Harvey Esajas
Encyclopedia
Harvey Delano Esajas is a retired Dutch
footballer of Suriname
se descent who played as a defender
.
and Ajax Amsterdam. Prior to the start of the season Esajas was the key factor in the Helderse affaire: Feyenoord played a friendly pre season match versus an amateur side, the Helderse Selectie. During this match Esajas knocked down opponent Ronald Schouten, breaking his jaw. Eventually, he was not suspended for this action.
Esajas made his Dutch first division
debuts ironically against Ajax, and managed to score for Feyenoord, in one of the most prestigious clash in the Netherlands
. Despite this promising start, he did not make it as a regular in Feyenoord's first team and only played in five matches. During his first season at Feyenoord the team won the Dutch Cup
. The following season he only showed up in three matches, while he was not used at all in 1995–96.
Upon leaving Rotterdam, Esajas signed with FC Groningen. There, he only participated in nine matches, subsequently moving to Cambuur Leeuwarden in the second division
, where he did not play at all. In 1998–99, he appeared in seven lineups for Dordrecht'90
, also in the second level.
Esajas decided to move abroad and was able to have trials at ACF Fiorentina
and Torino FC
, but was not offered a contract at neither. He then tried to find a club in Spain
, spending some time at Real Madrid Castilla
, Zamora CF
and CD Móstoles
, but did not succeed at any, thus deciding to end his career and find a regular job at a Spanish circus
.
Esajas disappeared out of the world of football for a long time, until 2004. During this time, he also worked as a dish washer
; upon a visit to his close friend Clarence Seedorf
, who played at A.C. Milan
, he spoke of his wish to return to active again - at that time his weight was over 100 kg and he had not touched a ball in three years time. Seedorf went to club manager Carlo Ancelotti
and told him as a joke he could have a defender for free. Ancelotti's reaction was skeptical, but he accepted the challenge and gave Esajas the opportunity to train at Milanello
for a while. In three months time, Esajas lost 15 kg and in June 2004 was in footballing shape again, thus being offered a contract.
When 2004–05's Italian League began, Esajas one of Milan's bench last options, but in January 2005 he was given a few minutes of play for his hard work. He came on as a substitute three minutes before time in the Italian Cup
match versus U.S. Città di Palermo
, for Massimo Ambrosini
. He was even able to assist Jon Dahl Tomasson
, who headed over the bar.
Subsequently, Esajas was part of the Milan squad in Istanbul
when they played and lost on penalties with Liverpool
in the 2005 Champions League final
. He did not play any more matches for Milan, but moved to Serie C
team A.C. Legnano
instead, also representing Calcio Lecco 1912
in that same season, before ending his career for the second and definitive time.
Esajas himself described the story of his career as follows: “The incredible story of the man who made the impossible thing possible”.
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 of Suriname
Suriname
Suriname , officially the Republic of Suriname , is a country in northern South America. It borders French Guiana to the east, Guyana to the west, Brazil to the south, and on the north by the Atlantic Ocean. Suriname was a former colony of the British and of the Dutch, and was previously known as...
se descent who played as a defender
Defender (association football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
.
Football career
Esajas made his debut in professional football in the 1993–94 season for Feyenoord Rotterdam - after spending his youth years in the football schools of R.S.C. AnderlechtR.S.C. Anderlecht
Royal Sporting Club Anderlecht, usually known as Anderlecht or RSCA , is a Belgian professional football club based in Anderlecht in the Brussels Capital Region. Anderlecht plays in the Belgian Pro League and is the most successful Belgian football team in European competitions as well as in the...
and Ajax Amsterdam. Prior to the start of the season Esajas was the key factor in the Helderse affaire: Feyenoord played a friendly pre season match versus an amateur side, the Helderse Selectie. During this match Esajas knocked down opponent Ronald Schouten, breaking his jaw. Eventually, he was not suspended for this action.
Esajas made his Dutch first division
Eredivisie
The Eredivisie is the highest football league in the Netherlands. The league was founded in 1956 two years after the start of professional football in the Netherlands. It is currently ranked the ninth best league in Europe by UEFA....
debuts ironically against Ajax, and managed to score for Feyenoord, in one of the most prestigious clash in the Netherlands
Klassieker
De Klassieker is the main football rivalry of the Netherlands. It is between Ajax, of Amsterdam and Feyenoord, of Rotterdam and is highly contested. The record attendance was on 9 January 1966, when 65,562 watched in Rotterdam....
