Stekelenburg Marten: about the career of the Dutch goalkeeper

The name of a man like Stekelenburg Marten is familiar to any connoisseur of football. After all, this is a famous Dutch goalkeeper, who at the moment protects the colors not only of his national team, but of the English club Everton.

early years

Stekelenburg Marten was born in North Holland, in the town of Haarlem, in 1982, on September 22nd. Like any other football player, he was fond of this sport since childhood. He began studying at FC "Shoten". And then, at the age of 15, became part of Ajax, having got into the football school of the most famous Dutch club. His first official game, he also spent for this team. The event took place in 2002, on 24 February. Then "Ajax" played against "NAC Breda".

But Martin for three seasons was not the team's main goalkeeper. For 3 years he played 9, 10 and 11 matches. All the time he had to compete for a place in the gate with goalkeepers like Joey Didulica, Henk Timmer and Bogdan Lobontz. But in 2005/06. Marten still managed to become the main goalkeeper. And for three years he remained to them. A newcomer appeared in the team - Kenneth Wermer. And the new head coach, who became Marco van Basten, decided to send Stekelenburg to the reserve bench. Marten immediately became interested in such teams as "Arsenal", "MU" and even "Bavaria". However, when van Basten left the club, the goalkeeper returned to the system.

Career in Italy

In early August 2011, Stekelenburg Marten signed a contract with the Italian "Roma". He was bought for 6 million euros. In two weeks the goalkeeper came on the field.

His first season in Italy, the Netherlander called fantastic, even though he will get a shoulder injury in him. But then the team was headed by Zdenek Zeman, so the football goalkeeper went to the bench. The coach justified this by the player's injuries and the fact that he speaks only English, which practically nobody uses in the club.

Further years

In 2013, on June 5, Stekelenburg Marten accepted the offer from Fulham. This club has long been interested in the Netherlands. However, he played for him only 19 matches. Because the next summer of 2014 he was rented by Monaco. There he spent a year, and during this time Marten was released on the field only once.

Then the Dutch goalkeeper rented "Southampton". The first match for his new English club goalkeeper withstood the "dry", so that the "saints" in that game against the "Vitesse" won (3: 0).

And on the first of July of the current year, 2016, Marten Stekelenburg, whose biography and career is quite rich, moved to Everton. There he has already played 7 matches.

In the national team

For his national team Dutch footballer made his debut in 2004, September 3. It was a game against Liechtenstein. And her team won 3: 0 with Martin. Then he was announced at the 2006 World Cup, but there Stekelenburg never went on the field. Which is not surprising, because the Netherlands had Edwin van der Sar. But in 2008, he made his debut in the international arena - he went to the match against the team of Romania and left the gate "dry".

In 2010, he became the team's main goalkeeper. After all, Edwin van der Sar completed his career. And the place in the gate, according to the decision of head coach Bert van Marwijk, went to Marten. He went on the field in almost all qualifying matches held for the 2010 World Cup.

In the national team goalkeeper sometimes helped the team in the most desperate situations. Recall at least one of the games with Spain, when the goalkeeper repelled a powerful and quick blow to Sergio Ramos and Cesc Fabregs.

It is worth noting that the goalkeeper has many awards. With "Ajax" he twice became the champion of the country, won the Cup, as well as the Dutch Super Cup. With "Roma" reached the final of the Cup of Italy. And together with the national team in 2010 won silver at the World Championships. And you can be sure that this is not the latest achievements, the talented goalkeeper will be able to achieve much more.