Andy van der Meyde
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| Andy van der Meyde | ||
 |
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| Personal information | ||
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Andy van der Meyde | |
| Date of birth | 30 September 1979 | |
| Place of birth | Arnhem, Netherlands | |
| Height | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | |
| Playing position | Winger | |
| Club information | ||
| Current club | Unattached | |
| Youth career | ||
| Ajax | ||
| Senior career1 | ||
| Years | Club | App (Gls)* |
| 1997-2003 1999-2000 2003-2005 2005-2009 |
Ajax → FC Twente (loan) Internazionale Everton |
90 (18) 32 (2) 32 (1) 20 (0) |
| National team2 | ||
| 2002–2004 | Netherlands | 18 (1) |
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1 Senior club appearances and goals |
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Andy van der Meijde, anglicised to van der Meyde, (born 30 September 1979 in Arnhem, Gelderland) is a Dutch footballer who is currently without a club after his contract with English club Everton expired.
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[edit] Club career
Van der Meyde signed up with the Ajax Amsterdam youth academy as a youngster, and made his first team debut aged just 18, helping his side beat FC Twente 1-0 on November 12, 1997. In 1999, in order to gain first-team experience, he was loaned to Twente for a season, and was an undisputed starter for a team that finished sixth.
It would be in the 2001-02 season that van der Meyde established himself as starter at Ajax. After a turbulent first half to the season, Ronald Koeman was instated as head coach. Van der Meyde would become an integral part in the rebuilding of the team, and would make the number 7 position his own. The season ended in huge success for both player and club, as Ajax conquered the double, with van der Meyde netting five teams in the league.
In 2002-03, Van der Meyde became a key member of a young and successful team - one that included stars such as Zlatan Ibrahimović, Rafael van der Vaart, Wesley Sneijder, Cristian Chivu and Ahmed Hossam Mido. The club's Champions League run would be the major highlight, as Ajax marched past the likes of Olympique Lyonnais, Rosenborg BK, Valencia CF, Arsenal FC and AS Roma, against whom Van der Meyde scored an away goal (1-1), thanks to which Ajax advanced to the competition's second group stage.
As he netted a career-best 11 goals in 2002-03, van der Meyde was snapped up by F.C. Internazionale Milano for £4m.[1]However, he managed only 14 league appearances in his first season. He would be remembered for his spectacular goal against Arsenal in the 2003-04 Champions League match, at Highbury.[2]
After 29 appearances (18 in the league) for Inter in the 2004-05 season, van der Meyde was informed that he could find another club. Strong speculation suggested an Ajax return, with additional reported interest from AS Monaco and Tottenham Hotspur but, on August 31, 2005, he agreed to join English club Everton F.C., for £2m. On 25 March, 2006, in his first Merseyside derby against Liverpool, he received a straight red card for his challenge on Liverpool's Xabi Alonso. Everton eventually lost the match 3-1.
In the summer of 2006, van der Meyde proved once again to be the centre of much speculation regarding his future, having failed to properly settle at Everton, making only 11 appearances in his first season thanks to a combination of injuries and rumours of alcoholism. He staunchly denied any such allegations and reaffirmed his commitment to Everton in June 2006, stating
"I want to stay, I am desperate to stay. I love it here. Everything suits my game. I'm happy in England and I want to show everyone that I can really play football. If I get the chance next season, I will do it."
Van der Meyde was admitted to hospital in the early hours of August 7, with breathing problems. It was claimed that his drink had been spiked whilst in a bar in Liverpool. He was fined by Everton for breach of discipline. To further add to a miserable week, his house was burgled during Everton's friendly with Athletic de Bilbao five days later. His Ferrari, Mini Cooper, and dog were amongst the items stolen. The cars and pet dog were since found, although the Ferrari had its windscreen smashed.[4] In March 2007, van der Meyde accused manager David Moyes of telling 'downright lies' in regard to his fitness. He apologised afterwards.
In July 2007, van der Meyde played a full 90 minutes in Coleraine, Northern Ireland. In arguably his most successful pre-season at the club, he went on to complete several friendly matches in an attempt to gain fitness ahead of the new Premier League campaign. However, van der Meyde further cast a doubt over his Everton future by failing to turn up for a scheduled training session. After a string of disciplinary problems, rumours (which proved to be inaccurate) grew that Moyes would opt to sell the player before the end of the transfer window.
On 18 August, 2007, van der Meyde was suspended following a 'breach of club discipline', because he had failed to appear at training, being fined two weeks' wages, a total of £50,000.[5][6] Following this, he did not make a first team appearance for over a year and was limited to just reserve team football.
On 10 June, 2007, it emerged that several clubs were interested in signing van der Meyde including Red Bull Salzburg, but he chose to stay at Everton, citing being settled in the area and his daughter requiring medical attention from local hospitals.[7]
On December 7, 2008, he returned to first-team football, playing five minutes for an injury-hit Everton side in a 2-3 home loss against Aston Villa. The following month, he was brought on as a substitute in the FA Cup fourth round replay against Liverpool, and assisted Dan Gosling's match-winning goal in the 118th minute.[8]
When van der Meyde's contract ended in the summer of 2009 he was released by Everton.
[edit] International career
In May 2002, van der Meyde was handed his debut for Dick Advocaat's Dutch national squad against USA, which he marked with a memorable goal in a 2-0 victory.
In the summer of 2004, van der Meyde helped Holland reach the semi-finals of Euro 2004, featuring in four matches in the build-up to the semifinals against Portugal, being however overlooked for that game. Since Euro 2004, when Marco van Basten took over as national team coach, he has not received a call-up to the Dutch national team.
[edit] International goal
| # | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | May 2002 | CMGI Field |  United States |
1 – 0 | 2 – 0 | Friendly match |
- Eredivisie: 1997-98, 2001-2002
- KNVB Cup: 1998, 1999, 2002
- Johan Cruijff Shield: 2002, runner-up 1998, 1999
- Coppa Italia: 2005
- Supercoppa Italiana: 2005
- Liverpool Senior Cup: 2005, 2007
[edit] Personal Life
He lives in a large detached house in Spital on the Wirral. He is often spotted visiting McDonalds on the Croft Retail & Leisure Park in Bromborough. He has many transportation tools including a Lamborghini Gallardo, a tricycle from the eighties, a Merseyside Taxi and a Porsche Cayenne.
[edit] References
- ^ Meyde for success
- ^ Van der Meyde's birthday wish
- ^ Van: I want to stay
- ^ Van der Meyde is robbed
- ^ Van der Meyde hit by Everton ban
- ^ Everton discipline Van der Meyde
- ^ Everton star Andy van der Meyde suspended
- ^ Jolly, Richard (5 February 2009). "Everton edge Liverpool in Merseyside derby". Soccernet. http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns/story?id=616150.
[edit] External links
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