John Karelse

John Karelse
Personal information
Date of birth May 17, 1970 (1970-05-17) (age 41)
Place of birth Wemeldinge, Zeeland
Height 1.81 m (5 ft 11 12 in)
Playing position Goalkeeper (retired)
Youth career
VV Wemeldinge
AGOVV Apeldoorn
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1986–1999 NAC Breda 382 (0)
1999–2003 Newcastle United 3 (0)
2003–2004 AGOVV Apeldoorn 36 (0)
Teams managed
2006 NAC Breda (interim)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.
† Appearances (Goals).

John Karelse (born May 17, 1970 in Wemeldinge) is a retired Dutch football goalkeeper.

He played for AGOVV Apeldoorn in his native country for a few years before moving to NAC Breda. It was here that he caught the attention of then Newcastle United manager Ruud Gullit, who signed him for £900,000 in August 1999. His time at Newcastle was largely unsuccessful, as he endured a terrible start to his career at the club, losing 4-2 to Southampton on his debut. He found his first team opportunities very limited after this, not helped by the competition for his position being very high with the reliable Shay Given and Steve Harper also at the club. Tony Caig was also ahead of him as third choice backup.

A proposed move to Turkey broke down in 2000, but a year later a move back to Holland seemed likely, with Feyenoord Rotterdam rumoured to be interested. No move materialised and the former Holland Youth and Under-21 international had no choice but to stay in the Newcastle reserves. He retired in 2004 after one final season at AGOVV Apeldoorn, and currently works as the interim manage for NAC.

References