Jaïro Riedewald

Jaïro Riedewald

Personal information
Full name	Jaïro Riedewald
Date of birth	(1996-09-09) 9 September 1996
Place of birth	Haarlem, Netherlands
Height	1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)
Playing position	Left back
Club information
Current team	Ajax
Number	12
Youth career
	SV Overbos
2007–2014	Ajax
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
2013–	Ajax	12	(2)
National team
2011	Netherlands U15	2	(0)
2011–2012	Netherlands U16	6	(0)
2012–2013	Netherlands U17	10	(0)
2013–	Netherlands U19	12	(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 21 December 2014 (UTC). † Appearances (Goals).

Jaïro Riedewald (born 9 September 1996 in Haarlem^[1]) is a Dutch professional footballer who plays as a defender for Eredivisie side Ajax.

Club career

AFC Ajax

On 15 March 2013 Riedewald signed his first professional contract with Ajax, a product of the famed Ajax Youth Academy having joined the club from SV Overbos at the age of 11, his first contract with the club was a 3-year contract binding him to the club until the Summer of 2016. On 21 December 2013 he made his professional debut in the Eerste Divisie, the second tier of professional football in the Netherlands, playing for the reserves team Jong Ajax, in a match against VVV-Venlo which ended in a 5–1 away loss. On 14 December 2013, Ajax head coach Frank de Boer announced the inclusion of Riedewald in the first team squad for the away match against SC Cambuur on 15 December 2013.^[2] Not having made an appearance in that fixture it was the first time he was called for the first team. He made his debut for the first team on 19 December 2013 in the KNVB Cup match against IJsselmeervogels. The match ended in a 0–3 win, with Riedewald coming on for Daley Blind in the 73'-minute of the match. Three days later he made his Eredivisie debut against Roda JC Kerkrade.^[3] After Bojan Krkić, Riedewald was substituted on as well in the 80'-minute, where he replaced Christian Poulsen, quickly scoring two goals, after trailing 1–0, helping Ajax to a 1–2 victory, hereby becoming the youngest scoring debutant in the club and league history with 17 years, 104 days.^[4] The youngest scoring player before him in the Dutch Eredivise was Jeroen Lumu with 17 years, 111 days, while Marco van Basten was the youngest scoring debutant at the club with 17 year, 154 days of age.^[5] Since January 2014 Riedewald became a permanent member of the first team at Ajax. On 27 February 2014, Riedewald made his continental debut for Ajax in the UEFA Europa League away match against Red Bull Salzburg which resulted in a 3–1 loss where he replaced Christian Poulsen in the 63'-minute.

Personal life

Born in Haarlem, Riedewald is of mixed Dutch, Surinamese and Indonesian heritage. His father hails from Suriname, while his mother is of half Dutch, half Indonesian descent. This was revealed in an interview with Riedewald prior to the off-season tour of Indonesia in 2014 by AFC Ajax.^[6]

Career statistics

Club performance

Statistics accurate as of last match played on 21 December 2014.

¹ Includes UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League matches.

² Includes the Johan Cruijff Shield and Eredivisie playoffs matches.

Honours

Club

Ajax

• Eredivisie: 2013–14

References