Arjan de Zeeuw facts for kids
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Adrianus Johannes de Zeeuw | ||
| Date of birth | 16 April 1970 | ||
| Place of birth | Castricum, Netherlands | ||
| Height | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | ||
| Position(s) | Centre back | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Vitesse '22 | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1992–1995 | Telstar | 102 | (5) |
| 1995–1999 | Barnsley | 138 | (7) |
| 1999–2002 | Wigan Athletic | 130 | (6) |
| 2002–2005 | Portsmouth | 106 | (5) |
| 2005–2007 | Wigan Athletic | 52 | (0) |
| 2007–2008 | Coventry City | 17 | (0) |
| 2008–2009 | ADO '20 | 12 | (0) |
| Total | 557 | (23) | |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Adrianus Johannes "Arjan" de Zeeuw, born on April 16, 1970, is a former professional footballer from the Netherlands. He was a strong centre-back during his career.
Arjan started his football journey with Telstar in the Netherlands. He then spent most of his career playing in England. He was a key player in the Premier League for both Barnsley and Portsmouth. He helped his teams get promoted to the top league in 1997 and 2003. He also played for Wigan Athletic and Coventry City. Arjan retired from football in 2009 after a short time back in the Netherlands with ADO '20.
Contents
Arjan's Football Journey
Starting in the Netherlands
Arjan de Zeeuw was born in Castricum, North Holland. He began his football career playing for an amateur team called Vitesse '22. While playing, he also studied to get a degree in medical science.
When he was 22, Arjan decided to become a professional footballer. He signed with Telstar, a team in the Eerste Divisie (a Dutch league). In 1995, he thought about quitting football. This was because he felt Telstar asked for too much money for him to move to another team, Utrecht. But he decided to stay with Telstar for one more year.
Moving to England: Barnsley
Later in 1995, Barnsley in England became interested in Arjan. They signed him for about £250,000 during the 1995–96 season. In December 1995, he scored his first goal in English football. It was in a 2–2 draw against Ipswich Town.
Arjan was a very important player for Barnsley. He helped the team get promoted to the Premier League in the 1996–97 season. This was a big achievement! The next year, Barnsley was relegated, meaning they moved down a league. Arjan almost left the club, but the new manager, John Hendrie, convinced him to stay for another year. After his contract ended in 1999, he moved to Wigan Athletic.
Success with Wigan Athletic
At Wigan, Arjan quickly became a key player. He was very reliable in defense. He was so good that he won the club's Player of the Year award in both 2001 and 2002. His contract with Wigan ended in 2002.
Joining Portsmouth and Becoming Captain
After leaving Wigan, Arjan moved to Portsmouth for free. He was a big part of the Portsmouth team that won the First Division championship in 2003. This meant they were promoted to the Premier League!
Arjan continued to play very well in Portsmouth's first season in the FA Premier League. Fans loved his performances and voted him Portsmouth Player of the Year. For the 2004–05 season, he was given the captain's armband. He led the team to avoid relegation, even after their manager, Harry Redknapp, left.
Returning to Wigan Athletic
In the summer of 2005, Arjan returned to Wigan Athletic. He wanted to be sure he would play regularly, which was important to him as an experienced player. Many Portsmouth fans were sad to see their former captain leave. Arjan had a very strong season with Wigan, helping them finish well in the league. Even the Prime Minister at the time, Tony Blair, praised him!
Arjan is known for being a very professional player. He showed great sportsmanship and focus during a match in November 2004. He remained calm and then scored the winning goal for Portsmouth in their 1–0 victory.
In Wigan's second season in the Premier League, Arjan faced some injuries. This made it harder for him to play regularly. He left the club on May 17, 2007. While at Wigan, he played in the 2006 Football League Cup Final. Fans even voted him the best player of all time for Wigan Athletic in a special poll.
Final Years in Football
In June 2007, Arjan signed a one-year contract with Coventry City. He had a bit of bad luck during pre-season training, getting an injury that kept him out for a few weeks. He made his debut on September 15, 2007, against Bristol City. Towards the end of the 2007–08 season, it was announced that his contract would not be renewed. Injuries and a change in manager meant he was no longer needed by the club.
In 2009, Arjan signed with ADO'20, a team back in the Netherlands, before retiring from professional football.
Life After Football
After retiring from football in 2009, Arjan de Zeeuw started a new career. He became an investigative detective in Alkmaar, Netherlands. He specializes in forensics, which means he uses scientific methods to solve crimes.
Awards and Achievements
Team Honours
- Wigan Athletic
- Football League Cup runner-up: 2005–06
Individual Awards
- Barnsley F.C.|Barnsley Player of the Year: 1995–96
- PFA Team of the Year: 2000–01 Second Division, 2001–02 Second Division
