Gerald Sibon
Encyclopedia
Gerald Sibon is a Dutch football player who plays for Eredivisie
club SC Heerenveen.
in the 1993–94 season as a substitute but could only string together three games before deciding to sign for VVV-Venlo of the Eerste Divisie
in the following season. After two successful seasons playing for VVV where he scored 34 goals, he joined Roda JC in 1996 and impressed with 13 goals back in the top-flight.
Sibon moved to Ajax Amsterdam
in 1997 but was frustrated and hampered by a lack of first team action, having been relegated to the bench by the likes of Wamberto, Shota Arveladze
, Georgi Kinkladze and crowd favourite Brian Laudrup
. An offer by English Premiership club Sheffield Wednesday
prompted Sibon to transfer to the Yorkshire
club in 1999 for the price of £2 million. Joining him at Sheffield Wednesday were Dutch
international Wim Jonk
and the Belgian
Gilles De Bilde
.
After spending four seasons with Sheffield Wednesday, where he scored 43 goals overall for the club and was the club's highest goal scorer for three consecutive seasons, also winning two consecutive player of the year awards, he decided to return to the Eredivisie
and joined SC Heerenveen in 2002. He featured for Heerenveen in 38 matches and scored 19 goals in two seasons before signing for PSV in 2004. He won the Dutch Eredivise title in 2004–05, contending with Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink
and Robert
for a first team spot. In July 2006 he joined Bundesliga
side Nuremberg on a free transfer. He left the club one year later, signing a two-year contract with his old team Heerenveen.
club Melbourne Heart for their inaugural season, coached by fellow Dutchman John van 't Schip
. He quickly cemented his position in the starting line-up, playing mainly in a playmaker
role, but still managing to show his skills as a striker by scoring seven goals, Melbourne Heart's second top-scorer for the season. He became a fan favourite for his often-dangerous free-kicks, including a goal from a stunning 20-metre curling free kick, during the second ever Melbourne Derby
.
In the week before the Heart's final game of the season, Sibon announced he would not be continuing his career with the club. He was told he would not be offered a contract renewal, likely to his disappointment, after having stated earlier in the month that he wanted to spend another year in Melbourne. He is now considering moving back to the Netherlands.
Eredivisie
The Eredivisie is the highest football league in the Netherlands. The league was founded in 1956 two years after the start of professional football in the Netherlands. It is currently ranked the ninth best league in Europe by UEFA....
club SC Heerenveen.
Europe
He featured for FC TwenteFC Twente
FC Twente is a Dutch professional football club from the city of Enschede, playing in the Eredivisie. The club was formed in 1965 by the merger of 1926 Eredivisie Champions, Sportclub Enschede and Enschedese Boys...
in the 1993–94 season as a substitute but could only string together three games before deciding to sign for VVV-Venlo of 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...
in the following season. After two successful seasons playing for VVV where he scored 34 goals, he joined Roda JC in 1996 and impressed with 13 goals back in the top-flight.
Sibon moved to Ajax Amsterdam
Ajax Amsterdam
Amsterdamsche Football Club Ajax , also referred to as AFC Ajax, Ajax Amsterdam or simply Ajax , is a professional football club from Amsterdam, Netherlands...
in 1997 but was frustrated and hampered by a lack of first team action, having been relegated to the bench by the likes of Wamberto, Shota Arveladze
Shota Arveladze
Shota Arveladze is a former Georgian professional football player and currently the manager of Kayserispor. He is Georgia’s all-time top scorer with 291 goals in his 410 league games for his clubs and 26 goals during his 61 games on the national team...
, Georgi Kinkladze and crowd favourite Brian Laudrup
Brian Laudrup
Brian Laudrup is a Danish former football player and current football commentator, pundit and analyst on TV3+. Along with former international goalkeeper Lars Høgh, Laudrup manages a football academy for marginalized youth...
. An offer by English Premiership club Sheffield Wednesday
Sheffield Wednesday F.C.
Sheffield Wednesday Football Club are a football club based in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England, who are currently competing in the Football League One in the 2011-12 season, in England. Sheffield Wednesday are one of the oldest professional clubs in the world and the fourth oldest in the...
prompted Sibon to transfer to the Yorkshire
Yorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
club in 1999 for the price of £2 million. Joining him at Sheffield Wednesday were Dutch
Netherlands national football team
The Netherlands National Football Team represents the Netherlands in association football and is controlled by the Royal Dutch Football Association , the governing body for football in the Netherlands...
international Wim Jonk
Wim Jonk
Wilhelmus "Wim" Maria Jonk is a retired Dutch footballer. At the height of his career, he also played for the Netherlands national team....
and the Belgian
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
Gilles De Bilde
Gilles De Bilde
Gilles De Bilde is a retired Belgian footballer who played as a striker. He played club football for Eendracht Aalst, Anderlecht, PSV, Sheffield Wednesday, Aston Villa, Lierse and Willebroek-Meerhof...
