Kelvin Leerdam
Encyclopedia
Kelvin Leerdam (ˈkɛɫvɪn ˈlɪːrdɐm) (born 24 June 1990 in Paramaribo
) is a Dutch
footballer who currently plays as a right back for Dutch Eredivisie
club Feyenoord and the Netherlands U21.
, the capital and largest city of Suriname
. Leerdam has a close relationship with his mother and has got one younger sister.
club Elinkwijk. Feyenoord followed the midfielder for many years and eventually joined the Feyenoord youth academy in the season 2005–06.
Coming from an amateur side, Leerdam had a difficult start in the Feyenoord youth. The first two seasons he was mainly used as a substitute. Leerdam joined a successful generation in Feyenoord U17, where he had to compete with players like Leroy Fer
, Georginio Wijnaldum
and Kevin Wattamaleo
for a place on the midfield. After two years, when other players took their chance on a higher level, Leerdam became a regular starter in the U19 team. Thanks to his hard work and dedication, Leerdam eventually made it to Feyenoord's first team squad as well. In January 2007, Leerdam was invited to the first team's training camp in Belek
, Turkey
, by Feyenoord manager Erwin Koeman
. On June 6, 2008, Leerdam signed his first professional contract until 2011.
. On November 13, 2008, Leerdam made his official debut in Feyenoord's first team. Leerdam replaced Karim El Ahmadi
in the 69th minute of the KNVB Cup
away match against HHC Hardenberg (1–5). Leerdam made his Eredivisie
debut on November 16, 2008. Leerdam replaced Georginio Wijnaldum
in the 87th minute in the away match against FC Twente
(1–1). On November 27, 2008, Leerdam also made his European debut. In the UEFA Cup away match against Deportivo la Coruña (3–0), Leerdam replaced Karim El Ahmadi
in the 56th minute.
On February 1, 2009, Leerdam had a place in the starting line-up for the first time. When Giovanni van Bronckhorst
got injured during the warm-up before the Eredivisie match against N.E.C., Leerdam replaced him as left back. On April 12, 2009, Leerdam made his first and only goal for Feyenoord, in the home match against Heracles Almelo
.
, Serginho Greene
and Dwight Tiendalli
, Leerdam remained at Feyenoord and is mainly used as the stand-in for first team right back Dani Fernández
.
in Ukraine
by the narrowest of margins. The Netherlands U19 finished second in the qualifying elite round behind Slovenia U19
, with one goal difference.
|2008–09
||rowspan="3"|Feyenoord||rowspan="3"|Eredivisie
||16||1||1||0||2||0||19||1
|-
|2009–10||17||0||?||?||colspan="2"|–||?||?
|-
|2010–11||22||3||?||?||colspan="2"|–||?||?
|-
55||4||?||?||2||0||?||?
|}Statistics accurate as of last match played on October 3, 2009.
Paramaribo
Paramaribo is the capital and largest city of Suriname, located on banks of the Suriname River in the Paramaribo District. Paramaribo has a population of roughly 250,000 people, more than half of Suriname's population...
) is a Dutch
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 who currently plays as a right back for Dutch 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....
club Feyenoord and the Netherlands U21.
Early life
Leerdam was born in ParamariboParamaribo
Paramaribo is the capital and largest city of Suriname, located on banks of the Suriname River in the Paramaribo District. Paramaribo has a population of roughly 250,000 people, more than half of Suriname's population...
, the capital and largest city 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...
. Leerdam has a close relationship with his mother and has got one younger sister.
Youth career
Leerdam started his career at local UtrechtUtrecht (city)
Utrecht city and municipality is the capital and most populous city of the Dutch province of Utrecht. It is located in the eastern corner of the Randstad conurbation, and is the fourth largest city of the Netherlands with a population of 312,634 on 1 Jan 2011.Utrecht's ancient city centre features...
club Elinkwijk. Feyenoord followed the midfielder for many years and eventually joined the Feyenoord youth academy in the season 2005–06.
Coming from an amateur side, Leerdam had a difficult start in the Feyenoord youth. The first two seasons he was mainly used as a substitute. Leerdam joined a successful generation in Feyenoord U17, where he had to compete with players like Leroy Fer
Leroy Fer
Leroy Johan Fer is a Dutch footballer who currently plays as a central midfielder for Dutch Eredivisie club FC Twente and the Netherlands U21....
, Georginio Wijnaldum
Georginio Wijnaldum
Georginio Gregion Emile Wijnaldum is a Dutch international footballer who currently plays as an attacking midfielder for Dutch Eredivisie club PSV....
and Kevin Wattamaleo
Kevin Wattamaleo
Kevin Wattamaleo is a Dutch footballer who currently plays as a midfielder for Dutch Eredivisie club Excelsior.-Career:...
for a place on the midfield. After two years, when other players took their chance on a higher level, Leerdam became a regular starter in the U19 team. Thanks to his hard work and dedication, Leerdam eventually made it to Feyenoord's first team squad as well. In January 2007, Leerdam was invited to the first team's training camp in Belek
Belek
Belek is a township with own municipality in Serik district in Turkey's Antalya Province. The local population varies between 750 and 10,000 in low and high season, respectively....
, Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
, by Feyenoord manager Erwin Koeman
Erwin Koeman
Erwin Koeman is a former football player and Dutch football manager. Currently he is the manager of FC Utrecht in the Dutch Eredivisie. He is the son of Dutch international footballer Martin Koeman, and, alongside his younger brother Ronald, has also represented the Netherlands...
