Rajiv van La Parra

Rajiv van La Parra

Van La Parra training with Caen in 2010
Personal information
Date of birthJune 4, 1991
Place of birthRotterdam, The Netherlands
Height1.810 m (5 ft 11 1⁄2 in)
Playing positionWinger, striker
Club information
Current team
Wolverhampton Wanderers
Number17
Youth career
1999–2008Feyenoord
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps†(Gls)†
2008–2011Caen16(1)
2011–2014SC Heerenveen82(14)
2014–Wolverhampton Wanderers40(2)
National team‡
2005–2008Netherlands U1717(0)
2009–2010Netherlands U1913(1)
2012–2013Netherlands U216(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 18 April 2015 (UTC).

† Appearances (Goals).

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 20:41, 17 May 2013 (UTC)

Rajiv van La Parra (born 4 June 1991) is a Dutch professional footballer who plays for English club Wolverhampton Wanderers, predominantly as a winger but also as a striker.

Van La Parra played his first senior games in France with Caen before returning to Holland in 2011 for a three-season-long stay with Heerenveen. In June 2014 he moved to England to join Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Club career

Caen

Van La Parra is a product of the Feyenoord youth system, but made his senior debut instead for French Ligue 1 club Caen on 8 November 2008, having agreed a four-year contract in June 2008.[1] He cited the potential to reach the highest level while playing in France as the reason for his transfer.[1]

The right winger made only two appearances for Caen's first team during his first season, and the club ended the campaign being relegated. Despite this relegation, van La Parra would make only a further eight appearances as the team won promotion back to the top flight, but did register his first senior goal; against Guingamp on 5 April 2009.[2] During these seasons, he instead gained playing time in Caen's second team that competed in the Championnat de France amateur.[2]

Heerenveen

In summer 2011 his contract was mutually agreed to be terminated, and he returned to his native Holland in search of a new club. After an unsuccessful trial at AZ Alkmaar,[3] he eventually signed a one-year contract with fellow Eredivisie side Heerenveen on 30 August 2011.[4] After scoring six times during 26 appearances in his debut season, Heerenveen elected to take up an option in his contract for two further seasons.[5] Over these three seasons, van La Parra made a total of 94 appearances (including playing in the Europa League), scoring 16 times.[6]

Wolverhampton Wanderers

His contract from Heerenveen expired in summer 2014, and after rejecting a new contract,[7] on 10 June it was announced that he would move to English Championship side Wolverhampton Wanderers, with whom he had signed a three-year contract.[8] He made his debut in the first match on 10 August 2014 against Norwich City, and he was named Man of the match.

International career

Van La Parra regularly represented the Netherlands at both under-17 and under-19 level. He was member of the Dutch team at 2008 UEFA European Under-17 Football Championship in Turkey, where he played three games. He made his debut at under-21 level on 22 May 2012 in a match against Macedonia.

Personal life

His first name Rajiv is a tribute to Rajiv Gandhi, the son of Indira Gandhi, assassinated in May 1991.[1]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Van La Parra atout jeune et orange a Caen" (in French). Caen.maville.com. 20 June 2008.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Van La Parra" (in French). foot-national.com.
  3. ↑ "Rajiv de la Parra week op proef bij AZ" (in Dutch). fanvanaz.nl. 4 July 2011.
  4. ↑ "sc Heerenveen contracteert Van La Parra" (in Dutch). SC Heerenveen. 30 August 2011.
  5. ↑ "sc Heerenveen legt Rajiv van La Parra langer vast" (in Dutch). SC Heerenveen. 27 March 2012.
  6. ↑ "Rajiv van La Parra" (in Dutch). Voetbal International.
  7. ↑ "Van La Parra kan verlengen, Kum moet vertrekken" (in Dutch). SC Heerenveen. 23 April 2014.
  8. ↑ "Wolves sign Heerenveen winger Rajiv van La Parra". BBC Sport. 10 June 2014.

External links