Maarten Stekelenburg (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈmaːrtə(n) ˈsteːkələ(m)ˌbʏr(ə)x]; born 22 September 1982) is a Dutch former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper.

Maarten Stekelenburg
Stekelenburg with Southampton in 2015
Personal information
Full name Maarten Stekelenburg[1]
Date of birth (1982-09-22) 22 September 1982 (age 42)[2]
Place of birth Haarlem, Netherlands
Height 1.97 m (6 ft 6 in)[3]
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Youth career
Zandvoort '75
VV Schoten
1997–2002 Ajax
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2002–2011 Ajax 191 (0)
2011–2013 Roma 48 (0)
2013–2016 Fulham 19 (0)
2014–2015Monaco (loan) 1 (0)
2015–2016Southampton (loan) 17 (0)
2016–2020 Everton 19 (0)
2020–2023 Ajax 19 (0)
Total 314 (0)
International career
2002–2003 Netherlands U21 4 (0)
2004–2021 Netherlands 63 (0)
Medal record
Representing  Netherlands
Men's football
FIFA World Cup
Runner-up 2010 South Africa Team
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Stekelenburg began his career at Ajax, playing 282 matches over nine seasons in his first spell there and winning nine honours, including two Eredivisie titles. He went on to play for Roma, Fulham, Monaco, Southampton and Everton. He returned to Ajax after the expiry of his contract at Everton following the 2019–20 Premier League season.

Stekelenburg made his debut for the Netherlands national team in 2004, and earned 63 caps in total. He was understudy to Edwin van der Sar at the 2006 FIFA World Cup and UEFA Euro 2008, then was first choice as he helped his nation to the final of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, also playing at Euro 2012 and Euro 2020.

Club career

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Ajax

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Stekelenburg began his career at Zandvoort '75 before joining VV Schoten, which he left for Ajax when he was 15 years old. He made his official debut for Ajax on 24 February 2002, in a match against NAC Breda. At the start of the 2002–03 season, he won his first silverware when Ajax won the Johan Cruyff Shield. In 2004, he and Ajax won the Eredivisie, having played ten matches that season.

Stekelenburg became the first choice goalkeeper at Ajax in the 2005–06 season and won his first KNVB Cup. At the start of the 2006–07 season, he won his second Johan Cruyff Shield, which he helped his team defend the next season, and later on in 2006–07, he won his second KNVB Cup.

 
Stekelenburg with his Ajax teammates

Stekelenburg was named Ajax "Player of the Year" for the 2007–08 season, succeeding Wesley Sneijder. During the 2008–09 season, he lost his place in the goal to Kenneth Vermeer due to injuries. He re-established himself as the first-choice goalkeeper under new manager Martin Jol and subsequently had a very strong season for both Ajax and the Dutch national side. During the 2009–10 season, Stekelenburg went on to have a consistent season, playing in all of Ajax's Eredivisie and Europa League matches, the latter after they were eliminated from the UEFA Champions League in the group stage. However, Stekelenburg sustained a finger injury which kept him out for the remainder of the season. He made a total of 51 appearances in the 2010–11 season in all competitions.

After winning the 2010–11 Eredivisie on 15 May 2011, Stekelenburg dropped the trophy[4] while standing on top of the Ajax team coach with Jan Vertonghen. He won Ajax Player of the Year for the second time.[5]

Roma

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On 1 August 2011, it was announced Stekelenburg had officially transferred to Roma for a €6.325 million transfer fee plus bonuses, making him the first Dutch footballer to ever play for the Italian club.[6][7] He picked the number 24 shirt, which is the day his son was born.[8] He made his debut on 11 September 2011, against Cagliari.

Fulham

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On 3 June 2013, Roma sporting director Franco Baldini confirmed he had finalised a deal with Premier League club Fulham for the sale of Stekelenburg.[9] Two days later, on 5 June, Fulham announced Stekelenburg had signed on a four-year contract for an undisclosed transfer fee;[10] Roma later disclosed the fee was €5.6 million.[11] He made his debut on 17 August in a 1–0 win away to Sunderland; however, he came off injured in the second half and was replaced by David Stockdale.[12] He returned on 21 October at a win against Crystal Palace, but went on to lose the next four starts in a row.

