Nigel de Jong

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Nigel de Jong
Nigel de Jong.jpg
Personal information
Full name Nigel de Jong
Date of birth 30 November 1984 (1984-11-30) (age 27)
Place of birth Amsterdam, Netherlands
Height 1.74 m (5 ft 8 1⁄2 in)[1]
Playing position Defensive midfielder
Club information
Current club Manchester City
Number 34
Youth career
1993–2002 Ajax
Senior career*
Years Team Apps† (Gls)†
2002–2006 Ajax 96 (8)
2006–2009 Hamburger SV 66 (2)
2009– Manchester City 90 (1)
National team‡
2004– Netherlands 54 (1)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 28 January 2012.

† Appearances (Goals).

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 9 June 2011

Nigel de Jong (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈnɑjdʒəl də ˈjɔŋ]) (born 30 November 1984) is a Dutch footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for Premier League club Manchester City and the Netherlands national team.

He joined the Ajax youth academy as a youngster and worked his way through the ranks to make the first team at age seventeen. Two years later, he made his international debut, in an international career that resulted in a 2010 World Cup runner-up medal. De Jong moved on from Ajax in 2006 to join Hamburg in search of first team football and then moved to Manchester City in January 2009 for an estimated £18 million[2] and has since become an important part of City's holding midfield.

A tireless grafter,[3] he has garnered a reputation of being a combative and feisty player in his performances, a reputation that has earned him nicknames such as "The Terrier"[3] and "Lawnmower".[4]

Contents

[edit] Club career

[edit] Ajax

On 19 October 2002, de Jong made his debut for the Ajax first team.[5] He scored his first goal of his senior career on 18 February 2003 in a 1–1 draw against Arsenal in the Champions League.[6] He became a first team regular the following season, in which Ajax won the Eredivisie title.[7] In 2004–05, his last full season in Amsterdam, de Jong was named Ajax Player of the Season.[7] After a period when he appeared regularly in midfield and defence, he found himself sitting on the bench more often than being in the starting line-up. On 7 December 2005, it was announced that de Jong had refused to extend his contract with Ajax,[8] which was due to end in July 2006.[9]

[edit] Hamburg

On 26 January 2006, de Jong signed a four and a half year contract at German Bundesliga club Hamburg, the transfer fee approximately €1 million.[10] At Hamburg he joined two other Dutchmen: Rafael van der Vaart and Khalid Boulahrouz. He made his Hamburg debut two days later in a 2–1 defeat at Nuremberg.[11] In March 2006 de Jong scored the winning goal in Bayern Munich's first ever defeat at the Allianz Arena.[12] The following week he received the first red card of his career for a second booking in a UEFA Cup match against Rapid Bucharest.[13] His season was cut short in April, when he required surgery on a knee problem.[14] The injury also kept him out of the Dutch squad for the 2006 World Cup, though he was later put on standby after regaining fitness.[15]

[edit] Manchester City

De Jong (far right) with Manchester City teammates.

On 21 January 2009, de Jong was signed to Manchester City for an estimated fee of £18 million [2] by manager Mark Hughes who deployed him in the role of midfield enforcer in a team whose defence badly needed some reinforcing. He signed a four-and-a-half year contract.[16] and was assigned the number 34 shirt. He made his debut for the club against Newcastle United on 28 January 2009.[17] He made sixteen appearances in the Premier League over the second half of the season.

De Jong was given a start against Arsenal on 12 September 2009.[18] He was named Man of the Match by Sky Sports in a 2–1 win over Chelsea on 5 December 2009.[19] By the end of the season he had become a firm fans' favourite as well as being one of new manager Roberto Mancini's first picks as defensive midfielder as the team narrowly missed out on a Champions League berth.[20] De Jong scored his first goal for Manchester City in a 2–1 victory against West Ham United on 1 May 2011.[21]

[edit] International career

On 31 March 2004, de Jong made his debut with the Netherlands in a friendly game against France. He was overlooked for the squad that went to play in Euro 2004,[7] and missed the 2006 World Cup with a knee injury.

