Rafael van der Vaart facts for kids

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Rafael van der Vaart

Van der Vaart at practice with Hamburger SV in 2014
Personal information
Full name	Rafael Ferdinand van der Vaart
Date of birth	(1983-02-11) 11 February 1983 (age 42)
Place of birth	Heemskerk, Netherlands
Height	1.76 m (5 ft 9 in)
Position(s)	Attacking midfielder
Youth career
1987–1993	De Kennemers
1993–2000	Ajax
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2000–2005	Ajax	117	(52)
2005–2008	Hamburger SV	74	(30)
2008–2010	Real Madrid	58	(11)
2010–2012	Tottenham Hotspur	63	(24)
2012–2015	Hamburger SV	78	(16)
2015–2016	Betis	7	(0)
2016–2018	Midtjylland	17	(2)
2018	Esbjerg	3	(0)
Total		417	(135)
International career
1998–1999	Netherlands U17	13	(5)
1999–2000	Netherlands U19	8	(2)
2000–2001	Netherlands U21	4	(2)
2001–2013	Netherlands	109	(25)
Managerial career
2022	Esbjerg (caretaker)
Medal record Men's football Representing  Netherlands FIFA World Cup Runner-up 2010 South Africa UEFA European Championship Bronze 2004 Portugal UEFA European Under-16 Championship Bronze 2000 Israel U-16 Team
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Rafael Ferdinand van der Vaart (born 11 February 1983) is a Dutch former professional footballer. He played as an attacking midfielder, a player who helps both defense and attack.

Van der Vaart started his football journey at Ajax's youth academy. He joined the first team at just 17 years old. People often compared his playing style to the legendary Johan Cruyff. He was named the best young football talent in the Netherlands and was the first person to win the Golden Boy Award. After Ajax, he played for big clubs like Hamburger SV in Germany, Real Madrid in Spain, and Tottenham Hotspur in England. He even returned to Hamburger SV later in his career. He finished his playing days with short periods in Spain and Denmark, retiring from professional football in 2018.

Rafael van der Vaart played for the Netherlands 109 times between 2001 and 2013. He played in three UEFA European Championships and two FIFA World Cups. He helped his country reach the World Cup final in 2010. In 2019, he even started a new career playing darts!

Early Life and Football Beginnings

Rafael van der Vaart was born in Heemskerk, Netherlands. His father was Dutch, and his mother was Spanish. He grew up in a special community called a trailer park, where he learned to play football on the street. He often pretended to be famous Brazilian footballer Romário. Before joining Ajax, he played for a local club called De Kennemers. At the age of ten, he joined the famous Ajax Academy. Van der Vaart has said that his childhood was an "easy life" where he always played football.

Club Career Highlights

Starting Strong at Ajax

Van der Vaart grew up playing football at Ajax alongside future national teammates like John Heitinga and Wesley Sneijder. He joined Ajax on a trial when he was ten and quickly impressed the coaches. He made his first team debut for Ajax on 19 April 2000, when he was 17. People were very excited about him, calling him "the new Johan Cruyff".

Van der Vaart was with Ajax from 1993 to 2005.

In the 2000–01 season, his coach gave him more playing time as an attacking midfielder. He was even voted European Talent of the Year by a football website. The next season, he faced a serious knee injury that needed surgery. This meant he missed the end of Ajax's successful season, but he was still named the Netherlands' Talent of the Year because of his great performance before the injury.

He helped Ajax win the Amsterdam Tournament in 2002–03. He also scored a very important goal in the UEFA Champions League that helped Ajax move forward in the competition. In the 2003–04 season, he helped Ajax win another league title. He became one of the most popular players in the Netherlands.

For the 2004–05 season, Van der Vaart became team captain. However, he got injured during an international match, and later had some disagreements with his coach about where he should play. Because of ongoing injury problems, he decided to leave Ajax at the end of that season.

Moving to Hamburger SV

Many big European clubs were interested in Van der Vaart. In the summer of 2005, he joined Bundesliga club Hamburger SV in Germany. His transfer cost €5.5 million. Many people were surprised he chose Hamburg, but he played a huge part in their success. In his first season, he was the team's top scorer, and Hamburg finished third in the league. They also won the 2005 UEFA Intertoto Cup.

He became team captain for the 2006–07 season. This was a tough season for the club, and Van der Vaart also struggled with injuries. However, a new coach helped Hamburg improve and finish in a good position, winning the Intertoto Cup again. In the 2007–08 season, he scored 12 league goals as Hamburg finished fourth. He decided to stay at Hamburg until the end of that season, even though other big clubs like Chelsea and Valencia were interested.

Playing for Real Madrid

Van der Vaart in action for Real Madrid

On 4 August 2008, Van der Vaart joined Real Madrid in Spain for €13 million. He was their only new player that summer. He quickly made an impact, scoring in his first pre-season game. He scored his first league goal for Real Madrid in a 4–3 win. Later, he scored his first ever hat-trick in a big 7–1 victory.

