Nico Jalink
Encyclopedia
Nicholaas Jalink (born 22 June 1964 in Rotterdam
) is a former Dutch
footballer.
In a career spanning some eighteen years, he played 480 professional league games, scoring seventy goals. He spent almost a year in England with Port Vale
, though the majority of his career was spent in his native Holland. He played most of his football with hometown clubs Excelsior Rotterdam and Sparta Rotterdam
.
, before joining RKC Waalwijk
the following year.
He left Holland for England
to play for Port Vale
in June 1991. He played fairly regular football until losing his place in January 1992. His contract was terminated in March 1992 and he returned to his native lands in 1992 to re-sign with RKC Waalwijk
, he left them a year later to play for Sparta Rotterdam
. He stayed with Sparta for three years before moving on to NAC Breda
. In 1997 he returned to Sparta Rotterdam, after leaving them for a second time in 1999 he joined Eerste Divisie
side FC Dordrecht
before retiring in 2001.
, before becoming a trainer at Sparta Rotterdam
in 2003 and 2004.
Rotterdam
Rotterdam is the second-largest city in the Netherlands and one of the largest ports in the world. Starting as a dam on the Rotte river, Rotterdam has grown into a major international commercial centre...
) is a former Dutch
Dutch people
The Dutch people are an ethnic group native to the Netherlands. They share a common culture and speak the Dutch language. Dutch people and their descendants are found in migrant communities worldwide, notably in Suriname, Chile, Brazil, Canada, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, and the United...
footballer.
In a career spanning some eighteen years, he played 480 professional league games, scoring seventy goals. He spent almost a year in England with Port Vale
Port Vale F.C.
Port Vale Football Club is an English football club currently playing in Football League Two. They are based in Burslem, Staffordshire — one of six towns that make up the city of Stoke-on-Trent. The club's traditional rivals in the city are Stoke City, and games between the two clubs are known as...
, though the majority of his career was spent in his native Holland. He played most of his football with hometown clubs Excelsior Rotterdam and Sparta Rotterdam
Sparta Rotterdam
Sparta Rotterdam is the oldest professional football team in the Netherlands, established on April 1, 1888. Sparta is one of three professional football clubs from Rotterdam, the others being Excelsior and Feyenoord , the latter playing in the Eredivisie.-History:Sparta was first founded in 1887....
.
Playing career
Jalink started his career with Excelsior Rotterdam in 1983, moving to AZ Alkmaar three years later. In 1988 he signed with Fortuna SittardFortuna Sittard
Fortuna Sittard is a football club in Sittard, Netherlands. The club currently plays its football in the 12,500 capacity Trendwork Arena and features in the Dutch Eerste Divisie. The club was a merger of former clubs 'Fortuna 54' and 'Sittardia' to merge as the Fortuna Sittard Combinatie on July 1,...
, before joining RKC Waalwijk
RKC Waalwijk
RKC Waalwijk is a football club currently playing in the Eredivisie. Its name is derived from 'Rooms Katholieke Combinatie' and was a fusion club of HEC, WVB and Hercules.-History:...
the following year.
He left Holland for England
England
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 play for Port Vale
Port Vale F.C.
Port Vale Football Club is an English football club currently playing in Football League Two. They are based in Burslem, Staffordshire — one of six towns that make up the city of Stoke-on-Trent. The club's traditional rivals in the city are Stoke City, and games between the two clubs are known as...
in June 1991. He played fairly regular football until losing his place in January 1992. His contract was terminated in March 1992 and he returned to his native lands in 1992 to re-sign with RKC Waalwijk
RKC Waalwijk
RKC Waalwijk is a football club currently playing in the Eredivisie. Its name is derived from 'Rooms Katholieke Combinatie' and was a fusion club of HEC, WVB and Hercules.-History:...
, he left them a year later to play for Sparta Rotterdam
Sparta Rotterdam
Sparta Rotterdam is the oldest professional football team in the Netherlands, established on April 1, 1888. Sparta is one of three professional football clubs from Rotterdam, the others being Excelsior and Feyenoord , the latter playing in the Eredivisie.-History:Sparta was first founded in 1887....
. He stayed with Sparta for three years before moving on to NAC Breda
NAC Breda
NAC Breda , simply often known as NAC, is a Dutch professional football club, based in Breda, Netherlands. NAC Breda play in the Rat Verlegh Stadium, named after their most important player, Antoon 'Rat' Verlegh. They play in the Dutch Eredivisie and are known by the fierce and fanatic support of...
. In 1997 he returned to Sparta Rotterdam, after leaving them for a second time in 1999 he joined 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...
side FC Dordrecht
FC Dordrecht
FC Dordrecht is a football club from the city of Dordrecht in the Netherlands, currently playing in the Eerste Divisie.- History :Founded on 16 August 1883 as Dordrechtsche Football Club , it became a professional club in 1954 upon the introduction of professional football to the Netherlands...
before retiring in 2001.
Coaching career
After retiring as a player he became a trainer at FC DordrechtFC Dordrecht
FC Dordrecht is a football club from the city of Dordrecht in the Netherlands, currently playing in the Eerste Divisie.- History :Founded on 16 August 1883 as Dordrechtsche Football Club , it became a professional club in 1954 upon the introduction of professional football to the Netherlands...
, before becoming a trainer at Sparta Rotterdam
Sparta Rotterdam
Sparta Rotterdam is the oldest professional football team in the Netherlands, established on April 1, 1888. Sparta is one of three professional football clubs from Rotterdam, the others being Excelsior and Feyenoord , the latter playing in the Eredivisie.-History:Sparta was first founded in 1887....
in 2003 and 2004.