Tim de Cler
Encyclopedia
Tim de Cler is Dutch
footballer who currently plays as a defender
for AEK Larnaca in Cyprus
.
, The Netherlands. In Leiden he grew up in a neighbourhood with 15–20 boys around the same age. Together with his brother Henk he was found on the streets playing football constantly.
supporter he joined their rival's world famous youth academy.
On April 23, 1998 he made his professional debut in a 6–1 home win over Willem II
. Two days after his debut he played another match with the second team and he broke his tibia
, which sidelined him for four months. That season Ajax won both the Eredivisie and the KNVB Cup and although these were his first official trophies there were mixed feelings due to his injury. Once he was declared fit again his tibia was hit by a ball and he was sidelined for another four months. He rejoined Ajax first team squad again right after he was declared fit for the second time. The KNVB Cup that was won in 1999 offered him much more joy than the one won a year before. In his years at Ajax he had a tough competition with players like Cristian Chivu
, John O'Brien and Maxwell
. Still he managed to play a lot of matches. In his final year at the club he won both the Eredivisie and the KNVB Cup for the second and third time respectivaly.
was appointed as their new manager in 2003. Under Adriaanse AZ almost secured European football in his first season. It was the start of a unique period in which AZ found themselves improving among the three historical giant teams in the Netherlands and even in Europe. In 2005 AZ unexpectedly made it to the UEFA Cup
semi-finals, only to be beaten on away goals by Sporting Lisbon. He was part of Marco van Basten's squad for the 2006 FIFA World Cup
. During the World Cup he played one match, the goalless draw against Argentina
.
In his last year at AZ, during the 2006–07 season AZ could claim the Eredivisie championship at the last matchday as they were equal on points with both Ajax and PSV, but AZ had the far better goal difference and would have been the champions when all teams stayed equal on points. Where Ajax and PSV both won their final match of the season AZ lost theirs against Excelsior
and finished in third position as a result. They also reached the final of the KNVB Cup, but were again denied the trophy as Ajax won the cup after a penalty shoot-out.
and Kevin Hofland
made a unique effort to discuss the future of his players with them, each other and their future club Feyenoord to bring them all together at the club. Also Sigi Lens
the agent of Giovanni van Bronckhorst
was a part of the deal and when manager Bert van Marwijk
signed his contract as the new Feyenoord manager all these players were contracted within a few weeks time span.
side AEK Larnaca
on 30 June 2011 following a suggestion from the club's coach Jordi Cruyff
.
. He has been a constant member of the Dutch national team since Marco van Basten took over as coach in August 2004 and was selected for the 2006 FIFA World Cup
and UEFA Euro 2008. During his career he has won two Eredivisie
championships and three KNVB Cup
s.
|1997–98
||rowspan="5"|Ajax||rowspan="5"|Eredivisie
||1||0||0||0||0||0||1||0
|-
|1998–99
||12||0||0||0||0||0||12||0
|-
|1999-00
||21||0||0||0||0||0||21||0
|-
|2000–01
||25||2||0||0||0||0||25||2
|-
|2001–02
||16||0||0||0||0||0||16||0
|-
|2002–03
||rowspan="5"|AZ||rowspan="5"|Eredivisie
||30||2||0||0||0||0||30||2
|-
|2003–04
||33||0||0||0||0||0||33||0
|-
|2004–05
||32||1||0||0||12||0||44||1
|-
|2005–06||30||0||0||0||7||0||37||0
|-
|2006–07||32||1||0||0||11||0||43||1
|-
|2007–08
||rowspan="4"|Feyenoord||rowspan="4"|Eredivisie
||32||1||0||0||0||0||32||1
|-
|2008–09
||19||0||2||0||5||0||26||0
|-
|2009–10||7||0||3||0||0||0||10||0
|-
|2010–11||29||0||1||0||2||0||32||0
319||7||6||0||37||0||362||7
319||7||6||0||37||0||362||7
|}Statistics accurate as of last match played on June 30, 2011.
Feyenoord
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 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....
for AEK Larnaca in Cyprus
Cyprus
Cyprus , officially the Republic of Cyprus , is a Eurasian island country, member of the European Union, in the Eastern Mediterranean, east of Greece, south of Turkey, west of Syria and north of Egypt. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.The earliest known human activity on the...
