Ricky van Wolfswinkel

Ricky van Wolfswinkel

Personal information
Full name	Ricky van Wolfswinkel
Date of birth	27 January 1989 (1989-01-27)
Place of birth	Woudenberg, Netherlands
Height	1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Playing position	Striker
Club information
Current club	Sporting CP
Number	9
Youth career
1998–1999	v.v. Woudenberg
1999–2008	Vitesse
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
2008–2009	Vitesse	33	(8)
2009–2011	Utrecht	63	(26)
2011–	Sporting CP	22	(11)
National team‡
2006–2007	Netherlands U-19	2	(1)
2007–	Netherlands U-20	2	(2)
2010–	Netherlands	1	(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 10 January 2012. † Appearances (Goals). ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 6 September 2008

Ricky van Wolfswinkel (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈrɪki vɑn ˈʋɔɫfsˌʋɪŋkəɫ]; born 27 January 1989 in Woudenberg) is a Dutch footballer who plays for Sporting CP and the Netherlands. He is a versatile player who can play either as a striker or as an attacking midfielder, though he favours the striker role.

Club

Vitesse Arnhem

Van Wolfswinkel started his football career at the D-pupils of Vitesse. In the A-juniors he became topscorer of the national first divisions. Because of that, he received a prize by the KNVB. This prize was handed over by Wesley Sneijder in 2007. On 5 April 2008, Van Wolfswinkel made his debut for Vitesse's first team. It was in the match against Sparta Rotterdam. Van Wolfswinkel was substituted in the 85th minute for Santi Kolk. Against De Graafschap, in the 2008–09 season, he was in the starting lineup for the first time. In his third match this season, against Sparta Rotterdam, Van Wolfswinkel scored his first Eredivisie goal.

FC Utrecht

Ricky van Wolfwinkel being interviewed following FC Utrecht's qualification for the Europa League

On 29 May 2009 he announced his leaving from Vitesse and signed a three years contract with FC Utrecht. Van Wolfswinkel started the 2010/11 Eredivisie league with a goal in a 3-1 loss against Feyenoord. On the 22 August 2010, he scored 2 goals against Willem II resulting in a 3-0 win for Utrecht. On 26 August 2010, Van Wolfswinkel scored a hat-trick against Celtic in the UEFA Europa League. Utrecht went on to win the match 4-0. On the 3rd of October, 2010, Van Wolfswinkel scored two penalties against Ajax to gain a 2-1 away win over the Dutch runners-up.

Sporting Clube de Portugal

On the 3rd of June 2011 he moved to Sporting CP, signing a 5 year contract on a €5.4 million deal. He scored his first goal on 10 September 2011 against FC Paços de Ferreira in Sporting 3-2 win. On 15 September 2011 he scored in the 2-0 win against FC Zurich, for UEFA Europa League, scoring another goal in 19 September against Rio Ave, two more five days later against Vitória F.C., and another one against SS Lazio on 29 September 2011. His impressive goal scoring form led to him being awarded the SJPF Player of the Month for September 2011. His goal scoring tally didn't stop there as he scored yet another two goals in a third round cup game against Famalicão.

International career

Van Wolfswinkel already played some matches for the Dutch national youth sides. In August 2010, he was called up for the senior national team for a friendly against Ukraine, during which he made his debut for the senior side.

Club career statistics

As of 17 February 2012

Club performance			League		Cup		League Cup		Continental		Total
Club	League	Season	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Netherlands			League		KNVB Cup		Eredivisie playoffs		Europe		Total
Vitesse	Eredivisie	2007–08	1	0	-		-		-		1	0
		2008–09	32	8	2	0	-		-		34	8
FC Utrecht		2009–10	34	11	1	1	4	4	-		39	16
		2010–11	29	15	2	0	-		12	8	43	23
Portugal			League		Taça de Portugal		Taça da Liga		Europe		Total
Sporting CP	Primeira Liga	2011–12	14	7	6	5	2	0	6	3	28	15
Career totals	Netherlands		96	34	5	1	4	4	12	8	117	47
	Portugal		14	7	6	5	0	0	6	3	28	15
	Career statistics		110	41	11	6	4	4	17	11	140	61