Olaf Lindenbergh
Encyclopedia
Olaf Lindenbergh is an Dutch
football midfielder
who currently plays for Dutch second division
club FC Volendam
.
, Lindenbergh began his professional career at De Graafschap that played in the Eerste Divisie
. His debut was on November 12, 1994 in a 1–0 win over VVV. He became a key player for the team straight away and helped them to gain promotion to the Eredivisie
for the following season, in which he made 30 appearances. In total he took part in 159 games for De Graafschap, scoring six goals, with the club permanently in the top flight. During the 1999–00 season, he left De Vijverberg
to continue his career at AZ Alkmaar.
At AZ, Lindenbergh was a first team regular from the start, but he struggled to gain appearances in his second season at the club. As of 2001 he was back on track and became one of the key players of the team unexpectedly made it to the UEFA Cup
semi-finals in 2005, only to be beaten on away goals by Sporting Lisbon. Ajax manager Danny Blind
acknowledged Lindenbergh's good form and declared an interest in signing him. At the end of the 2004/05 season, Lindenbergh agreed to a move to the Amsterdam ArenA
.
He made his debut for the club in 2005 in the 2–0 Eredivisie victory against Willem II
. He went on to play eighteen games that season, as well as gaining some Champions League
experience along the way. Ajax went on to win the KNVB Cup
that same season. When Blind left Ajax and Henk ten Cate
was appointed as the new manager, times changed for Lindenbergh and he only appeared in 12 matches that season. Still he participated in the KNVB Cup, which Ajax successfully defended. Following speculation about a transfer (Lindenbergh, along with Michael Krohn-Dehli
were deemed surplus to requirements, and were not even allowed to train with the first team to keep their fitness up), Lindenbergh signed with Sparta Rotterdam
.
squad.
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...
football midfielder
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
who currently plays for Dutch second division
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...
club FC Volendam
FC Volendam
Football Club Volendam is a Dutch football club based in Volendam, North Holland, Edam-Volendam. Founded on June 1, 1977, as a result of a split up with RKSV . It currently plays in the Eerste Divisie, holding home games at Kras Stadion, with a 6,260-seat capacity.-History:Football Club Volendam...
.
Club career
After playing in the youth level at ZOB, Ajax and De GraafschapDe Graafschap
De Graafschap is a professional football club from Doetinchem, Netherlands. It was formed on 1 February 1954 and they play their home games at the "De Vijverberg" stadium. Their current home ground stands on where the old pitch used to be located and was opened on 12 August 2000...
, Lindenbergh began his professional career at De Graafschap that played in the Eerste Divisie
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...
. His debut was on November 12, 1994 in a 1–0 win over VVV. He became a key player for the team straight away and helped them to gain promotion to the 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....
for the following season, in which he made 30 appearances. In total he took part in 159 games for De Graafschap, scoring six goals, with the club permanently in the top flight. During the 1999–00 season, he left De Vijverberg
De Vijverberg
De Vijverberg is the football stadium of the football club De Graafschap from Doetinchem. It has a capacity of 12,600 seats.The name is derived from a hotel with the same name, which stood on the present location of the stadium. Because of all the ponds that had to be filled up, the name...
to continue his career at AZ Alkmaar.
At AZ, Lindenbergh was a first team regular from the start, but he struggled to gain appearances in his second season at the club. As of 2001 he was back on track and became one of the key players of the team unexpectedly made it to the UEFA Cup
UEFA Cup
The UEFA Europa League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1971 for eligible European football clubs. It is the second most prestigious European club football contest after the UEFA Champions League...
semi-finals in 2005, only to be beaten on away goals by Sporting Lisbon. Ajax manager Danny Blind
Danny Blind
Dirk Franciscus "Danny" Blind is a football coach and former Dutch international player. He played as a defender for Sparta Rotterdam, AFC Ajax and the Dutch national team.Blind was born in Oost-Souburg, Netherlands...
acknowledged Lindenbergh's good form and declared an interest in signing him. At the end of the 2004/05 season, Lindenbergh agreed to a move to the Amsterdam ArenA
Amsterdam ArenA
Amsterdam Arena is a stadium in Amsterdam, Netherlands. It is the largest stadium in the nation and it was built from 1993 to 1996 at a cost of €140 million, and was officially opened on 14 August 1996. It has been used for association football, American football, concerts, and other events...
.
He made his debut for the club in 2005 in the 2–0 Eredivisie victory against Willem II
Willem II Tilburg
Willem II , also known as Willem II Tilburg, is a football club based in Tilburg, North Brabant, Netherlands. The team was founded on 12 August 1896 as Tilburgia...
. He went on to play eighteen games that season, as well as gaining some Champions League
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
experience along the way. Ajax went on to win the KNVB Cup
KNVB Cup
The KNVB Cup is a competition in the Netherlands organized by the Royal Dutch Football Association since 1899. It was based on the format of the English FA Cup. Outside of the Netherlands, it is often referred to as the Dutch Cup...
that same season. When Blind left Ajax and Henk ten Cate
Henk ten Cate
Henk ten Cate is a Dutch football manager and a former professional player.In the 2005–06 season, he was the assistant of Frank Rijkaard at Barcelona that guided the team to a Champions League Trophy and La Liga title...
was appointed as the new manager, times changed for Lindenbergh and he only appeared in 12 matches that season. Still he participated in the KNVB Cup, which Ajax successfully defended. Following speculation about a transfer (Lindenbergh, along with Michael Krohn-Dehli
Michael Krohn-Dehli
Michael Krohn-Dehli is a Danish footballer who currently plays as a midfielder for Danish club Brøndby IF.- Career :...
were deemed surplus to requirements, and were not even allowed to train with the first team to keep their fitness up), Lindenbergh signed with Sparta Rotterdam
Sparta 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....
.
International career
While at De Graafschap, Lindenbergh was called up into the Holland-under-21Netherlands national under-21 football team
The Netherlands national under-21 football team is the national under-21 team of the Netherlands and is controlled by the Royal Dutch Football Association. The team competes in the European Under-21 Championship, held every two years....
squad.
External links
- Player profile – Sparta Rotterdam
- Career stats – Voetbal International
- Player profile – Ajax
- Voetbal International profile
- Lindenbergh Sky Sports Profile & Latest News
- Lindenbergh Yahoo Profile
- ESPN Lindenbergh Playing History
- Lindenbergh Eurosport Profile