances in [[2014 FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA)|qualification]] for the [[2014 FIFA World Cup|2014 World Cup]], opening a 2–0 away defeat of [[Scotland national football team|Scotland]] on 6 September 2013.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/23962691|title=Scotland 0–2 Belgium|publisher=BBC Sport|first=Alasdair|last=Lamont|date=6 September 2013|access-date=4 March 2017}}</ref> He was selected for the [[2014 FIFA World Cup|finals]] in Brazil by manager [[Marc Wilmots]],<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/belgium/10810493/Belgium-World-Cup-2014-squad.html|title=Belgium World Cup 2014 squad|newspaper=[[The Daily Telegraph]]|date=4 June 2014|access-date=27 June 2014}}</ref> making his debut in [[FIFA World Cup|the competition]] on 26 June in the third group stage match against [[South Korea national football team|South Korea]] after Belgium had already won their first two outings and sealed qualification, and was sent off in the last minute of the first half of the eventual 1–0 win after a rash tackle on [[Kim Shin-wook]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fifa.com/news/koreans-crash-to-10-man-belgium-2386303|title=Koreans crash to ten-man Belgium|publisher=FIFA|date=26 June 2014|access-date=24 March 2020|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200324022246/https://www.fifa.com/news/koreans-crash-to-10-man-belgium-2386303|archive-date=24 March 2020}}</ref>

Defour missed [[UEFA Euro 2016]] due to injury and the [[2018 FIFA World Cup|2018 World Cup]], having been sidelined since that January.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.lequipe.fr/Football/Actualites/Steven-defour-burnley-prend-sa-retraite-internationale/904310|title=Steven Defour (Burnley) prend sa retraite internationale|trans-title=Steven Defour (Burnley) retires from internationals|newspaper=[[L'Équipe]]|language=fr|date=24 May 2018|access-date=25 February 2023}}</ref> On 25 May that year, the 30-year-old announced his retirement from international football.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/16248986.Defour_to_focus_on_Clarets_after_international_retirement/|title=Steven Defour to focus on Burnley after international retirement|newspaper=Lancashire Telegraph|first=Tyrone|last=Marshall|date=25 May 2018|access-date=25 May 2018}}</ref>

==Coaching career==
On 17 October 2022, Defour returned to Mechelen as head coach; previously an assistant, he replaced the dismissed [[Danny Buijs]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rtbf.be/article/steven-defour-devient-lentraineur-du-kv-malines-suite-au-licenciement-de-danny-buijs-11087375|title=Steven Defour devient l'entraîneur du KV Malines suite au licenciement de Danny Buijs|trans-title=Steven Defour becomes KV Mechelen manager following dismissal of Danny Buijs|publisher=RTBF|first=Romain|last=Langendries|language=fr|date=17 October 2022|access-date=21 October 2022}}</ref> In his first game two days later, he won 2–0 at home to Standard;<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rtbf.be/article/pro-league-malines-dompte-le-standard-et-offre-une-premiere-victoire-a-defour-11088094|title=Pro League: Malines dompte le Standard et offre une première victoire à Defour|trans-title=Pro League: Mechelen tame Standard and offer a first victory to Defour|publisher=RTBF|first=Jérôme|last=Jordens|language=fr|date=19 October 2022|access-date=21 December 2022}}</ref> he reached [[2023 Belgian Cup final|the final]] of the [[Belgian Cup]] in his [[2022–23 Belgian Pro League|first season]], losing 2–0 to [[Mark van Bommel]]'s Antwerp.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraaf.nl/sport/1049498348/prijs-voor-van-bommel-in-belgie-trainer-wint-beker-met-nederlands-getint-antwerp|title=Prijs voor Van Bommel in België: trainer wint beker met Nederlands getint Antwerp|trans-title=Prize for Van Bommel in Belgium: manager wins cup with Dutch-tinted Antwerp|newspaper=[[De Telegraaf]]|first=Robin|last=Jongmans|language=nl|date=30 April 2023|access-date=30 April 2023}}</ref>