.
After spending four seasons with Sheffield Wednesday, where he scored 43 goals overall for the club and was the club's highest goal scorer for three consecutive seasons, also winning two consecutive player of the year awards, he decided to return to the Eredivisie
Eredivisie
The Eredivisie is the highest football league in the Netherlands. The league was founded in 1956 two years after the start of professional football in the Netherlands. It is currently ranked the ninth best league in Europe by UEFA....
and joined SC Heerenveen in 2002. He featured for Heerenveen in 38 matches and scored 19 goals in two seasons before signing for PSV in 2004. He won the Dutch Eredivise title in 2004–05, contending with Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink
Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink
Jan Johannes Vennegoor of Hesselink is a Dutch footballer, currently playing for PSV Eindhoven. He formerly played for the Netherlands national team as a striker...
and Robert
Robert de Pinho de Souza
Robert de Pinho de Souza , commonly known as Robert de Pinho or simply Robert, is an association footballer, who currently plays for Avaí Futebol Clube as a striker on loan from Mexican club Monterrey....
for a first team spot. In July 2006 he joined Bundesliga
Fußball-Bundesliga
The Fußball-Bundesliga is a professional association football league in Germany. At the top of Germany's football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. It is contested by 18 teams and operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the 2. Bundesliga...
side Nuremberg on a free transfer. He left the club one year later, signing a two-year contract with his old team Heerenveen.
Australia
Sibon left the Netherlands in May 2010, when he signed with Australian A-LeagueA-League
The A-League is the top Australasian professional football league. Run by Australian governing body Football Federation Australia , it was founded in 2004 following the folding of the National Soccer League and staged its inaugural season in 2005–06. It is sponsored by Hyundai Motor Company...
club Melbourne Heart for their inaugural season, coached by fellow Dutchman John van 't Schip
John van 't Schip
Johannes Nicolaas "John" van 't Schip is a former Dutch international footballer. He is the manager for the A-League team Melbourne Heart.- Early life :Born in Fort St...
. He quickly cemented his position in the starting line-up, playing mainly in a playmaker
Playmaker
In association football, a playmaker is a player who controls the flow of the team's offensive play, and is often involved in passing moves which lead to goals....
role, but still managing to show his skills as a striker by scoring seven goals, Melbourne Heart's second top-scorer for the season. He became a fan favourite for his often-dangerous free-kicks, including a goal from a stunning 20-metre curling free kick, during the second ever Melbourne Derby
Melbourne derby
The Melbourne Derby is currently the only intra-city local derby in Australia's premier Association football competition, the A-League, between the two Melbourne teams in the competition, Melbourne Victory and Melbourne Heart. It is the A-League's first intra-city derby, and although only one...
.
In the week before the Heart's final game of the season, Sibon announced he would not be continuing his career with the club. He was told he would not be offered a contract renewal, likely to his disappointment, after having stated earlier in the month that he wanted to spend another year in Melbourne. He is now considering moving back to the Netherlands.
Back to Europe
On 27 June it was announced Sibon had signed with his former team SC Heerenveen thus beginning his third stint at the club.International career
In the summer of 2008, Sibon was named in the Netherlands squad for the Beijing Olympics. He scored a 93rd minute equaliser in the 2–2 draw against the United States and the winning penalty in the 73rd minute against Japan. This placed him amongst 18 players who scored two goals or more in the tournament.Honours
- EredivisieEredivisieThe Eredivisie is the highest football league in the Netherlands. The league was founded in 1956 two years after the start of professional football in the Netherlands. It is currently ranked the ninth best league in Europe by UEFA....
: 3
-
- 1998, 2005, 2006
- KNVB CupKNVB CupThe KNVB Cup is a competition in the Netherlands organized by the Royal Dutch Football Association since 1899. It was based on the format of the English FA Cup. Outside of the Netherlands, it is often referred to as the Dutch Cup...
: 5
- KNVB Cup
- 1997, 1998, 1999, 2005, 2009
- DFB Pokal: 1
- 2007
- 1998, 2005, 2006
External links
- Gerald Sibon at Melbourne Heart