Georginio Wijnaldum

Georginio Wijnaldum

Wijnaldum playing for PSV in 2015
Personal information
Full nameGeorginio Gregion Emile Wijnaldum[1]
Date of birth11 November 1990
Place of birthRotterdam, Netherlands
Height1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Playing positionMidfielder
Club information
Current team
PSV
Number10-
Youth career
1997–2004Sparta Rotterdam
2004–2007Feyenoord
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps†(Gls)†
2007–2011Feyenoord134(25)
2011–PSV109(40)
National team‡
2005–2007Netherlands U1715(4)
2007–2009Netherlands U1917(5)
2009–2013Netherlands U2124(10)
2011–Netherlands18(2)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 25 April 2015.

† Appearances (Goals).

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 16 November 2014

Georginio Gregion Emile Wijnaldum (Dutch pronunciation: [ʒɔrˈʒiɲoː ʋɛi̯ˈnɑɫdʏm]; born 11 November 1990) is a Dutch footballer who currently plays as an attacking midfielder for Dutch Eredivisie club PSV and the Netherlands national football team.

A youth product of Feyenoord, he is the youngest player ever to represent the team professionally and played 130 matches for them in a five-year period.

Wijnaldum's favorite position is the central playmaker role, where he often played in his youth career.

Early life

Georginio Wijnaldum was born and raised in Rotterdam, South Holland.[2] At the age of six his parents divorced and his mother moved to Amsterdam.[2] Wijnaldum decided to stay in Rotterdam and moved in with his grandmother, where he lived the remaining part of his childhood.[3] Both his parents are of Afro-Surinamese descent.[4]

In Wijnaldum's youngest years he never showed interest in football. He never played with a ball or watched football on TV. His ambition was to become a gymnast or acrobat. This changed when Wijnaldum's nephew asked him to come to Sparta Rotterdam's opening day with him; then he got invited to the Sparta Rotterdam youth academy and his love for football started to grow slowly.[5]

Wijnaldum has two younger brothers, Giliano and Rogerio. Giliano Wijnaldum is currently playing for Go Ahead Eagles. He is also the cousin of midfielder Royston Drenthe and the half-brother of Wolverhampton Wanderers winger Rajiv van La Parra.

Name

Club career

Youth career

At the age of six, Wijnaldum developed himself rapidly at Sparta Rotterdam, winning two championship titles in his first two seasons. Soon Ajax, PSV and Feyenoord showed interest in the youngster, but Wijnaldum declined all offers: "I didn't watch football on TV and I didn't know any of the first team players of Sparta or any of the top clubs. I only knew the real famous players of Oranje, so the offers didn't impress me much. I had a good time at Sparta, I wanted to stay." After playing for Sparta Rotterdam for seven seasons and representing the Netherlands at various youth levels, Wijnaldum decided to accept a new Feyenoord offer. He was convinced playing for Feyenoord was better for his development as a football player and believed in Feyenoord's vision.[5]

At Feyenoord, Wijnaldum joined a successful generation with the likes of Leroy Fer and Luís Pedro. Wijnaldum stood out as an exceptional talent. In January 2007, a few weeks after turning 16, Wijnaldum was invited to the first team's training camp in Belek, Turkey, by Feyenoord manager Erwin Koeman.[7]

Feyenoord (2007–2011)

On 8 April 2007, Wijnaldum made his official debut in Feyenoord's starting line-up in the Eredivisie home match against FC Groningen (0–4).[8] At the age of 16 and 148 days, Wijnaldum became the youngest player ever to play in Feyenoord's first team and was chosen Feyenoord's man of the match. On 2 December 2007, Wijnaldum scored his first Eredivisie goal for Feyenoord against Heracles Almelo in a 6–0 home win.[9]

In the season 2008–09 Wijnaldum made his official European debut. On 18 September 2008, Wijnaldum was named in the starting line-up in the UEFA Cup home match against Kalmar FF (0–1).[10] On 2 October 2008, Wijnaldum scored his first European goal for Feyenoord in the return match against Kalmar FF, which resulted in a 1–2 win and a place in the group stage.[11]

On 6 March 2009, Wijnaldum signed a new contract at Feyenoord which keeps him in de Kuip until summer 2012.[12] On 27 February 2011 Wijnaldum helped his struggling Feyenoord to a 5–1 demolition of FC Groningen, scoring four goals. He scored two goals from open play in the first half and two more from the penalty spot to add his total for the season to 8 goals.[13]

PSV Eindhoven (2011–)

Wijnaldum joined PSV in 2011.