On 2 November 2023, after having been ousted by lowly [[Royal Knokke F.C.]] in the [[2023–24 Belgian Cup|round of 32 of the domestic cup]] and with the team inside the relegation zone in the league, Defour was shown the door.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.footnews.be/news/394353/officiel-defour-ne-fera-pas-son-retour-a-sclessin|title=OFFICIEL Defour ne fera pas son retour à Sclessin|trans-title=OFFICIAL Defour will not be returning to Sclessin|publisher=Foot News|language=fr|date=2 November 2023|access-date=28 November 2023}}</ref>

==Career statistics==
===Club===
{| class=wikitable style="text-align: center;"
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition<ref>{{WorldFootball.net|steven-defour}}</ref>
|-
!rowspan=2|Club
!rowspan=2|Season
!colspan=3|League
!colspan=2|National Cup
!colspan=2|League Cup
!colspan=2|[[UEFA#Club|Europe]]
!colspan=2|Other
!colspan=2|Total
|-
!Division||Apps||Goals||Apps||Goals||Apps||Goals||Apps||Goals||Apps||Goals||Apps||Goals
|-
|rowspan=3|[[K.R.C. Genk|Genk]]
|[[2004–05 Belgian First Division|2004–05]]
|[[Belgian First Division A|Belgian First Division]]
|4||0||0||0||colspan=2|—||0||0||colspan=2|—||4||0
|-
|[[2005–06 Belgian First Division|2005–06]]
|Belgian First Division
|26||1||2||0||colspan=2|—||1<ref group=lower-alpha name=UC>Appearances in [[UEFA Cup]]</ref>||0||colspan=2|—||29||1
|-
!colspan=2|Total
!30||1||2||0||colspan=2|—||1||0||colspan=2|—||33||1
|-
|rowspan=7|[[Standard Liège]]
|[[2006–07 Belgian First Division|2006–07]]
|Belgian First Division
|29||4||7||1||colspan=2|—||4<ref group=lower-alpha name=SL>Two appearances in [[UEFA Champions League]], two in [[UEFA Cup]]</ref>||0||colspan=2|—||40||5
|-
|[[2007–08 Belgian First Division|2007–08]]
|Belgian First Division
|24||1||3||1||colspan=2|—||3<ref group=lower-alpha name=UC/>||0||colspan=2|—||30||2
|-
|[[2008–09 Belgian First Division|2008–09]]
|Belgian Pro League
|33||4||1||0||colspan=2|—||10<ref group=lower-alpha name=SL2>Two appearances in [[UEFA Champions League]], eight in [[UEFA Cup]]</ref>||0||1<ref group=lower-alpha name=BSC>Appearance in [[Belgian Super Cup]]</ref>||0||45||4
|-
|[[2009–10 Belgian Pro League|2009–10]]
|Belgian Pro League
|13||1||0||0||colspan=2|—||3<ref group=lower-alpha name=UEL>Appearances in [[UEFA Europa League]]</ref>||0||1<ref group=lower-alpha name=BSC/>||0||17||1
|-
|[[2010–11 Belgian Pro League|2010–11]]
|Belgian Pro League
|27||3||5||0||colspan=2|—||colspan=2|—||colspan=2|—||32||3
|-
|[[2011–12 Belgian Pro League|2011–12]]
