Wikipedia

Sergio Zijler

Marcel Sergio Orpheo Zijler (born 8 July 1987) is a Dutch former professional footballer who played as a winger.

Sergio Zijler
Personal information
Full name Marcel Sergio Orpheo Zijler[1]
Date of birth (1987-07-08) 8 July 1987 (age 37)
Place of birth Rotterdam, Netherlands
Height 1.65 m (5 ft 5 in)[2]
Position(s) Attacking midfielder, winger
Youth career
ASV Fortius
1997–2006 Ajax
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2006–2008 Twente 13 (2)
2008–2010 Willem II 65 (6)
2011 Rijeka 4 (0)
2011 Orduspor 0 (0)
2014 Zelina 14 (0)
2014–2015 Achilles '29 10 (0)
2015 Universitatea Cluj 2 (0)
2015 Lienden 3 (0)
Total 111 (8)
International career
2002 Netherlands U16 4 (0)
2003–2004 Netherlands U17 7 (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Zijler, born in Rotterdam, began his football journey at the Ajax academy before making his professional debut with Twente in 2006. He later joined Willem II, becoming a regular starter in the Eredivisie. Zijler's career also saw him competing abroad, with stints at clubs like Rijeka in Croatia, Orduspor in Turkey, and Universitatea Cluj in Romania. His later years included experiences in lower-tier leagues.

A youth international for the Netherlands, Zijler gained caps for the Netherlands under-16 and under-17 teams.

Club career

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Born in Rotterdam, Zijler spent part of his youth training at Ajax's academy.[3] In 2006, he moved to Twente, where he made his professional debut on 21 October 2006, as a substitute for Otman Bakkal in an Eredivisie match against Excelsior.[4] On 12 November 2006, he marked his first start for the senior team by scoring twice in a 7–1 victory over Groningen.[5] During the 2007–08 season, Zijler made only one Eredivisie appearance.[6]

On 2 January 2008, he accepted an offer from Willem II, a move that Twente coach Fred Rutten described as "beneficial for his development".[7] Zijler signed a two-and-a-half-year contract with Willem II. While he initially made limited appearances as a substitute during his first half-season, he became a regular starter over the following two seasons.[6] His contract expired at the end of the 2009–10 season.[8]

After becoming a free agent, Zijler had trial periods with Metz,[9] Polonia Warsaw,[10] and FC Zwolle that did not result in contracts.[11] In January 2011, he signed a one-and-a-half-year deal with Rijeka.[12][13] From June 2011 to January 2012, he played for Orduspor in Turkey before spending about a year without a club.[14] He then joined Croatian second-tier club Zelina.[15] In September 2014, after a trial, Zijler signed with Achilles '29 on an amateur basis.[16]

In January 2015, he signed a short-term contract with Romanian club Universitatea Cluj following a successful trial.[17] In March 2015, Zijler faced controversy when a photo surfaced of him in a betting shop. The club suspended him, alleging illegal gambling.[18] Zijler denied the claims, stating he had only visited a convenience store in the same building and viewed live football screens and betting lists, while also highlighting unpaid wages.[19] In July 2015, the Romanian Football Federation's appeals committee ruled that Universitatea Cluj must meet its contractual obligations to him.[20]

In September 2015, Zijler joined Lienden in the Topklasse Sunday but parted ways with the club in December 2015. Due to lateness to practice, he made only three appearances and fell out of favour with head coach Hans van de Haar.[21][22]

International career

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Zijler was part of the Netherlands U-17 team in 2003.[23]

In 2009, he played for the combination team of the Suriname national football team and the 'Suriprofs' (Surinamese professional players in the Netherlands) at the Parbo Bier Cup tournament.

Career statistics

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Appearances and goals by club, season and competition[24]
Club Season League National cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Twente 2006–07 Eredivisie 12 2 1 0 2[a] 0 15 1
2007–08 Eredivisie 1 0 1 0 0 0 2 0
Total 13 2 2 0 2 0 17 2
Willem II 2007–08 Eredivisie 5 0 — — 5 0
2008–09 Eredivisie 29 2 2 0 — 31 2
2009–10 Eredivisie 31 4 1 0 3[b] 0 35 4
Total 65 6 3 0 3 0 71 6
Rijeka 2010–11 Prva HNL 4 0 0 0 — 4 0
Orduspor 2011–12 Süper Lig 0 0 0 0 — 0 0
Zelina 2013–14 Prva NL 14 0 0 0 — 14 0
Achilles '29 2014–15 Eerste Divisie 10 0 0 0 — 10 0
Universitatea Cluj 2014–15 Liga I 2 0 0 0 — 2 0
Lienden 2015–16 Topklasse 3 0 1 0 — 4 0
Career total 111 8 6 0 5 0 122 8
  1. ^ Appearances in Eredivisie European play-offs
  2. ^ Appearances in Eredivisie relegation play-offs

