Eredivisie Free Agents Coming Summer

This post features a list containing the Eredivisie players that are available on a free coming summer, as their current contract runs out. The players are listed per club, with the clubs ordered alphabetically. Data by transfermarkt.de. Options for additional extensions through clauses searched per player, added if found in multiple media reports.

Objects of high interest this summer, if contract is not extended:

• Tom Beugelsdijk; young, talented defender whom’s excellent in the air. Good addition for most Eredivisie sides defensively, although he loves ADO, so might stay.
• Ryan Babel; has done well so far in his year back at Ajax and will be looking to join a foreign side to give his career abroad one last chance. Has the ability and the experience.
• Douglas; towering Brazilian defender that’s been the heart of Twente’s defence for years. Most high profile player to become available. Strong, fast, bit reckless, ill-tempered, no work permit needed (Dutch passport since last summer). Dutch story of the summer surely.
• Anouar Kali; talented midfielder from Utrecht that has been establishing himself in quick fashion this year. Looking to earn bigger wages than he’s currently receiving. Might look abroad.
• Boy Waterman; PSV’s starting goalkeeper this season, after Tyton picking up a nasty injury, been impressing. Currently in talks with PSV, might stay.
• Atiba Hutchinson; will not remain in Eindhoven this summer, reliable right full-back, good in midfield too. Canadian international, will most likely qualify for work permit. Looking to go abroad.

Updated per 22/3/2013.

Ajax wants to be as unique as high jumper Fosbury

Ajax wants to step into high jumper Dick Fosbury’s steps. “For years, everybody went over the bar with their belly towards the ground. Suddenly, somebody does it with his back downwards: Fosbury.

“What a lunatic”, people said, but two years later everybody did it that way. The same has happened with Ajax. Everybody has copied the Ajax academy. Now we want something different. And in ten years, everybody will be doing the same thing Ajax has done again. And then we think of something new again”, Frank de Boer says, whom revealed the new working way to “bring the club back to the European top with our own youth” to the Brazilian press in Rio de Janeiro.

RKC’s secret

Last season, Waalwijk minnows RKC managed to finish 9th in a remarkable season for the club. After winning over promotion the previous year, by the hand of a majestic Derk Boerrigter, the club was doomed to certain relegation according to most pundits.  Without Boerrigter and Israeli goalkeeper Ohad Levita, the side contained to many “Jupiler League players” and to little people with experience at the highest level.

The RKC board agreed with this. But they took a different step than most clubs in that situation. They didn’t start spending ludicrous amounts of money on proven players, only to bring the club in financial trouble. After all, they had just left that situation behind a year or two ago. However, they did not sit still either.

What’s up with John?

Lately, I’ve been getting many questions about John Guidetti on Twitter, with lots of football fans around the world wondering why he hasn’t been mentioned in any transfer rumours or has not moved clubs yet despite a large amount of sides carrying interest in the Swedish forward. The answer is very simple: he’s out injured.

Then again, is it that simple? Because it’s not a mere injury that’s temporarily keeping the former Kenyan elephant-walker out, but a nerve inflammation. And a very serious one at that, which left Feyenoord’s club doctor Casper van Eijck in serious doubt if the youngster could even continue his career.

Vice-Eredivisie Talent of the Year

On 8 May 2012, AZ-midfielder Adam Maher was chosen as Eredivisie Talent of the Year by a jury of 10 prominent members of the Dutch football society. He was now the “chosen one” that’d get the honour of being awarded the Johan Cruyff Prize, which goes hand-in-hand with the previously mentioned title, following into the footsteps of Christian Eriksen, (10-11), Klaas-Jan Huntelaar (05-06), Wesley Sneijder (03-04) and Arjen Robben (02-03).

This article, however, will not focus on the remarkable season the young AZ starlet has had, but on other young talents that have graced the Eredivisie this season. From the best of the rest, so excluding Maher, I will select a top 6 of players under the age of 21 that have impressed me the most during the 2011-2012 season, complete with a bio and a video that showcases their abilities. Grab yourself a seat, hang on and enjoy the ride!

The Golden-Haired Wonder

As Dennis Bergkamp was asked to choose his personal favourite from his impressive array of goals, many expected him to choose his otherworldly first touch and exquisite finish against Newcastle United. Instead the non-flying Dutchman named his stellar goal against Argentina, in the quarter-final at the 1998 World Cup. Coincidently, that Bergkamp-effort is also my personal favourite from the golden-haired wonder.

–

“The ball’s in possession of Frank de Boer. Frank de Boer plays the ball, very well, to Dennis Bergkamp. Dennis Bergkamp! Dennis Bergkamp takes a first touch… DENNIS BERGKAMP! DENNIS BERGKAMP! DENNIS BERGKAMP! DENNIS BERGKAMP! DENNIS BERGKAMP! OOOOHHHHWWWOOOOHHHOOO!” These words, by Dutch commentator Jack van Gelder, have entered my brain on the 4th of July 1998 and haven’t left it since. Not only was it a magic goal though. It also came at a magic moment, in the dying seconds of the match.

A tale of doom, gloom and cheeseburgers

Cheers and celebrations. People shaking hands, others hugging each other. Sighs of relief, even a tear rolling down a cheek here and there. This is how I imagined the Feyenoord board to react after hearing the club had been promoted to Category II in the KNVB’s financial health rating system.

The fact the club from Rotterdam Zuid are currently in 2nd place is nothing short of a miracle, when you look at their squad and finances. As John Guidetti recently put it: “The players around here have been brought in for a cheeseburger, at Ajax Sulejmani alone already cost them 16 million.” One year back, Feyenoord finished 10th after a disastrous season, including a 10-0 drubbing in Eindhoven, with talents like Fer, Wijnaldum and Castaignos still in their ranks.

Ole Tobiasen; the forgotten Dane

Ajax and Danish football have a great history together. Christian Eriksen, Nicolai Boilesen and Viktor Fischer currently represent the Scandinavian nation in the Dutch capital, with Lasse Schöne joining next summer. In the past, Ajax housed many Danish greats like Frank Arnesen, Søren Lerby, Michael Laudrup and Jesper Olsen. In total, 21 Danish players have once received their pay-check from Ajax.