Hedwiges Maduro facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Hedwiges Maduro

Maduro managing Almere City in 2024
Personal information
Full name	Hedwiges Eduard Martinus Maduro
Date of birth	(1985-02-13) 13 February 1985 (age 40)
Place of birth	Almere, Netherlands
Height	1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Position(s)	Defensive midfielder, centre-back
Youth career
1991–1996	ASC Waterwijk
1996–2001	Sporting Flevoland
2001–2003	Omniworld
2003–2004	Ajax
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2004–2008	Ajax	70	(9)
2008–2012	Valencia	76	(2)
2012–2014	Sevilla	26	(0)
2014–2015	PAOK	19	(3)
2015–2017	Groningen	32	(1)
2017–2018	Omonia	28	(1)
Total		251	(16)
International career
2005–2007	Netherlands U21	9	(1)
2005–2011	Netherlands	18	(0)
Managerial career
2020–2022	Almere City U21
2023	Ajax (caretaker)
2024	Almere City
Medal record Men's football Representing  Netherlands UEFA European Under-21 Championship Winner 2007
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Hedwiges Eduard Martinus Maduro, born on February 13, 1985, is a Dutch football coach and former player. He recently left his role as head coach of Eredivisie club Almere City. During his playing career, he mostly played as a defensive midfielder. He could also play as a central defender, which is where he started at Ajax when he was 19.

Maduro played for several seasons in La Liga, mainly with Valencia. He played 113 games for them and won the Spanish Cup in 2008. He also played professionally in Greece and Cyprus. As a Dutch international, Maduro played for his country at the 2006 World Cup.

Playing Career Highlights

Starting at Ajax

Maduro was born in Almere, Flevoland. He joined Ajax and was named the club's best new talent in the 2003–04 season. He made his first appearance in the Eredivisie league on February 27, 2005, in a 2–1 away win against Roda JC.

Maduro with a Spanish journalist

Over the next few years, Maduro became a regular player for Ajax. He helped the team win two KNVB Cups and three Johan Cruyff Shields. In total, he played 105 games for Ajax and scored eleven goals.

Moving to Valencia

In January 2008, Maduro joined Valencia in Spain. He signed a four-and-a-half-year deal. His first game in La Liga was a 0–1 loss at home against Almería. He started in all 11 matches he played in his first year. Valencia won the Copa del Rey that season, but Maduro was a substitute and did not play in the final.

In his first full season in Spain (2008–09), Maduro initially played a smaller role. However, due to injuries and other players being suspended, he got more playing time. He played well in different positions, even as a right-back. On April 25, 2009, he scored his first goal for Valencia against Barcelona. He played more than 30 games that season.

Maduro playing for Sevilla in 2012

Maduro spent most of the 2011–12 season out of action because of a serious ankle injury.

Time at Sevilla and PAOK

On June 5, 2012, Sevilla signed Maduro for free. He played 30 games in all competitions in his first season with Sevilla. He helped the team finish ninth in the league.

In January 2014, Maduro moved to Greece to play for PAOK. He signed a contract for two and a half years. In February 2015, he left the club after his contract ended.

Playing for Omonia

On July 20, 2017, Maduro signed a two-year contract with Cypriot First Division team Omonia. He made his first appearance on September 10 in a 2–1 home win. On August 9, 2018, Maduro announced that he was retiring from playing football.

International Football Career

Soon after playing his first league game for Ajax, Maduro played his first game for the Netherlands on March 26, 2005. This was a 2006 FIFA World Cup qualifying match against Romania. He was chosen to be part of the national team for the 2006 World Cup. He played for four minutes in a 0–0 draw against Argentina.

In 2007, even though he had already played 12 games for the senior national team, Maduro played in the UEFA European Under-21 Championship. This tournament was held in the Netherlands. He scored the first goal of the competition when the Jong Oranje (Dutch Under-21 team) beat Israel 1–0. He also played in the second match, a 2–1 win against Portugal. This win helped them reach the semi-finals and qualify for the Olympic tournament.

In the semi-finals against England, the game ended 1–1 after extra time. Maduro successfully scored his penalty in the shootout, which the Netherlands won 13–12 after 32 shots. The Dutch team then won the final against Serbia 4–1, keeping their title from 2006. Maduro was named in the 'UEFA Team of the Tournament'.

Coaching and Managerial Roles

After retiring as a player, Maduro started training to become a professional football coach. He also worked as a football analyst on ESPN. During the 2018-2019 season, he was an assistant coach for the Jong Oranje team. The next season, he was an assistant coach for the Netherlands Under-18 team.

In mid-2020, he became the head coach of Almere City U21. He led this team to win the U21 Division 1 title in 2022. From December 2021, he also worked as an assistant coach for the Almere City first team. In April 2022, he signed a two-year contract to continue as an assistant coach for the first team.

In June 2023, Maduro signed a three-year contract to become an assistant coach at his former club, Ajax. On October 23, 2023, he became the temporary manager of Ajax after the previous manager was dismissed. He lost his first game as caretaker manager 2–0 away to Brighton & Hove Albion in the Europa League. In his only league game on October 29, the team lost 5–2 to PSV Eindhoven.

On May 13, 2024, Maduro was announced as the new head coach of Eredivisie club Almere City for the 2024–25 season. He said that Almere City and the city of Almere mean a lot to him because he was born there. He was happy to return to the club where he started his coaching career. However, on December 18, 2024, Maduro was dismissed from his role as head coach at Almere City.

Personal Life

Maduro's father was from Paradera on Aruba, and his mother was from Curaçao. Both are islands in the Dutch Caribbean.

Honours and Awards

Ajax

• KNVB Cup: 2005–06, 2006–07
• Johan Cruyff Shield: 2005, 2006, 2007

Valencia

• Copa del Rey: 2007–08

PAOK

• Greek Football Cup runner-up: 2013–14

Netherlands U21

• UEFA European Under-21 Championship: 2007

Individual Awards

• Ajax Talent of the Future/Talent of the Year: 2005

See also

In Spanish: Hedwiges Maduro para niños