He was selected by Marco van Basten to play for De Oranje at Euro 2008. During the tournament, he was played as a "screening midfielder", partnering with Orlando Engelaar in central midfield.[7] This resulted in de Jong playing three[22] out of the four games that saw Holland reach the quarter finals stage with the Dutch team finally exiting the competition through an extra-time defeat by Russia.[23]

He scored his first international goal against Iceland on 6 June 2009 in a World Cup qualifying match, which sealed the Netherlands' passage to the 2010 World Cup.[24]

De Jong was part of the Dutch team for the 2010 FIFA World Cup managed by Bert van Marwijk.[25] The player was in the starting line-up for their first match in the competition, a 2–0 victory over Denmark.[26] He was suspended in the semi final against Uruguay after receiving his second yellow card of the tournament in the Netherlands' quarter-final win over Brazil.[27] He played in the final of the competition which the Netherlands lost 1–0 to Spain after extra time.

Scores list Netherlands' tally first.

Nigel de Jong: international goals
# Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1. 6 June 2009 Laugardalsvöllur, Reykjavík, Iceland  Iceland
1 – 0
2 – 1
 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification

[edit] Style of play

De Jong began his career as a creative midfielder or forward.[28] At Ajax he played a number of positions, including central midfield and right wing.[5] De Jong credits his conversion to a defensive-minded player to Huub Stevens, under whom he played at Hamburg. His new approach earned him the nickname "der Rasenmäher" ("the Lawnmower").[28]

During an international friendly on 3 March 2010, de Jong fractured the leg of Bolton Wanderers' American international Stuart Holden as the result of a late challenge, causing Holden to be sidelined for six weeks.[29] In the 2010 FIFA World Cup Final he kicked Spanish player Xabi Alonso in the chest, a challenge for which de Jong admitted he was lucky not to have received a red card.[30] On 3 October 2010, in a Premier League match against Newcastle United, a tackle by de Jong on Hatem Ben Arfa resulted in the latter being carried off the pitch with a double fracture of his left tibia and fibula.[31] Nigel de Jong was later dropped from the Dutch national team for an unspecified period of time, but has since been reprieved.[32] De Jong however has never received a red card during his time at Manchester City. To date the only red card De Jong has received in his professional career was a sending off for two bookable offences in a match for Hamburg against Rapid Bucharest in the 2005–06 edition of the UEFA Cup. [33]

De Jong had the highest passing completion percentage in the Premier League in the 2010–11 season out of the top 50 players (90%). [34]

[edit] Career statistics

[icon] This section requires expansion.
As of 12 December 2011.[35]
Club Season League Cup League Cup Europe Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Ajax 2002–03 17 0 0 0 0 0 10 1 27 1
2003–04 32 2 0 0 0 0 5 0 37 2
2004–05 31 5 0 0 0 0 8 1 39 6
2005–06 16 2 0 0 0 0 7 3 23 5
Total 96 9 0 0 0 0 30 5 126 14
Hamburg 2005–06 12 1 0 0 0 0 3 0 15 1
2006–07 18 1 0 0 0 0 5 1 23 2
2007–08 29 1 0 0 0 0 6 1 35 2
2008–09 7 0 2 0 0 0 2 0 11 0
Total 66 3 2 0 0 0 16 2 84 5
Manchester City 2008–09 16 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 16 0
2009–10 34 0 3 0 5 0 0 0 42 0
2010–11 32 1 3 0 0 0 5 0 40 1
2011–12 4 0 0 0 1 1 2 0 7 1
Total 86 1 6 0 6 1 7 0 105 2
Career total 248 14 8 0 6 0 53 7 315 20

[edit] Personal life

De Jong is married to Winonah, with whom he has two children. His father is former Dutch international Jerry de Jong, who abandoned de Jong's mother when de Jong was about to move to the Ajax academy, leaving her with the responsibility to bring de Jong up in council housing.[28][not in citation given]

He owns a specialist car dealership operating in Europe and the Middle East.[28]

De Jong is addicted to the popular game Angry Birds and plays it in the dressing room before games.[36]

[edit] Sponsorship

In January 2012, Puma SE announced they had signed a long-term partnership with Netherlands international and Manchester City midfielder Nigel de Jong[37]. De Jong had been testing the Puma boots in training sessions and on-field since mid 2011, but the deal was not made official until 2012. De Jong is currently wearing the PUMA PowerCat 1.12, a boot that he says: "gives me the power and confidence to play at my best".

