Maarten Stekelenburg

Dutch footballer (born 1982) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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Maarten Stekelenburg (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈmaːrtə(n) ˈsteːkələ(m)ˌbʏr(ə)x]; born 22 September 1982) is a Dutch former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper.

Quick Facts Personal information, Full name ...
Maarten Stekelenburg
Stekelenburg with Southampton in 2015
Personal information
Full name Maarten Stekelenburg[1]
Date of birth (1982-09-22) 22 September 1982 (age 42)[2]
Place of birth Haarlem, Netherlands
Height 1.97 m (6 ft 6 in)[3]
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Youth career
Zandvoort '75
VV Schoten
1997–2002 Ajax
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2002–2011 Ajax 191 (0)
2011–2013 Roma 48 (0)
2013–2016 Fulham 19 (0)
2014–2015Monaco (loan) 1 (0)
2015–2016Southampton (loan) 17 (0)
2016–2020 Everton 19 (0)
2020–2023 Ajax 19 (0)
Total 314 (0)
International career
2002–2003 Netherlands U21 4 (0)
2004–2021 Netherlands 63 (0)
Medal record
Representing  Netherlands
Men's football
FIFA World Cup
Runner-up2010 South AfricaTeam
*Club domestic league appearances and goals
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Stekelenburg began his career at Ajax, playing 282 matches over nine seasons in his first spell there and winning nine honours, including two Eredivisie titles. He went on to play for Roma, Fulham, Monaco, Southampton and Everton. He returned to Ajax after the expiry of his contract at Everton following the 2019–20 Premier League season.

Stekelenburg made his debut for the Netherlands national team in 2004, and earned 63 caps in total. He was understudy to Edwin van der Sar at the 2006 FIFA World Cup and UEFA Euro 2008, then was first choice as he helped his nation to the final of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, also playing at Euro 2012 and Euro 2020.

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Club career

Ajax

Stekelenburg began his career at Zandvoort '75 before joining VV Schoten, which he left for Ajax when he was 15 years old. He made his official debut for Ajax on 24 February 2002, in a match against NAC Breda. At the start of the 2002–03 season, he won his first silverware when Ajax won the Johan Cruyff Shield. In 2004, he and Ajax won the Eredivisie, having played ten matches that season.

Stekelenburg became the first choice goalkeeper at Ajax in the 2005–06 season and won his first KNVB Cup. At the start of the 2006–07 season, he won his second Johan Cruyff Shield, which he helped his team defend the next season, and later on in 2006–07, he won his second KNVB Cup.

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Stekelenburg with his Ajax teammates

Stekelenburg was named Ajax "Player of the Year" for the 2007–08 season, succeeding Wesley Sneijder. During the 2008–09 season, he lost his place in the goal to Kenneth Vermeer due to injuries. He re-established himself as the first-choice goalkeeper under new manager Martin Jol and subsequently had a very strong season for both Ajax and the Dutch national side. During the 2009–10 season, Stekelenburg went on to have a consistent season, playing in all of Ajax's Eredivisie and Europa League matches, the latter after they were eliminated from the UEFA Champions League in the group stage. However, Stekelenburg sustained a finger injury which kept him out for the remainder of the season. He made a total of 51 appearances in the 2010–11 season in all competitions.

After winning the 2010–11 Eredivisie on 15 May 2011, Stekelenburg dropped the trophy[4] while standing on top of the Ajax team coach with Jan Vertonghen. He won Ajax Player of the Year for the second time.[5]

Roma

On 1 August 2011, it was announced Stekelenburg had officially transferred to Roma for a €6.325 million transfer fee plus bonuses, making him the first Dutch footballer to ever play for the Italian club.[6][7] He picked the number 24 shirt, which is the day his son was born.[8] He made his debut on 11 September 2011, against Cagliari.

Fulham

On 3 June 2013, Roma sporting director Franco Baldini confirmed he had finalised a deal with Premier League club Fulham for the sale of Stekelenburg.[9] Two days later, on 5 June, Fulham announced Stekelenburg had signed on a four-year contract for an undisclosed transfer fee;[10] Roma later disclosed the fee was €5.6 million.[11] He made his debut on 17 August in a 1–0 win away to Sunderland; however, he came off injured in the second half and was replaced by David Stockdale.[12] He returned on 21 October at a win against Crystal Palace, but went on to lose the next four starts in a row.

Following the sacking of René Meulensteen as Fulham manager, Stekelenburg was dropped to the bench in favour of Stockdale by Felix Magath, and following Fulham's relegation and Stockdale's departure, lost his place in the squad altogether, as Magath favoured Jesse Joronen and Marcus Bettinelli.

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Stekelenburg with Southampton in July 2015.

On 9 August 2014, Stekelenburg joined French club Monaco on a season-long loan.[13] With Danijel Subašić as Monaco's starting goalkeeper, Stekelenburg was preferred for cup matches, making his debut in the round of 16 of the Coupe de la Ligue away to Lyon on 17 December. After a 1–1 draw at the Stade de Gerland, he helped Monaco win 5–4 in a penalty shootout by saving from Jordan Ferri.[14] In the semi-finals on 4 February 2015 against Bastia at the Stade Louis II, it again went to penalties after a goalless draw. He saved from Guillaume Gillet and Giovanni Sio, but Monaco were eliminated nonetheless.[15] His sole Ligue 1 appearance came on 22 March away to Reims, a 3–1 victory.[16] On 1 June, the club announced Stekelenburg would return to Fulham after his season-long loan expired.[17]