Following the sacking of René Meulensteen as Fulham manager, Stekelenburg was dropped to the bench in favour of Stockdale by Felix Magath, and following Fulham's relegation and Stockdale's departure, lost his place in the squad altogether, as Magath favoured Jesse Joronen and Marcus Bettinelli.

 
Stekelenburg with Southampton in July 2015.

On 9 August 2014, Stekelenburg joined French club Monaco on a season-long loan.[13] With Danijel Subašić as Monaco's starting goalkeeper, Stekelenburg was preferred for cup matches, making his debut in the round of 16 of the Coupe de la Ligue away to Lyon on 17 December. After a 1–1 draw at the Stade de Gerland, he helped Monaco win 5–4 in a penalty shootout by saving from Jordan Ferri.[14] In the semi-finals on 4 February 2015 against Bastia at the Stade Louis II, it again went to penalties after a goalless draw. He saved from Guillaume Gillet and Giovanni Sio, but Monaco were eliminated nonetheless.[15] His sole Ligue 1 appearance came on 22 March away to Reims, a 3–1 victory.[16] On 1 June, the club announced Stekelenburg would return to Fulham after his season-long loan expired.[17]

On 22 June 2015, Southampton signed Stekelenburg on a season-long loan from Fulham.[18] He made his debut for the club on 30 July in the third qualifying round of the season's Europa League, a 3–0 win over Vitesse at St Mary's Stadium.[19] He made his Premier League debut for the Saints in a 2–2 draw away to Newcastle United on the opening day of the 2015–16 Premier League season.[20]

Everton

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On 1 July 2016, Everton, managed by compatriot Ronald Koeman, announced they had signed Stekelenburg from Fulham on a three-year contract, for an undisclosed transfer fee.[21] He made his debut on 13 August as the Toffees began their campaign with a 1–1 home draw against Tottenham Hotspur,[22] and on 15 October, he saved penalties from Kevin De Bruyne and Sergio Agüero to ensure the same result away to Manchester City.[23] Stekelenburg limped off the field after suffering from a leg injury in the 63rd minute of the Merseyside derby at Goodison Park against Liverpool on 19 December 2016. He returned to action in April 2017, when Ronald Koeman dropped Joel Robles after 17-straight starts by the Spanish goalkeeper.[24]

In 2017–18, Stekelenburg struggled with groin injuries and lost his place to Jordan Pickford, but was awarded with a two-year contract extension at the end of the season.[25] In June 2020, with his deal set to expire, he extended it until the end of the season, which had been postponed by the COVID-19 pandemic.[26]

Return to Ajax

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On 22 June 2020, it was announced that Stekelenburg would rejoin Ajax following the 2019–20 Premier League season. From February 2021, he gained a starting place due to André Onana's 12-month ban for doping,[27] and in May he signed a contract extension until 2022.[28]

On 18 May 2023, Stekelenburg announced that he would retire at the end of season.[29][30]

International career

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Stekelenburg was a member of the Dutch squad at the 2001 FIFA World Youth Championship. He made his international debut for the Netherlands on 3 September 2004 against Liechtenstein, whom they beat 3–0.

Stekelenburg was called up by manager Marco van Basten for the squad of the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany, but he did not play any match during this tournament as Edwin van der Sar was first choice.

Despite his international debut in 2004, Stekelenburg was called up to Van Basten's UEFA Euro 2008 squad to play as understudy to Van der Sar. He participated in the Group C match against Romania on 17 June—with the Netherlands already having qualified for the quarter-finals, the coach fielded a second-string side to give players like Stekelenburg an appearance. He kept a clean sheet in the 2–0 win at the Stade de Suisse in Bern.[31]

In a September 2008 friendly match against Australia, Stekelenburg was sent-off after 44 minutes of the first half for fouling Joshua Kennedy, becoming the first goalkeeper of the Dutch national side to receive a red card.