References

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  1. ^ "Marcel Sergio Orpheo Zijler: Jeugd mannen onder 17". Ons Oranje. Archived from the original on 17 November 2024. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
  2. ^ "Sergio Zijler". Willem II (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 24 July 2011.
  3. ^ "FC Twente past contract belofte Zijler aan". Voetbal International (in Dutch). 18 August 2007. Archived from the original on 17 November 2024. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
  4. ^ "FC Twente plukt rechtsbuiten weg bij Ajax". Voetbal International (in Dutch). 5 May 2006. Archived from the original on 17 November 2024. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
  5. ^ "Zijler: "Dit kunnen ze me niet meer afpakken"". FCUpdate.nl (in Dutch). 14 November 2006. Archived from the original on 17 November 2024. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
  6. ^ a b Sergio Zijler at Soccerway
  7. ^ Freriks, Koen (3 January 2008). "Willem II versterkt zich met Sergio Zijler". FCUpdate.nl (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 17 November 2024. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
  8. ^ "Sergio Zijler vertrekt bij Willem II". Omroep Brabant (in Dutch). 30 April 2010. Archived from the original on 17 November 2024. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
  9. ^ "Zijler hoopt een contract af te dwingen bij FC Metz". Voetbal International (in Dutch). 3 January 2011. Archived from the original on 17 November 2024. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
  10. ^ "Sergio Zijler na testach w Polonii Warszawa". Interia Sport (in Polish). 29 September 2010. Archived from the original on 17 November 2024. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
  11. ^ "FC Zwolle test twee buitenspelers". Oost (in Dutch). 3 December 2010. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
  12. ^ "Zijler aan de slag bij Kroatische middenmoter". FCUpdate.nl (in Dutch). 16 January 2011. Archived from the original on 17 November 2024. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
  13. ^ Vukušić, Danijel (28 October 2020). "Rijeka je imala Nizozemca, a AZ bio kraj karijere za 'vatrenoga'". 24sata (in Croatian). Archived from the original on 19 October 2021. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
  14. ^ "Zijler vervolgt zijn loopbaan bij Turkse promovendus". Voetbal International (in Dutch). 17 July 2011. Archived from the original on 17 November 2024. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
  15. ^ Dam, Erik van (23 September 2014). "'Ik begrijp dat er geen geld is, maar ik wil me hier weer in de kijker spelen'". Voetbalzone (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 17 November 2024. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
  16. ^ Broek, Danny van den (21 November 2014). "Zijler had navigatie nodig om Groesbeek te vinden". BN De Stem (in Dutch). Retrieved 17 November 2024.
  17. ^ "Groenendijk haalt weer twee oude bekenden naar Cluj". Voetbal International (in Dutch). 2 February 2015. Archived from the original on 17 November 2024. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
  18. ^ Gorp, Guido van; Logger, Bram (26 March 2013). "Nederlandse prof in opspraak door gokfoto". Algemeen Dagblad (in Dutch). Retrieved 17 November 2024.
  19. ^ "Zijler in onmin met Roemeense club na gokfoto". De Gelderlander (in Dutch). 8 June 2015. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015.
  20. ^ Țone, Marius (24 July 2015). "Clubul Astra, obligat de CNSL la plata restanțelor către francezul Elliot Grandin". Prosport (in Romanian). Archived from the original on 27 July 2023. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
  21. ^ "FC Lienden voegt Zijler aan selectie toe". De Gelderlander (in Dutch). 11 September 2015. Archived from the original on 5 January 2016.
  22. ^ "Zijler alweer weg bij FC Lienden". De Gelderlander (in Dutch). 21 December 2015. Archived from the original on 5 January 2016.
  23. ^ Sergio Zijler at UEFA.com
  24. ^ Sergio Zijler at WorldFootball.net  
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