Eljero Elia
Full name Eljero George Rinaldo Elia[1]
Date of birth 13 February 1987 (age 24)
Place of birth Voorburg, Netherlands
Height 1.76 m (5 ft 9 1⁄2 in)
Playing position Winger
Eljero George Rinaldo Elia (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈɛldʒəroː ˈeːlijaː]; born 13 February 1987 in Voorburg) is a Dutch footballer. He scored on his debut for the Dutch national team in September 2009 and participated at the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.
ADO Den Haag
Before excelling in the ADO Den Haag youth team, Elia played for many amateur clubs. He made his professional debut in 2004 when he was just 17 years old. In that season, he played four matches and scored one goal for Den Haag. But things went wrong when Den Haag picked their new coach, Lex Schoenmaker. After some conflicts with Elia, FC Twente moved in to sign the exciting young player.
Elia with FC Twente
Twente
Not only FC Twente were interested in Elia's signature but also Ajax were keen to sign him but if he chose Ajax, he would first be loaned back to ADO Den Haag, and Elia did not have a chance of playing there. ADO Den Haag were also relegated, and he did not want to play in the Eerste Divisie. When he played for FC Twente, he was recognised as one of the Eredivisie's best players, and named Dutch Football Talent of the Year in 2009 which added to his already growing reputation in Europe.
Hamburg
On 5 July 2009, after media speculation Elia joined Hamburger SV on a five-year contract. and cost €8.9 million.[3] On 8 August 2009, Elia made his debut as a substitute in the first match of the season.
In March 2010, Elia had a severe infection due to a poorly applied tattoo, which meant he felt uncomfortable in his shirt. Hamburg's neighbours Werder Bremen have since banned these.
International career
Elia first appeared for the Netherlands U19 team in 2005, a year after his debut as a professional. He developed rapidly, and in the beginning of 2006, he was selected for Netherlands under-21 team. He was selected by coach Bert van Marwijk for the senior team's friendly encounter with England.[5]
On 6 September 2009, Elia had his debut for the Netherlands against Japan in a friendly match.[6] He came on at half-time replacing Arjen Robben. His first match for the Oranje went very well, with Elia producing two assists in the 3–0 victory.[7] In just his second match, Elia scored the only goal to win a match against Scotland on 9 September 2009.[8] Elia scored his second international goal in a 6–1 friendly win over Hungary with a solo effort after coming on as a substitute.
Elia with the Dutch national team
[edit] 2010 World Cup
Elia was included in the preliminary squad for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.[9] On 27 May 2010, the Netherlands' manager Bert van Marwijk announced that the player would be part of the final squad of 23 participating in the competition.[10]
He assisted their second goal in a 2–0 win over Denmark, with his shot hitting the post and Dirk Kuyt tapping it in. In Durban, during the Netherlands' second match of the group stage, Elia came on as a substitute in the 72nd minute, after the Japanese goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima fumbled a powerful effort by Wesley Sneijder into the back of the net to give the Dutch a 1–0 lead after 53 minutes of play.[11]
In the 66th minute of the Netherlands' final group stage match, against Cameroon, he came on as a substitute for Dirk Kuyt.
![](http://www3.pictures.zimbio.com/gi/Gianluca+Zambrotta+Eljero+Elia+International+HvnKpXPp3xol.jpg)
Full name Eljero George Rinaldo Elia[1]
Date of birth 13 February 1987 (age 24)
Place of birth Voorburg, Netherlands
Height 1.76 m (5 ft 9 1⁄2 in)
Playing position Winger
Eljero George Rinaldo Elia (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈɛldʒəroː ˈeːlijaː]; born 13 February 1987 in Voorburg) is a Dutch footballer. He scored on his debut for the Dutch national team in September 2009 and participated at the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.
ADO Den Haag
Before excelling in the ADO Den Haag youth team, Elia played for many amateur clubs. He made his professional debut in 2004 when he was just 17 years old. In that season, he played four matches and scored one goal for Den Haag. But things went wrong when Den Haag picked their new coach, Lex Schoenmaker. After some conflicts with Elia, FC Twente moved in to sign the exciting young player.
Elia with FC Twente
Twente
Not only FC Twente were interested in Elia's signature but also Ajax were keen to sign him but if he chose Ajax, he would first be loaned back to ADO Den Haag, and Elia did not have a chance of playing there. ADO Den Haag were also relegated, and he did not want to play in the Eerste Divisie. When he played for FC Twente, he was recognised as one of the Eredivisie's best players, and named Dutch Football Talent of the Year in 2009 which added to his already growing reputation in Europe.
Hamburg
On 5 July 2009, after media speculation Elia joined Hamburger SV on a five-year contract. and cost €8.9 million.[3] On 8 August 2009, Elia made his debut as a substitute in the first match of the season.
In March 2010, Elia had a severe infection due to a poorly applied tattoo, which meant he felt uncomfortable in his shirt. Hamburg's neighbours Werder Bremen have since banned these.
International career
Elia first appeared for the Netherlands U19 team in 2005, a year after his debut as a professional. He developed rapidly, and in the beginning of 2006, he was selected for Netherlands under-21 team. He was selected by coach Bert van Marwijk for the senior team's friendly encounter with England.[5]
On 6 September 2009, Elia had his debut for the Netherlands against Japan in a friendly match.[6] He came on at half-time replacing Arjen Robben. His first match for the Oranje went very well, with Elia producing two assists in the 3–0 victory.[7] In just his second match, Elia scored the only goal to win a match against Scotland on 9 September 2009.[8] Elia scored his second international goal in a 6–1 friendly win over Hungary with a solo effort after coming on as a substitute.
Elia with the Dutch national team
[edit] 2010 World Cup
Elia was included in the preliminary squad for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.[9] On 27 May 2010, the Netherlands' manager Bert van Marwijk announced that the player would be part of the final squad of 23 participating in the competition.[10]
He assisted their second goal in a 2–0 win over Denmark, with his shot hitting the post and Dirk Kuyt tapping it in. In Durban, during the Netherlands' second match of the group stage, Elia came on as a substitute in the 72nd minute, after the Japanese goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima fumbled a powerful effort by Wesley Sneijder into the back of the net to give the Dutch a 1–0 lead after 53 minutes of play.[11]
In the 66th minute of the Netherlands' final group stage match, against Cameroon, he came on as a substitute for Dirk Kuyt.
![](https://ae04.alicdn.com/kf/H462905837a7d4589958107a829a2cfe8L.jpg)