Antoine van der Linden
Encyclopedia
Antoine van der Linden is a Dutch
footballer who plays for Heracles Almelo
in the Dutch League
, as a central defender.
, appearing in an average of roughly 10 Eredivisie
games in three seasons. In the 2000 summer, he joined English
side Swindon Town
, appearing regularly for the League One club.
After only one year, van der Linden returned to his country, signing with FC Emmen
of the second level
. In 2003, he returned to the top division, playing four solid years with FC Groningen.
In 2007, he moved to Portugal
with C.S. Marítimo. Never an undisputed starter with the Madeira
side, he did manage to appear regularly, but also experienced a brief spell with the reserves
in his second season.
In July 2009, 33-year old van der Linden signed a one-year deal with Heracles Almelo
, as a replacement for Jan Wuytens, who moved to FC Utrecht. He helped the team overachieve for a final sixth-place in the first division, contributing with one goal, in a 4–1 home win over bottom-placed RKC Waalwijk
.
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
footballer who plays for Heracles Almelo
Heracles Almelo
Heracles Almelo is a football club from Almelo, Netherlands.Heracles Almelo were founded on May 3, 1903 as Heracles, after the demigod son of Zeus. They changed their name on July 1, 1974 to SC Heracles '74 and finally settled on the current name in 1998. The club has won the Dutch national title...
in the Dutch League
Eredivisie
The Eredivisie is the highest football league in the Netherlands. The league was founded in 1956 two years after the start of professional football in the Netherlands. It is currently ranked the ninth best league in Europe by UEFA....
, as a central defender.
Football career
Van der Linden started his career in 1997 with local club Sparta RotterdamSparta Rotterdam
Sparta Rotterdam is the oldest professional football team in the Netherlands, established on April 1, 1888. Sparta is one of three professional football clubs from Rotterdam, the others being Excelsior and Feyenoord , the latter playing in the Eredivisie.-History:Sparta was first founded in 1887....
, appearing in an average of roughly 10 Eredivisie
Eredivisie
The Eredivisie is the highest football league in the Netherlands. The league was founded in 1956 two years after the start of professional football in the Netherlands. It is currently ranked the ninth best league in Europe by UEFA....
games in three seasons. In the 2000 summer, he joined English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
side Swindon Town
Swindon Town F.C.
Swindon Town Football Club are a team based in Swindon, Wiltshire. Currently in League Two, Swindon have been managed by Paolo Di Canio since 23 May 2011...
, appearing regularly for the League One club.
After only one year, van der Linden returned to his country, signing with FC Emmen
FC Emmen
FC Emmen is a Dutch football club based in Emmen, Drenthe, and currently playing in the Eerste Divisie, the second tier of football in the Netherlands.-History:...
of the second level
Eerste Divisie
The Eerste Divisie is the second-highest division of football in the Netherlands. It is linked with the top-level Eredivisie via a promotion/relegation system. It is also known as the Jupiler League due to sponsorship, which is the same name as the top league in Belgium...
. In 2003, he returned to the top division, playing four solid years with FC Groningen.
In 2007, he moved to Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
with C.S. Marítimo. Never an undisputed starter with the Madeira
Madeira
Madeira is a Portuguese archipelago that lies between and , just under 400 km north of Tenerife, Canary Islands, in the north Atlantic Ocean and an outermost region of the European Union...
side, he did manage to appear regularly, but also experienced a brief spell with the reserves
C.S. Marítimo B
Club Sport Marítimo B is a Portuguese football club that currently plays in the Serie A of the Portuguese Second Division. They are the reserve team of Club Sport Marítimo...
in his second season.
In July 2009, 33-year old van der Linden signed a one-year deal with Heracles Almelo
Heracles Almelo
Heracles Almelo is a football club from Almelo, Netherlands.Heracles Almelo were founded on May 3, 1903 as Heracles, after the demigod son of Zeus. They changed their name on July 1, 1974 to SC Heracles '74 and finally settled on the current name in 1998. The club has won the Dutch national title...
, as a replacement for Jan Wuytens, who moved to FC Utrecht. He helped the team overachieve for a final sixth-place in the first division, contributing with one goal, in a 4–1 home win over bottom-placed RKC Waalwijk
RKC Waalwijk
RKC Waalwijk is a football club currently playing in the Eredivisie. Its name is derived from 'Rooms Katholieke Combinatie' and was a fusion club of HEC, WVB and Hercules.-History:...
.