The Hunter Turns 33 Today – A Brief Overview of His Club Career, So Far..
As Klaas-Jan Huntelaar turns 33-years-old today, I round up his club career, so far. The Dutch forward was once a feared name in the world of football. Now, not so much. However, what he has achieved in the game along the way has made his career a remarkable one.
Born on August 12th 1983 in the village of Voor-Drempt in the Achterhoek region of the Netherlands. Scouted by De Graafschap at a young age, in 1994 an 11-year-old Huntelaar signed his first youth contract. His talents started becoming noticeable at the age of 14, when he scored 33 goals in just 20 matches for De Graafschap’s C-team. Soon after, Klaas-Jan Huntelaar saw a sudden rise through the ranks at the club, which drew the attention of the then 15-time Eredivisie champions, PSV. Who subsequently signed him in June 2000, aged 16.
Huntelaar started his PSV career in the youth team, where he scored 26 goals in 23 matches. This earned him a call-up into Guus Hiddink’s first team. Unfortunately, his transition into first team football did not run as smoothly as planned, only making one appearance.
As a result, this saw Klaas-Jan Huntelaar being sent out on loan, returning to his former stomping ground, De Graafschap and then onto AGOVV Apeldoorn. It was the latter club where he got his first taste of first team success, scoring 26 goals in 35 appearances in the second tier of Dutch football. Resulting in him being named the league’s top scorer and player of the season for the 2003-04 season.
When returning to his parent club, PSV, not confident of his chances, the 21-year old decided the best course of action would be to leave the club and find a new challenge. At the start of the 2004-05 season, he signed for Dutch team, SC Heerenveen in a €100,000 move. A move that turned out to be the best decision of his career, as he received regular first team football, scoring 33 goals in 46 games in the process.
This saw Klaas-Jan Huntelaar on the move again, this time to the 29-time Eredivisie champions and the 8-time KNVB Cup winners, AFC Ajax in January 2006. In a €9 million move, plus future incentives for the player. In addition, 15% of the fee (€1.35 million) went to PSV. His goal scoring exploits early on in his Ajax career saw Huntelaar gain some recognition at international level. Making his debut on the 16th August 2006, scoring two goals and providing two assists in a 4-0 away win against the Republic of Ireland.
Between 2006-2008, Huntelaar had a phenomenal goal scoring record at the club, scoring 105 goals in 136 appearances, in all competitions. Winning the KNVB Cup twice and the Johan Cruff Shield twice along the way. Suddenly, Klaas-Jan Huntelaar was making a name for himself on the world stage.
This saw him earn a move to the Spanish giants, Real Madrid in January 2000. In a big money move worth an initial €20 million, potentially rising to €27 million. A dream move for the 26-year-old.., well so he thought. He lasted just half a season at the Santiago Bernabeu, scoring 8 goals in 20 appearances. Before a transfer in the summer of 2009 to the Italian Serie A club AC Milan loomed. A transfer worth a reported €17.75 million.
His time in Italy was a frustrating one. Starting off slow, Huntelaar scored his first two Milan goals in a 2-0 away win at Catania in November 2009, after coming on in the 84th minute. With manager Leonardo Araujo favouring teammate Marci Borriello over Huntelaar, Klaas-Jan saw his chances very limited at the club.
His frustrating Italian adventure ended in August 2010, as the German Bundesliga club FC Schalke 04 offered a new lease of life into Huntelaar’s footballing career, after a disappointing one and a half years in Spain and Italy. The German club paid €12 million for his services. Much to his delight, it didn’t take the Dutch forward long to taste success at his new team, winning the DFB-Pokal and DFL-Supercup in 2011.
Six seasons later, having scored 121 goals in 216 games, and preparing for his seventh season at Schalke. It seems throughout a career that has seen many ups and downs, and many moves around Europe, Klaas-Jan Huntelaar has found his footballing home at the Gelsenkirchen based club. Here’s to hoping the Hunter has a few more goals in him before he hangs up the boots.
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References:
- Photo 1: http://m.schalke04.de/de/aktuell/news/141004_stimmen_zum_spiel/page/4513--10-213-.html
- Photo 2: http://www.pelota-academy.nl/weblog/klaas-jan-huntelaar-was-geen-betere-voetballer-dan-de-rest./3/18/b
- Photo 3: http://www.vi.nl/web/nieuws/advertorial-unive-en-sc-heerenveen-een-goed-spitsenduo.htm?channel=phone
- Photo 4: http://www.vi.nl/web/nieuws/chinezen-lopen-blauwtje-bij-huntelaar-ajax-wel-een-optie.htm?channel=phone
- Photo 5: http://m.zimbio.com/Klaas+Jan+Huntelaar
- Photo 6: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2759937/Chelsea-1-1-Schalke-Klass-Jan-Huntelaar-cancels-Cesc-Fabregas-goal-Blues-Champions-League-opener.html