. Despite this promising start, he did not make it as a regular in Feyenoord's first team and only played in five matches. During his first season at Feyenoord the team won the Dutch Cup
KNVB Cup
The KNVB Cup is a competition in the Netherlands organized by the Royal Dutch Football Association since 1899. It was based on the format of the English FA Cup. Outside of the Netherlands, it is often referred to as the Dutch Cup...
. The following season he only showed up in three matches, while he was not used at all in 1995–96.
Upon leaving Rotterdam, Esajas signed with FC Groningen. There, he only participated in nine matches, subsequently moving to Cambuur Leeuwarden in the second division
Eerste Divisie
The Eerste Divisie is the second-highest division of football in the Netherlands. It is linked with the top-level Eredivisie via a promotion/relegation system. It is also known as the Jupiler League due to sponsorship, which is the same name as the top league in Belgium...
, where he did not play at all. In 1998–99, he appeared in seven lineups for Dordrecht'90
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...
, also in the second level.
Esajas decided to move abroad and was able to have trials at ACF Fiorentina
ACF Fiorentina
ACF Fiorentina, commonly referred to as simply Fiorentina, is a professional Italian football club from Florence, Tuscany. Founded by a merger in 1926, Fiorentina have played at the top level of Italian football for the majority of their existence; only four clubs have played in more Serie A...
and Torino FC
Torino F.C.
Torino Football Club, commonly referred to as simply Torino, is a professional Italian football club based in Turin, Piedmont, that was founded in 1906. The club has spent most of its history in the top tier in Italian football....
, but was not offered a contract at neither. He then tried to find a club in Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, spending some time at Real Madrid Castilla
Real Madrid Castilla
Real Madrid Castilla is a Spanish football team that plays in the Segunda División B. It is the reserve team of Real Madrid. They play their home games at Alfredo di Stéfano Stadium....
, Zamora CF
Zamora CF
Zamora Club de Fútbol is a Spanish football team based in Zamora, in the autonomous community of Castile and León. Founded in 1969, it plays in Segunda División B - Group 2, holding home games at Estadio Ruta de la Plata, with a capacity of 8,000 seaters....
and CD Móstoles
CD Móstoles
Club Deportivo Móstoles is a Spanish football team from Móstoles, a city in the southern metropolitan area of Madrid. Founded in 1955, it currently plays in Tercera División, holding home matches at El Soto, which seats about 14,000 spectators....
, but did not succeed at any, thus deciding to end his career and find a regular job at a Spanish circus
Circus
A circus is commonly a travelling company of performers that may include clowns, acrobats, trained animals, trapeze acts, musicians, hoopers, tightrope walkers, jugglers, unicyclists and other stunt-oriented artists...
.
Esajas disappeared out of the world of football for a long time, until 2004. During this time, he also worked as a dish washer
Dishwashing
Dish-washing is the process of cleaning cooking utensils, dishes, cutlery and other items. This is either achieved by hand in a sink or using dishwasher and may take place in a kitchen, utility room, scullery or elsewhere...
; upon a visit to his close friend Clarence Seedorf
Clarence Seedorf
Clarence Clyde Seedorf OON is a Dutch footballer who currently plays as an attacking midfielder for Serie A club Milan. Seedorf is the first player to have won the Champions League with three different clubs - Ajax in 1995, Real Madrid in 1998 and Milan in 2003 and 2007...
, who played at A.C. Milan
A.C. Milan
Associazione Calcio Milan, commonly referred to as A.C. Milan or simply Milan , is a professional Italian football club based in Milan, Lombardy, that plays in the Serie A. Milan was founded in 1899 by English lace-maker Herbert Kilpin and businessman Alfred Edwards among others...
, he spoke of his wish to return to active again - at that time his weight was over 100 kg and he had not touched a ball in three years time. Seedorf went to club manager Carlo Ancelotti
Carlo Ancelotti
Carlo Ancelotti is an Italian football manager, Nicknamed Carletto, Ancelotti played as a midfielder and had a successful career with Roma – captaining the team – with whom he won one Scudetto and 4 Coppa Italia and was part of the legendary late 80's Milan team, with whom he won two Scudetti and...
and told him as a joke he could have a defender for free. Ancelotti's reaction was skeptical, but he accepted the challenge and gave Esajas the opportunity to train at Milanello
Milanello
Milanello Sports Centre, commonly referred to as simply Milanello, is the training facility of Italian professional football club Associazione Calcio Milan. Built in 1963, the centre consists of , including a pinewood and a little lake...
for a while. In three months time, Esajas lost 15 kg and in June 2004 was in footballing shape again, thus being offered a contract.