 
Stekelenburg beaten by Michael Krohn-Dehli at Euro 2012

After Van der Sar's retirement from the national team, Stekelenburg became the Netherlands' first-choice goalkeeper under manager Bert van Marwijk. Stekelenburg was included in the preliminary squad for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.[32] On 27 May 2010, Van Marwijk announced he would be part of the final 23-man squad participating in the competition.[33] Stekelenburg helped the Netherlands reach the final of the competition against Spain by making key saves throughout the tournament, most notably from Kaká in the Netherlands' 2–1 victory against Brazil in the quarter-finals.[34] He conceded six goals in the whole tournament, two of them being penalty kicks. Despite making a number of saves in the final, he ended up on the losing side, conceding the match's only goal to Andrés Iniesta in the 116th minute.

Stekelenburg played all three matches during the group stages of Euro 2012 as the Netherlands finished bottom of their group.

On 7 October 2016, four years after his last international appearance, Stekelenburg started in a 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification match against Belarus, a 4–1 Dutch victory.[35]

On 7 March 2021, Stekelenburg was one of 31 players called up by Frank de Boer for the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification matches against Turkey, Latvia, and Gibraltar.[36] Stekelenburg was picked as the starting goalkeeper for his team's Euro 2020 campaign as regular goalkeeper Jasper Cillessen was omitted from the squad after he tested positive for COVID-19.[37]

On 13 August 2021, following the Netherlands' exit in the last 16 of Euro 2020, Stekelenburg officially announced his retirement from international football.[38]

Personal life

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Stekelenburg has hearing loss in one ear.[39]

Career statistics

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Club

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Appearances and goals by club, season and competition[40][41][42][43]
Club Season League National Cup League Cup Europe Other[44] Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Ajax 2002–03 Eredivisie 9 0 0 0 3 0 1 0 13 0
2003–04 Eredivisie 10 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 11 0
2004–05 Eredivisie 11 0 1 0 4 0 1 0 17 0
2005–06 Eredivisie 27 0 4 0 6 0 4 0 41 0
2006–07 Eredivisie 32 0 4 0 9 0 5 0 50 0
2007–08 Eredivisie 31 0 1 0 4 0 5 0 41 0
2008–09 Eredivisie 12 0 1 0 2 0 0 0 15 0
2009–10 Eredivisie 33 0 7 0 10 0 0 0 50 0
2010–11 Eredivisie 26 0 4 0 13 0 1 0 44 0
Total 191 0 22 0 52 0 17 0 282 0
Roma 2011–12 Serie A 29 0 2 0 2 0 33 0
2012–13 Serie A 19 0 3 0 0 0 22 0
Total 48 0 5 0 2 0 55 0
Fulham 2013–14 Premier League 19 0 1 0 1 0 21 0
Monaco (loan) 2014–15 Ligue 1 1 0 4 0 3 0 0 0 8 0
Southampton (loan) 2015–16 Premier League 17 0 1 0 3 0 4 0 25 0
Everton 2016–17 Premier League 19 0 0 0 2 0 21 0
2017–18 Premier League 0 0 0 0 1 0 2 0 3 0
2018–19 Premier League 0 0 0 0 2 0 2 0
2019–20 Premier League 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 19 0 0 0 5 0 2 0 26 0
Ajax 2020–21 Eredivisie 12 0 4 0 5 0 21 0
2021–22 Eredivisie 7 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 8 0
Total 19 0 5 0 5 0 0 0 29 0
Career total 314 0 38 0 12 0 65 0 17 0 446 0

International

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Stekelenburg warming up with the Netherlands national team in 2006

Source:[45]

Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team Year Apps Goals
Netherlands 2004 1 0
2005 0 0
2006 2 0
2007 7 0
2008 5 0
2009 9 0
2010 15 0
2011 5 0
2012 10 0
2013 0 0
2014 0 0
2015 0 0
2016 4 0
2017 0 0
2018 0 0
2019 0 0
2020 0 0
2021 5 0
Total 63 0

