John Heitinga - Dutchman, left in "Ajax"

Many Dutch football players start out as big talents, go to conquer Europe, play in the strongest championships, in the top clubs, they fight for the most important trophies and become real stars. However, not everyone chooses this path. There are players like John Heitinga, who spend a long time in their home club, if they go abroad, just to try something new.

As for Heiting, he is a pupil of "Ajax" and spent most of his career in this club. Naturally, the player played for other teams. If you want to know what career path the Dutch central defender John Heiting did, this article is for you.

The beginning of his career and the game for Ajax

John Heitinga was born on November 15, 1983 in Holland and from early childhood began to play football. Already in four years he was in the Academy of the ARC, from which he moved to the system of the strongest Dutch club "Ajax" at the age of seven. There he spent his childhood. Eleven years of Heitinga played for various youth compositions of Ajax until he was offered a professional contract in 2001 when he was 18 years old. It was then that John Heitinga became a full-fledged player who began to gradually gain a place in the base.

In the first two seasons the athlete played only twenty matches, but then became entrenched in the team and became an integral part of the defensive orders of the Dutch club. For seven years, the defender played for "Ajax", he played 215 matches, which scored 24 goals - impressive statistics for the central defender. But in 2008, 25-year-old football decided that he would like to change the situation. This was promoted by an impressive proposal from Madrid "Atletico": the Dutchman was paid ten million euros.

Going to "Atletico"

In the first season, John Heitinga, whose photos already appeared on the covers of Spanish sports publications, played 37 games, scoring three goals. Many believed that the "mattress" was able to find an undiscovered talent, a diamond that requires cutting. But throughout the year, everyone quickly and quickly became disillusioned with the abilities of the Dutchman, including the club's leadership. As a result, after only a year, John Heitinga, whose biography was limited to only "Ajax", was again forced to change the club. Seven million euros laid out for the defender English "Everton", which much more approached the Dutchman than the Madrid club.

A new beginning in Everton

In English, Everton, things went much better for the player: from the first season he won a place in the base and spent fourteen years in the field, having scored five goals. As with "Atletico", with "Everton" he could not win the trophies. All the awards that Heitinga acquired, were received with "Ajax": twice he won the Dutch Championship and won the Dutch Cup three times. In January 2014, Heitinga's contract with Everton came to an end, the player moved to another English club, Fulham.

Half a year in Fulham

"Fulham" concluded with the Dutchman a short-term contract for six months, and during this time the defender entered the field 14 times, marking one goal. However, he was not offered a more long-term contract, so in the summer of 2014 Heitinga moved to his new club - the Berlin "Herta".

Moving to Germany

Germany was a new challenge for Johnny. In this country, he has not played. For the season in "Herta" he spent 14 matches and scored one goal: exactly the same statistics as in half a year in "Fulham". It became clear that the defender is not so much needed Berlin club, so a year later he was forced to look for a new haven. However, Heitinga decided that he would not test fate and return home to calmly finish his career.

Return to Ajax

In the summer of 2015, Johnny Heitinga returned to his native club, in which he spent half his career. After a triumphant return, the defender played only three games, and then in February 2016, announced his retirement. According to the materials of the well-known statistical site, such a player as John Heitinga had a rating at the time of his career's completion not at the highest level - he is ranked 2337 in the list of all players.

National team appearances

For the national team of Netherlands Heitinga spent 87 matches, having scored 7 goals. Heitinga throughout his career was a player in the national team, he took part in three European Championships, visited two World Championships, including in 2010, where he led his team in the final against the Spaniards. At the 109th minute, the athlete received a second yellow card and was removed, and in the 116th minute Iniesta scored the only goal that brought the Spanish team the title of World Champions.