In 2009, there were rumors that Van der Vaart might leave Real Madrid. However, he decided to stay with the club. An injury to another player gave him a chance to play more, and he became an important player for Real Madrid again. He scored two goals in a 6–0 win and his last goal for the club in May 2010.

Time at Tottenham Hotspur

On 31 August 2010, Van der Vaart joined Tottenham Hotspur in England. The transfer happened very quickly, just before the transfer window closed. He signed a four-year contract and wore the number 11 shirt.

Van der Vaart with Tottenham Hotspur

He made his Premier League debut on 11 September 2010. He scored his first Premier League goal from a penalty kick on 18 September. He started his Spurs career very well, scoring three goals in four league matches and helping in Champions League games. Because of his great performances, he was named Premier League Player of the Month for October.

He faced a hamstring injury in December but returned to score two goals in a 2–1 win. He continued to score important goals, including two against rivals Arsenal. He finished the season as Tottenham's top scorer in the Premier League with 13 goals and also provided the most assists. In the 2011–12 season, he continued his strong scoring form, even equalling a Tottenham record by scoring in five consecutive Premier League matches.

Returning to Hamburg

Van der Vaart with Hamburg in 2013

On 31 August 2012, Van der Vaart returned to his former club, Hamburger SV. He wore his favorite number 23 shirt and became the team's vice-captain. He quickly made an impact, providing two assists in a 3–2 win against Borussia Dortmund. He later became the club's captain.

Later Career: Real Betis, Midtjylland, and Esbjerg

In June 2015, Van der Vaart joined Spanish club Real Betis. He played only a few games before leaving the club in June 2016. On 10 August 2016, he joined FC Midtjylland in Denmark. He made his debut later that month and scored his first goal in his fourth appearance.

On 4 August 2018, Van der Vaart signed a one-year contract with Esbjerg fB in Denmark. However, he struggled with injuries and announced his retirement from professional football on 4 November 2018. In August 2019, he played a game for Esbjerg's reserve team.

International Career with the Netherlands

Van der Vaart with Oranje.

Rafael van der Vaart played for the Netherlands youth teams before making his senior international debut on 6 October 2001, against Andorra. He played in many major tournaments, including three European Championships and two World Cups. He was the vice-captain for the 2010 World Cup and Euro 2012. On 15 August 2012, he played his 100th game for the Netherlands. He often wore the number 23 or 10 jersey for his country.

Euro 2004 and 2006 World Cup

At Euro 2004, the Dutch coach changed the team's formation, which meant Van der Vaart played a smaller role. The Netherlands reached the semi-finals. For the 2006 World Cup, injuries meant he wasn't risked for the first game. The team continued without him, and they were knocked out in the round of 16.

Euro 2008 and 2010 World Cup

Van der Vaart playing for the Netherlands

Van der Vaart was part of the squad for UEFA Euro 2008. He played in midfield and helped the team win against world champions Italy and France. Despite a strong start, the Netherlands lost in the quarter-finals.

Van der Vaart (right) with Wesley Sneijder.

For the 2010 FIFA World Cup, Van der Vaart was a key player in the qualifying matches. He started in the group matches of the World Cup. He later came on as a substitute in the semi-final, helping the Netherlands win and reach the final. He also played in the final against Spain, where the Netherlands lost 1–0.

Euro 2012 and 2014 World Cup

Van der Vaart played in Euro 2012, often coming on as a substitute. He scored a goal in the final group match against Portugal, but the Netherlands were knocked out. He was named in the provisional squad for the 2014 FIFA World Cup, but had to withdraw due to a calf injury before the final squad was announced.

Personal Life

On 10 June 2005, Rafael van der Vaart married Sylvie Meis. Their son, Damián Rafael, was born on 28 May 2006. In 2009, when Real Madrid wanted to sell Van der Vaart, he decided to stay in Madrid because his wife was receiving medical treatment there. In 2012, Van der Vaart and his wife separated. Their son Damián later joined the youth team of AFC Ajax in September 2023.

Since August 2016, Van der Vaart has been in a relationship with Dutch handball player Estavana Polman. She played for a Danish club, which was a main reason he moved to Denmark. Their daughter, Jesslynn, was born in June 2017.

Coaching Career

On 10 August 2021, Van der Vaart started his first coaching role as an assistant coach at his former club Esbjerg fB. He had been living in Esbjerg for several years. His contract with the club ended in January 2023.

Darts Career

In April 2019, Rafael van der Vaart began a professional darts career. He joined the British Darts Organisation. He made his debut at the Denmark Open in May 2019, winning his first match.

Career Statistics

Club

International

Scores and results list Netherlands's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each van der Vaart goal.

