Daniëlle van de Donk

Daniëlle van de Donk RON (Dutch pronunciation: [daːniˈɛlə vɑn də dɔnk]; born 5 August 1991) is a Dutch professional footballer who plays as a midfielder and a winger for Arsenal in the FA Women's Super League (FA WSL)[2] and the Netherlands national team.[3] She has over 105 caps with the national team and helped win the UEFA Women's Euro 2017 and finish second at the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup.

Daniëlle van de Donk
Van de Donk in 2020
Personal information
Full name Daniëlle van de Donk[1]
Date of birth (1991-08-05) 5 August 1991
Place of birth Valkenswaard, Netherlands
Height 160 cm (5 ft 3 in)[1]
Position(s) Midfielder
Club information
Current team
 Arsenal
Number 7
Youth career
sv Valkenswaard
2006–2008 UNA
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2008–11 Willem II 47 (5)
2011–12 VVV-Venlo 18 (8)
2012–15 PSV/FC Eindhoven 66 (36)
2015 Kopparbergs/Göteborg FC 13 (4)
2015– Arsenal 86 (26)
National team‡
2010– Netherlands 108 (24)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 7 February 2021
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 27 November 2020

Early life

Born in Valkenswaard, Netherlands, Van de Donk grew up playing football with boys. Her uncle noted, "If she started training at FC Eindhoven, she was laughed at by the boys. When she had played 3 balls, they were all silent."[4] She started playing for SV Valkenswaard at the age of 4,[5] and later moved to VV UNA.[6]

Club career

Willem II, 2008–11

At age 17, Van de Donk first played as a professional football for Dutch Eredivisie club, Willem II. She featured for the Tricolores for the next four seasons, playing in 47 competitive league matches and scoring five goals.[3][6] During her first season in 2008, she played eighteen of the 24 matches and scored one goal. In her second season, she suffered an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury, which kept her off the field for several months.[7] She made seven appearances for Willem II during the 2009–10 season and the club finished in third place with a 8–10–2 record.[3] During the 2010–11 season, she scored four goals in 21 matches playing as a starting midfielder.[3]

VVV-Venlo, 2011–12

Van de Donk signed with VVV-Venlo ahead of the 2011–12 season. She played 18 regular season games, scoring 8 goals as a starter for the club.[3] During a match against Heerenveen, Van de Donk scored a brace lifting her team to a 2–1 win.[8] During a match against PEC Zwolle, she scored the game-winning goal in the 83rd minute to lift VVV to a 5–4 win.[9] During another match against Heerenveen, Van de Donk scored a second brace helping VVV win 3–1.[10] VVV finished in fifth place with a 6–10–2 record.[11] She also helped VVV reach the final of the KNVB Women's Cup in 2012.[12]

PSV/FC Eindhoven, 2012–15

Van de Donk then left Venlo for PSV/FC Eindhoven ahead of Eindhoven's participation in the inaugural season of the Dutch & Belgian BeNe League. With Eindhoven, Van de Donk reached the final of the KNVB Cup of 2014, where she eventually earned a runners-up medal. She racked up an outstanding 30 goals in 53 appearances for the club.[13]

Göteborg, 2015

In June 2015, Van de Donk was transferred to Swedish Damallsvenskan club Kopparbergs/Göteborg FC.[3][14][15] Van de Donk made 13 appearances for the club, scoring 4 goals.[3] During a match on 11 October, Van de Donk scored a brace —the team's only goals — in a 4–2 loss to KIF Örebro.[16] Göteborg finished the 2016 season in sixth place with a 9–8–5 record.[17]

Arsenal, 2015–
Van de Donk (far left) during an Arsenal match, 2020

On 20 November 2015, Van de Donk signed with English club Arsenal of the FA Women's Super League (FA WSL).[18] The move proved successful with her starting in the 2016 FA Cup final on 14 May 2016. Arsenal were eventually crowned champions, beating Chelsea 1–0 at Wembley to earn their fourteenth FA Cup title.[19]

On 7 October 2016, Van de Donk signed a new contract with Arsenal[20] and was a starting midfielder in 14 of the 15 games she played. Van de Donk scored three goals helping lift Arsenal to a third place finish with a 10–4–2 record.[21] During the FA WSL Spring Series, she scored two goals in eight matches.[3]

