Robert Klaasen (born 6 September 1993) is a Dutch professional footballer who plays as a midfielder. He most notably played for Kortrijk, De Graafschap, Roda JC and VVV-Venlo.

Robert Klaasen
Klaasen in 2022
Personal information
Date of birth (1993-09-06) 6 September 1993 (age 31)
Place of birth Amsterdam, Netherlands
Height 1.77 m (5 ft 10 in)[1]
Position(s) Midfielder
Youth career
1999–2000 Zeeburgia
2000–2005 Ajax
2005–2006 HFC Haarlem
2006–2007 Feyenoord
2007–2013 AZ
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2013–2016 Kortrijk 36 (1)
2016–2017 Sparta Rotterdam 5 (1)
2017De Graafschap (loan) 16 (0)
2017–2019 De Graafschap 32 (0)
2019–2022 Roda JC 100 (4)
2022–2024 VVV-Venlo 48 (2)
International career
2011–2013 Netherlands U18 6 (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 10 May 2024

Career

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Early years

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Klaasen started his football career at the age of six at Zeeburgia.[2] He left the club after a year for Ajax's youth academy.[2] After playing in Amsterdam for five years, he moved to the youth academy of HFC Haarlem. There he played one year in the academy before moving to Feyenoord in 2006.[2][3]

He then joined AZ from Feyenoord's youth academy in 2007, and signed a two-year senior contract with the club on 19 May 2011.[2] Coming through the AZ academy, Klaasen described himself as a "holding midfielder, with a good shot and vision. I can be compared to Stijn Schaars."[4] Ahead of the 2012–13 season, some of the club's talents, including Klaasen, were given the chance to join the first team's pre-season friendlies. He would, however, play the season with the youth team. At the end of the season, Klaasen's contract was terminated.[5]

Kortrijk

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Prior to the start of the 2013–14 season, Klaassen trialled with Kortrijk.[6] He tested for around four weeks before it was announced that he became part of the team, signing a three-year contract on 20 July 2013.[7] Klaasen made his professional debut on 27 July 2013, replacing Gertjan De Mets in the 78th minute of a 1–0 home win over OH Leuven.[8] On 7 December 2013, four months after his last appearance, he scored his first goal in professional football, the 1–1 equalizer in the 87th minute against Sporting Charleroi.[9][10] He made his first start on 22 February 2014, playing the full ninety minutes against Mons.[11]

Sparta Rotterdam

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On 8 January 2016, Klaasen moved to Sparta Rotterdam, where he signed a contract until the end of the season with an option to extend for two seasons.[12] He made his debut for the club ten days later, on 18 January, replacing Ryan Sanusi in the 83rd minute of a 5–2 victory over RKC Waalwijk in the Eerste Divisie.[13] His first start came in the 2–1 league win at FC Den Bosch on 31 January.[14][15] On 12 February, Klaasen scored his first goal for Sparta in a 3–0 away win over Achilles '29.[16] Sparta picked up the option in Klaasen's contract on 22 February, extending his contract until 2018.[17]

Klaasen made five appearances for Sparta that, scoring once,[18] as the club won the Eerste Divisie and reached promotion to the Eredivisie.[19]

De Graafschap

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On 26 January 2017, Klaasen was sent on a six-month loan until the end of the season to De Graafschap, competing in the Eerste Divisie.[20] He made his debut for the club as a starter in a 3–2 league loss to Jong FC Utrecht on 30 January 2017.[21] He signed a permanent deal with the club on 2 May 2017, a one-year contract with an option for an additional season.[22]

On 11 May 2018, Klaasen extended his contract with De Graafschap until 2019. Upon signing, technical director Peter Hofstede stated: "Robert has made strides this season. We think he can grow further and want to give him that chance here."[23]

Roda JC

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On 7 July 2019, Klaasen joined Eerste Divisie club Roda JC on a two-year contract.[24] He made his debut for the club on the first matchday of the season as a starter in the 1–1 home draw against Almere City.[25][26]

Klaasen scored his first goal for Roda JC on 5 December 2020, opening the score from a free kick in a 1–1 draw away against Jong PSV.[27]