|Belgian Pro League
|1||0||colspan=2|—||colspan=2|—||colspan=2|—||0||0||1||0
|-
!colspan=2|Total
!127||13||16||2||colspan=2|—||20||0||2||0||165||15
|-
|rowspan=4|[[FC Porto|Porto]]
|[[2011–12 Primeira Liga|2011–12]]
|[[Primeira Liga]]
|24||1||2||1||3||0||8<ref group=lower-alpha name=POR>Six appearances in [[UEFA Champions League]], two in [[UEFA Europa League]]</ref>||0||0||0||37||2
|-
|[[2012–13 Primeira Liga|2012–13]]
|Primeira Liga
|25||2||2||0||5||1||7<ref group=lower-alpha name=UCL>Appearances in [[UEFA Champions League]]</ref>||1||1<ref group=lower-alpha name=PSC>Appearance in [[Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira]]</ref>||0||40||4
|-
|[[2013–14 Primeira Liga|2013–14]]
|Primeira Liga
|16||0||6||1||4||0||9<ref group=lower-alpha name=POR2>Five appearances in [[UEFA Champions League]], four in [[UEFA Europa League]]</ref>||0||1<ref group=lower-alpha name=PSC/>||0||36||1
|-
!colspan=2|Total
!65||3||10||2||12||1||24||1||2||0||113||7
|-
|rowspan=4|[[R.S.C. Anderlecht|Anderlecht]]
|[[2014–15 Belgian Pro League|2014–15]]
|Belgian Pro League
|29||6||4||1||colspan=2|—||6<ref group=lower-alpha name=AND>Four appearances in [[UEFA Champions League]], two in [[UEFA Europa League]]</ref>||0||colspan=2|—||39||7
|-
|[[2015–16 Belgian Pro League|2015–16]]
|Belgian Pro League
|32||2||1||1||colspan=2|—||9<ref group=lower-alpha name=UEL/>||0||colspan=2|—||42||3
|-
|[[2016–17 Belgian First Division A|2016–17]]
|Belgian First Division A
|2||1||colspan=2|—||colspan=2|—||2<ref group=lower-alpha name=UCL/>||0||colspan=2|—||4||1
|-
!colspan=2|Total
!63||9||5||2||colspan=2|—||17||0||colspan=2|—||85||11
|-
|rowspan=4|[[Burnley F.C.|Burnley]]
|[[2016–17 Burnley F.C. season|2016–17]]
|[[Premier League]]
|21||1||3||1||0||0||colspan=2|—||colspan=2|—||24||2
|-
|[[2017–18 Burnley F.C. season|2017–18]]
|Premier League
|24||1||0||0||1||0||colspan=2|—||colspan=2|—||25||1
|-
|[[2018–19 Burnley F.C. season|2018–19]]
|Premier League
|6||0||2||0||1||0||0||0||colspan=2|—||9||0
|-
!colspan=2|Total
!51||2||5||1||2||0||0||0||colspan=2|—||58||3
|-
|[[Royal Antwerp F.C.|Royal Antwerp]]
|[[2019–20 Royal Antwerp F.C. season|2019–20]]
|Belgian First Division A
|11||0||1||0||colspan=2|—||colspan=2|—||colspan=2|—||12||0
|-
|[[K.V. Mechelen|Mechelen]]
|[[2020–21 K.V. Mechelen season|2020–21]]
|Belgian First Division A
|16||0||3||0||colspan=2|—||colspan=2|—||colspan=2|—||19||0
|-
!colspan=3|Career total
!363||28||42||7||14||1||62||1||4||0||485||37
|}
{{Reflist|group=lower-alpha}}