Honours

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Ajax

Netherlands

Individual

References

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  1. ^ "Updated squads for 2017/18 Premier League confirmed". Premier League. 2 February 2018. Retrieved 11 February 2018.
  2. ^ "FIFA World Cup South Africa 2010: List of players: Netherlands" (PDF). FIFA. 4 June 2010. p. 20. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 June 2010. Retrieved 11 February 2018.
  3. ^ "Maarten Stekelenburg: Overview". Premier League. Retrieved 12 September 2022.
  4. ^ "Ajax kampioen: Maarten Stekelenburg laat de schaal vallen!!" (in Dutch). YouTube. 15 May 2011. Archived from the original on 14 December 2021. Retrieved 30 December 2017.
  5. ^ "Roma told to up Stekelenburg bid". Sky Sports. 22 July 2011. Retrieved 21 August 2011.
  6. ^ "Definitief: Stekelenburg naar AS Roma | Ajax1.nl | De site met het laatste Ajax nieuws, foto's, Video's, Columns, Twitter, Hyve". Ajax1.nl. August 2011. Retrieved 1 August 2011.
  7. ^ "Acquisizione A Titolo Definitivo Dei Diritti Alle Prestazioni Sportive Del Calciatore Maarten Stekelenburg" (PDF) (Press release) (in Italian). A.S. Roma. 1 August 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 August 2018. Retrieved 2 July 2017.
  8. ^ "Stekelenburg: 'Forza Roma!'". Football Italia. 6 August 2011. Retrieved 19 August 2011.
  9. ^ "Transfer news: Roma confirm Fulham deal for Maarten Stekelenburg". Sky Sports. 3 June 2013. Retrieved 3 June 2013.
  10. ^ "Stekelenburg Signs". Fulham FC. 5 June 2013. Retrieved 5 June 2013.
  11. ^ "Relazione Finanziaria Annuale Al 30 Giugno 2014" (PDF) (in Italian). A.S. Roma. 6 October 2014. p. 122. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 July 2017. Retrieved 28 July 2017. Valore di Cessione
  12. ^ "Sunderland 0–1 Fulham". BBC Sport. 17 August 2013. Retrieved 20 August 2013.
  13. ^ @simonremoussin. "Maarten Stekelenburg joins AS Monaco on loan | News | AS Monaco FC". Asm-fc.com. Archived from the original on 30 October 2014. Retrieved 18 January 2016.
  14. ^ Pitzus, Alessandro (17 December 2014). "OL – ASM (1–1, 5 t.a.b. 4) : Au bout du suspense, Monaco a sorti Lyon" [OL – ASM (1–1, 5–4 on penalties): After suspense, Monaco put Lyon out on penalties] (in French). Eurosport. Retrieved 23 June 2015.
  15. ^ "Coupe de la Ligue : Bastia rejoint le PSG en finale en éliminant Monaco aux tirs au but" [Coupe de la Ligue: Bastia join PSG in the final by eliminating Monaco on penalties] (in French). Eurosport. Retrieved 23 June 2015.
  16. ^ Bregevin, Vincent (22 March 2015). "Ligue 1 – Reims – Monaco (1–3) : L'ASM s'impose à Reims et est dans la course au titre" [Ligue 1 – Reims – Monaco (1–3): ASM impose themselves on Reims and stay on course for the title] (in French). Eurosport. Retrieved 23 June 2015.
  17. ^ "Berbatov : story ending at AS Monaco". AS Monaco FC. 1 June 2015. Archived from the original on 2 June 2015. Retrieved 2 June 2015.
  18. ^ "Saints sign Dutch goalkeeper Stekelenburg". Southampton F.C. 22 June 2015. Archived from the original on 22 June 2015. Retrieved 22 June 2015.
  19. ^ Williams, Adam (30 July 2015). "Southampton 3–0 Vitesse". BBC Sport. Retrieved 30 July 2015.
  20. ^ "Newcastle 2–2 Southampton match report". BBC Sport. Retrieved 9 August 2015.
