Ryan Donk
Encyclopedia
Ryan Donk is a Dutch
footballer who currently plays for Club Brugge
.
showed serious interest in him. But Donk chose to go to AZ as a replacement for defender Joris Mathijsen who had been sold to German club Hamburger SV
, thinking it to be the best for his development. Initially AZ wanted to put him on a season-long loan to RKC Waalwijk but Donk wasn't prepared for it and said he wanted to take on the challenge, even if he wouldn't play as much he would at least practise with strikers Shota Arveladze
, Danny Koevermans
and Moussa Dembele
. He earned himself a place in the starting line-up and impressed with his performances at AZ.
On 31 August 2008, Donk signed for West Bromwich Albion
for one year on loan. He made his debut in a 1–0 win away at Middlesbrough
on 28 September 2008.
The 23-year-old former Dutch U-21 European Champion changes to the 2009/2010 season from AZ Alkmaar in the Jupiler League
for Club Brugge
on June 26, 2009.
coach Foppe de Haan
to be part of his squad for the 2007 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship
held in the Netherlands. Donk participated in both of their first round group matches against Israel
(1–0 win) and Portugal
(2–1 win) to secure a semi final spot and to qualify for the 2008 Summer Olympics
. During the tournament his sister was involved in a car accident. Donk left the Dutch squad for a day and returned into the tournament after it was known her health was improving. After the Dutch qualified for the semi final and Olympics Donk took off his football jersey to reveal another shirt having the text "Dit toernooi is voor jou, ik hou van je." (This tournament is dedicated to you, I love you.) on it to support his sister. In the semi finals against England
(1–1, 13–12 after 32 penalty kicks) Donk assisted Maceo Rigters
to score his 90th minute equaliser with a bicycle kick
which took the game into extra time. Donk was the only Dutch player on the field at the end of the game not to shoot a penalty after one England player (Nedum Onuoha
) was unable to shoot due to an injury while England had no substitutes left. The Dutch went on to retain their 2006 title by beating Serbia
4–1 in the final. After his display at the tournament, Donk made the pre-selection of the Dutch national team
on 6 August.
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...
footballer who currently plays for Club Brugge
Club Brugge
Club Brugge Koninklijke Voetbalvereniging is a football club from Bruges in Belgium. It was founded in 1891 and is one of the top clubs in Belgium. Its home ground is the Jan Breydel Stadium, which has a capacity of 29,472....
.
Club career
Ryan Donk had an outstanding 2005–06 season at RKC Waalwijk, and with an expiring contract, he wanted to make a step up to a higher level. AZ first approached him, AFC Ajax, PSV Eindhoven and even Spanish giants FC BarcelonaFC Barcelona
Futbol Club Barcelona , also known as Barcelona and familiarly as Barça, is a professional football club, based in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain....
showed serious interest in him. But Donk chose to go to AZ as a replacement for defender Joris Mathijsen who had been sold to German club Hamburger SV
Hamburger SV
Hamburger Sport-Verein, usually referred to as HSV in Germany and Hamburg in international parlance, is a German multi-sport club based in Hamburg, its largest branch being its football department...
, thinking it to be the best for his development. Initially AZ wanted to put him on a season-long loan to RKC Waalwijk but Donk wasn't prepared for it and said he wanted to take on the challenge, even if he wouldn't play as much he would at least practise with strikers 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...
, Danny Koevermans
Danny Koevermans
Danny Koevermans is a Dutch footballer who currently plays as a centre forward for Toronto FC in Major League Soccer.-Early career:...
and Moussa Dembele
Moussa Dembélé
Moussa Sidi Yaya Dembélé is a Belgian footballer who currently plays as an Attacking Midfielder for Fulham in the English Premier League. He has a Malian father and a Belgian mother.-Early career:...
. He earned himself a place in the starting line-up and impressed with his performances at AZ.
On 31 August 2008, Donk signed for 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...
for one year on loan. He made his debut in a 1–0 win away at Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough F.C.
