Wilfred Bouma

Wilfred Bouma
Personal information
Full name Wilfred Bouma[1]
Date of birth (1978-06-15) 15 June 1978
Place of birth Helmond, Netherlands
Height 1.79 m (5 ft 10 1⁄2 in)
Playing position Left Back, Centre Back
Senior career*
Years Team Apps† (Gls)†
1994–2005 PSV 168 (19)
1996–1998 → MVV (loan) 51 (13)
1998–1999 → Fortuna Sittard (loan) 33 (5)
2005–2010 Aston Villa 83 (1)
2010–2013 PSV 76 (4)
Total 411 (42)
National team‡
1992 Netherlands U15 1 (0)
1992–1993 Netherlands U16 4 (0)
1993–1994 Netherlands U17 7 (0)
1994 Netherlands U18 2 (0)
1995–1996 Netherlands U19 9 (3)
1996–2000 Netherlands U21 16 (4)
2000–2012 Netherlands 37 (2)

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 26 May 2013 (UTC).
† Appearances (goals)

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 21:01, 8 November 2013 (UTC)

Wilfred Bouma (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈʋɪlfrəd ˈbʌu̯ma];[2] born 15 June 1978) is a Dutch former footballer who played most notably for PSV Eindhoven, Aston Villa and the Netherlands national team. Bouma was a technically refined left back or centre back known for his hard working nature, defensive positioning and tackling ability.

Club career

Early career

Born in Helmond, North Brabant, Bouma started his career at amateur club SV Rood-Wit '62 before joining PSV on a youth contract in 1994. The PSV head coach at the time, Aad de Mos handed him his professional debut against Willem II on 26 October 1994 which his team lost 2–1. After not featuring for a long time, he was loaned out to MVV in 1996 and played in the Eerste Divisie where he scored seven goals in 18 games. The following season, he scored sixteen goals in 33 games after helping his team back into the Eredivisie. After impressing at Fortuna Sittard in 1998–99, he was drafted back into the PSV squad the following season.

PSV

At PSV, he played as a left winger and as forward because of his quick pace and direct passing, teaming up with Arnold Bruggink and at times, with Ruud van Nistelrooy.

When Arthur Numan departed to Rangers at the end of the 1999–00 season, Bouma was moved to left-back where he had to compete with Danish international Jan Heintze.

With the 2002 FIFA World Cup qualifiers entering its crucial stages, Bouma was handed his international debut for the Dutch national team against the Republic of Ireland on 2 September 2000. In the Euro 2004 tournament in Portugal, he was chosen by Dick Advocaat to play as a central defender and he has also retained that spot while playing for PSV under Guus Hiddink in the 2004–05 season.

Aston Villa

Bouma before an Aston Villa game in 2007

Just before the close of the international transfer window, Bouma signed for Aston Villa on 30 August 2005 for £3.5 million.[3] He struggled to establish himself during the 2005–06 campaign at Villa Park, as his debut season was heavily tarnished with injuries. However, when Martin O'Neill replaced boss David O'Leary, Bouma – after recovering from a hamstring injury – replaced stand-in left-back Gareth Barry.

Under O'Neill, Bouma begun to flourish during the 2006–07 season – he established himself as first choice left back and went onto total 28 appearances in the claret and blue shirt. This led to Bouma becoming a cult hero at Villa Park, most notably for his strong tackling, and determined nature in defence. This turn in form also attributed to Bouma reclaiming his place in the Dutch National Team, playing in the friendly against Russia in February 2007, the tour of Asia in June 2007 and the following UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying fixtures.

On 9 February 2008, Bouma – who was in the process of making his 76th appearance in claret and blue – netted his only goal for the club in the 48th minute of the match against Newcastle United. The deflected goal levelled the game at 1–1, before a hat-trick by teammate John Carew, wrapped up a 4–1 victory.[4]

Upon returning from international duty for the Netherlands at Euro 2008, Bouma participated in both legs of Aston Villa's Intertoto Cup third round tie against Odense, however the second leg at Villa Park on 26 July 2008 was marred by a serious ankle injury to the full-back. Bouma caught his studs on the turf as he attempted to challenge opposition forward Baye Djiby Fall. Initially, the injury looked like a horrific break, however reports later confirmed that Bouma had suffered a dislocation, an injury which looked set to keep him out until October. His recovery however took much longer. Bouma's increasing importance to the Villa cause, as well as his 'cult-hero status' was noted as he was carried off early in the tie whilst being accompanied by a 30,000 strong chant of support by the Villa faithful.[5]

On 9 September 2008, Bouma signed a new two-year deal at Villa Park with the option of a third year.

