Arsenio Halfhuid
Encyclopedia
Arsenio Amerencio Halfhuid (born 9 November 1991) is a Dutch
professional footballer who currently plays for HBS Craeyenhout
. Somewhat unusually, Halfhuid can play either as a central defender
or a striker after being used in the latter role by Aston Villa youth team coach Tony McAndrew
. Halfhuid is the cousin of former Chelsea
and Southampton
defender Ken Monkou
.
to join Premier League side Aston Villa
on 8 January 2009. Despite being signed as a central defender, Halfhuid was called upon to play as an emergency striker for Aston Villa's youth team
. He successfully adapted to his new role, scoring nine times in his first season for the youth team. This included a long-range finish against West Bromwich Albion
and a hat trick in the FA Youth Cup
against Millwall
.
on loan until the end of the 2010–11 season. He made his debut in the 1–0 loss to Telstar on 30 January 2011, as a 25th minute substitute for Nick Tol. However, Halfhuid's debut ended on a sour note as he was sent off in the 63rd minute. Despite this initial setback, Halfhuid was regularly chosen to play in Volendam's defence. He scored the first goal of his professional career in a 3–0 away win at FC Eindhoven
on 29 April 2011, a spectacular 89th-minute free-kick from outside the area. Halfhuid's performances in his debut season helped Volendam to a sixth place finish in the Eerste Divisie
, and consequently qualification for the promotion play-offs. Halfhuid returned to Aston Villa at the end of the season, but was released after his contract expired in May 2011.
He joined Dutch Topklasse
side HBS-Craeyenhout
for the 2011/12 season .
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
professional footballer who currently plays for HBS Craeyenhout
HBS Craeyenhout (football club)
HBS Craeyenhout is a Dutch association football team based in The Hague, a part of the wider HBS Craeyenhout sports team.One of the original clubs of Dutch football, and three times champions , the club refused to enter into professionalism in the 1950s and has played at the amateur level since then...
. Somewhat unusually, Halfhuid can play either as a central defender
Defender (association football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
or a striker after being used in the latter role by Aston Villa youth team coach Tony McAndrew
Tony McAndrew
Anthony "Tony" McAndrew is a Scottish former footballer who played as a defender in the Football League for Middlesbrough, Chelsea, Darlington and Hartlepool United, and in the North American Soccer League for the Vancouver Whitecaps...
. Halfhuid is the cousin of former Chelsea
Chelsea F.C.
Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four...
and Southampton
Southampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
defender Ken Monkou
Ken Monkou
Kenneth John "Ken" Monkou is a retired Dutch footballer who played in a defensive role.Born in Suriname but raised in the Netherlands, Monkou's first major side was Feyenoord Rotterdam. He moved to England in May 1989 to sign for newly-promoted to the First Division Chelsea for £100,000...
.
Early career
Halfhuid started his career as a youth player at Excelsior, but moved to EnglandEngland
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
to join Premier League side Aston Villa
Aston Villa F.C.
Aston Villa Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Witton, Birmingham. The club was founded in 1874 and have played at their current home ground, Villa Park, since 1897. Aston Villa were founder members of The Football League in 1888. They were also founder...
on 8 January 2009. Despite being signed as a central defender, Halfhuid was called upon to play as an emergency striker for Aston Villa's youth team
Aston Villa F.C. Reserves and Academy
Aston Villa Reserves are the reserve team of Aston Villa, they have been part of the FA Premier Reserve League since its foundation in 1999 and are current holders of the Premier Reserve League South title. The team plays its home games at Villa Park - during the months of Autumn and Spring - and...
. He successfully adapted to his new role, scoring nine times in his first season for the youth team. This included a long-range finish against West Bromwich Albion
West Bromwich Albion F.C.
West Bromwich Albion Football Club, also known as West Brom, The Baggies, The Throstles, Albion or WBA, are an English Premier League association football club based in West Bromwich in the West Midlands...
and a hat trick in the FA Youth Cup
FA Youth Cup
The Football Association Youth Challenge Cup is an English football competition run by The Football Association for under–18 sides. Only those players between the age of 15 and 18 on 31 August of the current season are eligible to take part...
against Millwall
Millwall F.C.
Millwall Football Club is an English professional football club based in South Bermondsey, south east London, that plays in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football. Founded as Millwall Rovers in 1885, the club has retained its name despite having last played in the...
.
Loan to Volendam
On 29 January 2011, Halfhuid returned to the Netherlands to join VolendamFC Volendam
Football Club Volendam is a Dutch football club based in Volendam, North Holland, Edam-Volendam. Founded on June 1, 1977, as a result of a split up with RKSV . It currently plays in the Eerste Divisie, holding home games at Kras Stadion, with a 6,260-seat capacity.-History:Football Club Volendam...
on loan until the end of the 2010–11 season. He made his debut in the 1–0 loss to Telstar on 30 January 2011, as a 25th minute substitute for Nick Tol. However, Halfhuid's debut ended on a sour note as he was sent off in the 63rd minute. Despite this initial setback, Halfhuid was regularly chosen to play in Volendam's defence. He scored the first goal of his professional career in a 3–0 away win at FC Eindhoven
FC Eindhoven
FC Eindhoven is a Dutch football club based in Eindhoven, North Brabant. They current play in the Eerste Divisie , and are one of two professional clubs which are based in the city of Eindhoven, the other one being PSV Eindhoven....
on 29 April 2011, a spectacular 89th-minute free-kick from outside the area. Halfhuid's performances in his debut season helped Volendam to a sixth place finish in the Eerste Divisie
Eerste Divisie
The Eerste Divisie is the second-highest division of football in the Netherlands. It is linked with the top-level Eredivisie via a promotion/relegation system. It is also known as the Jupiler League due to sponsorship, which is the same name as the top league in Belgium...
, and consequently qualification for the promotion play-offs. Halfhuid returned to Aston Villa at the end of the season, but was released after his contract expired in May 2011.
He joined Dutch Topklasse
Topklasse
Topklasse is the third tier of football in the Netherlands, which had its inaugural season in 2010–11. The league is placed between the Eerste Divisie and the Hoofdklasse, the second and fourth tiers of Dutch football, respectively...
side HBS-Craeyenhout
HBS Craeyenhout (football club)
HBS Craeyenhout is a Dutch association football team based in The Hague, a part of the wider HBS Craeyenhout sports team.One of the original clubs of Dutch football, and three times champions , the club refused to enter into professionalism in the 1950s and has played at the amateur level since then...
for the 2011/12 season .