.
Early life
De Cler is born and raised in Leiden, South HollandSouth Holland
South Holland is a province situated on the North Sea in the western part of the Netherlands. The provincial capital is The Hague and its largest city is Rotterdam.South Holland is one of the most densely populated and industrialised areas in the world...
, The Netherlands. In Leiden he grew up in a neighbourhood with 15–20 boys around the same age. Together with his brother Henk he was found on the streets playing football constantly.
Lugdunum
When he was six years old he joined his first football team, amateur side Lugdunum. There he played as a centre back until he was twelve years old. Ajax showed interest in him and despite being a FeyenoordFeyenoord Rotterdam
Feyenoord is a Dutch professional football club located in Rotterdam. Along with Ajax and PSV Eindhoven, Feyenoord is one of the "big three" clubs in the Netherlands. These three clubs and Utrecht and Roda JC are the only clubs never to have been relegated from the Dutch first division...
supporter he joined their rival's world famous youth academy.
Ajax
At Ajax he played at first as a left winger, but eventually he was positioned as a left back when he reached the A-level in youth football. He was offered his first professional contract and joined Ajax' second team. Once in a while he was added to the first team squad to train with the elite at the club.On April 23, 1998 he made his professional debut in a 6–1 home win over Willem II
Willem II Tilburg
Willem II , also known as Willem II Tilburg, is a football club based in Tilburg, North Brabant, Netherlands. The team was founded on 12 August 1896 as Tilburgia...
. Two days after his debut he played another match with the second team and he broke his tibia
Tibia
The tibia , shinbone, or shankbone is the larger and stronger of the two bones in the leg below the knee in vertebrates , and connects the knee with the ankle bones....
, which sidelined him for four months. That season Ajax won both the Eredivisie and the KNVB Cup and although these were his first official trophies there were mixed feelings due to his injury. Once he was declared fit again his tibia was hit by a ball and he was sidelined for another four months. He rejoined Ajax first team squad again right after he was declared fit for the second time. The KNVB Cup that was won in 1999 offered him much more joy than the one won a year before. In his years at Ajax he had a tough competition with players like Cristian Chivu
Cristian Chivu
Cristian Eugen Chivu is a Romanian footballer. He currently plays for Internazionale of the Italian Serie A. He usually plays as a left back but can play as a center back as well as in defensive midfield when needed....
, John O'Brien and Maxwell
Maxwell Cabelino Andrade
Maxwell Scherrer Cabelino Andrade , commonly known as Maxwell, is a Brazilian footballer who currently plays for Spanish La Liga club FC Barcelona...
. Still he managed to play a lot of matches. In his final year at the club he won both the Eredivisie and the KNVB Cup for the second and third time respectivaly.
AZ
De Cler decided to leave Ajax in the summer of 2002 and joined AZ, which in these days was a team that performed in the middle areas of the league table. In his first season at the club they finished in 10th position, but things changed when Co AdriaanseCo Adriaanse
Jacobus "Co" Adriaanse is a Dutch football manager and former football player, who is currently the head coach of Eredivisie team FC Twente.-Playing career:...
was appointed as their new manager in 2003. Under Adriaanse AZ almost secured European football in his first season. It was the start of a unique period in which AZ found themselves improving among the three historical giant teams in the Netherlands and even in Europe. In 2005 AZ unexpectedly made it to the UEFA Cup
UEFA Cup
The UEFA Europa League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1971 for eligible European football clubs. It is the second most prestigious European club football contest after the UEFA Champions League...
semi-finals, only to be beaten on away goals by Sporting Lisbon. He was part of Marco van Basten's squad for the 2006 FIFA World Cup
2006 FIFA World Cup
The 2006 FIFA World Cup was the 18th FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial international football world championship tournament. It was held from 9 June to 9 July 2006 in Germany, which won the right to host the event in July 2000. Teams representing 198 national football associations from all six...
. During the World Cup he played one match, the goalless draw against Argentina
Argentina national football team
The Argentina national football team represents Argentina in association football and is controlled by the Argentine Football Association , the governing body for football in Argentina. Argentina's home stadium is Estadio Monumental Antonio Vespucio Liberti and their head coach is Alejandro...
.
