Klaas Jan Huntelaar biography
Klaas Jan Huntelaar (born August 12, 1983 in Drempt, Gelderland, Netherlands) is a Dutch footballer who plays as a striker for Ajax Amsterdam. He is seen as a rising star in Dutch football, having scored 33 goals in the 2005/06 Eredivisie campaign. His nickname is 'The Hunter'.
In 2006, Ajax signed Huntelaar from SC Heerenveen, paying € 9 million + future extensives for the player. A substantial sum went to rivals PSV Eindhoven as a result of the training compensation rule imposed by FIFA. Perhaps his most spectacular goal of the season was a bicycle kick in injury time of the KNVB Cup semifinal against Roda JC which squared the match and allowed Ajax to go on to victory after the extra periods. Huntelaar then went on to score a brace, including the winner, against PSV Eindhoven to bring Ajax its 16th KNVB Cup.
Huntelaar won the European Golden Boot for the 2005-2006 season.
Huntelaar was the first player to score a goal at Arsenal F.C.'s new Emirates Stadium in a testimonial match for Dennis Bergkamp on July 22nd, 2006 - a match Ajax ended up losing 2-1 (although in the second half, which started off with Ajax leading 1-0, 'legends' like Johan Cruijff, Marco van Basten and Ian Wright played instead).
Huntelaar started the 2006/07 campaign by scoring a brace against Copenhagen in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League 3rd qualifying round.
International career
Despite being in the preliminary squad, Huntelaar was not chosen for the Dutch national team at the 2006 FIFA World Cup. Coach Marco Van Basten explained that he felt Huntelaar would benefit from more experience and from playing at the UEFA Under 21 football championships, going as far as to say that it was up to Huntelaar to "show us there that we did not do the right thing.". While Holland went on to score no goals against quality opposition in Germany, Huntelaar led the Dutch to victory as the top-scorer of the Under 21 tournament with four goals, including a brace in the final against Ukraine.
Marco Van Basten decided to call Huntelaar as his starting striker in the Dutch National squad's friendly against the Republic of Ireland on August 16, 2006. Huntelaar paid immediate dividends by scoring two goals (another one was disallowed by an incorrect off-side call by the referee, denying him the hat-trick), and making two assists, in Holland's 4-0 victory.
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| Klaas Jan Huntelaar biography |
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