Vurnon Anita

Vurnon Anita

Personal information
Full name	Vurnon San Benito Anita[1]
Date of birth	(1989-04-04) 4 April 1989
Place of birth	Willemstad, Netherlands Antilles
Height	1.68 m (5 ft 6 in)
Playing position	Midfielder
Club information
Current club	Newcastle United
Number	8
Youth career
1996–1997	CVV Willemstad
1997–1999	VV Maarssen
1999–2005	Ajax
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
2005–2012	Ajax	104	(5)
2012–	Newcastle United	45	(0)
National team‡
2003–2004	Netherlands U15	4	(3)
2004–2006	Netherlands U17	28	(3)
2006–2008	Netherlands U19	13	(2)
2008–2009	Netherlands U20	2	(0)
2009–2010	Netherlands U21	6	(0)
2010	Netherlands	3	(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 1 February 2014. † Appearances (Goals). ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 15 August 2010

Vurnon San Benito Anita (born 4 April 1989) is a Dutch-Curaçaoan footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for Newcastle United and the Netherlands national team.

Career

Early career

In his youth years on Curaçao, Anita started to play football at local team CVV Willemstad. After he and his family moved to the Netherlands in 1997 he started playing for amateur side VV Maarssen. Later he was scouted by Ajax and he joined their world famous youth program in 1999.

Ajax

Anita (second from bottom left) with Ajax teammates in 2010.

As of the 2005–06 season he was promoted to the first team of Ajax and on 19 March 2006 he made his Eredivisie debut in a 3–2 away loss against FC Groningen. That year he also participated in the KNVB Cup semi-final against Roda JC. Ajax went on to win the KNVB Cup that year.

The following season he added another match to his Eredivisie total, bringing it to two appearances. He also made his European debut in the 3–0 away loss against Werder Bremen in the UEFA Cup. In the 2007–08 season Anita did not play any matches for the first team, but in the 2008–09 he returned to the first team squad. He played a total of 16 matches, mainly as a replacement for injured or suspended team mates.

In the 2009–10 season Anita became a first team regular under new head coach Martin Jol. Because of a suspension of Urby Emanuelson and a long-time injury of Thimothée Atouba, Anita was posted as a left back. Jol was satisfied with his performance and continued to let him play as a left back for most of the season. He also played in the KNVB Cup final against Feyenoord and won his second KNVB Cup. His good performances also led to his debut at the Dutch national team. However, he was not selected for the squad for 2010 FIFA World Cup by coach Bert van Marwijk.

The 2010–11 season started as the previous season ended with Anita playing most matches as a left back. Ajax managed to qualify for the Group stage of the UEFA Champions League for the first time since 2005–06. Because of the poor team performances during the first half of the season, Martin Jol left Ajax in December 2010 and was replaced by Frank de Boer. He believed Anita should play as a defensive midfielder rather than left back. As a consequence, Anita had to compete with other midfielders for his place in the starting line-up. He successfully did so and managed to play most matches. The season ended with two finals against FC Twente. Twente won the KNVB Cup final with 3–2, but Ajax secured the Eredivisie championship at the last matchday by winning 3–1. It was the first league title of Anita. In April 2011 it was announced that Anita signed a new contract at Ajax, binding him to the club until 2014.^[2]

Newcastle United

After Ajax had rejected Newcastle's first bid, the clubs eventually came to an agreement after the second offer from the English club of €8.5 million (£6.7 million).^[3][4] He signed a 5-year deal and will wear the number 8 shirt, last worn by Danny Guthrie. Anita made his debut on 18 August 2012, replacing Yohan Cabaye, as the Magpies defeated Tottenham Hotspur 2–1 on the opening day of the Premier League season.^[5] He made his first start for the club against Atromitos F.C. in the Europa League on 23 August, the game finished 1–1. He scored his first goal for Newcastle in a Europa League fixture against Club Brugge at the Jan Breydel Stadium on 8 November.^[6]

International

Anita performed in the 2005 FIFA U-17 World Championship in Peru for the Netherlands U-17, where the Dutch came third. He has also represented the Netherlands U-19 and Netherlands U-21 teams.

On 26 May 2010, Anita made his full international debut for the Netherlands, coming on as a substitute in a 2–1 friendly victory over Mexico.^[7] He made his first appearance in the starting eleven in a 1–1 friendly draw with Ukraine on 12 August 2010, being substituted at half-time by PSV Eindhoven defender Erik Pieters.

2010 World Cup

Anita was included in the preliminary squad for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.^[8] However, on 27 May 2010, Netherlands manager Bert van Marwijk announced that the player would not be part of the final squad of 23 participating in the competition.^[9]

Career statistics

As of 1 February 2014^[10][11]

Honours

Anita (right) with former Ajax teammate Aras Özbiliz.

Club

Ajax

• Eredivisie (2): 2010–11, 2011–12
• KNVB Cup (3): 2005–06, 2006–07, 2009–10
• Johan Cruijff Shield (2): 2006, 2007

International

Netherlands under-18

• UEFA-CAF Meridian Cup (1): 2007

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Vurnon Anita.

External links

• Holland U19 stats at OnsOranje
• Holland U19 stats at OnsOranje
• Holland U19 stats at OnsOranje