VVV-Venlo

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Klaasen moved to VVV-Venlo on 10 June 2022, signing a two-year contract.[28] His club debut came on the first matchday of the 2022–23 season in a 3–0 home win over Almere City.[29] On 11 December, he scored his first goal for the club, helping the club to a 2–1 victory against provincial rivals MVV Maastricht.[30]

Personal life

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Klaasen is the son-in-law of Wilco van Schaik [nl],[31] who became chairman of NEC Nijmegen in 2017.[32]

Career statistics

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As of match played 17 November 2023[18]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup[a] Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Kortrijk 2013–14 Belgian Pro League 15 1 0 0 15 1
2014–15 Belgian Pro League 21 0 1 0 22 0
Total 36 1 1 0 37 1
Sparta Rotterdam 2015–16 Eerste Divisie 5 1 0 0 5 1
2016–17 Eredivisie 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 5 1 0 0 5 1
De Graafschap (loan) 2016–17 Eerste Divisie 16 0 0 0 16 0
De Graafschap 2017–18 Eerste Divisie 22 0 1 0 4[b] 0 27 0
2018–19 Eredivisie 10 0 1 0 0 0 11 0
Total 48 0 2 0 4 0 54 0
Roda JC 2019–20 Eerste Divisie 28 0 1 0 29 4
2020–21 Eerste Divisie 37 2 1 0 2[b] 0 40 2
2021–22 Eerste Divisie 35 2 2 0 2[b] 0 39 2
Total 100 4 4 0 4 0 108 4
VVV-Venlo 2022–23 Eerste Divisie 33 2 1 0 4[b] 0 38 2
2023–24 Eerste Divisie 8 0 1 0 9 0
Total 41 2 2 0 4 0 47 2
Career total 230 8 1 0 12 0 251 8
  1. ^ Includes Belgian Cup, KNVB Cup
  2. ^ a b c d Appearances in Eerste Divisie playoffs