[edit] Honours

[edit] Club

Ajax
Manchester City

[edit] International

Netherlands

[edit] Individual

2002

[edit] References

  1. ^ "Premier League Player Profile". Premier League. http://www.premierleague.com/page/PlayerProfile/0,,12306~28103,00.html. Retrieved 19 April 2011. 
  2. ^ a b "Manchester City agree fee for Hamburg's Nigel de Jong". telegraph.co.uk (Telegraph Media Group Limited). 19 January 2009. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/manchester-city/4290530/Manchester-City-agree-fee-for-Hamburgs-Nigel-de-Jong.html. Retrieved 17 August 2010. 
  3. ^ a b "Nigel De Jong: I Am A Training Animal". goal.com. 25 January 2009. http://www.goal.com/en-us/news/85/england/2009/01/25/1077982/nigel-de-jong-i-am-a-training-animal. Retrieved 17 August 2010. 
  4. ^ Wilson, Paul (22 January 2011). "Bolton's Stuart Holden: 'I got the x-ray results and thought: not again'". London: dailymail.co.uk. http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2011/jan/22/stuart-holden-bolton-wanderers-interview. Retrieved 22 January 2011. 
  5. ^ a b "8 Nigel de Jong". FIFA.com. https://www.fifa.com/worldcup/players/player=216964/profile.html. Retrieved 14 October 2010. 
  6. ^ "Ajax frustrates Arsenal at Highbury; Valencia wins". Sports Illustrated.com. 18 February 2003. http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/soccer/news/2003/02/18/champions_groupb/. Retrieved 8 October 2010. 
  7. ^ a b c d "Nigel de Jong". ESPN. http://soccernet.espn.go.com/world-cup/player/bio?id=26254&cc=5739&ver=global. Retrieved 14 October 2010. 
  8. ^ "'Departure Nigel de Jong sad for Ajax'". Ajax. 7 December 2005. http://english.ajax.nl/News/Archive/Article/Departure-Nigel-de-Jong-sad-for-Ajax.htm. Retrieved 8 October 2010. 
  9. ^ "Nigel de Jong joins Hamburger SV". Ajax. 26 January 2006. http://english.ajax.nl/News/Archive/Article/Nigel-de-Jong-joins-Hamburger-SV.htm. Retrieved 8 October 2010. 
  10. ^ "Hamburg swoop for Ajax ace de Jong". CNN. 26 January 2006. http://edition.cnn.com/2006/SPORT/football/01/26/germany.dejong/. Retrieved 14 October 2010. 
  11. ^ "Nuremberg jolt Hamburg's title bid". CNN. 28 January 2006. http://edition.cnn.com/2006/SPORT/football/01/28/germany.league/. Retrieved 14 October 2010. 
  12. ^ "Hamburg get double over Bayern". Irish Examiner. 4 March 2006. http://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/ireland/cweyqlqlkfcw/. Retrieved 14 October 2010. 
  13. ^ Hamilton, Fiona (10 March 2006). "Germans continue to lose ground in Europe". The Times (London). http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/european_football/article739597.ece. Retrieved 17 October 2010. 
  14. ^ "Dutch squad trio face injury race". CNN. 24 April 2006. http://edition.cnn.com/2006/SPORT/football/04/24/dutch.squad/. Retrieved 17 October 2010. 
  15. ^ "De Jong darf mit, Team Ghana nichts sagen" (in German). Der Spiegel. 6 June 2006. http://www.spiegel.de/sport/fussball/0,1518,419833,00.html. Retrieved 17 October 2010. 
  16. ^ "City complete de Jong deal". FIFA.com. 21 January 2009. http://www.fifa.com/worldfootball/clubfootball/news/newsid=1001607.html#city+complete+jong+deal. Retrieved 8 October 2010. 
  17. ^ Soneji, Pranav (28 January 2009). "Man City 2-1 Newcastle". BBC Sport (British Broadcasting Corporation). http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_prem/7844527.stm. Retrieved 14 October 2010. 
  18. ^ "City v Arsenal - News - Manchester City FC". Mcfc.co.uk. http://www.mcfc.co.uk/News/Match-reports/2009/September/City-v-Arsenal. Retrieved 22 October 2010. 
  19. ^ "City do United a favour". Sky Sports. 6 December 2009. http://www.skysports.com/football/match_report/0,19764,11065_3150246,00.html. Retrieved 22 October 2010. 
