Glenn Helder
Encyclopedia
Glenn Helder is a former Dutch
footballer
. He was a product of Ajax Amsterdam
's youth system, though to get first team football he moved to Sparta Rotterdam
in 1989 where he played 93 games, scoring nine goals. In 1993 he moved to Vitesse Arnhem
where he played 52 games, scoring 12 goals and attracting the interest of English
club Arsenal
.
on 14 February 1995 and made his debut in a 1–0 home win against Nottingham Forest
on 21 February. He was the final signing made by George Graham
, who left a week after his arrival. Helder was with Arsenal until October 1997, and his time there was comparatively disappointing—he made 27 league appearances plus 12 as a substitute, scoring one goal (which came in a 3–2 win over Middlesbrough FC). In late 1996, Arsenal sent him on loan to Benfica where he sustained a serious injury. Returning to the club, he found that he had been replaced by Marc Overmars
and was unable to break back into the first team.
After leaving Arsenal, Helder's career was somewhat eclectic; he moved to NAC Breda
in his native Netherlands
; after a short spell there he went to play in China
for Dalian Wanda, but returned to Breda
quite soon afterwards. He did not stay long in his second spell at Breda before moving on to MTK Hungária FC
in Hungary
. He soon returned home to have a trial with FC Dordrecht
, who did not give him a contract, and he eventually signed for RBC Roosendaal, and ended his career at TOP Oss
. He also earned four caps for the Netherlands national football team
.
After his professional career he played for Dutch amateur clubs Neptunus (2003/04) SHO (2004/05) and Bergen (2005/06).
In an interview in 1999 he stated that during his stay at NAC he tried to commit suicide because of problems resulting from compulsive gambling. However, he continues to gamble, and is sometimes seen playing poker
on the British Five television station, representing the Netherlands. He also represents Arsenal in Masters Football
tournaments.
In July 2006, Helder made a surprise appearance for Arsenal in Dennis Bergkamp
's final ever game, a testimonial against Ajax.
in Haarlem
, in order to convince his judge that chances of relapse need not be feared. The judge still has to decide if Helder will need to enter treatment. Earlier psychological
investigation concluded that Helder suffers from "a Narcissistic personality disorder
with hints of borderline
". Helder himself disagrees with this conclusion.
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
footballer
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
. He was a product of Ajax Amsterdam
Ajax Amsterdam
Amsterdamsche Football Club Ajax , also referred to as AFC Ajax, Ajax Amsterdam or simply Ajax , is a professional football club from Amsterdam, Netherlands...
's youth system, though to get first team football he moved to Sparta Rotterdam
Sparta Rotterdam
Sparta Rotterdam is the oldest professional football team in the Netherlands, established on April 1, 1888. Sparta is one of three professional football clubs from Rotterdam, the others being Excelsior and Feyenoord , the latter playing in the Eredivisie.-History:Sparta was first founded in 1887....
in 1989 where he played 93 games, scoring nine goals. In 1993 he moved to Vitesse Arnhem
Vitesse Arnhem
Stichting Betaald Voetbal Vitesse is a Dutch football club from Arnhem, which was founded on 14 May 1892. Vitesse has had considerable success in the Eredivisie, and featured in the UEFA Cup competition, but has never been considered a close competitor of the top three clubs of Netherlands...
where he played 52 games, scoring 12 goals and attracting the interest of English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
club Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
.
Career
Helder joined ArsenalArsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
on 14 February 1995 and made his debut in a 1–0 home win against Nottingham Forest
Nottingham Forest F.C.
Nottingham Forest Football Club is an English Association Football club based in West Bridgford, Nottingham, that plays in the Football League Championship...
on 21 February. He was the final signing made by George Graham
George Graham (footballer)
George Graham is a Scottish former football player and manager. He is best remembered for his success at Arsenal, as a player in the 1970s and then as manager from 1986 until 1995.-Early life:...
, who left a week after his arrival. Helder was with Arsenal until October 1997, and his time there was comparatively disappointing—he made 27 league appearances plus 12 as a substitute, scoring one goal (which came in a 3–2 win over Middlesbrough FC). In late 1996, Arsenal sent him on loan to Benfica where he sustained a serious injury. Returning to the club, he found that he had been replaced by Marc Overmars
Marc Overmars
Marc Overmars is a retired Dutch footballer. He is best known as a right-footed left winger, although he is able to use both his feet with equal precision and power...
and was unable to break back into the first team.