In January 2009 it was announced that Bouma, along with other long-term absentee John Carew had returned to full training. He was scheduled to return on 16 February for the reserves but he pulled out at the last minute because he "felt sore". On 2 March 2009, Bouma finally played 90 minutes in a 4–3 win in a reserve match against Chelsea. However, he suffered a setback on his road to recovery in April after learning bone fragments had broken away from his ankle, and underwent surgery soon after.[6]

On 16 September 2009, after being out of action for fourteen months, it was announced that Bouma had resumed full training with the club.[7] However, Bouma's injury worries were not yet over. Yet to make a return to Villa's first team, Bouma suffered another setback and was again out of action with a stubbed toe injury.[8]

On 29 January 2010, Aston Villa announced that Bouma had finally returned to full training following eighteen months of absence through injury.[9] However, while Bouma played a full ninety minutes for the Aston Villa reserves in February 2010, he never made a return to the first team. On 6 May 2010, Aston Villa confirmed that Bouma was set to leave the club at the end of the 2009–2010 season.[10] Bouma said his goodbyes to the Villa faithful during half-time of the home defeat to Blackburn in their final league game, later stating that he intended to address the fans but "just couldn't do it" after becoming too emotional.[11]

Return to PSV

On 26 June 2010, it was revealed that Bouma's former club PSV Eindhoven had offered him a trial at the club in an attempt to revive his career and he joined up with the rest of the PSV squad for pre-season training.[12] Bouma later sealed his return on 30 August 2010, signing a two-year contract with the club.[13] Bouma scored his first goal since his return to the Netherlands in a 3–0 home win against VVV-Venlo. Bouma played 66 minutes during a record Eredivisie 10–0 victory over Feyenoord.

Bouma continued his good goal scoring form when he netted his third goal in only 16 league games during the 0–3 away win against VVV-Venlo. On 24 February 2011 Bouma was handed the captains armband for the final five minutes of the UEFA Europa League match against Lille OSC that PSV went on to win 3–1 on the day and 5–3 on aggregate.

International career

Bouma training with the Netherlands.

Bouma was a member of the Dutch squad at the 1995 FIFA World Youth Championship. As of July 2008, Wilfred Bouma has played for the Netherlands 35 times, scoring twice. Bouma made his debut on 2 September 2000, in the 2–2 draw with the Republic of Ireland. Several steady appearances followed in the coming years, including 4 appearances at Euro 2004, whilst playing as a centre-back. Bouma was included in the Dutch squad for Euro 2008, and he made 2 appearances, coming on as a 78th substitute against France and playing the full 90 minutes against Romania. Bouma's only two goals at international level came within 4 months of each other, as the defender netted in the 3–2 defeat to Czech Republic in the group stage of Euro 2004. He then went onto net the opener against Macedonia in October of the same year, in a match which ended 2–2.

Wilfred Bouma: International Goals
# Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1. 19 June 2004 Estádio Municipal, Aveiro, Portugal  Czech Republic
1–0
2–3
Euro 2004
2. 10 October 2004 City Stadium, Skopje, Macedonia  Macedonia
0–1
2–2
2006 World Cup qualification

Career statistics

Club performance League Cup League Cup Continental Total
Season Club League Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Netherlands League KNVB Cup League Cup Europe Total
1994–95PSVEredivisie10---10
1995–9640---40
1996–9710---10
MVVEerste Divisie187---187
1997–98Eredivisie336---336
1998–99Fortuna Sittard335---335
1999–00PSV279--30309
2000–0120010-71281
2001–02273--100373
2002–03271--60331
2003–04325--122447
2004–0526110-140411
2005–0630---30
England League FA Cup League Cup Europe Total
2005–06Aston VillaPremier League20010--210
2006–072501020-280
2007–0838110--391
2008–09---2020
2009–10----00
Netherlands League KNVB Cup League Cup Europe Total
2010–11PSVEredivisie263----101364
2011–12271----81352
2012–13230----80310
Total Netherlands 3134120-52335944
England 831302020901
Career total 41142502054347245

Honours

PSV Eindhoven

Personal life

Wilfred Bouma married partner Anja in June 2007, with whom he has two children – son Thomas and daughter Lola.

References

  1. ↑ Hugman, Barry J., ed. (2009). The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2009–10. Mainstream Publishing. p. 56. ISBN 978-1-84596-474-0.
  2. ↑ Wilfred in isolation: [ˈʋɪlfrət].
  3. ↑ "Villa land Dutch defender Bouma". BBC Sport. 30 August 2005. Retrieved 12 April 2008.
  4. ↑ "Aston Villa 4–1 Newcastle". BBC. 9 February 2008. Retrieved 2 September 2009.
  5. ↑ "Horror injury for Villa's Bouma". BBC. 26 July 2008. Retrieved 16 March 2011.
  6. ↑ "Ankle injury ends Bouma's season". BBC. 17 April 2009. Retrieved 16 September 2009.
  7. ↑ "Bouma resumes training for Villa". BBC. 16 September 2009. Retrieved 16 September 2009.
  8. ↑ "Bouma Suffers Another Setback". AVFC. 6 December 2009. Retrieved 30 March 2014.
  9. ↑ "Bouma is Back". Aston Villa Football Club. 29 January 2010. Retrieved 30 March 2014.
  10. ↑ "Bouma shown the exit door by Villa". Teamtalk.com. 6 May 2010. Archived from the original on 9 May 2010. Retrieved 6 May 2010.
  11. ↑ "Bouma thanks Aston Villa fans for emotional farewell". Tribal Football. 28 May 2010. Retrieved 28 May 2010.
  12. ↑ "Wilfred Bouma offered trial at PSV". Birmingham Mail. 26 June 2010. Retrieved 26 June 2010.
  13. ↑ "Bouma seals homecoming to PSV". UEFA. 30 August 2010. Retrieved 30 August 2010.

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