Ricky van Wolfswinkel

Ricky van Wolfswinkel

Van Wolfswinkel playing for Sporting CP in 2012
Personal information
Full name Ricky van Wolfswinkel[1]
Date of birth (1989-01-27) 27 January 1989
Place of birth Woudenberg, Netherlands
Height 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)
Playing position Striker
Club information
Current team
 Betis
(on loan from Norwich City)
Number 9
Youth career
1998–1999 v.v. Woudenberg
1999–2008 Vitesse
Senior career*
Years Team Apps† (Gls)†
2008–2009 Vitesse 33 (8)
2009–2011 Utrecht 64 (26)
2011–2013 Sporting CP 55 (28)
2013– Norwich City 25 (1)
2014–2015 → Saint-Étienne (loan) 28 (5)
2015– → Betis (loan) 6 (0)
National team‡
2008 Netherlands U19 2 (0)
2009–2010 Netherlands U21 7 (3)
2010– Netherlands 2 (0)

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 12:02, 8 January 2016 (UTC).
† Appearances (goals)

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

Ricky van Wolfswinkel (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈrɪki vɑn ˈʋɔɫfsˌʋɪŋkəɫ]; born 27 January 1989) is a Dutch professional footballer who plays as a striker for Spanish club Real Betis on loan from English club Norwich City.

Whilst playing in Portugal with Sporting CP, he was nicknamed O Lobo ("The Wolf"), although during his early days in the Netherlands, he was known as "HatRicky" because of the number of hat-tricks he scored.[2]

He has been capped twice by the Netherlands national football team.

Club career

Vitesse

Van Wolfswinkel started his football career at the D-pupils of Vitesse. In the A-juniors, he became top scorer in the national first division, winning a prize awarded by the Royal Dutch Football Association (KNVB) for the feat. This prize was handed over by Wesley Sneijder in 2007.[3] On 5 April 2008, Van Wolfswinkel made his debut for Vitesse's first team in a match against Sparta Rotterdam, in which Van Wolfswinkel was substituted in the 85th minute for Santi Kolk. Against De Graafschap, in the 2008–09 season, he was in the starting lineup for the first time. In his third match this season, against Sparta Rotterdam, he scored his first Eredivisie goal.[4]

Utrecht

Ricky van Wolfswinkel being interviewed following Utrecht's qualification for the Europa League

On 29 May 2009, Van Wolfswinkel announced his departure from Vitesse, subsequently signing a three-year contract with FC Utrecht.[5] He began the 2010–11 league campaign with a goal in a 3–1 loss against Feyenoord. On 22 August 2010, he scored two goals against Willem II resulting in a 3–0 win for Utrecht. On 26 August 2010, Van Wolfswinkel scored a hat-trick against Celtic in the UEFA Europa League; Utrecht went on to win the match 4–0.[6] On 3 October 2010, Van Wolfswinkel scored two penalties against Ajax to gain a 2–1 away win over the Dutch runners-up.

Sporting CP

On 3 June 2011, Van Wolfswinkel moved to Sporting CP, signing a five-year contract on a €5.4 million deal;[7] the club signed him in a leverage by aid from Sporting Portugal Fund and Quality Sports Investments. He scored his first goal for Sporting on 10 September 2011 against Paços de Ferreira in a 3–2 win. On 15 September 2011, he scored in the 2–0 win against Zürich in the UEFA Europa League, scoring another goal on 19 September against Rio Ave, and two more five days later against Vitória de Setúbal. He scored another goal against Lazio on 29 September 2011. His impressive goal scoring form led to him being awarded the SJPF Player of the Month for September 2011. His goal scoring tally did not stop there, as he scored yet another two goals in a third round Taça de Portugal match against Famalicão. Overall, he scored 25 goals in all competitions during the 2011–12 season.[8]

Norwich City

On 22 March 2013, it was announced that Van Wolfswinkel had agreed a deal to join English club Norwich City for the 2013–14 season, a transfer thought to be worth £8.5 million, plus up to €2 million in bonuses.[9][10] Statistically, his single league goal for Norwich has been called the most expensive goal in the English leagues.

He joined the Canaries on 1 July 2013 on a four-year deal.[11] He revealed that Dutch legend Johan Neeskens had urged him to join Norwich, saying, "Ricky, you have to go. It's a great club for you, if you have a great feeling, do it."[12] It was confirmed by the official Norwich City Twitter page that Van Wolfswinkel would be handed the number 9 shirt, previously worn by Grant Holt, who had left the club to join Wigan Athletic. He scored on his league debut on 17 August, rescuing a point for Norwich in a 2–2 home draw against Everton.[13] In the aftermath of the match, he said in an interview that Manchester United and Netherlands international Robin van Persie also recommended Norwich to him. Van Persie had supposedly told Van Wolfswinkel that Norwich are "a difficult team to beat" and that the "crowd always get really behind them."[14]

Van Wolfswinkel was involved in late controversy in a 0–0 home draw against Cardiff City on 26 October 2013. After teammate Alexander Tettey went down injured, Cardiff goalkeeper David Marshall sportingly put the ball out of play. Van Wolfswinkel quickly threw the ball to Leroy Fer, who punted the ball into the open net. This caused outrage amongst the Cardiff players, who started shoving both Van Wolfswinkel and Fer. The goal was disallowed despite it not technically being a violation of any rules.

