Tracing the glory days of Johan Heitinga, the former Dutch soccer defender has left his mark on the green. His career, like Ajax's youth camp, was full of challenges and achievements.
Heitinga, an up-and-coming defenseman in the 2001 season, initially started the season with 15 games, only to be sidelined for six months with an injury. However, he earned a starting spot in the 2003-04 season with his stellar performances and started 26 games in his comeback season alone. Not only limited to center back, he was also able to play at right back, becoming an integral part of Ajax, and in 2004, he helped the team win the Dutch Eredivisie title, a notable achievement.
In 2008, Heitinga's soccer journey turned to Spain, joining Atletico Madrid. However, his stay in La Liga did not last long, and in September 2009 he joined Everton of the English Premier League for a transfer fee of £6 million, with the potential to increase to 7 million, on a five-year contract.
However, the road to soccer has not been a smooth one.In January 2014, Heitinga moved to Fulham on a free transfer, playing for the club for only six months. In June of the same year, he signed another two-year contract with Germany's Hertha Berlin.
At national team level, Heitinga has been a member of the Dutch national team since 2004 and made three appearances in the 2004 UEFA Nations Cup. During Wimbledon's time in charge of the national team, Heitinga became one of the core players. He had an equally exciting career with the national team at the 2006 World Cup and the 2010 World Cup.
Above, you can find the highlights of John Heitinga's career. To explore more stats and stories about him, stay tuned to our coverage.