. On June 6, 2008, Leerdam signed his first professional contract until 2011.
Breakthrough (2008–2009)
Leerdam had his breakthrough in the season 2008–09Eredivisie 2008-09
The Eredivisie 2008–09 is the fifty-third season of Eredivisie since its establishment in 1955. PSV were the reigning champions. The season began on 29 August 2008 with a game between Vitesse and FC Groningen and ended on 10 May 2009. A total of 18 teams take part in the league, consisting of 16...
. On November 13, 2008, Leerdam made his official debut in Feyenoord's first team. Leerdam replaced Karim El Ahmadi
Karim El Ahmadi
Karim El Ahmadi Arrousi is a Dutch footballer of Moroccan descent who currently plays as a defensive midfielder for the Dutch Eredivisie club Feyenoord.-UDI:...
in the 69th minute of the KNVB 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...
away match against HHC Hardenberg (1–5). Leerdam made his 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....
debut on November 16, 2008. Leerdam replaced Georginio Wijnaldum
Georginio Wijnaldum
Georginio Gregion Emile Wijnaldum is a Dutch international footballer who currently plays as an attacking midfielder for Dutch Eredivisie club PSV....
in the 87th minute in the away match against FC Twente
FC Twente
FC Twente is a Dutch professional football club from the city of Enschede, playing in the Eredivisie. The club was formed in 1965 by the merger of 1926 Eredivisie Champions, Sportclub Enschede and Enschedese Boys...
(1–1). On November 27, 2008, Leerdam also made his European debut. In the UEFA Cup away match against Deportivo la Coruña (3–0), Leerdam replaced Karim El Ahmadi
Karim El Ahmadi
Karim El Ahmadi Arrousi is a Dutch footballer of Moroccan descent who currently plays as a defensive midfielder for the Dutch Eredivisie club Feyenoord.-UDI:...
in the 56th minute.
On February 1, 2009, Leerdam had a place in the starting line-up for the first time. When Giovanni van Bronckhorst
Giovanni van Bronckhorst
Giovanni Christiaan van Bronckhorst OON , known as Gio in Spain, is a retired Dutch footballer of Moluccan descent who served as the captain of the Dutch national team from August 2008 until his retirement....
got injured during the warm-up before the Eredivisie match against N.E.C., Leerdam replaced him as left back. On April 12, 2009, Leerdam made his first and only goal for Feyenoord, in the home match against Heracles Almelo
Heracles Almelo
Heracles Almelo is a football club from Almelo, Netherlands.Heracles Almelo were founded on May 3, 1903 as Heracles, after the demigod son of Zeus. They changed their name on July 1, 1974 to SC Heracles '74 and finally settled on the current name in 1998. The club has won the Dutch national title...
.
Stand-in (2009–)
In the season 2009–10, Leerdam was candidate to leave Feyenoord on loan for Excelsior. Because of the departure of the right backs Theo LuciusTheo Lucius
Theodorus Martinus Maria Lucius is a Dutch professional footballer who plays as a defender or midfielder and is currently playing at FC Eindhoven. During his career he has won four Eredivisie championships, two KNVB Cups and two times the Johan Cruijff Shield...
, Serginho Greene
Serginho Greene
Serginho Greene, is a Dutch association football player who is currently playing for Levski Sofia in the Bulgarian A PFG.-Early life:...
and Dwight Tiendalli
Dwight Tiendalli
Dwight Tiendalli is a Surinamese-born Dutch footballer, currently playing for FC Twente in the Dutch Eredivisie.-Club career:...
, Leerdam remained at Feyenoord and is mainly used as the stand-in for first team right back Dani Fernández
Daniel Fernández Artola
Daniel "Dani" Fernández Artola is a Spanish footballer who plays for Feyenoord in the Dutch first division, as a right defender.-Early career:...
.
Netherlands U19
Leerdam made his first appearance on international level in the Netherlands U19. The Dutch team missed out on a place at the 2009 UEFA European Under-19 Football Championship2009 UEFA European Under-19 Football Championship
-Group B:---------------------Bracket:-Semi-finals:---------Final:-Top goalscorers:4 goals Nathan Delfouneso3 goals Henri Lansbury Danijel Aleksić Denys Harmash-External links:*...
in Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
by the narrowest of margins. The Netherlands U19 finished second in the qualifying elite round behind Slovenia U19
Slovenia national under-19 football team
The Slovenia national under-19 football team is the national under-19 football team of Slovenia and is controlled by the Football Association of Slovenia.-Current squad:...
, with one goal difference.
Statistics
|-|2008–09
Eredivisie 2008-09
The Eredivisie 2008–09 is the fifty-third season of Eredivisie since its establishment in 1955. PSV were the reigning champions. The season began on 29 August 2008 with a game between Vitesse and FC Groningen and ended on 10 May 2009. A total of 18 teams take part in the league, consisting of 16...
||rowspan="3"|Feyenoord||rowspan="3"|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....
||16||1||1||0||2||0||19||1
|-
|2009–10||17||0||?||?||colspan="2"|–||?||?
|-
|2010–11||22||3||?||?||colspan="2"|–||?||?
|-
55||4||?||?||2||0||?||?
|}Statistics accurate as of last match played on October 3, 2009.