| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Ron Peter Vlaar | ||
| Date of birth | February 16, 1985 | ||
| Place of birth | Hensbroek, Netherlands | ||
| Height | 1.89 m (6 ft 2 in) | ||
| Playing position | Centre back | ||
| Club information | |||
| Current club | Feyenoord | ||
| Number | 4 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1991–1995 | Apollo '68 | ||
| 1995–1996 | SVW '27 | ||
| 1996–2004 | AZ | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 2004–2006 | AZ | 10 | (0) |
| 2006– | Feyenoord | 113 | (8) |
| National team‡ | |||
| 2005– | Netherlands | 4 | (0) |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 1 June 2011. † Appearances (Goals). |
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Ron Peter Vlaar (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈrɔn ˈvlaːr]; born 16 February 1985 in Hensbroek, North Holland) is a Dutch footballer who plays for Feyenoord as a central defender.
Vlaar made his professional debut at the age of 20 for the club AZ. After a successful 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship with Netherlands U20, Vlaar received his first call-up for the Netherlands national team by the Netherlands coach Marco van Basten. Despite the few but promising matches Vlaar played, the youngster was transferred to Feyenoord. Main reason for his move was his personal relationship with AZ coach Louis van Gaal. Vlaar was often compared to Jaap Stam, but due to various injuries the centre back couldn't live up to the expectations as of yet.[1]
Vlaar was an important player in the two Netherlands U21 squads winning the UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship in 2006 and 2007.
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Vlaar was born in Hensbroek, North Holland, the Netherlands. His mother, Margaret, was a handball player, while his father was an amateur football player. Vlaar has two younger sisters, Ellen and Lisan, who are both active in sports as well. Ellen is a fanatic gymnast and Lisan is playing volleyball.[2]
In Hensbroek, Vlaar joined local club Apollo '68 at the age of six. Apollo '68 youth coach Kees Wijte was quickly convinced: "But when he was five, he was already allowed to train with us. You could already see how good he was. He had a powerful kick with both his left and right leg, and a very good one as well. Besides, he had a fantastic mentality. Ron always wanted to win and become better." [3]
When he went to his final year in elementary school, Vlaar left Apollo '68. The youngster wanted to play on a higher level and joined SVW '27 from Heerhugowaard. At his new club, Vlaar's development went well above expectation. After playing for SVW '27 for one season, Vlaar got invited to join the AZ youth academy, a professional side playing in the Eerste Divisie.[2] In 2002, Vlaar signed his first youth contract. The contract would keep him in Alkmaar until summer 2007.
In the season 2004–05, Vlaar made his unexpected Eredivisie debut at the age of 20. Due to injuries and suspensions within the first team squad at the end of the season, Vlaar was paired up with the experienced centre back Barry Opdam on April 23, 2005 in the away match against RKC Waalwijk (2–1).[4] Five days later, on April 28, 2005, Vlaar made his European debut. The youngster was part of the starting line-up in the UEFA Cup semi final away match against Sporting Clube de Portugal (2–1).[5] Vlaar played three Eredivisie matches and two UEFA Cup matches in his debut season.
While Vlaar thought the season 2005–06 would be his breakthrough year, AZ coach Louis van Gaal kept choosing for more experienced players. Vlaar was part of the starting line-up thrice, while he came in as a substitute in four matches, having a total of seven Eredivisie appearances in his first half year. Despite Vlaar's substitute status at AZ, the youngster impressed the Netherlands coach Marco van Basten enough to invite him for his first international matches. As Vlaar was only playing at AZ for a youth contract, various sides were interested to offer Vlaar more playing time. AZ were keen to offer Vlaar a new and improved contract, however Vlaar had no interest in staying at AZ as he felt blackmailed by AZ coach Louis van Gaal: "He told me I would only play at emergencies if I wouldn't sign the new contract".[6] The young centre back was close to a deal with Ajax [7] and was spotted in London, as he was visiting Martin Jol's Tottenham Hotspur with his father and agent.[8] However, on December 28, 2006, Vlaar signed a three-and-a half-year deal with Feyenoord.[8]
At Feyenoord, Vlaar quickly became a first team starter. Vlaar made his official Feyenoord debut on January 15, 2006, in the away match against Vitesse (0–1).[9] Vlaar played 16 Eredivisie matches after his winter break transfer, without scoring any goals.
