Eljero Elia facts for kids
Elia in 2012
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| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Eljero George Rinaldo Elia | |||||||||||||||
| Date of birth | 13 February 1987 | |||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Voorburg, Netherlands | |||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.76 m (5 ft 9 in) | |||||||||||||||
| Position(s) | 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) | ||||||||||||||
| International career | ||||||||||||||||
| 2006–2008 | Netherlands U21 | 7 | (1) | |||||||||||||
| 2008 | Netherlands B | 1 | (0) | |||||||||||||
| 2009–2018 | Netherlands | 30 | (2) | |||||||||||||
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Medal record
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| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | ||||||||||||||||
Eljero George Rinaldo Elia (born 13 February 1987) is a Dutch former professional footballer. He played as a winger, which means he was a fast player who ran down 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 big clubs in other countries. These clubs included Hamburger SV in Germany, Juventus in Italy, and Werder Bremen in Germany. In 2015, he returned to the Netherlands to play for Feyenoord. Later, he moved to İstanbul Başakşehir in Turkey in 2017.
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
- International Career
- Personal Life
- Career Statistics
- Football Achievements
- See also
Club Career Highlights
Starting His Football Journey
Eljero Elia was born in Voorburg, Netherlands. As a young boy, 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 then moved to Ajax in 2000, which is a very famous Dutch club.
Elia loved playing for Ajax as a kid. He enjoyed challenging opponents and showing off his skills. However, he was later told he couldn't stay at Ajax. He felt very sad about this. He then rejoined the youth system of ADO Den Haag two years later. His youth coach, Carlos Roeleveld, quickly saw that Elia was a special player.
Playing for ADO Den Haag
Elia made his first professional appearance for ADO Den Haag on 23 January 2005. He was only 17 years old. In his fourth game, on 8 May, he scored his first goal against AZ, which helped his team win 2–1. In his first season, he played four matches and scored one goal.
In his second season (2005–06), Elia became a regular player in the team's midfield. He scored his first goal of that season against Ajax on 21 September. By the end of the season, he had played 30 games and scored 2 goals.
Elia continued to play well in the 2006–07 season. He scored his first goal of that season on 28 October 2006. He scored two more goals in December 2006. He played 37 games and scored 3 goals that season. However, ADO Den Haag was moved down to a lower league. Elia decided to leave the club at the end of the season.
Moving to Twente
After leaving ADO Den Haag, Elia decided to join Twente. He signed a three-year contract with them on 29 May 2007.
He played his first game for Twente on 26 August 2007. Elia quickly started playing more and more for the first team. He scored his first goal for Twente on 8 February 2008. A month later, he scored again against Ajax. Twente also earned a spot in the UEFA Champions League after winning a play-off. In his first season, Elia played 36 games and scored two goals.
At the start of the 2008–09 season, Elia played in the UEFA Champions League qualifying rounds against Arsenal. He scored three goals in the first three league games of the season. Elia improved a lot under the new coach, Steve McClaren. He continued to be a regular player in midfield. He scored his first European goal on 6 November 2008. In January 2009, he signed a new five-year contract with Twente. He scored his tenth goal of the season on 4 February 2009.
Elia played 47 games and scored 14 goals in the 2008–09 season. He was named the Dutch Football Talent of the Year for 2009. This award showed he was a rising star in Europe. However, he decided he wanted to leave Twente at the end of the season to keep growing as a player.
Playing in Germany for Hamburger SV
On 5 July 2009, Elia joined the German club Hamburger SV (HSV). He signed a five-year contract. He was excited to join HSV, saying it was a great club in Germany. He hoped to improve his skills and stay with the Dutch national team for the World Cup.
Elia made his debut for HSV on 8 August 2009. Seven days later, he scored his first goal for the club in a 4–2 win. He also helped HSV reach the group stage of the UEFA Europa League. Elia quickly became a key player for HSV, playing in midfield or as a striker. He scored his first Europa League goal on 1 October 2009.