List of international goals scored by Rafael van der Vaart

No.	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1	6 September 2003	De Kuip, Rotterdam, Netherlands	Austria	1–0	3–1	UEFA Euro 2004 qualification
2	10 September 2003	Toyota Arena, Prague, Czech Republic	Czech Republic	1–2	1–3	UEFA Euro 2004 qualification
3	11 October 2003	Philips Stadion, Eindhoven, Netherlands	Moldova	4–0	5–0	UEFA Euro 2004 qualification
4	1 June 2004	Olympique de la Pontaise, Lausanne, Switzerland	Faroe Islands	1–0	3–0	Friendly
5	7 September 2005	Philips Stadion, Eindhoven, Netherlands	Andorra	1–0	4–0	2006 FIFA World Cup qualification
6	8 October 2005	Toyota Arena, Prague, Czech Republic	Czech Republic	1–0	2–0	2006 FIFA World Cup qualification
7	15 November 2006	Amsterdam Arena, Amsterdam, Netherlands	England	1–1	1–1	Friendly
8	7 February 2007	Amsterdam Arena, Amsterdam, Netherlands	Russia	4–1	4–1	Friendly
9	2 June 2007	Seoul World Cup Stadium, Seoul, South Korea	South Korea	1–0	2–0	Friendly
10				2–0
11	6 June 2007	Rajamangala Stadium, Bangkok, Thailand	Thailand	1–0	3–1	Friendly
12	21 November 2007	Dinamo Stadium, Minsk, Belarus	Belarus	1–2	1–2	UEFA Euro 2008 qualification
13	10 September 2008	Philip II Arena, Skopje, Republic of Macedonia	Macedonia	2–0	2–1	2010 FIFA World Cup qualification
14	1 April 2009	Amsterdam Arena, Amsterdam, Netherlands	Macedonia	4–0	4–0	2010 FIFA World Cup qualification
15	12 August 2009	Amsterdam Arena, Amsterdam, Netherlands	England	2–0	2–2	Friendly
16	1 June 2010	De Kuip, Rotterdam, Netherlands	Ghana	2–0	4–1	Friendly
17	25 March 2011	Ferenc Puskás Stadium, Budapest, Hungary	Hungary	1–0	4–0	UEFA Euro 2012 qualification
18	30 May 2012	De Kuip, Rotterdam, Netherlands	Slovakia	1–0	2–0	Friendly
19	17 June 2012	Metalist Stadium, Kharkiv, Ukraine	Portugal	1–0	1–2	UEFA Euro 2012
20	12 October 2012	De Kuip, Rotterdam, Netherlands	Andorra	1–0	3–0	2014 FIFA World Cup qualification
21	16 October 2012	Arena Națională, Bucharest, Romania	Romania	3–1	4–1	2014 FIFA World Cup qualification
22	22 March 2013	Amsterdam Arena, Amsterdam, Netherlands	Estonia	1–0	3–0	2014 FIFA World Cup qualification
23	26 March 2013	Amsterdam Arena, Amsterdam, Netherlands	Romania	1–0	4–0	2014 FIFA World Cup qualification
24	11 October 2013	Amsterdam Arena, Amsterdam, Netherlands	Hungary	7–1	8–1	2014 FIFA World Cup qualification
25	16 November 2013	Cristal Arena, Genk, Belgium	Japan	1–0	2–2	Friendly

Managerial Record

Managerial record by team and tenure

Team	Nat	From	To	Record
				G	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Win %
Esbjerg (interim)		9 March 2022	30 June 2022	&&&&&&&&&&&&&&06.&&&&&06	&&&&&&&&&&&&&&00.&&&&&00	&&&&&&&&&&&&&&04.&&&&&04	&&&&&&&&&&&&&&02.&&&&&02	&&&&&&&&&&&&&&05.&&&&&05	&&&&&&&&&&&&&&08.&&&&&08	−3	&0&&&&&&&&&&&&&&00.&&&&&00.00
Career total				&&&&&&&&&&&&&&06.&&&&&06	&&&&&&&&&&&&&&00.&&&&&00	&&&&&&&&&&&&&&04.&&&&&04	&&&&&&&&&&&&&&02.&&&&&02	&&&&&&&&&&&&&&05.&&&&&05	&&&&&&&&&&&&&&08.&&&&&08	−3	&&&&&&&&&&&&&&00.&&&&&00.00

Honours and Awards

Van der Vaart won the Spanish Super Cup while at Real Madrid

Posters farewell match Rafael van der Vaart at football club Hamburger SV. Hamburg

Ajax

• Eredivisie: 2001–02, 2003–04
• KNVB Cup: 2001–02
• Johan Cruyff Shield: 2002

Hamburger SV

• UEFA Intertoto Cup: 2005, 2007

Real Madrid

• Supercopa de España: 2008

FC Midtjylland

• Danish Superliga: 2017–18

Netherlands National Team

• FIFA World Cup runner-up: 2010

Individual Awards

• Ajax Talent of the Future: 1999–2000
• Ajax Talent of the Year: 2000–01
• Ajax Player of the Year: 2001–02
• Amsterdam Talent of the Year: 2000
• Amsterdam Sportsman of the year: 2001
• Amsterdam Tournament Most Valuable Player: 2001
• Dutch Football Talent of the Year: 2001
• European Talent of the Year: 2002
• Golden Boy: 2003
• Bundesliga Player of the Month: September 2005
• Premier League Player of the Month: October 2010

See also

In Spanish: Rafael van der Vaart para niños

• List of footballers with 100 or more caps