  20. ^ "34 Nigel De Jong". Mcfc.co.uk. http://www.mcfc.co.uk/Players/Midfielders/Nigel-de-Jong. Retrieved 22 October 2010. 
  21. ^ Magowan, Alistair (1 May 2011). "Man City 2 – 1 West Ham". BBC Sport. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/9470663.stm. Retrieved 1 May 2011. 
  22. ^ Nigel De Jong (30 November 1984). "Nigel De Jong Profile, Statistics, News, Game Log - Manchester City, English Premier League - ESPN Soccernet". Soccernet.espn.go.com. http://soccernet.espn.go.com/players/stats?id=26254&cc=4716. Retrieved 22 October 2010. 
  23. ^ "Netherlands Fixtures and Results - European Championship Football - ESPN Soccernet". Soccernet.espn.go.com. http://soccernet.espn.go.com/euro2008/team/results?id=449&cc=4716. Retrieved 22 October 2010. 
  24. ^ "Nigel De Jong World Cup 2010 Player Profile". BBC Sport (British Broadcasting Corporation). undated. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/world_cup_2010/groups_and_teams/team/netherlands/nigel_de_jong. Retrieved 14 October 2010. 
  25. ^ "Holland coach Bert van Marwijk finalises World Cup squad". Press Association. London: The Guardian. 27 May 2010. http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2010/may/27/holland-world-cup-23-man-squad. Retrieved 27 May 2010. 
  26. ^ "Netherlands-Denmark". FIFA.com. 14 June 2010. http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/matches/round=249722/match=300061478/report.html. Retrieved 16 June 2010. 
  27. ^ "De Jong rues semi-final absence". FIFA.com. 5 July 2010. http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/news/newsid=1268346/index.html#de+jong+rues+semi+final+absence. Retrieved 3 October 2010. 
  28. ^ a b c d Taylor, Daniel (9 May 2009). "De Jong admits that City need to find a winning mentality". guardian.co.uk (London: Guardian News and Media Limited). http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/may/09/nigel-de-jong-manchester-city-interview. Retrieved 17 August 2010. 
  29. ^ "Stuart Holden eyes Bolton return after fractured leg". BBC Sport. 6 April 2010. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/b/bolton_wanderers/8604539.stm. Retrieved 9 October 2010. 
  30. ^ "World Cup 2010: Xabi Alonso slams Nigel De Jong tackle". BBC Sport. 13 July 2010. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/world_cup_2010/8813661.stm. Retrieved 9 October 2010. 
  31. ^ "Hatem Ben Arfa has surgery on double leg break". BBC Sport. 4 October 2010. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/n/newcastle_united/9055823.stm. Retrieved 9 October 2010. 
  32. ^ "Manchester City's Nigel de Jong dropped by Netherlands". BBC Sport. 4 October 2010. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/9058532.stm. Retrieved 4 October 2010. 
  33. ^ Hamilton, Fiona (10 March 2006). "Germans continue to lose ground in Europe". The Times (London). http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/european_football/article739597.ece. Retrieved 17 October 2010. 
  34. ^ "Premier League statistics". The Daily Telegraph (London). 30 March 2009. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/rankings/4949054/Premier-League-Statistics.html. 
  35. ^ "Nigel De Jong". Soccernet. http://soccernet.espn.go.com/players/stats?id=26254&cc=5739. Retrieved 19 January 2010. 
  36. ^ "Nigel de Jong reveals Angry Birds addiction". inside World Soccer. 17 September 2011. http://www.insideworldsoccer.com/2011/09/nigel-de-jong-reveals-angry-birds.html. 
  37. ^ "Nigel De Jong Signs Deal to Wear Puma Boots". FootballBoots.co.uk. http://www.footballboots.co.uk/4768-nigel-de-jong-signs-deal-to-wear-puma-boots.html. Retrieved 25 January 2012. 

[edit] External links

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