Patrick Ax
Encyclopedia
Patrick Ax is a Dutch football player who has played for several clubs in his home country
as well as winning caps for the Netherlands U-21 side.
for the following season. Here he managed to score 5 goals in 16 appearances.
Following his loan move Ax returned to Vitesse, where he was sold to their rivals NEC Nijmegen. Here Ax enjoyed the most successful period of his career, playing four seasons and featuring regularly in the side. In the 2002-03 season Ax helped NEC to finish in fifth place in the league, resulting in UEFA Cup
football the following season. NEC lost to Wisła Kraków in the first round of the 2003-04 UEFA Cup, with Ax making substitute appearances in both legs of the tie and receiving a red card
in the second. Injuries, however, started to take the toll on the player, and Ax subsequently left NEC at the end of his contract in 2004.
Ax returned to De Graafschap in 2004 and spent two seasons with his former club. His first season saw De Graafschap finish in a disappointing 17th place resulting in relegation to the Eerste Divisie
. After playing one season in the second tier, Ax moved to fellow Eerste Divisie side Go Ahead Eagles
. Ax spent two seasons at the Deventer
-based team before announcing his retirement in 2008.
, Rafael van der Vaart
and John Heitinga
, but despite several appearances he did not make the step up to the full national team.
Ax took part in the 2002 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship
with the Netherlands. He had previously scored a goal in a qualifying match against the Republic of Ireland.
. He helped the Helmond
-based team to achieve promotion to the Topklasse
for the 2010-11 season
, the highest level of amateur football in the Nethelands.
Ax has also played beach football for the Netherlands.
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...
as well as winning caps for the Netherlands U-21 side.
Club career
Ax began his career at hometown club FC Groningen, making his league debut against PSV Eindhoven on August 25, 1996. Although he made few appearances, he caught the eye of Vitesse, who signed the left winger in 1998. Ax, however, only managed to make a single appearance in his first season, and was loaned to De GraafschapDe Graafschap
De Graafschap is a professional football club from Doetinchem, Netherlands. It was formed on 1 February 1954 and they play their home games at the "De Vijverberg" stadium. Their current home ground stands on where the old pitch used to be located and was opened on 12 August 2000...
for the following season. Here he managed to score 5 goals in 16 appearances.
Following his loan move Ax returned to Vitesse, where he was sold to their rivals NEC Nijmegen. Here Ax enjoyed the most successful period of his career, playing four seasons and featuring regularly in the side. In the 2002-03 season Ax helped NEC to finish in fifth place in the league, resulting in UEFA Cup
UEFA Cup
The UEFA Europa League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1971 for eligible European football clubs. It is the second most prestigious European club football contest after the UEFA Champions League...
football the following season. NEC lost to Wisła Kraków in the first round of the 2003-04 UEFA Cup, with Ax making substitute appearances in both legs of the tie and receiving a red card
Penalty card
A penalty card is used in many sports as a means of warning, reprimanding or penalising a player, coach or team official. Penalty cards are most commonly used by referees or umpires to indicate that a player has committed an offense. The referee will hold the card above his or her head while...
in the second. Injuries, however, started to take the toll on the player, and Ax subsequently left NEC at the end of his contract in 2004.
Ax returned to De Graafschap in 2004 and spent two seasons with his former club. His first season saw De Graafschap finish in a disappointing 17th place resulting in relegation to 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...
. After playing one season in the second tier, Ax moved to fellow Eerste Divisie side Go Ahead Eagles
Go Ahead Eagles
The Go Ahead Eagles are a football club from Deventer, Netherlands, currently playing in the Eerste Divisie. The club's home stadium is De Adelaarshorst. To date, the club has won the national championship four times...
. Ax spent two seasons at the Deventer
Deventer
Deventer is a municipality and city in the Salland region of the Dutch province of Overijssel. Deventer is largely situated on the east bank of the river IJssel, but also has a small part of its territory on the west bank. In 2005 the municipality of Bathmen Deventer is a municipality and city in...
-based team before announcing his retirement in 2008.
International career
Ax was part of the same Netherlands under 21 side as future internationals Dirk KuytDirk Kuyt
Dirk Kuyt is a Dutch footballer who plays for English club Liverpool. He started his career as a striker, but he has been converted into a winger and plays the position for both Liverpool and the Netherlands national team....
, Rafael van der Vaart
Rafael van der Vaart
Rafael Ferdinand van der Vaart is a Dutch footballer who plays for English Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur and the Dutch national team. His preferred position is as an attacking midfielder; he can, however, also operate in other positions, such as second striker...
and John Heitinga
John Heitinga
John Gijsbert Alan "Johnny" Heitinga is a Dutch footballer who plays as a defender for English Premier League club Everton and the Dutch national team. A product of Jong Ajax, he previously played for AFC Ajax and Atlético Madrid, before signing for Everton in 2009. Heitinga previously represented...
, but despite several appearances he did not make the step up to the full national team.
Ax took part in the 2002 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship
2002 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship
UEFA U-21 Championship 2002 was the 13th staging of UEFA's European Under-21 Football Championship. The final tournament was hosted by Switzerland between 16 and 28 May 2002.Czech Republic U-21s won the competition for the first time.-Qualification:...
with the Netherlands. He had previously scored a goal in a qualifying match against the Republic of Ireland.
Retirement
Ax retired from professional football at the relatively young age of 29. Ax now plays amateur football for Dijkse BoysDijkse Boys
Dijkse Boys is a Dutch amateur association football club from Helmond, North Brabant.The club was founded on May 8, 1948 and has played exclusively at amateur level in all its history, making it the second team in the town after professional crosstown rivals Helmond Sport...
. He helped the Helmond
Helmond
Helmond is a municipality and a city in the province of North Brabant in the southern Netherlands.- Quarters and Neighbourhoods :*Quarter 11 Inner City**Neighbourhood 0 Centrum**Neighbourhood 2 Leonardus**Neighbourhood 3 Heipoort...
-based team to achieve promotion to the 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...
for the 2010-11 season
2010–11 Topklasse
The 2010–11 Topklasse season was the first and inaugural edition of the newly created Dutch third tier. A total 32 teams competed in the league, one of them coming from the fully professional 2009–10 Eerste Divisie, and the remaining 31 from the amateur 2009–10 Hoofdklasse...
, the highest level of amateur football in the Nethelands.
Ax has also played beach football for the Netherlands.