Eljero Elia facts for kids
Elia in 2012
|
||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 13 February 1987 | |||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Voorburg, Netherlands | |||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.76 m | |||||||||||||||
| Playing position | Winger | |||||||||||||||
| Youth career | ||||||||||||||||
| SV Voorburg | ||||||||||||||||
| TONEGIDO | ||||||||||||||||
| 1996–2000 | ADO Den Haag | |||||||||||||||
| 2000–2002 | Ajax | |||||||||||||||
| 2002–2004 | ADO Den Haag | |||||||||||||||
| Senior career* | ||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† | |||||||||||||
| 2004–2007 | ADO Den Haag | 59 | (6) | |||||||||||||
| 2007–2009 | Twente | 64 | (11) | |||||||||||||
| 2009–2011 | Hamburger SV | 52 | (7) | |||||||||||||
| 2011–2012 | Juventus | 4 | (0) | |||||||||||||
| 2012–2015 | Werder Bremen | 66 | (4) | |||||||||||||
| 2015 | → Southampton (loan) | 16 | (2) | |||||||||||||
| 2015–2017 | Feyenoord | 55 | (17) | |||||||||||||
| 2017–2020 | İstanbul Başakşehir | 68 | (9) | |||||||||||||
| 2020–2021 | Utrecht | 21 | (2) | |||||||||||||
| 2021–2022 | ADO Den Haag | 9 | (0) | |||||||||||||
| Total | 414 | (58) | ||||||||||||||
| National team | ||||||||||||||||
| 2006–2008 | Netherlands U21 | 7 | (1) | |||||||||||||
| 2008 | Netherlands B | 1 | (0) | |||||||||||||
| 2009–2018 | Netherlands | 30 | (2) | |||||||||||||
|
Honours
|
||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||
Eljero George Rinaldo Elia (born 13 February 1987) is a Dutch former professional footballer. He played as a winger, which means he played mostly on the sides of the field.
Elia started his professional career at ADO Den Haag in the Netherlands. He then played for Twente before moving to clubs in other countries. These clubs included Hamburger SV in Germany, Juventus in Italy, and Werder Bremen in Germany.
In 2015, he returned to his home country to play for Feyenoord. Later, in 2017, he moved to İstanbul Başakşehir in Turkey.
Elia scored a goal in his first game for the Netherlands in September 2009. He was also part of the Dutch team that reached the final of the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.
Contents
Club Career Highlights
Starting His Football Journey
Eljero Elia was born in Voorburg, Netherlands. As a young player, he played for local teams like SV Voorburg and TONEGIDO. In 1996, when he was nine, Elia joined the youth system of ADO Den Haag.
He later moved to Ajax in 2000. Elia enjoyed his time at Ajax, saying he loved playing for the club. He felt the "Amsterdam bluff" suited him, enjoying challenging opponents on the field. After two years, he left Ajax and rejoined ADO Den Haag's youth team.
Playing for ADO Den Haag
Elia made his first professional appearance for ADO Den Haag on 23 January 2005. He was just 17 years old. In his fourth game, on 8 May, he scored his first goal, which helped his team win 2–1 against AZ. In his first season, he played four matches and scored one goal.
In his second season (2005–06), Elia became a regular player. He scored his first goal of that season in a 2–2 draw against Ajax. By the end of the season, he had played 30 games and scored 2 goals.
He continued to play well in the 2006–07 season, scoring three goals in 37 appearances. However, ADO Den Haag was relegated to a lower league. Elia decided to leave the club at the end of that season.
Success with Twente
After leaving ADO Den Haag, Elia joined Twente on 29 May 2007. He signed a three-year contract with the club.
He made his debut for Twente on 26 August 2007. Elia quickly became an important player, first coming off the bench and then earning a spot in the starting team. He scored his first goal for Twente on 8 February 2008 against Heracles Almelo. He also helped Twente qualify for the UEFA Champions League by winning a play-off against Ajax. In his first season, he played 36 games and scored two goals.
In the 2008–09 season, Elia continued to shine under new coach Steve McClaren. He scored three goals in the first three league matches. He also scored his first European goal in a game against Manchester City. In January 2009, he signed a new contract with Twente until 2013.
Elia scored 10 goals that season, including one in the Dutch Cup final, which Twente unfortunately lost on penalties. He played 47 games and scored 14 goals in all competitions. For his great performance, Elia was named the Dutch Football Talent of the Year for 2009.
Time at Hamburger SV
On 5 July 2009, Elia moved to German club Hamburger SV for €8.5 million. He signed a five-year contract. He was excited to join a top German club and hoped it would help him stay in the Dutch national team for the World Cup.
Elia made his debut for Hamburger SV on the first day of the season. He scored his first goal for the club on 23 August 2009 in a 4–2 win. He quickly became a key player, often playing in midfield or as a striker. He also scored his first Europa League goal.
In December 2009, he scored two goals in a 4–0 win, with one goal being named the Bundesliga Goal of the Month. Despite some minor injuries, Elia played 35 games and scored five goals in his first season.