On 22 June 2015, Southampton signed Stekelenburg on a season-long loan from Fulham.[18] He made his debut for the club on 30 July in the third qualifying round of the season's Europa League, a 3–0 win over Vitesse at St Mary's Stadium.[19] He made his Premier League debut for the Saints in a 2–2 draw away to Newcastle United on the opening day of the 2015–16 Premier League season.[20]

Everton

On 1 July 2016, Everton, managed by compatriot Ronald Koeman, announced they had signed Stekelenburg from Fulham on a three-year contract, for an undisclosed transfer fee.[21] He made his debut on 13 August as the Toffees began their campaign with a 1–1 home draw against Tottenham Hotspur,[22] and on 15 October, he saved penalties from Kevin De Bruyne and Sergio Agüero to ensure the same result away to Manchester City.[23] Stekelenburg limped off the field after suffering from a leg injury in the 63rd minute of the Merseyside derby at Goodison Park against Liverpool on 19 December 2016. He returned to action in April 2017, when Ronald Koeman dropped Joel Robles after 17-straight starts by the Spanish goalkeeper.[24]

In 2017–18, Stekelenburg struggled with groin injuries and lost his place to Jordan Pickford, but was awarded with a two-year contract extension at the end of the season.[25] In June 2020, with his deal set to expire, he extended it until the end of the season, which had been postponed by the COVID-19 pandemic.[26]

Return to Ajax

On 22 June 2020, it was announced that Stekelenburg would rejoin Ajax following the 2019–20 Premier League season. From February 2021, he gained a starting place due to André Onana's 12-month ban for doping,[27] and in May he signed a contract extension until 2022.[28]

On 18 May 2023, Stekelenburg announced that he would retire at the end of season.[29][30]

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International career

Stekelenburg was a member of the Dutch squad at the 2001 FIFA World Youth Championship. He made his international debut for the Netherlands on 3 September 2004 against Liechtenstein, whom they beat 3–0.

Stekelenburg was called up by manager Marco van Basten for the squad of the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany, but he did not play any match during this tournament as Edwin van der Sar was first choice.

Despite his international debut in 2004, Stekelenburg was called up to Van Basten's UEFA Euro 2008 squad to play as understudy to Van der Sar. He participated in the Group C match against Romania on 17 June—with the Netherlands already having qualified for the quarter-finals, the coach fielded a second-string side to give players like Stekelenburg an appearance. He kept a clean sheet in the 2–0 win at the Stade de Suisse in Bern.[31]

In a September 2008 friendly match against Australia, Stekelenburg was sent-off after 44 minutes of the first half for fouling Joshua Kennedy, becoming the first goalkeeper of the Dutch national side to receive a red card.

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Stekelenburg beaten by Michael Krohn-Dehli at Euro 2012

After Van der Sar's retirement from the national team, Stekelenburg became the Netherlands' first-choice goalkeeper under manager Bert van Marwijk. Stekelenburg was included in the preliminary squad for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.[32] On 27 May 2010, Van Marwijk announced he would be part of the final 23-man squad participating in the competition.[33] Stekelenburg helped the Netherlands reach the final of the competition against Spain by making key saves throughout the tournament, most notably from Kaká in the Netherlands' 2–1 victory against Brazil in the quarter-finals.[34] He conceded six goals in the whole tournament, two of them being penalty kicks. Despite making a number of saves in the final, he ended up on the losing side, conceding the match's only goal to Andrés Iniesta in the 116th minute.

Stekelenburg played all three matches during the group stages of Euro 2012 as the Netherlands finished bottom of their group.

On 7 October 2016, four years after his last international appearance, Stekelenburg started in a 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification match against Belarus, a 4–1 Dutch victory.[35]

On 7 March 2021, Stekelenburg was one of 31 players called up by Frank de Boer for the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification matches against Turkey, Latvia, and Gibraltar.[36] Stekelenburg was picked as the starting goalkeeper for his team's Euro 2020 campaign as regular goalkeeper Jasper Cillessen was omitted from the squad after he tested positive for COVID-19.[37]

On 13 August 2021, following the Netherlands' exit in the last 16 of Euro 2020, Stekelenburg officially announced his retirement from international football.[38]

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Personal life

Stekelenburg has hearing loss in one ear.[39]

Career statistics

Club

More information Club, Season ...
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition[40][41][42][43]
Club Season League National Cup League Cup Europe Other[44] Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Ajax 2002–03 Eredivisie 90003010130
2003–04 Eredivisie 100001000110
2004–05 Eredivisie 110104010170
2005–06 Eredivisie 270406040410
2006–07 Eredivisie 320409050500
2007–08 Eredivisie 310104050410
2008–09 Eredivisie 120102000150
2009–10 Eredivisie 3307010000500
2010–11 Eredivisie 2604013010440
Total 19102205201702820
Roma 2011–12 Serie A 2902020330
2012–13 Serie A 1903000220
Total 4805020550
Fulham 2013–14 Premier League 1901010210
Monaco (loan) 2014–15 Ligue 1 1040300080
Southampton (loan) 2015–16 Premier League 170103040250
Everton 2016–17 Premier League 1900020210
2017–18 Premier League 0000102030
2018–19 Premier League 00002020
2019–20 Premier League 00000000
Total 190005020260
Ajax 2020–21 Eredivisie 1204050210
2021–22 Eredivisie 7010000080
Total 190505000290
Career total 31403801206501704460
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International

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Stekelenburg warming up with the Netherlands national team in 2006

Source:[45]

More information National team, Year ...
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Netherlands 200410
200500
200620
200770
200850
200990
2010150
201150
2012100
201300
201400
201500
201640
201700
201800
201900
202000
202150
Total630
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Honours

Ajax

Netherlands

Individual

References

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