Honours

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Sparta Rotterdam

References

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  1. ^ "R. Klaasen – Profiel". Voetbal International. Retrieved 29 December 2022.
  2. ^ a b c d "AZ contracteert Robert Klaasen". NH Nieuws (in Dutch). 19 May 2011. Retrieved 29 December 2022.
  3. ^ "Rugnummer 6 | Robert Klaasen: 'Het kan snel gaan in het voetbal'". Roda JC Kerkrade (in Dutch). 26 September 2019. Archived from the original on 12 December 2019. Retrieved 29 December 2022.
  4. ^ Kerkdijk, Daniël Cabot (18 May 2011). "'Goede trap, goed inzicht en qua type ben ik te vergelijken met Schaars'". Voetbalzone (in Dutch). Retrieved 29 December 2022.
  5. ^ "Klaasen (AZ) test bij KV Kortrijk". Het Nieuwsblad (in Flemish). 20 June 2013. Retrieved 29 December 2022.
  6. ^ ""Dit was de beste stage die ik meemaakte"". Voetbalnieuws (in Dutch). 2 July 2013. Archived from the original on 29 December 2022. Retrieved 29 December 2022.
  7. ^ "Klaasen tekent bij KV Kortrijk". RTL Nieuws (in Dutch). 20 July 2013. Archived from the original on 29 December 2022. Retrieved 29 December 2022.
  8. ^ "KV Kortrijk – Oud-Heverlee Leuven 1:0 (Eerste klasse A 2013/2014, 1. Round)". WorldFootball.net. HEIM:SPIEL. Retrieved 29 December 2022.
  9. ^ Derauw, Dries (7 December 2013). "Invaller Klaasen schenkt Kortrijk punt tegen gretig Charleroi". Het Laatste Nieuws (in Flemish). Retrieved 29 December 2022.
  10. ^ De Graeve, Sander (7 December 2013). "Klaasen: "Scoorde met m'n chocoladebeentje"". Voetbalkrant (in Flemish). Archived from the original on 29 December 2022. Retrieved 29 December 2022.
  11. ^ "KV Kortrijk – RAEC Mons 1:2 (Eerste klasse A 2013/2014, 27. Round)". WorldFootball.net. HEIM:SPIEL. Retrieved 29 December 2022.
  12. ^ "Robert Klaasen tekent bij Sparta". Rijnmond (in Dutch). 8 January 2016. Archived from the original on 29 December 2022. Retrieved 29 December 2022.
  13. ^ "Sparta na zege op RKC steviger aan kop in Jupiler League". NU.nl (in Dutch). 18 January 2016. Archived from the original on 26 April 2016. Retrieved 29 December 2022.
  14. ^ "Sparta ontsnapt in Den Bosch, Go Ahead onderuit". Voetbal International (in Dutch). 31 January 2016. Retrieved 29 December 2022.
  15. ^ "FC Den Bosch – Sparta Rotterdam 1:2 (Eerste Divisie 2015/2016, 23. Round)". WorldFootball.net. HEIM:SPIEL. Retrieved 29 December 2022.
  16. ^ "Koploper Sparta Rotterdam veel te sterk voor Achilles'29". Sportnieuws (in Dutch). 12 February 2016. Retrieved 29 December 2022.
  17. ^ "Robert Klaasen langer bij Sparta Rotterdam". Sparta Rotterdam (in Dutch). 22 February 2016. Archived from the original on 29 December 2022. Retrieved 29 December 2022.
  18. ^ a b "Robert Klaasen » Club matches". WorldFootball.net. HEIM:SPIEL. Retrieved 29 December 2022.
  19. ^ a b "Sparta Rotterdam terug in de eredivisie". NOS (in Dutch). 11 April 2016. Archived from the original on 29 December 2022. Retrieved 29 December 2022.
  20. ^ "Robert Klaasen vertrekt naar De Graafschap". Sparta Rotterdam (in Dutch). 26 January 2017. Archived from the original on 29 December 2022. Retrieved 29 December 2022.
  21. ^ "De Graafschap onderuit in uitduel bij Jong FC Utrecht". De Graafschap (in Dutch). 30 January 2017. Archived from the original on 29 December 2022. Retrieved 29 December 2022.
  22. ^ "Robert Klaasen definitief naar De Graafschap". Rijnmond (in Dutch). 2 May 2017. Archived from the original on 29 December 2022. Retrieved 29 December 2022.
  23. ^ "De Graafschap verlengt contract met Robert Klaasen". De Graafschap (in Dutch). 11 May 2018. Archived from the original on 29 December 2022. Retrieved 29 December 2022.
  24. ^ "Roda JC Kerkrade bereikt overeenstemming met Robert Klaasen". Roda JC Kerkrade (in Dutch). 7 July 2019. Archived from the original on 1 August 2021. Retrieved 29 December 2022.
  25. ^ "City FC speelt gelijk bij Roda JC". Omroep Flevoland (in Dutch). 9 August 2019. Archived from the original on 10 August 2019. Retrieved 29 December 2022.
  26. ^ "Roda JC Kerkrade – Almere City FC 1:1 (Eerste Divisie 2019/2020, 1. Round)". WorldFootball.net. HEIM:SPIEL. Retrieved 29 December 2022.
  27. ^ Vorstermans, Ron (5 December 2020). "TOP Oss wint van Jong AZ, Jong PSV speelt gelijk tegen Roda JC". Omroep Brabant (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 28 January 2021. Retrieved 29 December 2022.
  28. ^ "VVV-Venlo haalt Robert Klaasen binnen". VVV-Venlo (in Dutch). 10 June 2022. Archived from the original on 29 June 2022. Retrieved 9 July 2022.
  29. ^ Jongen, Guy (5 August 2022). "VVV-Venlo wint in openingswedstrijd van Almere City". Venlonaren (in Dutch). Retrieved 29 December 2022.
  30. ^ "Oppermachtig VVV-Venlo verslaat MVV in meeslepende derby". VVV-Venlo (in Dutch). 11 December 2022. Archived from the original on 12 December 2022. Retrieved 29 December 2022.
  31. ^ "Beladen krachtmeting NEC-directeur Wilco van Schaik met schoonzoon Robert Klaasen". De Telegraaf (in Dutch). 20 May 2021. Archived from the original on 16 September 2021. Retrieved 29 December 2022.
  32. ^ Lammers, Lex (28 June 2017). "Wilco van Schaik nieuwe algemeen directeur NEC". De Gelderlander (in Dutch). Retrieved 29 December 2022.
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