In his second season (2010–11), Elia had some injuries and played less often. He scored two goals in December 2010. He made 25 appearances and scored two goals that season. By the end of the 2010–11 season, Elia was looking to move to another club.
Short Stay at Juventus
On 31 August 2011, Juventus in Italy signed Elia on a four-year contract for €9 million.
He made his debut for Juventus on 25 September 2011. He also helped Juventus win a cup match by setting up a goal. However, he found it hard to get regular playing time because of strong competition in the team.
Juventus won the Serie A title that season without losing a game, which was a great achievement. Elia made only five appearances for the club. After the season, he decided he wanted to leave Juventus to play more often.
Playing for Werder Bremen
On 9 July 2012, Elia joined Werder Bremen in Germany. He signed a four-year contract for €5.5 million. He was happy to return to the German league, which he knew well.
Elia scored in his first game for Werder Bremen in a cup match. He quickly became a regular player, usually on the left wing. However, he faced some challenges adapting to the team's style and received some criticism.
In the 2012–13 season, he played 25 games and scored one goal.
For the 2013–14 season, Elia continued to be an important player for Werder Bremen. He scored his first league goals for the club in September 2013. He scored four goals and made 33 appearances that season. His performance improved, and the club decided to keep him.
In the 2014–15 season, Elia started well by assisting a goal in the opening game. However, he was later dropped from the squad due to poor performance. By January 2015, he had made 10 appearances before leaving the club.
Loan to Southampton
On 23 December 2014, Elia joined Southampton in England on loan until the end of the season. He was excited to play in the Premier League and work with coach Ronald Koeman.
He made his Premier League debut on 11 January 2015 against Manchester United. Elia scored his first two goals for Southampton in a 2–1 win against Newcastle United on 17 January. He played 17 games and scored two goals during his loan spell. Elia wanted to stay at Southampton permanently, but the club decided not to sign him.
Winning Trophies with Feyenoord
On 6 August 2015, Elia signed a two-year contract with Dutch club Feyenoord. He was happy to join the team, feeling a connection with the city of Rotterdam.
He made his debut for Feyenoord on 30 August 2015. In his next game, he scored his first goal for the club. Elia quickly became a key player for Feyenoord, playing on the left wing. He scored eight goals in 37 appearances in the 2015–16 season. He also helped Feyenoord win the KNVB Cup in April 2016, which was the club's 12th title.
Before the 2016–17 season, Elia extended his contract with Feyenoord. He started the season strongly by scoring three goals in a 5–0 win. Despite a shoulder injury that kept him out for two months, he returned and continued to play well.
Elia scored 10 goals in 31 appearances that season. He played a big part in Feyenoord winning the Eredivisie title in the last game of the season. This was a huge achievement for the club. After this success, Elia decided he wanted to play abroad again.
Moving to İstanbul Başakşehir
On 13 June 2017, Elia joined Turkish club İstanbul Başakşehir. He signed a three-year contract.
He made an immediate impact, scoring in his debut game on 26 July 2017 in a UEFA Champions League qualifier. He also scored the only goal in his first Süper Lig game on 11 August 2017. Elia continued to score important goals, including two in the Champions League play-offs.
He quickly became a regular player for İstanbul Başakşehir. Despite a shoulder injury, he returned to score three goals in March and April 2018. He finished the 2017–18 season with eight goals in 32 appearances.
In the 2018–19 season, Elia faced more injuries, which affected his playing time. He scored one goal that season. İstanbul Başakşehir finished second in the league.
For the 2019–20 season, Elia continued to contribute. He scored his first goal of the season in December 2019. After the season was paused due to the COVID-19 pandemic, he scored two more goals when games resumed. Elia helped İstanbul Başakşehir win the Süper Lig title for the first time in the club's history. This was a major goal he achieved.
Elia's contract with İstanbul Başakşehir ended in August 2020, and he became a free agent.
Playing for FC Utrecht
On 19 August 2020, Elia signed a two-year contract with Utrecht in the Netherlands. He was happy to return to his home country and join a club with big ambitions.
He made his debut for Utrecht on 18 September 2020. Elia scored his first goal for Utrecht on 22 December 2020. He scored again in the next game. However, he suffered a hamstring injury in January 2021, which kept him out for several months. He returned in April 2021 and played in the remaining matches of the season. He made 23 appearances and scored two goals.
On 30 July 2021, Elia's contract with Utrecht ended by mutual agreement.
Return to ADO Den Haag and Retirement
In late 2021, Elia began training with his former club, ADO Den Haag, who were playing in the second-tier league. On 18 November 2021, he signed a contract with them until the end of the season.
However, in January 2022, he suffered a serious ankle injury that required surgery. This injury prevented him from playing for the rest of the season. Eljero Elia officially announced his retirement from professional football in late 2022.
International Career
Youth Teams
Elia played for several Dutch youth national teams. In March 2005, he was called up to the Netherlands U19 team. He scored his first goals for the U19 team in May 2005. Overall, he made 10 appearances and scored six goals for the U19 team.
In 2006, Elia was selected for the Netherlands U21 team. He scored a penalty in his debut for the U21 team on 15 August 2006. He made seven appearances and scored two goals for the U21 team.