When 2004–05's Italian League began, Esajas one of Milan's bench last options, but in January 2005 he was given a few minutes of play for his hard work. He came on as a substitute three minutes before time in the Italian Cup
Coppa Italia
The Coppa Italia is an Italian football annual cup competition. Its first edition was held in 1922, but the second champions were not crowned until 1936. Roma and Juventus lead the way with nine wins. Roma has contested more finals, 16, while Torino and Juventus follow with 13...
match versus U.S. Città di Palermo
U.S. Città di Palermo
Unione Sportiva Città di Palermo is an Italian football club from Palermo, Sicily which currently plays in Serie A, the top level of Italian football. Formed in 1900 as Anglo Panormitan Athletic and Football Club, the club had various names before assuming its final form in 1987 and is currently...
, for Massimo Ambrosini
Massimo Ambrosini
Massimo Ambrosini is an Italian footballer who plays as a midfielder and is the captain of Serie A club Milan. He is well known for his aerial ability and tackling.- Club career :...
. He was even able to assist Jon Dahl Tomasson
Jon Dahl Tomasson
Jon Dahl Tomasson is a retired Danish footballer and assistant manager at the Dutch football club SBV Excelsior....
, who headed over the bar.
Subsequently, Esajas was part of the Milan squad in Istanbul
Istanbul
Istanbul , historically known as Byzantium and Constantinople , is the largest city of Turkey. Istanbul metropolitan province had 13.26 million people living in it as of December, 2010, which is 18% of Turkey's population and the 3rd largest metropolitan area in Europe after London and...
when they played and lost on penalties with Liverpool
Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups...
in the 2005 Champions League final
2005 UEFA Champions League Final
The 2005 UEFA Champions League Final was the final match of the 2004–05 UEFA Champions League, Europe's primary club football competition. The showpiece event was contested between Liverpool of England and Milan of Italy at the Atatürk Stadium in Istanbul, Turkey on 25 May 2005...
. He did not play any more matches for Milan, but moved to Serie C
Serie C
The Lega Italiana Calcio Professionistico , commonly known as Lega Pro , is the governing body that runs the third and fourth highest football divisions in Italy, the Prima Divisione and Seconda Divisione respectively. It also includes the sole professional club of San Marino...
team A.C. Legnano
A.C. Legnano
Associazione Calcio Legnano was an Italian football club, based in Legnano, Lombardy, that was founded in 1913. The team's colors were lilac and white. In the past Legnano have played three seasons in Italy's top league; Serie A, finishing bottom of the league each time.The club were perhaps best...
instead, also representing Calcio Lecco 1912
Calcio Lecco 1912
Calcio Lecco 1912 is an Italian football club, based in Lecco, Lombardy.Lecco currently plays in Lega Pro Seconda Divisione, having last been in Serie A in 1967.The team's colors are blue and dark blue.-History:The club was founded in 1912....
in that same season, before ending his career for the second and definitive time.
Esajas himself described the story of his career as follows: “The incredible story of the man who made the impossible thing possible”.
