Kenneth Vermeer

Kenneth Vermeer

Personal information
Date of birth	(1986-01-10) 10 January 1986
Place of birth	Amsterdam, Netherlands
Height	1.82 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position(s)	Goalkeeper
Team information
Current team	AFC Ajax
Number	1
Youth career
1999	Neerlandia/SLTO
1999–2005	Ajax
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2005–	Ajax	83	(0)
2007–2008	→ Willem II (loan)	16	(0)
International career‡
2006–2008	Netherlands U21	15	(0)
2007–2008	Netherlands U23	9	(0)
2012–	Netherlands	1	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 4 February 2013 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 4 February 2013

Kenneth Vermeer (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈkɛ.nət fər.ˈmɪːr], born 10 January 1986) is a Dutch footballer of Surinamese descent, who plays as goalkeeper for AFC Ajax in the Dutch Eredivisie and the Netherlands national football team.

Career

Vermeer (left) with Eyong Enoh.

AFC Ajax

Vermeer started relatively late in his youth as a goalkeeper, having started as an outfield player. He was scouted as a keeper by Ajax from FC Blouw-Wit Amsterdam. He went through the various youth squads at the Ajax Academy before ending up in Jong Ajax, where he often trained with the first squad. In the 2006-07 season, Vermeer became Ajax's third keeper, making his first team debut in a UEFA Cup match against IK Start.

Loan to Willem II

In February 2007, Vermeer extended his contract with Ajax until June 2010. Vermeer's opportunities in the first squad were limited due to the presence of Maarten Stekelenburg and Dennis Gentenaar, so Vermeer was loaned out for the 2007-08 season to Willem II to gain Eredivisie experience.

Due to an injury for teammate Maikel Aerts, Vermeer started as first-choice goalkeeper for Willem II, and made his Eredivisie debut for the club. After Aerts recovered he was once again first choice. Aerts was once again injured in a match against Ajax, and Vermeer ended the season as first-choice keeper for the club. Renzo renzo renzo

Return to Ajax

At the start of the 2008-09 season, Vermeer returned to Ajax and was included in the squad by new manager Marco van Basten, once again behind Stekelenburg and Gentenaar. During the season he would pass Gentenaar to establish as the second choice keeper behind Stekelenburg. After Stekelenburg was injured in September 2008, Vermeer finally made his Eredivisie debut for Ajax, in a match against SC Heerenveen. Although Ajax lost the match 5-2, Vermeer's performance was seen as positive. Vermeer would play every game until the winter break, making a good impression. After Stekelenburg's recovery after the winter break he reestablished himself as first keeper. After Stekelenburg was once again injured in February 2009, Vermeer was once again first keeper, and would keep that position even after Stekelenburg was fit again, finishing the season as first keeper.

At the start of the 2009-10 season, Martin Jol was appointed as new manager, and Vermeer was once again Stekelenburg's understudy, playing only one Eredivisie match in the entire season. Vermeer was seriously injured in the 2010-11 pre-season, tearing his achilles tendon, and he would only return to the squad in April 2011. Stekelenburg was injured, so Vermeer was immediately in the starting line-up for his first game back, a match against Heracles Almelo. Vermeer would play ever remaining game that season as Ajax clinched their 30th Eredivisie title under new manager Frank de Boer.

Emerging as Number One

Prior to the 2011-12 season, Stekelenburg was sold to A.S. Roma, so Vermeer started the season as first keeper, with deputies Jasper Cillessen and Jeroen Verhoeven. Although he had a rocky start to the season by conceding six goals in a game at Utrecht and a weak shot in a match against Roda, Vermeer has rebounded well and has made the net his own following the departure of Maarten Stekelenburg. He was especially sharp in a game against Lyon in the 2011-12 UEFA Champions League as he successfully kept a clean sheet in France.

International career

He represented Netherlands U-20 in U-20 World Cup which was held in his home country in 2005. He was the first choice keeper, the team exited at quarter-finals by penalties (9–10) against Nigeria U-20. Vemeer scored a penalty for the Dutch in this match.

He was a member of the Dutch squad that won the UEFA U-21 Championship in 2006 and 2007. The team also qualified for the 2008 Summer Olympics.

Vermeer made his debut for the Netherlands senior team on 14 November 2012 in a 0-0 friendly against Germany in Amsterdam.

Career statistics

Club performance

Statistics accurate as of matches played on 14 February 2013

Club	Season	League		Cup		Europe1		Other2		Total
		Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Ajax	2005–06	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	2006–07	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	1	0
Willem II (loan)	2007–08	16	0	1	0	-		-		17	0
Ajax	2008–09	22	0	1	0	8	0	-		29	0
	2009–10	1	0	0	0	0	0	-		1	0
	2010–11	6	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	7	0
	2011–12	33	0	0	0	8	0	1	0	42	0
	2012–13	21	0	0	0	7	0	1	0	29	0
Career total		99	0	3	0	24	0	2	0	108	0

¹ Includes the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Cup / Europa League matches.

² Includes the Johan Cruijff Shield and Eredivisie playoffs matches.

International performance

Statistics accurate as of matches played on 4 February 2013,

Dutch national team
Year	Apps	Goals
2012	1	0
Total	1	0

Honours

Club

Ajax

• Eredivisie (2): 2010–11, 2011–12
• KNVB Cup (3): 2005–06, 2006–07, 2009–10
• Johan Cruijff Shield (2): 2005, 2006

International

Netherlands U-21

• UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship (2): 2006, 2007

Individual

• AFC Ajax Talent of the Year (1): 2003

External links

• Official Ajax profile
• Ajax Inside Profile