After leaving Arsenal, Helder's career was somewhat eclectic; he moved to NAC Breda
NAC Breda
NAC Breda , simply often known as NAC, is a Dutch professional football club, based in Breda, Netherlands. NAC Breda play in the Rat Verlegh Stadium, named after their most important player, Antoon 'Rat' Verlegh. They play in the Dutch Eredivisie and are known by the fierce and fanatic support of...
in his native Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
; after a short spell there he went to play in China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
for Dalian Wanda, but returned to Breda
Breda
Breda is a municipality and a city in the southern part of the Netherlands. The name Breda derived from brede Aa and refers to the confluence of the rivers Mark and Aa. As a fortified city, the city was of strategic military and political significance...
quite soon afterwards. He did not stay long in his second spell at Breda before moving on to MTK Hungária FC
MTK Hungária FC
MTK Budapest FC or just MTK is a football club from Budapest, Hungary. The team plays in the second division of the Hungarian League. The club's colours are blue and white. As one of the most successful Hungarian football clubs, MTK has won the Hungarian League 23 times and the Hungarian Cup 12...
in Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
. He soon returned home to have a trial with FC Dordrecht
FC Dordrecht
FC Dordrecht is a football club from the city of Dordrecht in the Netherlands, currently playing in the Eerste Divisie.- History :Founded on 16 August 1883 as Dordrechtsche Football Club , it became a professional club in 1954 upon the introduction of professional football to the Netherlands...
, who did not give him a contract, and he eventually signed for RBC Roosendaal, and ended his career at TOP Oss
TOP Oss
FC Oss is a professional football club from the Netherlands, which was founded on April 9, 1928. They currently play in the Eerste Divisie.-History:...
. He also earned four caps for the Netherlands national football team
Netherlands national football team
The Netherlands National Football Team represents the Netherlands in association football and is controlled by the Royal Dutch Football Association , the governing body for football in the Netherlands...
.
After his professional career he played for Dutch amateur clubs Neptunus (2003/04) SHO (2004/05) and Bergen (2005/06).
In an interview in 1999 he stated that during his stay at NAC he tried to commit suicide because of problems resulting from compulsive gambling. However, he continues to gamble, and is sometimes seen playing poker
Poker
Poker is a family of card games that share betting rules and usually hand rankings. Poker games differ in how the cards are dealt, how hands may be formed, whether the high or low hand wins the pot in a showdown , limits on bet sizes, and how many rounds of betting are allowed.In most modern poker...
on the British Five television station, representing the Netherlands. He also represents Arsenal in Masters Football
Masters Football
Masters football is a 6 a-side indoor football competition in the United Kingdom, where players over the age of 35 are chosen by the Masters Football Selection Committee to represent a senior club which they played for. Regional heats are held, and the winners of each go forward to a national...
tournaments.
In July 2006, Helder made a surprise appearance for Arsenal in Dennis Bergkamp
Dennis Bergkamp
Dennis Nicolaas Bergkamp , is a former Dutch professional footballer who is currently the assistant manager to Frank de Boer at Ajax. At club level he played for Ajax, Internazionale, and Arsenal, and also represented the Netherlands at international level...
's final ever game, a testimonial against Ajax.
Personal life
Helder was imprisoned in September 2007, on account of threatening his ex-girlfriend and physically abusing her current partner. In March 2008, Helder accepted to be treated at De Waag, an institute for ambulant forensic psychiatryForensic psychiatry
Forensic psychiatry is a sub-speciality of psychiatry and an auxiliar science of criminology. It encompasses the interface between law and psychiatry...
in Haarlem
Haarlem
Haarlem is a municipality and a city in the Netherlands. It is the capital of the province of North Holland, the northern half of Holland, which at one time was the most powerful of the seven provinces of the Dutch Republic...
, in order to convince his judge that chances of relapse need not be feared. The judge still has to decide if Helder will need to enter treatment. Earlier psychological
Psychology
Psychology is the study of the mind and behavior. Its immediate goal is to understand individuals and groups by both establishing general principles and researching specific cases. For many, the ultimate goal of psychology is to benefit society...
investigation concluded that Helder suffers from "a Narcissistic personality disorder
Narcissistic personality disorder
Narcissistic personality disorder is a personality disorder in which the individual is described as being excessively preoccupied with issues of personal adequacy, power, prestige and vanity...
with hints of borderline
Borderline personality disorder
Borderline personality disorder is a personality disorder described as a prolonged disturbance of personality function in a person , characterized by depth and variability of moods.The disorder typically involves unusual levels of instability in mood; black and white thinking, or splitting; the...
". Helder himself disagrees with this conclusion.