During the 2017–18 season, Van de Donk scored five goals in 18 matches.[3] She scored a brace in the match against Bristol City on 20 May lifting Arsenal to a 6–1 win with the first and last goals of the match.[22] Arsenal finished in third place with a 11–3–4 record.[23]

Van de Donk was instrumental in Arsenal's 2018–2019 WSL championship season. She scored 23 combined goals and assists in all competitions. Sports Illustrated described her as "crucial to Arsenal's efforts in trying to recapture a first Women's Super League title since 2012."[24] On 17 November, her double nutmeg went viral on Twitter.[25] Arsenal finished in third place with a 5–0–3 record.[26]

Marking her fifth year with the club, Van de Donk signed a new long-term contract with Arsenal in March 2019.[27] Of the signing, Arsenal manager Joe Montemurro said, "She brings a world class attitude and quality that are vital to our team."[24] During the 2019–20 season, she scored five goals in 15 matches.[3] The FA suspended the season because of the COVID-19 pandemic, deciding the competition based on points per game.[28] Arsenal finished in third place with a 12–3–0 record and played in the 2019–20 FA WSL Cup, where they eventually lost 2–1 to Chelsea during the 2020 FA Women's League Cup Final.[29]

In October 2020, she was named WSL Player of the Week after her performance in a 5–0 win against Brighton & Hove Albion W.F.C.. Van de Donk scored Arsenal's second goal and had over 60 touches on the ball.[30]

International career
Van de Donk playing for Holland in the 2013 Euros

At the age of 19, Van de Donk made her debut for the Netherlands national team in a match against Mexico on 15 December 2010 at the 2010 City of São Paulo Tournament She scored her first official international goal in 2013 European Championship qualifying against Serbia.[31]

In June 2013, Dutch national team coach Roger Reijners selected Van de Donk for the Netherlands squad for UEFA Women's Euro 2013 in Sweden.[32] The Netherlands squad lost all three of their group stage matches and did not advance at the tournament.

Van de Donk competed at the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada, under the direction of Reijners.[33] After finishing third in Group A and placing second in the ranking of third place teams, the Netherlands advanced to the knockout round where they faced 2011 champions, Japan and lost 2–1.[34]

On 14 June 2017, Van de Donk was selected as part of the Dutch squad for the 2017 UEFA Women's Championship to be held at home in the Netherlands.[35] She went on to play an integral part in the tournament. In the semi-final match, she scored against England to complete a 3–0 win for the Dutch. Van de Donk also played in the final against Denmark, where her creative presence helped the Netherlands come away with a victory.[36] After the tournament, the team was honoured by the Prime Minister Mark Rutte and Minister of Sport Edith Schippers and made Knights of the Order of Orange-Nassau.[37]

Van de Donk was selected to the final squad for the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup in France.[38] Ahead of the tournament, ESPN named her to their top 25 player ranking.[39] After winning all three of their group stage matches, the team finished at the top of their group and advanced to the knockout stage.[40] During the Round of 16, the Dutch team faced 2011 champions, Japan, who had knocked them out of the 2015 World Cup. This time, the Netherlands won 2–1 and advanced to the quarterifinals. Of the match, The Guardian called Van de Donk "Holland's best player tonight."[41] The Dutch team faced Italy in the quarterfinal and won 2–1 advancing to the semifinal for the first time in team history.[42] Van de Donk played every minute of the semifinal against Sweden until the team scored a goal in the ninth goal of extra time and won the match 1-0 advancing to the final for the first time.[43] The Netherlands faced 2015 champions the United States and lost 2–0.[44] Van de Donk played every minute of the Final. Following the loss, she noted, "The growth [of women’s football in the Netherlands] is ridiculous. If I look at women’s football and the hype, it’s amazing. I think that’s what I’m most proud of, that we got so much respect from the Netherlands."[45]

On 8 October 2019, Van de Donk scored a goal during her 100th international appearance, a 2–0 win against Russia.[6]