In his last year at AZ, during the 2006–07 season AZ could claim the Eredivisie championship at the last matchday as they were equal on points with both Ajax and PSV, but AZ had the far better goal difference and would have been the champions when all teams stayed equal on points. Where Ajax and PSV both won their final match of the season AZ lost theirs against Excelsior
Excelsior Rotterdam
SBV Excelsior is a professional football club from the Kralingen-Crooswijk district of Rotterdam, Netherlands. It was founded on July 23, 1902 and was formerly known as 'Rotterdamse Voetbal en Atletiek Vereniging Excelsior'...
and finished in third position as a result. They also reached the final of the KNVB Cup, but were again denied the trophy as Ajax won the cup after a penalty shoot-out.
Feyenoord
After five years at AZ he felt is was time for a change. Both PSV and Feyenoord showed interest. His agent Rob Jansen, who also works with Roy MakaayRoy Makaay
Rudolphus "Roy" Antonius Makaay is a retired Dutch footballer. While playing for Bayern Munich he picked up the nickname Das Phantom , for his ability to score out of nowhere.-Career:...
and Kevin Hofland
Kevin Hofland
Kevin Hofland is a Dutch footballer who has played as a centre back in Cyprus for AEK Larnaca.-Early life:Hofland is born in Heerlen, but grew up in Brunssum, Limburg, Netherlands.-Fortuna Sittard:...
made a unique effort to discuss the future of his players with them, each other and their future club Feyenoord to bring them all together at the club. Also Sigi Lens
Sigi Lens
Sigi Lens is a retired Dutch-Suriname footballer and currently is a football player's agent. During his career he served AZ and Fortuna Sittard. He was one of the footballers that survived the Surinam Airways Flight PY764 air crash in Paramaribo on June 7, 1989...
the agent of 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....
was a part of the deal and when manager Bert van Marwijk
Bert van Marwijk
Bert van Marwijk OON is the coach of the Netherlands national football team. He also played for Go Ahead Eagles, AZ, MVV, Fortuna Sittard, and other clubs, as well as for the Dutch national team. In 1982, he began his transition into coaching, retiring as a player in 1988 and becoming a full time...
signed his contract as the new Feyenoord manager all these players were contracted within a few weeks time span.
AEK Larnaca
Having parted company with Feyenoord, de Cler signed a two-year contract with the Cypriot First DivisionCypriot First Division
The Cypriot Championship First Division is the top tier football league competition in Cyprus. As of 2007 it is sponsored by Marfin Popular Bank and is hence officially known as Marfin Laiki League .-Format:...
side AEK Larnaca
AEK Larnaca
AEK Larnaca FC |Kition]] Athletic Union") is a Cypriot Sports club, based in the port of Larnaca. The club was formed in 1994 after a merger of two Larnaca clubs: EPA Larnaca and Pezoporikos. The club has football section, basketball sections for men AEK Larnaca B.C...
on 30 June 2011 following a suggestion from the club's coach Jordi Cruyff
Jordi Cruyff
Johan Jordi Cruijff , anglicised as Jordi Cruyff is a Dutch former footballer and currently AEK Larnaca's Director of Football. He played from 1992 through to 2010, his clubs including Barcelona and Manchester United. He gained nine caps for the Netherlands national football team, playing in the...
.
International career
De Cler also represents the Dutch national teamNetherlands 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...
. He has been a constant member of the Dutch national team since Marco van Basten took over as coach in August 2004 and was selected for the 2006 FIFA World Cup
2006 FIFA World Cup
The 2006 FIFA World Cup was the 18th FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial international football world championship tournament. It was held from 9 June to 9 July 2006 in Germany, which won the right to host the event in July 2000. Teams representing 198 national football associations from all six...
and UEFA Euro 2008. During his career he has won two 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....
championships and three 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...
s.