Van Wolfswinkel failed to score for the remainder of the season, making 25 Premier League appearances in total.[15] His first season with the club would prove to be very difficult, and Norwich were relegated to the Championship after finishing with 33 points.[16]

Upon his return to Norwich from his loan spell at Saint-Étienne, he scored against Rotherham United in the League Cup on 25 August 2015.[17]

Saint-Étienne (loan)

On 5 August 2014, Van Wolfswinkel joined Saint-Étienne of the French Ligue 1 on a season-long loan. He stated that his goal is to work hard for the team and to be important for the club.[18] He scored his first goal for the club on 25 September, opening an eventual 1–1 home draw against Bordeaux.[19] On 30 November, he scored the second goal as the team won 3–0 in the Derby du Rhône against Lyon, his team's first home win over their rivals in 20 years.[20]

Betis (loan)

On 31 August 2015, Van Wolfswinkel joined Real Betis of the Spanish La Liga on a season-long loan.[21]

International career

Van Wolfswinkel played several matches for the Netherlands' national youth sides in various age groups[22] and in August 2010 was called up for the senior national team for a friendly against Ukraine, during which he made his senior debut.[23] He earned his second full international cap against Indonesia in June 2013.[24]

Honours

Club

Sporting CP

Individual

Career statistics

As of 13 October 2015
Club performanceLeagueCupLeague CupContinentalOtherTotal
ClubLeagueSeasonAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
NetherlandsLeagueKNVB Cup—EuropeOtherTotal
VitesseEredivisie2007–081000———10
2008–0932820——348
Utrecht2009–10351111—444016
2010–11291530128—4423
PortugalLeagueTaça de PortugalTaça da LigaEuropeOtherTotal
Sporting CPPrimeira Liga2011–1225147520136—4725
2012–133014113273—4120
EnglandLeagueFA CupLeague CupEuropeOtherTotal
Norwich CityPremier League2013–142512000——271
Norwich CityPremier League2015–16000011——11
FranceLeagueCoupe de FranceCoupe de la LigueEuropeOtherTotal
Saint-ÉtienneLigue 12014–15245332061—359
SpainLeagueSpanish CupSpanish League CupEuropeOtherTotal
Real BetisLa Liga2015–1610000000—10
Career TotalsNetherlands973461—1284411947
Portugal55288652209—8845
England2512011——282
France245203361—359
Spain10000000—10
Career Total2026816796381844269103

References

  1. ↑ "Barclays Premier League Squad Numbers 2013/14". Premier League. 16 August 2013. Retrieved 17 August 2013.
  2. ↑ What is Ricky van Wolfswinkel's nickname? Socqer.com, 24 March, 2013 retrieved 24 March, 2013
  3. ↑ Ricky van Wolfswinkel naar FC Utrecht
  4. ↑ Talentjagd: Eredivisie buhlt um van Wolfswinkel
  5. ↑ Utrecht Sign Ricky Van Wolfswinkel From Vitesse – Goal.com
  6. ↑ "Hoops humbled by Dutch". ESPN Soccernet. 26 August 2010. Retrieved 2010-12-02.
  7. ↑
  8. ↑ "Sporting vence (2–0) Famalicão com bis de Van Wolfswinkel" [Sporting wins (2–0) Famalicão with two goals from Van Wolfswinkel]. A Bola (in Portuguese) (abola.pt). 15 October 2011. Retrieved 23 October 2011.
  9. ↑ "Ricky van Wolfswinkel will join Norwich City, says Chris Hughton". The Guardian. 19 April 2013. Retrieved 26 July 2013.
  10. ↑ "Comunicado" (PDF). Sporting CP (in Portuguese). CMVM. 23 March 2013.
  11. ↑ "Ricky van Wolfswinkel: Norwich City agree deal for Dutch striker". BBC. 23 March 2013. Retrieved 24 March 2013.
  12. ↑ Ricky van Wolfswinkel urged to join Norwich by Johan Neeskens", BBC Sport. 3 July 2013. Retrieved 4 July 2013.
  13. ↑ "Norwich 2-2 Everton" BBC Sport. 17 August 2013. Retrieved 17 August 2013.
  14. ↑ "Norwich City striker Ricky van Wolfswinkel thanks Robin van Persie for recommending move to Carrow Road". Telegraph. 18 August 2013. Retrieved 21 August 2013.
  15. ↑ "Ricky van Wolfswinkel - Goal.com". Retrieved 2014-05-29.
  16. ↑ "Norwich City relegated from the Premier League after Sunderland complete their great escape". Retrieved 2014-05-29.
  17. ↑ "Rotherham 1-2 Norwich". BBC Sport. 25 August 2015. Retrieved 25 August 2015.
  18. ↑ "Ricky van Wolfswinkel joins Saint-Etienne on loan from Norwich". Retrieved 2014-08-06.
  19. ↑ Beneddra, Naim (25 September 2014). "Saint-Etienne-Bordeaux (1-1), Bordeaux résiste à Saint-Etienne". Goal.com (in French). Retrieved 26 May 2015.
  20. ↑ "St-Étienne end Lyon derby streak in style". UEFA. 30 November 2014. Retrieved 26 May 2015.
  21. ↑ "El Real Betis firma al delantero internacional holandés Van Wolfswinkel" [Real Betis signs Dutch international forward Van Wolfswinkel] (in Spanish). Betis' official website. 31 August 2015. Retrieved 31 August 2015.
  22. ↑ Van Wolfswinkel en Mulenga verhuizen naar Utrecht
  23. ↑ "Ukraine 1–1 Netherlands". ESPN Soccernet. 11 August 2010. Retrieved 2010-12-02.
  24. ↑ "Van Wolfswinkel not fazed by transfer fee". Fox Sports Asia. 2 July 2013. Retrieved 2013-06-07.

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