Statistics
| Season | Club | Competition | Apps | Goals | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1993/94 | Feyenoord |  EredivisieEredivisie The Eredivisie is the highest football league in the Netherlands. The league was founded in 1956 two years after the start of professional football in the Netherlands. It is currently ranked the ninth best league in Europe by UEFA.... |
5 | 1 | |
| 1994/95 | Feyenoord | Eredivisie Eredivisie The Eredivisie is the highest football league in the Netherlands. The league was founded in 1956 two years after the start of professional football in the Netherlands. It is currently ranked the ninth best league in Europe by UEFA.... |
3 | 0 | |
| 1995/96 | Feyenoord | Eredivisie Eredivisie The Eredivisie is the highest football league in the Netherlands. The league was founded in 1956 two years after the start of professional football in the Netherlands. It is currently ranked the ninth best league in Europe by UEFA.... |
0 | 0 | |
| 1996/97 | FC Groningen | Eredivisie Eredivisie The Eredivisie is the highest football league in the Netherlands. The league was founded in 1956 two years after the start of professional football in the Netherlands. It is currently ranked the ninth best league in Europe by UEFA.... |
9 | 0 | |
| 1997/98 | SC Cambuur | Eerste Divisie Eerste Divisie The Eerste Divisie is the second-highest division of football in the Netherlands. It is linked with the top-level Eredivisie via a promotion/relegation system. It is also known as the Jupiler League due to sponsorship, which is the same name as the top league in Belgium... |
0 | 0 | |
| 1998/99 | Dordrecht'90 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... |
Eerste Divisie Eerste Divisie The Eerste Divisie is the second-highest division of football in the Netherlands. It is linked with the top-level Eredivisie via a promotion/relegation system. It is also known as the Jupiler League due to sponsorship, which is the same name as the top league in Belgium... |
7 | 0 | |
| 1999/00 | Real Madrid Real Madrid Real Madrid Club de Fútbol , commonly known as Real Madrid, is a professional football club based in Madrid, Spain. The club have won a record 31 La Liga titles, the Primera División of the Liga de Fútbol Profesional , 18 Copas del Rey, 8 Spanish Super Cups, 1 Copa Eva Duarte and 1 Copa de la... |
 Segunda División BSegunda División B Segunda División B is the third level of the Spanish football league system. It is administered by the RFEF. The top two levels are La Liga, also referred to as the Primera División, and the Segunda División. Immediately below Segunda División B is the Tercera Division... |
? | ? | |
| 2000/01 | Zamora CF Zamora CF Zamora Club de Fútbol is a Spanish football team based in Zamora, in the autonomous community of Castile and León. Founded in 1969, it plays in Segunda División B - Group 2, holding home games at Estadio Ruta de la Plata, with a capacity of 8,000 seaters.... |
Segunda División B Segunda División B Segunda División B is the third level of the Spanish football league system. It is administered by the RFEF. The top two levels are La Liga, also referred to as the Primera División, and the Segunda División. Immediately below Segunda División B is the Tercera Division... |
? | ? | |
| 2000/01 | CD Móstoles CD Móstoles Club Deportivo Móstoles is a Spanish football team from Móstoles, a city in the southern metropolitan area of Madrid. Founded in 1955, it currently plays in Tercera División, holding home matches at El Soto, which seats about 14,000 spectators.... |
Tercera División Tercera División Tercera División is the fourth level of the Spanish football league system. The top three are the Primera División, often referred to as "La Liga" in English, the Segunda División, and Segunda División B.-Current Format:... |
? | ? | |
| 2001/04 | Retired | ||||
| 2004/05 | AC Milan A.C. Milan Associazione Calcio Milan, commonly referred to as A.C. Milan or simply Milan , is a professional Italian football club based in Milan, Lombardy, that plays in the Serie A. Milan was founded in 1899 by English lace-maker Herbert Kilpin and businessman Alfred Edwards among others... |
 Serie ASerie A Serie A , now called Serie A TIM due to sponsorship by Telecom Italia, is a professional league competition for football clubs located at the top of the Italian football league system and has been operating for over eighty years since 1929. It had been organized by Lega Calcio until 2010, but a new... |
0 | 0 | |
| 2005/06 | AC Legnano A.C. Legnano Associazione Calcio Legnano was an Italian football club, based in Legnano, Lombardy, that was founded in 1913. The team's colors were lilac and white. In the past Legnano have played three seasons in Italy's top league; Serie A, finishing bottom of the league each time.The club were perhaps best... |
Serie C2/A Serie C The Lega Italiana Calcio Professionistico , commonly known as Lega Pro , is the governing body that runs the third and fourth highest football divisions in Italy, the Prima Divisione and Seconda Divisione respectively. It also includes the sole professional club of San Marino... |
? | ? | |
| 2005/06 | Calcio Lecco 1912 Calcio Lecco 1912 Calcio Lecco 1912 is an Italian football club, based in Lecco, Lombardy.Lecco currently plays in Lega Pro Seconda Divisione, having last been in Serie A in 1967.The team's colors are blue and dark blue.-History:The club was founded in 1912.... |
Serie C2/A Serie C The Lega Italiana Calcio Professionistico , commonly known as Lega Pro , is the governing body that runs the third and fourth highest football divisions in Italy, the Prima Divisione and Seconda Divisione respectively. It also includes the sole professional club of San Marino... |
? | ? | |
| | Total | ?? | ?? | |||