10 things you need to know about Everton new boy John Heitinga
Everton have snapped up John Heitinga from Atletico Madrid. But what do we know about the Dutchman?
1) He was born in Alphen aan den Rijn, a town situated in the western Netherlands - which, wait for it, boasts the world's first bird park, Avifauna, opened in 1950. His full name is
John Gijsbert Alan Heitinga.2) He joined the fabled Ajax youth academy aged 7 after his mum had treated him to a coaching course at the club, who were suitably impressed and promptly snapped him up.
3) Just over ten years later, on August 26, 2001, Heitinga made his debut for the Ajax first team against Feyenoord, at the age of 17 years and 284 days. He endured a mixed campaign, however, as the joy of winning a League and Cup double in his debut season was
marred by a serious knee injury which kept him on the sidelines for six months.4) After returning to full fitness, Heitinga became a regular in the Ajax team once more and made his international debut for Holland on 18 February, 2004 in a friendly against the United States.
5) A first international goal came just two months later in a friendly against Greece. He has since gone on to appear at three consecutive major tournaments,
winning 47 caps and scoring six goals along the way.6) Heitinga helped Ajax to another League title in 2004 and successive Dutch Cup's in 2006 and 2007, a year in which he also signed a contract extension until 2011.
7) He won the
Netherlands' Player of the Year award in 2007/08, following in the esteemed footsteps of, er, Afonso Alves. His impressive season caught the attention of Spanish outfit Atletico Madrid, who paid out ?10 million to land the Dutchman.
8) He has his own website, in which he lists meeting his girlfriend Charlotte Sophie for the first time as one of his greatest achievements. Charlotte, incidentally, is the sister of former Chelsea star Boudewijn Zenden.
9) Although preferably a centre back, Heitinga has also played for club and country at right-back, while occasionally performing in a holding midfield role.
10) He played 32 games for Madrid last season, scoring 3 goals, but failed to settle in Spain. German club Wolfsburg also showed a strong interest before David Moyes came calling.
1）他的女友Charlotte Sophie是Zenden的妹妹
2）曾經得過荷甲最佳球員，但看看前朝贏家Alfonso Alves在英超的命運
3）能勝任防線4個位置，還能客串holding MF