===International===
[[File:Defour Mirallas Fellaini v USA.jpg|thumb|right|Defour (left) with [[Belgium national football team|Belgian]] teammates [[Kevin Mirallas]] (middle) and [[Marouane Fellaini]] before a [[Exhibition match|friendly]] against the [[United States national men's soccer team|United States]] on 29 May 2013]]
{| class=wikitable style="text-align: center;"
|+ Appearances and goals by national team and year<ref name=EU>{{cite web|url=http://eu-football.info/_player.php?id=25581|title=Steven Defour|publisher=European Football|access-date=18 August 2016}}</ref>
|-
!National team||Year||Apps||Goals
|-
|rowspan=11|[[Belgium national football team|Belgium]]
|2006||3||0
|-
|2007||9||0
|-
|2008||6||1
|-
|2009||5||0
|-
|2010||4||0
|-
|2011||5||0
|-
|2012||5||0
|-
|2013||5||1
|-
|2014||6||0
|-
|2016||3||0
|-
|2017||1||0
|-
! colspan=2|Total||52||2
|}

:''Scores and results list Belgium's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Defour goal.''<ref name=EU/>
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
|+ International goals by date, venue, cap, opponent, score, result and competition
|-
!scope=col|No.
!scope=col data-sort-type=date|Date
!scope=col|Venue
!scope=col|Cap
!scope=col|Opponent
!scope=col|Score
!scope=col|Result
!scope=col|Competition
|-
!scope=row|1
|6 September 2008||[[Stade Maurice Dufrasne]], [[Liège]], Belgium||15||{{fb|EST}}||2–1||3–2||[[2010 FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA)|2010 World Cup qualification]]
|-
!scope=row|2
|6 September 2013||[[Hampden Park]], [[Glasgow]], Scotland||39||{{fb|SCO}}||1–0||2–0||[[2014 FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA)|2014 World Cup qualification]]
|}

==Managerial statistics==
{{updated|match played 31 October 2023}}<ref name=SW>{{Soccerway coach|steven-defour/13523}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
|+Managerial record by team and tenure
|-
!rowspan="2"|Team
!rowspan="2"|Nat
!rowspan="2"|From
!rowspan="2"|To
!colspan="8"|Record
|-
!{{Tooltip|G|Games managed}}
!{{Tooltip|W|Games won}}
!{{Tooltip|D|Games drawn}}
!{{Tooltip|L|Games lost}}
!{{Tooltip|GF|Goals for}}
!{{Tooltip|GA|Goals against}}
!{{Tooltip|GD|Goal difference}}
!{{Tooltip|Win %|Winning percentage}}
|-
|[[K.V. Mechelen|Mechelen]]
|{{flagicon|Belgium}}
| 17 October 2022
| 2 November 2023
{{WDL|41|15|9|17|for=50|against=62|diff=yes}}
|-
! colspan=4|Career totals
{{WDLtot|41|15|9|17|for=50|against=62|diff=yes}}
|}

==Honours==
'''Standard Liège'''
*[[Belgian Pro League]]: [[2007–08 Belgian First Division|2007–08]], [[2008–09 Belgian First Division|2008–09]]<ref name=SW/>
*[[Belgian Cup]]: [[2010–11 Belgian Cup|2010–11]]<ref name=SW/>
*[[Belgian Supercup]]: [[2008 Belgian Super Cup|2008]], [[2009 Belgian Super Cup|2009]]<ref name=SW/>

'''Porto'''
*[[Primeira Liga]]: [[2011–12 Primeira Liga|2011–12]], [[2012–13 Primeira Liga|2012–13]]<ref name=SW/>
*[[Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira]]: [[2012 Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira|2012]], [[2013 Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira|2013]]<ref name=SW/>

'''Individual'''
*[[Belgian Golden Shoe]]: 2007<ref name=RSSSF/>
*[[:nl:Man van het Seizoen|Belgian First Division Man of the Season]]: 2007–08<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.football-the-story.com/homme-de-la-saison-belge|title=Homme de la saison belge|trans-title=Belgian man of the season|publisher=Football The Story|language=fr|access-date=24 September 2022}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
*{{ForaDeJogo}}
*{{Soccerbase}}
*{{RBFA player|PH_5167}}
*{{NFT player}}
*{{FIFA player}}

{{Belgium squad 2014 FIFA World Cup}}
{{Belgian Golden Shoe}}
{{K.V. Mechelen managers}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Defour, Steven}}
[[Category:1988 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:21st-century Belgian sportsmen]]
[[Category:Belgian men's footballers]]
[[Category:Footballers from Mechelen]]
[[Category:Men's association football midfielders]]
[[Category:Belgian Pro League players]]
[[Category:K.R.C. Genk players]]
[[Category:Standard Liège players]]
[[Category:R.S.C. Anderlecht players]]
[[Category:Royal Antwerp F.C. players]]
[[Category:K.V. Mechelen players]]
[[Category:Primeira Liga players]]
[[Category:FC Porto players]]
[[Category:Premier League players]]
[[Category:Burnley F.C. players]]
[[Category:Belgium men's youth international footballers]]
[[Category:Belgium men's international footballers]]
[[Category:2014 FIFA World Cup players]]
[[Category:Belgian expatriate men's footballers]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Portugal]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in England]]
[[Category:Belgian expatriate sportspeople in Portugal]]
[[Category:Belgian expatriate sportspeople in England]]
[[Category:Belgian football managers]]
[[Category:Belgian Pro League managers]]
[[Category:K.V. Mechelen managers]]