  21. ^ "Maarten Stekelenburg: Everton sign goalkeeper from Fulham". BBC Sport. 1 July 2016. Retrieved 1 July 2016.
  22. ^ Hart, Simon (13 August 2016). "Everton vs Tottenham: Erik Lamela cancels out Ross Barkley opener as Maarten Stekelenburg denies Spurs". The Independent. Retrieved 16 October 2016.
  23. ^ Herbert, Ian (15 October 2016). "Maarten Stekelenburg saves two penalties as Nolito rescues City a point". The Independent. Retrieved 16 October 2016.
  24. ^ Kirkbride, Phil (23 April 2017). "Everton boss Ronald Koeman explains decision to drop Joel Robles". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 1 July 2017.
  25. ^ "Maarten Stekelenburg: Everton goalkeeper signs new two-year contract". BBC Sport. 30 July 2018. Retrieved 27 June 2021.
  26. ^ Jones, Adam (22 June 2020). "Everton confirm Maarten Stekelenburg contract extension before transfer to Ajax". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 27 June 2021.
  27. ^ "CAS reduces Cameroon's Andre Onana doping suspension to nine months". Journal du Cameroun. 10 June 2021. Retrieved 27 June 2021.
  28. ^ "Maarten Stekelenburg extends contract". english.ajax.nl. Retrieved 13 May 2021.
  29. ^ "Stekelenburg stopt en neemt afscheid". 18 May 2023. Retrieved 18 May 2023.
  30. ^ "Maarten Stekelenburg (40) kondigt voetbalpensioen aan: Ajax-keeper stopt na dit seizoen". 18 May 2023. Retrieved 18 May 2023.
  31. ^ Chowdhury, Saj (17 June 2008). "France 0–2 Italy & Netherlands 2–0 Romania". BBC Sport. Retrieved 23 June 2015.
  32. ^ "Van Marwijk trims Dutch squad to 27". Agence France-Presse. 15 May 2010. Archived from the original on 18 May 2010. Retrieved 18 May 2010.
  33. ^ "Holland coach Bert van Marwijk finalises World Cup squad". The Guardian. Press Association. 27 May 2010. Retrieved 27 May 2010.
  34. ^ Fonseca, Pedro (3 July 2010). "Another World Cup let-down for Kaka". Reuters. Retrieved 27 June 2021.
  35. ^ Prentice, David (10 October 2016). "Everton goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg's Holland return branded "nonsense" by Dutch legend". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 27 June 2021.
  36. ^ "Maarten Stekelenburg en Jeremiah St Juste in voorlopige selectie". OnsOranje.nl (in Dutch). Royal Dutch Football Association. 7 March 2021. Retrieved 7 March 2021.
  37. ^ "Netherlands goalkeeper Cillessen to miss Euro 2020 after testing positive for coronavirus". AS. 1 June 2021. Archived from the original on 24 June 2021. Retrieved 18 June 2021.
  38. ^ "Maarten Stekelenburg retires from Dutch national team". AFC Ajax. 13 August 2021. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
  39. ^ "Soccer-World-Penpix of Netherlands squad". 20 May 2010. Retrieved 27 June 2021.
  40. ^ "Football: Maarten Stekelenburg". Football Database EU. Retrieved 15 May 2011.
  41. ^ "Maarten Stekelenburg". ESPN FC. Retrieved 29 July 2010.
  42. ^ "Maarten Stekelenburg Statistics". Voetbal International. Retrieved 29 July 2010.
  43. ^ "Maarten Stekelenburg". Soccerbase. Retrieved 14 December 2016.
  44. ^ Includes other competitive competitions, including the Johan Cruyff Shield
  45. ^ "Stekelenburg, Maarten". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmermann. Retrieved 28 May 2015.
  46. ^ "Neres' stoppage-time goal seals Dutch Cup win". Ajax website. 18 April 2021. Retrieved 18 April 2021.
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