He also played for the Netherlands U20 team, making five appearances and scoring two goals.
Senior National Team
.jpg)
Elia was first called up to the Netherlands senior squad in May 2009.
He made his debut for the Netherlands on 6 September 2009 in a friendly match against Japan. He came on as a substitute and helped set up two goals in a 3–0 win. In his second game, on 9 September 2009, Elia scored the only goal to win a match against Scotland. He scored his second international goal in a 6–1 friendly win over Hungary.
In May 2010, Elia was chosen for the 23-man squad for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. In the first match of the tournament, he came on as a substitute and helped create a goal in a 2–0 win against Denmark. He often came on as a substitute during the tournament. In the final, Elia came on in the 71st minute, as the Netherlands finished as runners-up to Spain.
After the World Cup, Elia continued to be called up to the national team. He helped the team qualify for the UEFA Euro 2012. After some time away from the national team, he returned in October 2012, playing in wins against Romania and a draw against Germany.
In May 2018, Elia was called up again and made two more appearances for the Netherlands. As of June 2018, he had played 30 games and scored two goals for the national team.
Personal Life and Interests
Eljero Elia was born in the Netherlands and grew up in The Hague. His family background is Surinamese. His first name is a tribute to the jazz singer Al Jarreau, who was his sister's favorite. As a child, he looked up to the famous footballer Romário.
Elia is a religious person. He became a father for the first time when his daughter was born. In November 2012, he welcomed his second daughter, and in 2019, his first son was born. In June 2015, Elia married his long-term girlfriend, Sanne.
Elia can speak Dutch, German, and English. He has also ventured into business outside of football. Along with other footballers, he helped create a brand called BALR.. He also started his own record label, called The Culture.
Career Statistics
Club Appearances
| Club | Season | League | Cup | Continental | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| ADO Den Haag | 2004–05 | Eredivisie | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | 4 | 1 | |
| 2005–06 | 30 | 2 | 0 | 0 | — | 30 | 2 | |||
| 2006–07 | 25 | 3 | 1 | 0 | — | 26 | 3 | |||
| Total | 59 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 60 | 6 | ||||
| Twente | 2007–08 | Eredivisie | 30 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 36 | 2 |
| 2008–09 | 34 | 9 | 5 | 4 | 8 | 1 | 47 | 14 | ||
| Total | 64 | 11 | 5 | 4 | 14 | 1 | 83 | 16 | ||
| Hamburger SV | 2009–10 | Bundesliga | 24 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 10 | 1 | 35 | 6 |
| 2010–11 | 24 | 2 | 1 | 0 | — | 25 | 2 | |||
| 2011–12 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 5 | 0 | |||
| Total | 52 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 10 | 1 | 65 | 8 | ||
| Juventus | 2011–12 | Serie A | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 5 | 0 | |
| Werder Bremen | 2012–13 | Bundesliga | 24 | 0 | 1 | 1 | — | 25 | 1 | |
| 2013–14 | 33 | 4 | 0 | 0 | — | 33 | 4 | |||
| 2014–15 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 10 | 0 | |||
| Total | 66 | 4 | 2 | 1 | — | 68 | 5 | |||
| Southampton (loan) | 2014–15 | Premier League | 16 | 2 | 1 | 0 | — | 17 | 2 | |
| Feyenoord | 2015–16 | Eredivisie | 31 | 8 | 6 | 0 | — | 37 | 8 | |
| 2016–17 | 24 | 9 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 31 | 10 | ||
| Total | 55 | 17 | 10 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 68 | 18 | ||
| İstanbul Başakşehir | 2017–18 | Süper Lig | 24 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 3 | 32 | 8 |
| 2018–19 | 21 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 24 | 1 | ||
| 2019–20 | 23 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 30 | 3 | ||
| Total | 68 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 16 | 3 | 86 | 12 | ||
| Utrecht | 2020–21 | Eredivisie | 21 | 2 | 2 | 0 | — | 23 | 2 | |
| ADO Den Haag | 2021–22 | Eerste Divisie | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 4 | 0 | |
| Career total | 409 | 60 | 27 | 6 | 42 | 5 | 467 | 69 | ||
International Goals Scored
- Updated to games played 27 March 2015.
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 9 September 2009 | Hampden Park, Glasgow, Scotland |  Scotland |
1–0 | 1–0 | 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 2 | 5 June 2010 | Amsterdam ArenA, Amsterdam, Netherlands |  Hungary |
5–1 | 6–1 | Friendly |
Honours and Awards
Juventus
- Serie A: 2011–12 (Italian League Champions)
Feyenoord
- Eredivisie: 2016–17 (Dutch League Champions)
- KNVB Cup: 2015–16 (Dutch Cup Winners)
İstanbul Başakşehir
- Süper Lig: 2019–20 (Turkish League Champions)
Netherlands National Team
- FIFA World Cup runner-up: 2010 (Second Place)
Individual Awards
- Johan Cruyff Trophy: 2008–09 (Award for the best young player in the Dutch league)
- Bundesliga Goal of the Month: December 2009
- The Hague's Sportsman of the Year: 2016
See also
In Spanish: Eljero Elia para niños