Career statistics

International goals
Scores and results list the Netherlands goal tally first.[46]
GoalDateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1.22 August 2011Hohhot City Stadium, Hohhot, China China PR1–01–1Friendly
(2.)*1 June 2012Woezik, Wijchen, Netherlands North Korea2–14–1Friendly
2.20 June 2012Stadion Srem Jakovo, Jakovo, Serbia Serbia4–04–0UEFA Women's Euro 2013 qualifying
3.6 March 2013GSZ Stadium, Larnaca, Cyprus Finland1–11–12013 Cyprus Women's Cup
4.17 September 2014Nadderud Stadion, Bekkestua, Norway Norway2–02–02015 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification
5.20 May 2015Sparta Stadion, Rotterdam, Netherlands Estonia2–07–0Friendly
6.4–0
7.17 September 2015De Vijverberg, Doetinchem, Netherlands Belarus3–08–0
8.23 October 2015Stade Jean-Bouin, Paris, France France1–02–1
9.25 January 2016Spice Hotel, Belek, Turkey Denmark2–12–1
10.8 July 2017Sparta Stadion, Rotterdam, Netherlands Wales2–05–0
11.3 August 2017De Grolsch Veste, Enschede, Netherlands England2–03–0UEFA Women's Euro 2017
12.8 June 2018Shamrock Park, Portadown, Northern Ireland Northern Ireland2–05–02019 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification
13.9 April 2019AFAS Stadion, Alkmaar, Netherlands Chile1–07–0Friendly
14.3–0
15.4–0
16.7–0
17.3 September 2019Abe Lenstra Stadion, Heerenveen, Netherlands Turkey2–0 3–0UEFA Women's Euro 2022 qualifying
18.8 October 2019Philips Stadion, Eindhoven, Netherlands Russia1–02–0
19.8 November 2019Bornova Stadium, İzmir, Turkey Turkey4–08–0
20.6–0
21.7–0
22.23 October 2020Euroborg, Groningen, Netherlands Estonia1–07–0
23.2–0
24.27 October 2020Stadiumi Fadil Vokrri, Pristina, Kosovo Kosovo1–06–0

* Note: Match not considered as an official friendly.[47]

Honours
Van de Donk (holding the trophy) celebrating the league title.

Club

VVV-Venlo

PSV/FC Eindhoven

Arsenal

International

Netherlands[36]

