The man is born and raised in mine hometown Haarlem
Stekelenburg began his career at Zandvoort '75 before joining VV Schoten, which he left for Ajax when he was 15 years old. He made his official debut for Ajax on 24 February 2002, in a game against NAC Breda. At the start of the 2002–03 season he won his first prize when Ajax won the Johan Cruijff-schaal. In 2004 he and Ajax won the Eredivisie championship, having played 10 matches that season.
He became the first goalkeeper at Ajax in the 2005–06 season. In 2006 he won his first KNVB Cup. At the start of the 2006–07 season he won his second Johan Cruijff-schaal, which he helped his team defend the next season, and later on in 2006–07, he won his second KNVB Cup.
Stekelenburg was named Ajax "Player of the Year" for the 2007–08 season, succeeding Wesley Sneijder. During the 2008–09 season, he lost his place in the goal to Kenneth Vermeer due to injuries and weak performances. He re-established himself as the first-choice keeper under new manager Martin Jol.
[edit] International career
Stekelenburg made his international debut for the Netherlands on 3 September 2004 against Liechtenstein, whom they beat 3–0.
[edit] 2006 FIFA World Cup
He was called up by then manager Marco van Basten for the squad of the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany, but he did not play any game during this tournament as Edwin van der Sar was first choice.
Stekelenburg playing for the Netherlands
[edit] Euro 2008
Despite his international debut in 2004, Stekelenburg was called up to Marco van Basten's Euro 2008 squad to play as understudy to Edwin van der Sar. He took part in the Group C match against Romania on 17 June. With Netherlands already having qualified for the quarter finals, coach Marco van Basten fielded a second-string side, to give players like Stekelenburg a game.
In a September 2008 friendly match against Australia, Stekelenburg was sent off after 44 minutes into the first half for fouling Joshua Kennedy. Stekelenburg is the first goalkeeper of the Dutch national side ever to receive a red card.
[edit] 2010 FIFA World Cup
Since the retirement of Edwin van der Sar from the national team, Stekelenburg has been the first-choice keeper under manager Bert van Marwijk. Stekelenburg was included in the preliminary squad for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.[3] On 27 May 2010, van Marwijk announced that he would be part of the final squad of 23 participating in the competition.[4] Stekelenburg helped the Netherlands reach the final of the competition against Spain by making big saves throughout the tournament, memorably the save from Kaká in Hollands 2-1 victory against Brazil in the quarterfinals. Only conceding 6 goals in the whole tournament(2 of them being a penalty kick). Then despite making a number of notable saves in the final, he ended up on the losing side, conceding the only goal of the game to Andrés Iniesta in the 116th minute of the match.
Stekelenburg began his career at Zandvoort '75 before joining VV Schoten, which he left for Ajax when he was 15 years old. He made his official debut for Ajax on 24 February 2002, in a game against NAC Breda. At the start of the 2002–03 season he won his first prize when Ajax won the Johan Cruijff-schaal. In 2004 he and Ajax won the Eredivisie championship, having played 10 matches that season.
He became the first goalkeeper at Ajax in the 2005–06 season. In 2006 he won his first KNVB Cup. At the start of the 2006–07 season he won his second Johan Cruijff-schaal, which he helped his team defend the next season, and later on in 2006–07, he won his second KNVB Cup.
Stekelenburg was named Ajax "Player of the Year" for the 2007–08 season, succeeding Wesley Sneijder. During the 2008–09 season, he lost his place in the goal to Kenneth Vermeer due to injuries and weak performances. He re-established himself as the first-choice keeper under new manager Martin Jol.
[edit] International career
Stekelenburg made his international debut for the Netherlands on 3 September 2004 against Liechtenstein, whom they beat 3–0.
[edit] 2006 FIFA World Cup
He was called up by then manager Marco van Basten for the squad of the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany, but he did not play any game during this tournament as Edwin van der Sar was first choice.
Stekelenburg playing for the Netherlands
[edit] Euro 2008
Despite his international debut in 2004, Stekelenburg was called up to Marco van Basten's Euro 2008 squad to play as understudy to Edwin van der Sar. He took part in the Group C match against Romania on 17 June. With Netherlands already having qualified for the quarter finals, coach Marco van Basten fielded a second-string side, to give players like Stekelenburg a game.
In a September 2008 friendly match against Australia, Stekelenburg was sent off after 44 minutes into the first half for fouling Joshua Kennedy. Stekelenburg is the first goalkeeper of the Dutch national side ever to receive a red card.
[edit] 2010 FIFA World Cup
Since the retirement of Edwin van der Sar from the national team, Stekelenburg has been the first-choice keeper under manager Bert van Marwijk. Stekelenburg was included in the preliminary squad for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.[3] On 27 May 2010, van Marwijk announced that he would be part of the final squad of 23 participating in the competition.[4] Stekelenburg helped the Netherlands reach the final of the competition against Spain by making big saves throughout the tournament, memorably the save from Kaká in Hollands 2-1 victory against Brazil in the quarterfinals. Only conceding 6 goals in the whole tournament(2 of them being a penalty kick). Then despite making a number of notable saves in the final, he ended up on the losing side, conceding the only goal of the game to Andrés Iniesta in the 116th minute of the match.
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Out of 10. I'll give a safe 7.5/10