In November 2009, Elia scored his fourth goal of the season. However, he suffered an ankle injury later that month. He returned to play in December and scored two goals in a 4–0 win. One of these goals was named the Bundesliga Goal of the Month. He had another ankle injury that kept him out for a few weeks. Despite some injuries, Elia played 35 games and scored five goals in the 2009–10 season.
For the 2010–11 season, Elia was linked with other big clubs, but he decided to stay at Hamburg. He started the season well by setting up a goal. However, he had less playing time and suffered a heel injury while playing for his country. He returned in December 2010 and scored two goals in two matches. Elia played 25 games and scored two goals that season.
Before the 2011–12 season, Elia was expected to leave HSV. He made five appearances before agreeing to join Juventus.
Short Time at Juventus
On 31 August 2011, Juventus in Italy signed Elia on a four-year contract.
He made his debut for Juventus on 25 September 2011. He found it hard to get much playing time because of strong competition in midfield. Elia made only a few appearances for the club. However, Juventus won the Serie A title that season without losing a single game. After this, Elia decided he wanted to leave Juventus to play more regularly.
Back to Germany with Werder Bremen
On 9 July 2012, Werder Bremen in Germany signed Elia on a four-year contract. He was happy to return to the German league, which he knew well. He hoped to play well enough to get back into the national team.
Elia made his debut for Werder Bremen in a cup match and scored his first goal. He quickly became a regular player, usually on the left wing. However, he found it difficult to score goals in the league at first. He also faced some criticism from fans. In April 2013, Elia and a teammate were suspended by the club for speeding. He apologized for his actions. Despite some injuries, Elia played 25 games and scored one goal in the 2012–13 season.
For the 2013–14 season, Elia returned to the team. He started the first game and helped Werder Bremen win. He continued to play regularly in midfield or as a striker. He scored his first goals for Werder Bremen on 30 September 2013. He scored two more goals in November 2013. Elia played 33 games and scored four goals that season. His performance improved a lot.
In the 2014–15 season, Elia started well by assisting a goal. However, he was later dropped from the team after a poor performance. He also had some injuries. By the time he left the club in January, he had played 10 games.
Loan to Southampton
On 23 December 2014, Elia joined Southampton in England on a loan deal until the end of the season. He was excited to play in the Premier League.
On 11 January 2015, Elia made his Premier League debut for Southampton against Manchester United. He scored his first Premier League goals with two goals in a 2–1 win against Newcastle United on 17 January. He played regularly for Southampton for the rest of the season. Elia played 17 games and scored two goals. He wanted to stay at Southampton permanently, but the club decided not to sign him.
Returning to the Netherlands with Feyenoord
On 6 August 2015, Elia signed a two-year contract with Dutch club Feyenoord. He felt a connection with the city of Rotterdam and its people. He wanted to be a good example for the younger players.
Elia made his debut for Feyenoord on 30 August 2015. In his next game, he scored his first goal for the club. He quickly became a regular player on the left wing. He scored two goals in late September and early October 2015. In March 2016, he scored his fourth goal of the season. He scored several more goals in March and April. On 24 April 2016, Elia helped Feyenoord win the KNVB Cup, which was the club's 12th title. He played 37 games and scored eight goals in the 2015–16 season.
Before the 2016–17 season, Elia signed a one-year contract extension with Feyenoord. In the first game of the season, he scored three goals in a 5–0 win. However, he suffered a shoulder injury and was out for two months. He returned in October 2016 and helped his team get a draw against rivals Ajax. He scored his fourth goal of the season a few days later. Elia played a key role for Feyenoord, assisting and scoring goals to help them stay at the top of the league. On 16 April 2017, he scored his tenth goal of the season. In the last game of the season, Elia helped Feyenoord win the Eredivisie title for the 2016–17 season. He played 31 games and scored 10 goals that season.
After this success, Elia decided to leave Feyenoord to play abroad again. He was a fan favorite at Feyenoord, with supporters often chanting his name.
