Ron Vlaar

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Ron Vlaar
Personal information
Full name Ron Vlaar
Date of birth February 16, 1985 (1985-02-16) (age 23)
Place of birth    Flag of the Netherlands Hensbroek, Netherlands
Height 1.89 m (6 ft 2+12 in)
Playing position Central Defender
Club information
Current club Feyenoord Rotterdam
Number 20
Youth clubs
Apollo'68
SVW Heerhugowaard
Senior clubs1
Years Club App (Gls)*
2004-2006
2006-
AZ Alkmaar
Feyenoord Rotterdam
10 (0)
40 (2)   
National team2
2005- Netherlands 02 (0)

1 Senior club appearances and goals
counted for the domestic league only and
correct as of 29 November 2007.
2 National team caps and goals correct
as of 4 July 2007.
* Appearances (Goals)

Ron Vlaar (16 February 1985, Hensbroek) is a Dutch football player currently playing for Feyenoord.

Vlaar earned a youth contract at AZ Alkmaar in the year 2002. Due to injuries and bans he made his official debut in the first team against RKC Waalwijk on 23 April 2005. He made his UEFA Cup debut shortly after that in the semi-finals against Sporting Clube de Portugal. In the few matches the promising defender played, he made enough of an impression to be noticed by Marco van Basten, the coach of the Dutch national side. He was selected for the qualifier against Romania in june 2005, but did not play. The first international match in which he played was the clash against the Czechs on 8 October 2005.

During 2005-2006, his performances did not remain unnoticed and AZ Alkmaar were keen to offer him a new contract (as Vlaar was still playing on a youth contract). However, Vlaar was not willing to sign the new contract and Feyenoord Rotterdam, Tottenham Hotspur and Ajax Amsterdam showed serious interest. He came to an agreement with Feyenoord and has signed a three-and-a half-year contract starting 1 January 2006.

Later in 2006 he was part of the Netherlands national under-21 football team that lifted the trophy at the 2006 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship after beating Ukraine in the final. In 2007 Vlaar was the captain of the squad that defended their title at the 2007 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship held in the Netherlands. Vlaar participated in both of their first round group matches against Israel (1-0 win) and Portugal (2-1 win) to secure a semi final spot and to qualify for the 2008 Summer Olympics. In the semi finals against England Vlaar's mistake made Leroy Lita score the first goal of the match and later he would leave the pitch with a knee injury. Howerver the Dutch equalled and reached the final after winning in a penalty shoothout with 32 kicks taken. The Dutch went on to retain their 2006 title by beating Serbia 4-1 in the final. Vlaar's injury forced him to see the match from the sideline.

[edit] External links