Koen van de Laak

Koen van de Laak

250px Van de Laak, captain FC Groningen.
Personal information
Full name	Koen Marinus Adrianus van de Laak
Date of birth	(1982-09-03) September 3, 1982
Place of birth	Vught, Netherlands
Height
Position(s)	Midfielder
Team information
Current team	free agent
Youth career
	Zwaluw VFC
	Den Bosch
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2000-2005	FC Den Bosch	143	(46)
2005-2012	FC Groningen	139	(24)
2012-2014	Ajax Cape Town	19	(0)
International career
2000–2004	Netherlands U21	8	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 23 June 2013

Koen van de Laak (born 3 September 1982 in Vught) is a Dutch football player who is currently a free agent. He formerly played for FC Den Bosch, FC Groningen and Ajax Cape Town in South Africa.

Early career

File:Emanuelson vs Van de Laak.jpg

vd Laak (Groningen) vs Emanuelson (Ajax)

A central midfielder, Koen van de Laak started to play for a local club named Zwaluw VFC in 1988 when he was six years old. He moved to FC Den Bosch in 1994. After spending six years in the youth team, he made his debut in the first squad of FC Den Bosch on November 4, 2000. In this game he scored two times against Helmond Sport. That year his team promoted to the Dutch Eredivisie

After playing some good seasons at FC Den Bosch and being top scorer several times, he opted to move to another team. He had several clubs to choose from but FC Groningen signed him for 4 years. In the first year playing for FC Groningen they ended up fifth in the league and managed to qualify for the UEFA Cup for the 2006–07 season. He quickly adjusted at FC Groningen, soon becoming a very important player and a fan favourite under the tenure of Ron Jans.

In season 2009–10 he became the captain of the team. FC Groningen managed to qualify twice for the Europe League which was unique in the history of Groningen. In December 2010, he picked up a knee injury in a match against Vitesse which kept him off the pitch till January 2012; despite that, his club agreed to extend his contract by one more year (from June 2011 to June 2012).

On 29 March 2012 it was revealed Van de Laak would leave FC Groningen at the end of the season, once his contract expires.

On 15 June 2012 Van de Laak signed with Ajax Cape Town from South Africa, playing in the Premier Soccer League for two seasons before parting ways with the Cape club.

Club statistics

Season	Club	Country	League	Matches	Goals
2000–01	FC Den Bosch	Netherlands	Eerste Divisie	21	7
2001–02	FC Den Bosch	Netherlands	Eerste Divisie	28	0
2002–03	FC Den Bosch	Netherlands	Eerste Divisie	29	17
2003–04	FC Den Bosch	Netherlands	Eerste Divisie	34	16
2004–05	FC Den Bosch	Netherlands	Eredivisie	31	6
2005–06	FC Groningen	Netherlands	Eredivisie	24	3
2006–07	FC Groningen	Netherlands	Eredivisie	25	7
2007–08	FC Groningen	Netherlands	Eredivisie	18	2
2008–09	FC Groningen	Netherlands	Eredivisie	26	5
2009–10	FC Groningen	Netherlands	Eredivisie	26	5
2010–11	FC Groningen	Netherlands	Eredivisie	16	2
2011–12	FC Groningen	Netherlands	Eredivisie	4	0
2012–13	Ajax Cape Town	South Africa	Premier Soccer League	13	0
2013–14	Ajax Cape Town	South Africa	Premier Soccer League	6	0
Total				301	70

External links

• Official site Koen van de Laak
• Profile van de Laak