Glenn Helder

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Glenn Helder (born 28 October 1968 in Leiden) is a former Dutch footballer. He was a product of Ajax Amsterdam's youth system, though to get first team football he moved to Sparta Rotterdam in 1989 where he played 93 games, scoring 9 goals. In 1993 he moved to Vitesse Arnhem where he played 52 games, scoring 12 goals and attracting the interest of English club Arsenal.

Helder joined Arsenal on 14 February 1995 and made his debut in a 1-0 home win against Nottingham Forest on 21 February. He was the final signing made by George Graham, who left a week after his arrival. Helder was with Arsenal until October 1997, and his time there was comparatively disappointing - he made 27 league appearances plus 12 as a substitute, scoring one goal (which came in a 3-2 win over Middlesbrough FC). In late 1996, Arsenal sent him on loan to Benfica where he sustained a serious injury. Returning to the club, he found that he had been replaced by Marc Overmars and was unable to break back into the first team.

After leaving Arsenal Helder's career was somewhat eclectic; he moved to NAC Breda in his native Netherlands; after a short spell there he went to play in China for Dalian Wanda, but returned to Breda quite soon afterwards. He did not stay long in his second spell at Breda before moving on to MTK Hungária FC in Hungary. He soon returned home to have a trial with FC Dordrecht, who did not give him a contract, and he eventually signed for RBC Roosendaal, where he ended his career. He also earned four caps for the Netherlands national football team.

In an interview in 1999 he stated that during his stay at NAC he tried to commit suicide because of problems resulting from compulsive gambling. [1]. However, he continues to gamble, and is sometimes seen playing poker on the British Five television station, representing the Netherlands.[2] He also represents Arsenal in "Masters" football tournaments.

In July 2006, Helder made a surprise appearance for Arsenal in Dennis Bergkamp's final ever game, a testimonial against Ajax.