Playing in Turkey for İstanbul Başakşehir
On 13 June 2017, Elia joined Turkish club İstanbul Başakşehir.
He made his debut on 26 July 2017 in a UEFA Champions League qualifying match and scored his first goal. In the return game, he helped his team win and move to the next round. His first game in the Süper Lig (Turkish league) was on 11 August 2017, where he scored the only goal in a 1–0 win. Elia quickly became a regular player on the left wing. However, he suffered a shoulder injury that kept him out for two months. He returned in February 2018 and scored three goals in March and April. He played 32 games and scored eight goals in the 2017–18 season.
In the 2018–19 season, Elia had some injuries that affected his playing time. He scored one goal that season. İstanbul Başakşehir finished second in the league. He played 24 games and scored one goal.
For the 2019–20 season, Elia stayed at İstanbul Başakşehir. He had an injury in August 2019 but returned in September. He scored his first goal of the season in December 2019. He continued to play regularly until the season was paused due to the COVID-19 pandemic. When the season restarted, Elia scored in July 2020. A week later, he scored again. In a follow-up match, Elia helped his team win 1–0, which meant İstanbul Başakşehir won the Süper Lig title for the first time ever. He played 30 games and scored three goals that season.
It was announced that Elia would leave İstanbul Başakşehir when his contract ended in August 2020.
Joining 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 felt that Utrecht had a good plan for him.
Elia made his first appearance for FC Utrecht on 18 September 2020. He found himself playing in and out of the starting team. He scored his first goal for Utrecht on 22 December 2020. In the next game, he scored again. In January 2021, Elia suffered a hamstring injury that kept him out for several weeks. He returned in April 2021. He played 23 games and scored two goals in the 2020–21 season.
On 30 July 2021, Elia's contract with Utrecht ended by agreement.
Final Return to ADO Den Haag
In the autumn of 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. In January 2022, he suffered an ankle injury that required surgery and kept him from playing for the rest of the season. Elia officially announced that he was retiring from playing football in late 2022.
International Career
Playing for Youth Teams
In March 2005, Elia was called up to the Netherlands national under-19 team. He made his debut and scored his first goals for the U19 team in May 2005. He played 10 games and scored six goals for the U19 team.
In early 2006, Elia was selected for the Netherlands U21 team. He made his debut on 15 August 2006 and scored a goal from a penalty. He played seven games and scored two goals for the U21 team.
On 7 February 2007, Elia played for the Netherlands U20 team. He scored his first goals for the U20 team in March 2007. He played five games and scored two goals for the U20 team.
Playing for the Senior National Team
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In May 2009, Elia was included in the Netherlands senior squad. On 6 September 2009, he made his debut for the Netherlands 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 the match against Scotland. He scored his second international goal in a 6–1 win against 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 set up a goal in a 2–0 win against Denmark. He continued to play as a substitute throughout the tournament. In the final, Elia came on as a substitute, and the Netherlands finished as runners-up to Spain.
After the World Cup, Elia continued to be called up for the Netherlands team. He helped the team qualify for the UEFA Euro 2012. After some time away, he returned to the national team in October 2012. He made his first appearance in over a year against Romania. In May 2018, Elia was called up again and made two more appearances for the national team. By June 2018, he had played 30 games and scored two goals for the Netherlands.
Personal Life
Eljero Elia was born in the Netherlands and grew up in The Hague. His family has roots in Suriname. His first name is a tribute to the jazz singer Al Jarreau. 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. In 2019, his first son was born. In June 2015, Elia married his long-time girlfriend, Sanne.
Elia speaks Dutch, German, and English. He has described himself as an "emotional footballer" who plays with a lot of passion. Along with other footballers, he co-founded a brand called BALR.. He also started a record label called The Culture.
Career Statistics
Club Appearances and Goals
| 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
- Goals scored for the Netherlands national team.
| 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 |
Football Achievements
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
