Jasper Cillessen

Jasper Cillessen (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈjɑspər ˈsɪləsə(n)]; born 22 April 1989) is a Dutch professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Spanish club FC Barcelona.

Formed at NEC, where he made his professional debut in 2010, he signed for Ajax for €3 million a year later. He totalled 141 games for them in six seasons, winning honours including three Eredivisie titles. In 2016, he joined Barcelona for an initial €13 million.

In May 2011, he received his first call-up for the Netherlands national team. He made his international debut in 2013 and was the country's first-choice goalkeeper as they finished third at the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

Club career

NEC

Cillessen was born in Nijmegen and grew up in nearby Groesbeek.^[2] Cillessen began playing for the youth team of local club De Treffers, before being scouted to the NEC/FC Oss youth academy in 2001.^[3] In 2008 he signed his first professional contract with NEC, and started playing for the reserves. In 2010, Cillessen agreed a new two-year contract at NEC until June 2012.

Following an injury to first-choice goalkeeper Gábor Babos, Cillessen made his senior debut on 28 August 2010 in a 2–2 home draw against SC Heerenveen and was voted the man of the match. Even when Babos returned from injury, Cillessen managed to keep his spot in the first team and signed a two-year contract extension that tied him to NEC until 2014. At the end of the 2010–11 season, Cillessen was awarded Gelderland footballer of the year.^[4]

Ajax

Cillessen with Ajax in 2013.

On 27 August 2011 it was announced that NEC and Ajax had reached an agreement for the transfer of Cillessen to the Amsterdam club for an estimated €3 million. He signed a five-year contract, binding him to Ajax until 2016.^[5]

Cillessen made his first appearance for Ajax on 21 September 2011, in a 2nd round KNVB Cup away match against VV Noordwijk. He played the full match, conceding only to Sijbren Bartlema in the 66th minute of the 3–1 away victory. He made his first league appearance for Ajax in a 2011–12 Eredivisie match on 23 October 2011 against arch-rivals Feyenoord, coming on as a 66th-minute substitute for right back Gregory van der Wiel, after starting goalkeeper Kenneth Vermeer had been shown a red card. With Ajax down to 10 men, Cillessen helped Ajax retain a 1–1 draw after Jan Vertonghen tied the game just minutes after the ejection of Vermeer.^[6]

Cillessen's breakthrough into the first team began during the 2013 pre-season. Manager Frank de Boer said that both of his two leading goalkeepers would get a chance to show why they should be his first choice. Early in that season, Cillessen made his first sustained run of appearances for Ajax in the Eredivisie.

Barcelona

On 25 August 2016, Cillessen signed a five-year deal with Barcelona for an initial €13 million plus another €2m in add-ons, replacing the outgoing Claudio Bravo.^[7] After only three training sessions, he made his debut in a home La Liga match against Deportivo Alavés, conceding twice from five attempts in a 1–2 loss.^[8]

International career

Youth

In October 2010, Cillessen was called up for the Netherlands national U-21 team by the national team coach, Cor Pot, for the 2011 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification play-offs against Ukraine.^[9]

Senior

Cillessen (right) training with Jeroen Zoet (furthest left) and Tim Krul in October 2014

After the 2010–11 season, Cillessen was placed in the pre-selection for the senior squad's friendly matches against Uruguay and Brazil. Manager Bert van Marwijk eventually selected Cillessen for the Netherlands national team's friendly trip to South America. On 7 May 2012, Cillessen was named in the provisional list of 36 players for the UEFA Euro 2012 tournament, one of nine uncapped players to be chosen by Van Marwijk as part of the preliminary squad.

On 7 June 2013, Cillessen obtained his first cap for the Netherlands national team under manager Louis van Gaal, after several call-ups in the past. Cillessen played the first half in a friendly encounter against Indonesia in a 3–0 away win for the Dutch. He was relieved in goal by Kenneth Vermeer in the 46th minute, as the two helped keep a clean sheet during their friendly encounter in Asia.^[10]

In June 2014, Cillessen was selected in the Netherlands' squad for the 2014 FIFA World Cup. He was given the number 1 jersey and started in the team's opening match against Spain, a 5–1 victory in Salvador.^[11] He went on to start in every match as the Oranje took third place. In the quarter-final against Costa Rica, manager Louis van Gaal unexpectedly substituted him for Tim Krul ahead of the penalty shootout, which the Dutch won.^[12]

Career statistics

Club

Statistics accurate as of last match played on 16 August 2016.^[13][14]

Reserves performance^[13]

International

Statistics accurate as of matches played on 4 June 2016.^[16][17]

Honours

Club

Ajax^[18]

• Eredivisie: 2011–12, 2012–13, 2013–14
• Johan Cruijff Shield: 2013

International

Netherlands

• FIFA World Cup Third Place: 2014^[19]

Individual

• Gelderland footballer of the year (1): 2011^[4]
• Gillette Player of the Year (1): 2014^[20]
• AFC Ajax Player of the Year (2): 2015, 2016^[21][22]

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Jasper Cillessen.

• Voetbal International profile (Dutch)
• Jasper Cillessen Ajax profile(Dutch)

Netherlands squad – 2014 FIFA World Cup Third Place
1 Cillessen 2 Vlaar 3 De Vrij 4 Martins Indi 5 Blind 6 De Jong 7 Janmaat 8 De Guzmán 9 Van Persie (c) 10 Sneijder 11 Robben 12 Verhaegh 13 Veltman 14 Kongolo 15 Kuyt 16 Clasie 17 Lens 18 Fer 19 Huntelaar 20 Wijnaldum 21 Depay 22 Vorm 23 Krul Coach: Van Gaal