Middlesbrough Football Club , also known as Boro, are an English football club based in Middlesbrough, who play in the Football League Championship. Formed in 1876, they have played at the Riverside Stadium since August 1995, their third ground since turning professional in 1889...
on 28 September 2008.
The 23-year-old former Dutch U-21 European Champion changes to the 2009/2010 season from AZ Alkmaar in the Jupiler League
Jupiler League
The Belgian Pro League is the top league competition for association football clubs in Belgium. Contested by 16 clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the Belgian Second Division...
for Club Brugge
Club Brugge
Club Brugge Koninklijke Voetbalvereniging is a football club from Bruges in Belgium. It was founded in 1891 and is one of the top clubs in Belgium. Its home ground is the Jan Breydel Stadium, which has a capacity of 29,472....
on June 26, 2009.
International career
In 2007 Donk was called up by Jong OranjeNetherlands national under-21 football team
The Netherlands national under-21 football team is the national under-21 team of the Netherlands and is controlled by the Royal Dutch Football Association. The team competes in the European Under-21 Championship, held every two years....
coach Foppe de Haan
Foppe de Haan
Foppe de Haan OON is a Dutch football coach. He is known for his long association with Frisian club SC Heerenveen. De Haan is currently manager of the Tuvalu national football team.-Career:...
to be part of his squad for the 2007 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship
2007 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship
The UEFA U-21 Championship 2007 were held from 10 June 2007 to 23 June 2007. It is the 16th staging of UEFA's European Under-21 Football Championship....
held in the Netherlands. Donk participated in both of their first round group matches against Israel
Israel national under-21 football team
Israel's national Under-21 team , also known as Israel Under-21s or Israel U-21s, is considered to be the feeder team for the Israel national football team...
(1–0 win) and Portugal
Portugal national under-21 football team
The Portugal national under-21 football team is the national under-21 football team of Portugal and is controlled by the Portuguese Football Federation . They are nicknamed "Esperanças." Esperança means hope, thus they are Portugal's hopes for the future...
(2–1 win) to secure a semi final spot and to qualify for the 2008 Summer Olympics
2008 Summer Olympics
The 2008 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, was a major international multi-sport event that took place in Beijing, China, from August 8 to August 24, 2008. A total of 11,028 athletes from 204 National Olympic Committees competed in 28 sports and 302 events...
. During the tournament his sister was involved in a car accident. Donk left the Dutch squad for a day and returned into the tournament after it was known her health was improving. After the Dutch qualified for the semi final and Olympics Donk took off his football jersey to reveal another shirt having the text "Dit toernooi is voor jou, ik hou van je." (This tournament is dedicated to you, I love you.) on it to support his sister. In the semi finals against England
England national under-21 football team
England's national Under-21 football team, also known as England Under-21s or England U21, is considered to be the feeder team for the England national football team....
(1–1, 13–12 after 32 penalty kicks) Donk assisted Maceo Rigters
Maceo Rigters
Maceo Rigters is a Dutch footballer, who currently plays for Gold Coast United in the Australian A-League. His previous clubs include Heerenveen, Dordrecht, NAC Breda and Blackburn Rovers...
to score his 90th minute equaliser with a bicycle kick
Bicycle kick
A Bicycle kick or Scissor kick is a physical move made by throwing the body up into the air, making a shearing movement with the legs to get one leg in front of the other without holding on to the ground. The move can either be done backwards or sideways...
which took the game into extra time. Donk was the only Dutch player on the field at the end of the game not to shoot a penalty after one England player (Nedum Onuoha
Nedum Onuoha
Chinedum "Nedum" Onuoha is an English-Nigerian footballer. He currently plays for Manchester City. He is a defender, typically a centre back, but he can also play at right back or left back.-Biography:...
) was unable to shoot due to an injury while England had no substitutes left. The Dutch went on to retain their 2006 title by beating Serbia
Serbia national under-21 football team
The Serbia national under-21 football team is the national under-21 football team of Serbia and is controlled by the Football Association of Serbia....
4–1 in the final. After his display at the tournament, Donk made the pre-selection of the Dutch national team
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...
on 6 August.
External links
- Ryan Donk player profile at wba.co.uk