Statistics
|-|1997–98
Eredivisie 1997-98
The Dutch Eredivisie in the 1997/1998 season was contested by 18 teams. Ajax won the championship.-League standings:1 Ajax also won the KNVB Cup, thereby taking the double. They would participate in the Champions League, just like finalists PSV. sc Heerenveen, the winner of the third place match,...
||rowspan="5"|Ajax||rowspan="5"|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....
||1||0||0||0||0||0||1||0
|-
|1998–99
Eredivisie 1998-99
The Dutch Eredivisie in the 1998/1999 season was contested by 18 teams. Feyenoord won the championship.-League standings:1 Winners KNVB Cup...
||12||0||0||0||0||0||12||0
|-
|1999-00
Eredivisie 1999-00
The Dutch Eredivisie in the 1999/2000 season was contested by 18 teams. PSV won the championship.-League standings:1 Winners KNVB Cup. 2 MVV and Cambuur both relegated after losing their promotion/relegation play-offs.-Promotion/relegation play-offs:...
||21||0||0||0||0||0||21||0
|-
|2000–01
Eredivisie 2000-01
The Dutch Eredivisie in the 2000/2001 season was contested by 18 teams. PSV won the championship.-League standings:1 Winners KNVB Cup. 2 Fortuna Sittard and Sparta both remained in the eredivisie after winning their promotion/relegation play-offs....
||25||2||0||0||0||0||25||2
|-
|2001–02
Eredivisie 2001-02
The Dutch Eredivisie in the 2001/2002 season was contested by 18 teams. Ajax won the championship.-League standings:1 Ajax alson won the KNVB Cup, thereby taking the double. They would participate in the Champions League, so finalists FC Utrecht could play in the UEFA Cup...
||16||0||0||0||0||0||16||0
|-
|2002–03
Eredivisie 2002-03
The Dutch Eredivisie in the 2002/2003 season was contested by 18 teams. PSV won the championship.-League standings:1 Winners KNVB Cup. 2 FC Zwolle remained in the eredivisie after winning their promotion/relegation play-offs...
||rowspan="5"|AZ||rowspan="5"|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....
||30||2||0||0||0||0||30||2
|-
|2003–04
Eredivisie 2003-04
The 2003-2004 season of the Dutch Eredivisie began in August 2003 and ended in May 2004. The title was won by Ajax.- League standings :- Topscorers :- Relegation playoffs :- Match table :- References :* *...
||33||0||0||0||0||0||33||0
|-
|2004–05
Eredivisie 2004-05
The 2004-05 season of the Eredivisie started on August 13, 2004 and ended on May 22, 2005. The title was won by PSV. FC Den Bosch and De Graafschap were relegated to the Eerste Divisie at the end of the season.-Promoted teams:...
||32||1||0||0||12||0||44||1
|-
|2005–06||30||0||0||0||7||0||37||0
|-
|2006–07||32||1||0||0||11||0||43||1
|-
|2007–08
Eredivisie 2007-08
The 2007–08 Eredivisie was the 52nd season of the Eredivisie, the top division of association football in the Netherlands. The season began in August 2007 and ended on 18 May 2008, with defending champions PSV retaining their title with 72 points....
||rowspan="4"|Feyenoord||rowspan="4"|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....
||32||1||0||0||0||0||32||1
|-
|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...
||19||0||2||0||5||0||26||0
|-
|2009–10||7||0||3||0||0||0||10||0
|-
|2010–11||29||0||1||0||2||0||32||0
319||7||6||0||37||0||362||7
319||7||6||0||37||0||362||7
|}Statistics accurate as of last match played on June 30, 2011.
Honours
Ajax- EredivisieEredivisieThe 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....
: 1997–98Eredivisie 1997-98The Dutch Eredivisie in the 1997/1998 season was contested by 18 teams. Ajax won the championship.-League standings:1 Ajax also won the KNVB Cup, thereby taking the double. They would participate in the Champions League, just like finalists PSV. sc Heerenveen, the winner of the third place match,...
, 2001–02Eredivisie 2001-02The Dutch Eredivisie in the 2001/2002 season was contested by 18 teams. Ajax won the championship.-League standings:1 Ajax alson won the KNVB Cup, thereby taking the double. They would participate in the Champions League, so finalists FC Utrecht could play in the UEFA Cup... - KNVB CupKNVB CupThe 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...
: 1998–99KNVB Cup 1998–99The 81st edition of the KNVB Cup started on August 11, 1998. The final was played on May 13, 1999: Ajax beat Fortuna Sittard 2–0 and won the cup for the fourteenth time...
, 2001–02
Feyenoord
- KNVB CupKNVB CupThe 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...
: 2007–08