On 29 June 2011 the technical director of Feyenoord announced that they had reached a transfer deal for Wijnaldum reported to be worth 5,000,000 EUR with PSV Eindhoven.[14] On the opening day of Eredivisie 2011/12 season, Wijnaldum made his debut for PSV in a 3–1 loss against AZ.[15] On 21 August 2011, Wijnaldum scored his first goal for PSV in a 3–0 victory against ADO Den Haag. Since joining the club, Wijnaldum established himself in the starting eleven as he scores goals and develops assists from his attacking role in midfield in Eredivisie, KNVB Beker and Europa League. After the retirement of Mark van Bommel and the departure of Kevin Strootman in the summer of 2013, Wijnaldum was named PSV's captain for the 2013-14 Eredivisie season.

International career

Netherlands U17 & U19

Wijnaldum was one of the key players of the Netherlands U17 on the 2007 UEFA European Under-17 Football Championship in Belgium. The team finished third in their group behind England and Belgium, failing to qualify for the knock-out stage. Quickly after the 2007 UEFA European Under-17 Football Championship, Wijnaldum got selected for the Netherlands U19. Despite excellent individual performances, the team underachieved and failed to qualify for the 2008 UEFA European Under-19 Football Championship in Czech Republic and 2009 UEFA European Under-19 Football Championship in Ukraine.

On 12 November 2008, the young midfielder got invited to the Netherlands B by manager Johan Neeskens. Wijnaldum had to deny the invitation due to an injury.[16]

Netherlands U21

Wijnaldum had to deny his first Netherlands U21 invitation on 9 August 2009.[17] Wijnaldum received an invitation for the friendly match against England U21 by manager Cor Pot.[18] Wijnaldum made his official Netherlands U21 debut on 4 September 2009, in the 2011 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship qualification match against Finland U21 (2–0).

Netherlands national football team

On 30 May 2011, Wijnaldum was named in the Netherlands squad for friendlies against Brazil and Uruguay, but was not selected in either match.[19] He made his international debut in the match against San Marino on 2 September 2011, appearing as a substitute in the 86th minute and promptly scoring the final goal in an 11–0 win.[20]

Wijnaldum was a member of the Netherlands squad for the 2014 FIFA World Cup, and scored his second goal for the nation in a 3–0 win against Brazil in the third-place play-off.[21]

Career Statistics

Club Season League Cup Europe Total
Apps Goals Assists Apps Goals Assists Apps Goals Assists Apps Goals Assists
Feyenoord 2006–07 300------300
2007–08 1010200---1210
2008–09 33454037104458
2009–10 3142710---3852
2010–11 3414110020037141
Total 11123814139101342511
PSV 2011–12 3287621124150149
2012–13 3314572354045208
2013–14 11400004011541
2014–15 3113332162140175
Total 10940151665271031525623
Career total 21963233078361132878134
Statistics accurate as of last match played on 25 April 2015.[22]

