Alexander Büttner

Alexander Büttner (born 11 February 1989) is a Dutch professional footballer who plays as a left-back for club De Graafschap.

Born in Doetinchem, Büttner began his career with local club VV Doetinchem, but spent his formative years with Ajax before joining Vitesse at the age of 16 in 2005.

This turned out to be his only appearance in the 2007–08 season.

After progressing through the ranks at the youth system and reserves, Büttner made his professional debut for Vitesse on 15 March 2008 against Twente after coming on as a substitute for Haim Megrelashvili in the sixth minute following his poor performance.

However, after coming on as a substitute for Megrelashvili, he played until he received a straight red card after a second bookable offence, in a 4–3 loss.

In the 2008–09 season, Büttner then made his first start for the club, where he played the whole game, in a 1–1 draw against Sparta Rotterdam on 20 September 2008.

Having established himself in the starting eleven, Büttner then scored his first goal for the club in a 3–1 home win over Volendam on 20 December 2008.

Although he appeared on the substitute bench as the season progressed, Büttner regained his first team place and went on to score two goals in two matches between 18 April 2009 and 26 April 2009 against AZ and Utrecht.

At the end of the season, Büttner went on to make twenty-three appearances and scoring three times in all competitions.

In the 2009–10 season, Büttner signed his contract and continued to be involved in the first team, competing with Jeroen Drost and Gino Felixdaal over the left-back position, although he spent time the first half of the season, coming on as a substitute.

Büttner soon managed his left-back position in the first team and went on to score two goals later in the season against Groningen and Roda JC.

At the end of the 2009–10 season, Büttner made twenty-nine appearances and scored two times in all competitions.

In the 2010–11 season, Büttner fully established himself as a left back in the first team.

His performance soon attracted interests clubs around Europe from Polish clubs Legia Warsaw and Lech Poznań, but the transfer move never happened and because of this, he appeared on the substitute bench since the end of January, as well as, his own injury concerns.

He managed to regain his first team place after the failed transfer move and went on to make twenty-five appearances in all competitions.

With his contract expiring at the end of the season, the club opened negotiations with Büttner over a new contract.

Eventually, Büttner signed a contract extension, keeping him until 2011.

In the 2011–12 season, Büttner started the season well when he set up two goals, in a 2–1 win over Utrecht on 20 August 2011, followed up by scoring his first goal of the season, in a 4–1 loss against Ajax.

Three weeks later, on 17 September 2011, Büttner scored his second goal of the season, in a 5–0 win over Roda JC.

Throughout the season, he continued to be in a regular first team, playing either left-back and left-midfielder.

Because of this, his performance further attracted interests from clubs, such as, Arizona and Twente.

It wasn't until on 12 April 2012 when he scored his third goal of the season, in a 3–1 win over VVV-Venlo.

On 28 April 2012, Büttner scored a brace, in a 3–2 win over Excelsior.

Although he suffered a toe injury in the next game, Büttner returned to the next game from injury in the last game of the season, in a 3–1 loss against Ajax.

At the end of the season, Büttner went on to make thirty-nine appearances and scoring five times in all competitions.

For his performance, Büttner was voted by the fans as Vitesse player of the year.

On 6 July 2012, Vitesse agreed a fee with Southampton over the transfer of Büttner to the English club, subject to a medical.

The proposed move to Southampton was subsequently halted "due to an unspecified 'demand' from an unnamed third party"; this was believed to be a claim for a percentage of the transfer fee.

On 21 August 2012, Büttner signed a five-year contract with Manchester United, where he was given the number 28 shirt.

Büttner made his league debut on 15 September, setting up the second goal and scoring the third, in a 4–0 home win against Wigan Athletic.

His performance gained him the man of the match award.

On 23 October, he made his UEFA club competition debut in a 3–2 home victory over Braga in the group stage of the 2012–13 UEFA Champions League.

On 5 January, Büttner made his FA Cup debut in a 2–2 draw against West Ham United.

United went on to win the Premier League and Büttner received a winner's medal by a special dispensation given by the manager.

He scored his second goal for Manchester United on the final day of the season in a dramatic 5–5 draw against West Bromwich Albion.

After collecting a pass from Tom Cleverley in the inside left channel, he drove into the penalty area and fired a low shot into the far corner.

Büttner said he credited his girlfriend and brother with helping him overcome homesickness.

In the 2013–14 season, Büttner struggled to regain his first-team place in his second season at the club, as France international Patrice Evra was preferred at left-back under the management of David Moyes.

In the summer transfer window, he was expected to leave the club on loan to Beşiktaş, but Moyes blocked the move from happening.

Büttner then made his first appearance of the season on 25 September 2013, playing at left-back in a 1–0 win over Liverpool in the second round of League Cup.