Vlaar had a bad start of the season 2006–07, as he got foot injury in the pre-season match against Reading (2–1) in August. At first it seemed to be a minor injury, but Vlaar had to drop out in the 33rd minute of the season opening away match against FC Groningen (3–0).[10] The doctors found a crack in a bone in his foot, causing Vlaar to be out for almost the entire first half of the league.[11] After his recovery, Vlaar regained his place in the first team and played 20 Eredivisie matches in the remaining season. On December 16, 2006, Vlaar scored his first Feyenoord goal in the away match against FC Utrecht (2–1).[12]
With the arrival of the new Feyenoord coach Bert van Marwijk and new centre back partner Kevin Hofland in the season 2007–08, Vlaar was ready to make the next step in his development. However, on September 16, 2007, Vlaar got injured in the Eredivisie away match against Roda JC (1–3).[13] Vlaar needed a surgery on the cruciate ligament and was out for the rest of the season.[14] After the surgery, Vlaar was confronted with an additional setback, as he had a bacterial infection. Vlaar was recovered from his injury at the beginning of the 2008–09 season. However, during pre-season, Vlaar got another injury at a medial collateral ligament of his knee. After being sidelined for over a month, Vlaar returned to the training field. After an innocent duel with Kevin Hofland, Vlaar damaged his cruciate ligament again. It was the same injury he had in the previous season, causing Vlaar to miss a complete season again.[15]
After being sidelined for two seasons, Vlaar made a strong comeback in the 2009–10 season. Absolute highlight was the 60 meter distance goal in the KNVB Cup away match against Harkemase Boys (0–5) on September 24, 2009.[16] Since his return, he has formed a strong partnership with Brazilian centre back André Bahia. Earning praise with his imposing body and impressive displays.
Vlaar represented the Netherlands at various youth levels. However, he had most success with the Netherlands U20 on the 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship and with Netherlands U21 on the UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship in 2006 and 2007
The 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship took place in the Netherlands between June 10 and July 2, 2005. Vlaar, reserve captain behind Hedwiges Maduro, was an important player in the Dutch team and was active in every match the team played on the tournament. Netherlands U20 had a smooth run through the group stage, winning their three matches respectively easy against Japan U20 (2–1), Australia U20 (3–0) and Benin U20 (1–0). After beating Chile U20 (3–0) in the next round, the Netherlands U20 reached the quarter finals against later finalist Nigeria U20 (1–1 aet 9–10 pso). Despite Vlaar's equalizing goal and successful penalty kick, the Netherlands U20 didn't advance to the next stage.[17]
Vlaar was part of the Netherlands U21 on the 2006 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship, where the Dutch side claimed the trophy for the first time in history. Besides the group match against Denmark U21 (1–1), Vlaar played in every match on the tournament. Jong Oranje started and finished their campaign against Ukraine U21, going out on a high with a 3–0 win in the final, after surprisingly losing their opening game to the Ukrainian team.[18]
Twelve months after winning the UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship for the first time, Vlaar was the captain of the team that retained the trophy in style with a 4–1 win against Serbia U21 in the final. Vlaar played in every match in the group stage, but had to leave the pitch injured in the semi final match against England U21 (1–1 aet 13–12 pso). Vlaar had to watch the final from the sideline, but was able to lift the trophy together with reserve captain Hedwiges Maduro.[19]
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.
Since his comeback for Feyenoord, he has grown into a strongholder of the team. Impressing many experts with strong, commanding and tough displays, evolving into a leader of Feyenoord's backline. It seems he's finally delivering on his promise, playing to his full potential. His strong appearances haven't gone unnoticed by national coach Bert van Marwijk, who officially stated to be following him in the run-up to the 2010 World Cup. However, not yet calling Vlaar to the national team, due to the severity of his previous injuries, allowing him to gradually come to full fitness and preventing overuse of muscles since Vlaar only came back to first team football in the summer of 2009. However, V.Marwijk stated he would seriously consider calling Vlaar up in the second half of the season. That has led many fans as well as teammates to believe Vlaar would be getting a place in the Dutch World Cup squad.
Vlaar was included in the preliminary squad for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.[20] However, on 27 May 2010, Netherlands manager Bert van Marwijk announced that the player not would be part of the final squad of 23 participating in the competition.[21]
| Club performance | League | Cup | Continental | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Club | League | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Netherlands | League | KNVB Cup | Europe | Total | ||||||
| 2004–05 | AZ | Eredivisie | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| 2005–06 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 9 | 1 | ||
| Feyenoord | Eredivisie | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 0 | |
| 2006–07 | 20 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 21 | 1 | ||
| 2007–08 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | - | 4 | 1 | |||
| 2008–09 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2009–10 | 32 | 4 | 1 | 1 | - | 33 | 5 | |||
| 2010–11 | 26 | 2 | 0 | 0 | - | 26 | 2 | |||
| 2011–12 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | 5 | 0 | |||
| Total | Netherlands | 113 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 119 | 10 | |
| Career total | 113 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 119 | 10 | ||
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