Willem van der Ark (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈʋɪləɱ vɑn dər ˈɑr(ə)k]; born 13 November 1963 in Groningen) is a former Dutch football (soccer) striker, who played for Aberdeen in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Willem van der Ark | ||
| Date of birth | 13 November 1963 | ||
| Place of birth | Groningen, Netherlands | ||
| Height | 1.96 m (6 ft 5 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Forward | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1970–1984 | GVAV Rapiditas | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1984–1987 | Cambuur | 119 | (46) |
| 1988 | Willem II | 14 | (7) |
| 1989–1991 | Aberdeen | 64 | (13) |
| 1991–1992 | FC Utrecht | 26 | (5) |
| 1993 | FC Den Haag | 10 | (4) |
| 1993–1994 | FC Utrecht | 31 | (6) |
| 1994–1996 | Cambuur | 7 | (5) |
| Total | 271 | (86) | |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
He was one of a series of Dutch players signed for the Scottish side during this time[1] and Van der Ark was bought as a striker and noted for his height (6 foot, 5 inches).
Club career
editVan der Ark came through the GVAV Rapiditas youth system and joined Cambuur in 1984. He proved to be an immedatie success alongside fellow striker Bram Rontberg and was sold to Willem II for 250,000 guilders in 1988.[2] He then moved abroad to Scottish side Aberdeen after only half a season in Tilburg.
During his time at Aberdeen he made 77 appearances (38 of them as substitute), scoring 17 goals and securing 2 winners medals – the 1989/90 Skol Cup and 1989/90 Scottish Cup. He played alongside compatriots Theo Snelders, Hans Gillhaus and Peter van de Ven at the club.[3]
He later played for FC Utrecht and FC Den Haag. He left Utrecht to return to Cambuur in summer 1994.[4]
Retirement
editVan der Ark now works as a real estate agent in Leeuwarden.[5]
Career statistics
edit| Club | Seasons | League | Scottish Cup | League Cup | Europe | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Aberdeen | 1988-89 | Scottish Premier Division | 8 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 2 |
| 1989-90 | 27 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 35 | 11 | ||
| 1990-91 | 11 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 4 | ||
| 1991-92 | 18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 22 | 0 | ||
| Total | 64 | 13 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 77 | 17 | ||
References
edit- ^ Schotse clubs in de rij voor Nederlanders - NRC (in Dutch)
- ^ Cambuur 50 jaar: Willem van der Ark (Bio) - Leeuwarder Courant (in Dutch)
- ^ Aberdeen, rijk en Hollands verleden - NOS (in Dutch)
- ^ FC Utrecht koopt Peter Hofstede en verkoopt Van der Ark - Trouw (in Dutch)
- ^ Medwerkers - Makelaardij Hoekstra(in Dutch)
- ^ "Aberdeen Football Club Heritage Trust - Player Profile". afcheritage.org. Retrieved 27 March 2023.