About

Rafael van der Vaart is a Dutch soccer player who plays for Real Madrid as well as for the Dutch national team.

Background

Van der Vaart was born to a Spanish mother (from Chiclana de la Frontera, Cádiz) and a Dutch father in Heemskerk, in North Holland. He has scored 13 goals in 57 caps for his national team and is a free kick specialist. He is considered to be one of the best midfielders and is gradually becoming one of Real Madrid's key players.

Club Football

Ajax Amsterdam

As the case with many other famous and successful Dutch footballers, Van Der Vaart started his career with Ajax's youth team at the age of ten.

He made his debut when he was 17 for Ajax senior side in a 1-1 draw with FC Den Bosch in the 1999-00 season.

In the 2000-01 season, Van Der Vaart's playing time was increased when his coach CO Adriaanse played him as an attacking midfielder.

The next season, Van Der Vaart suffered a knee injury which kept him sidelined for many months. He got injured again on April 2, 2002 and he was operated.

Although he missed the rest of the season, Van Der Vaart finished with fourteen goals.

In the 2004-05 season, Ajax coach, Ronald Koeman named Van Der Vaart the team captain.

Injuries still chased him and he was injured by team-mate Zlatan Ibrahimovic who left Ajax two weeks later to join Juventus.

Van Der Vaart's form dropped dramatically and he was stripped of the team captaincy by Koeman (unfair?).

Hamburg SV

On June 1, 2005, BundesLiga club Hamburger SV signed Van Der Vaart from Ajac for a fee in the region of €5.5 million.

Van Der Vaart became the team's top goal scorer in his first season at the club and he helped them finish third in the league and win the 2005 UEFA Intertoto Cup.

He became a key player in the squad and crucial for his coach that he was named the captain for the 2006-07 season.

The season after, Van Der Vaart scored 12 goals and his great form attracted the likes of Valencia and Chelsea but he decided to stay at Hamburg for one more year.

During the 2008-07 summer, he was approached by Real Madrid and after long negotiations between the Spanish club and Hamburg, Van Der Vaart agreed to join Robben, Drenthe, Sneijder and Van Nistelrooy in Madrid.

Real Madrid

On August 4, 2008, Real Madrid signed Van Der vaart from Hamburg SV for €15-million and he was Madrid's only signing of the summer.

He signed a five-year contract with the Spanish giants.

He made his debut in a 2-1 preseason win against Independiente Santa Fé. However, his La Liga debut wasn't as he might have expected as he was sent off against CD Numancia who where beaten 4-3.

Van Der Vaart changed his squad number from 19 to 23 which was left by Wesley Sneijder as he took Robinho's "10" who left for Manchester City.

Van Der Vaart has been in great form for Los Blancos this season and he scored his first career hat-trick On September 24, in a 7-1 thrashing of Sporting Gijon.

International Football

Rafael van der Vaart began his international career in the youth squads and before gaining notice from the senior team coaches. He made his senior international debut against Andorra on October 6 2001.

He participated in Euro 2004, Euro 2008, and the 2006 World Cup.

Despite figuring prominently in a number of qualifying stage matches, Van der Vaart has had a lack of luck when it came to the final tournament.

A sub-par performance by the Dutch during their opening game of Euro 2004 persuaded former manager Dick Advocaat to change the side's formation into one which he felt the talented Van der Vaart did not fit in to.

With Advocaat's new system seemingly working, Van der Vaart would be reduced to play a bit-part role at Euro 2004, as the Oranje reached the semifinals.

Despite that setback, Van der Vaart produced some superlative performances in the Bundesliga the following season, and it seemed that Van der Vaart's turn to shine on the big stage was to finally come -- at the 2006 FIFA World Cup. However, niggling injury problems resurfaced, and Van der Vaart was not risked by Dutch coach Marco Van Basten for the opening World Cup encounter against Serbia and Montenegro.

With victory in that opening game, the national team coach would once again decide to continue fielding a van der Vaart-less lineup.

And once again, Rafael van der Vaart was reduced to a bit-part role in the squad. He was part of the Netherlands squad that competed at Euro 2008. In the opening game of the competition, the Dutch team won 3-0 against the World Cup holders Italy. Marco Van Basten decided to field him again in the starting line-up in the next match against France, the Oranje later went on to win 4-1.

International Goals

Awards and Honours

1999, 2000, 2001: Talent of the Year at Ajax Amsterdam 2001: Amsterdam Sportsman of the Year 2002: Amsterdam Tournament Most Valuable Player (MVP) 2002: Talent of the Year of Europe

Personal Awards

2001-2002: National Championship, Amstel Cup, Amsterdam Tournament 2002-2003: Amsterdam Tournament, Johan Cruijff Schaal 2003-2004: National Championship

Career Statistics

M = Matches, G = Goals, A = Assists

Personal Info

Van Der Vaart is married to Sylvie van der Vaart (nee' Meis) and has one child named Damian Rafael who was born on May 28th 2006.

Wife / Girlfriend

Sylvie van der Vaart is a Dutch actress and presenter.

After being elected Holland's sexiest female in 2003, she began dating Van Der Vaart and they both became celebrities in Holland.

Sponsors

Important Links

• Official site:http://www.vandervaartofficial.com/

References