1 Includes UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League matches.

2 Includes the Eredivisie playoffs matches.

Honours

Club

PSV Eindhoven

International

Netherlands

Individual

References

  1. ↑ "2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil: List of Players" (PDF). FIFA. 11 June 2014. p. 25. Retrieved 11 June 2014.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Sian Parry (2 March 2011). "Liverpool transfer target Georginio Wijnaldum: 10 things you need to know!". talksport.co.uk, Talksport.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "10 things you need to know about Georginio Wijnaldum". mirrorfootball.co.uk, Daily Mirror. 8 April 2010.
  4. ↑ http://www.goal.com/en-gh/news/4389/ghana/2013/05/15/3980540/im-not-a-ghanaian-boateng-was-the-name-of-my-step-father
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Georginio Wijnaldum". Kameraadjes (in Dutch). Retrieved 6 October 2009.
  6. ↑ "'Goed ventje' laat zich niet gek maken" ['Good boy' won't be caught with his head in the clouds]. AD (in Dutch). 7 November 2008. Retrieved 6 October 2009.
  7. ↑ "Talent in Turkije (4): Georginio Wijnaldum" [Talent in Turkey (4): Georginio Wijnaldum]. Feyenoord.nl (in Dutch). 12 January 2007. Retrieved 6 October 2009.
  8. ↑ "Mokerslag in de Kuip: 0–4" [Slam dunk in de Kuip: 0–4]. Feyenoord.nl (in Dutch). 8 April 2007. Retrieved 6 October 2009.
  9. ↑ "Swingend en glibberend voorbij Heracles: 6–0" [Swinging and slipping past Heracles: 6–0]. Feyenoord.nl (in Dutch). 2 December 2007. Retrieved 6 October 2009.
  10. ↑ "Teleurstellende rentree op Europees podium" [Disappointing comeback on European stage]. Feyenoord.nl (in Dutch). 18 September 2008. Retrieved 6 October 2009.
  11. ↑ "Feyenoord naar groepsfase UEFA Cup" [Feyenoord to group stage UEFA Cup]. Feyenoord.nl (in Dutch). 2 October 2008. Retrieved 6 October 2009.
  12. ↑ "Feyenoord verlengt contract Wijnaldum" [Feyenoord renews contract Wijnaldum]. Feyenoord.nl (in Dutch). 6 March 2009. Retrieved 6 October 2009.
  13. ↑ Match: Feyenoord Rotterdam v FC Groningen – Dutch Eredivisie – ESPN FC. Soccernet.espn.go.com (27 February 2011). Retrieved on 2013-08-02.
  14. ↑ 'Ik had Wijnaldum liever aan buitenlandse club verkocht'. Voetbalzone.nl. Retrieved on 2 August 2013.
  15. ↑ "Report: AZ Alkmaar vs PSV Eindhoven". ESPN Soccernet. 7 August 2011. Retrieved 11 March 2012.
  16. ↑ "Wijnaldum en Fer niet naar Nederland B" [Wijnaldum and Fer won't go to Netherlands B]. Feyenoord.nl (in Dutch). 17 November 2008. Retrieved 6 October 2009.
  17. ↑ "Wijnaldum meldt zich af voor Jong Oranje" [Wijnaldum logs off for Jong Oranje]. Feyenoord.nl (in Dutch). 9 August 2009. Retrieved 6 October 2009.
  18. ↑ "Biseswar, Wijnaldum en Fer in voorselectie Jong Oranje" [Biseswar, Wijnaldum and Fer in pre-selection Jong Oranje]. Feyenoord.nl (in Dutch). 29 July 2009. Retrieved 6 October 2009.
  19. ↑ Wijnaldum vervangt Sneijder bij het Nederlands elftal. nieuwslog.nl (30 May 2011)
  20. ↑ "San Marino on the end of record Netherlands win". UEFA. 2 September 2011. Retrieved 23 June 2014.
  21. ↑ "Brazil 0-3 Netherlands". BBC. 12 July 2014. Retrieved 13 July 2014.
  22. ↑ "Lex Immers - Voetbal International profile". Voetbal International.
  23. ↑ http://www.soccerway.com/matches/2012/04/08/netherlands/knvb-beker/psv-nv/stichting-heracles-almelo/1254876/
  24. ↑ "Resilient PSV win Maspalomas Cup". PSV.nl. 11 January 2015.
  25. ↑ "2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil: Brazil-Netherlands". FIFA. 12 July 2014. Retrieved 21 August 2014.
  26. ↑ "Wijnaldum Rotterdams sporttalent". Feyenoord.nl (in Dutch). 19 December 2007. Retrieved 6 October 2009.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Georginio Wijnaldum.