See also

References
  1. "List of Players – Netherlands" (PDF). FIFA. 30 May 2015. p. 16. Retrieved 17 July 2018.
  2. "Kim Little rejoins Arsenal Ladies". Arsenal F.C. 17 October 2016. Retrieved 19 October 2016.
  3. "Danielle van de Donk". Soccerway.
  4. Nolles, Jurriaan (4 July 2019). "Heel Valkenswaard is trots op Daniëlle". ED. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
  5. "Arsenal's van de Donk out to prove past doubters wrong in North London derby". Yahoo! Money. 15 November 2019. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
  6. Millington, Adam (8 October 2019). "Daniëlle van de Donk: A look at her past after 100 national team appearances". Vavel.
  7. ""Ja meteen! Het gebeurt zoveel in het vrouwenvoetbal"" (PDF). 6 February 2016. Retrieved 23 February 2020.
  8. "Vrouwenteam verliest van VVV Venlo". SC Heerenveen. 4 November 2011. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
  9. "Voetbalsters VVV winnen bij Zwolle". L1. 27 January 2012. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
  10. "HEERENVEEN VS. VVV 1 - 3". Soccerway. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
  11. "2011-12 Eredivisie Women". Soccerway. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
  12. "KNVB Beker Women". Soccerway. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
  13. "Danielle Van de Donk". Arsenal F.C.
  14. "Speelster Van de Donk naar Zweedse topclub". psv.nl (in Dutch). 26 June 2015. Retrieved 19 September 2015.
  15. "Kopparbergs/Göteborg FC". Göteborg FC.se.
  16. "GÖTEBORG VS. KIF ÖREBRO 2 - 4". Soccerway. Retrieved 2 December 2020.
  17. "2015 Damallsvenskan". Soccerway. Retrieved 2 December 2020.
  18. "Van de Donk signs for Ladies". Arsenal F.C. 20 November 2015. Retrieved 29 November 2015.
  19. "Carter's stunner earns Arsenal their 14th Women's FA Cup". The FA.
  20. "Danielle van de Donk signs new contract". Arsenal F.C. 7 October 2016. Retrieved 19 October 2016.
  21. "2016 Women's Super League". Soccerway. Retrieved 1 December 2020.
  22. "Bristol City Women 1 Arsenal Women". BBC Sport. 20 May 2018. Retrieved 2 December 2020.
  23. "2017/18 Women's Super League". Soccerway. Retrieved 2 December 2020.
  24. "Arsenal Women Midfielder Danielle van de Donk Signs New Long-Term Gunners Contract". Sports Illustrated. 29 March 2019. Retrieved 1 December 2020.
  25. Yoesting, Travis (17 November 2018). "Your Weekend Needs This Double Nutmeg From Arsenal's Danielle Van De Donk". The 18. Retrieved 2 December 2020.
  26. "2017 Spring Series". Soccerway. Retrieved 2 December 2020.
  27. "Danielle van de Donk: Arsenal Women midfielder signs new deal". BBC. Retrieved 28 May 2019.
  28. "Chelsea named Women's Super League champions, Liverpool relegated". BBC Sport. 5 June 2020.
  29. Wrack, Suzanne (29 February 2020). "Beth England strikes late to win Continental Cup final for Chelsea". The Guardian. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
  30. "Arsenal star Danielle van de Donk named WSL player of the week". Islington Gazette. 14 October 2020. Retrieved 1 December 2020.
  31. "Profile". UEFA.
  32. "Trio miss cut in Netherlands squad". UEFA. 30 June 2013. Retrieved 25 July 2013.
  33. "Reijners kiest WK-selectie Oranjevrouwen" (in Dutch). Royal Dutch Football Association. 10 May 2015. Archived from the original on 20 May 2015. Retrieved 10 May 2015.
  34. "Japan beat the Netherlands 2-1 to advance to quarterfinals". ESPN. 23 June 2015. Retrieved 2 December 2020.
  35. "Wiegman kiest Oranjeselectie voor WEURO 2017". onsoranje.nl. 14 June 2017.
  36. "Dutch delight: how the Netherlands won Women's EURO". UEFA.
  37. "Voetbalsters Oranje geridderd in Den Haag (in Dutch)". NOS.nl.
  38. "Sarina Wiegman names Netherlands Women's World Cup squad". KNVB. 10 April 2019.
  39. "WHO WILL RULE THE WOMEN'S WORLD CUP?". ESPN. 5 June 2019. Retrieved 2 December 2020.
  40. "Canada's undefeated streak ends in loss to Netherlands and orange wave at Women's World Cup". Toronto Sun. 20 June 2019. Retrieved 2 December 2020.
  41. Murray, Scott (25 June 2019). "Netherlands 2-1 Japan: Women's World Cup 2019 last 16 - as it happened". The Guardian. Retrieved 2 December 2020.
  42. Bogage, Jacob (29 June 2019). "Netherlands vs Italy: Orange makes Women's World Cup semifinals for first time". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2 December 2020.
  43. "Netherlands v Sweden: extra time in Women's World Cup semi-final – as it happened". The Guardian. 4 July 2019. Retrieved 2 December 2020.
  44. "World Cup 2019: USWNT defeats Netherlands to win fourth title". Los Angeles Times. 7 July 2019. Retrieved 2 December 2020.
  45. "Van de Donk: The whole of the Netherlands is proud". FIFA. 7 July 2019. Retrieved 2 December 2020.
  46. "Profile". onsoranje.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 17 December 2017.
  47. "Ruime oefenzege Oranjevrouwen". onsoranje.nl (in Dutch). 1 June 2012. Retrieved 17 December 2017.
  48. "Arsenal 1–0 Chelsea: Women's FA Cup final as it happened". The Guardian.
  49. Garry, Tom (14 March 2018). "Arsenal Women 1–0 Manchester City Women". Retrieved 19 March 2018.
  50. "Van de Donk: The whole of the Netherlands is proud". FIFA. 7 July 2019. Retrieved 1 December 2020.
  51. "Arsenal trio named in Netherlands squad for Tournoi de France". Islington Gazette. 24 February 2020. Retrieved 2 December 2020.

Further reading
  • Grainey, Timothy (2012), Beyond Bend It Like Beckham: The Global Phenomenon of Women's Soccer, University of Nebraska Press, ISBN 9780803240360
  • Postma, Annemarie (2017), De Oranje leeuwinnen: het Nederlands vrouweneftal, Ambo/Anthos B.V., ISBN 9789026337727
  • Raphael, Amy and Gary Lineker (2019), A Game of Two-Halves: Famous Football Fans Meet Their Heroes, Atlantic Books, ISBN 9781760636562
  • Vissers, Willem (2019), Meisjesdromen: van EK-debuut tot WK-finale in tien jaar, Overamstel Uitgevers, ISBN 9789048853489
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