No contract extension for Stefano Seedorf
24 March: Stefano Seedorf will not return to Ajax
for next season. The Ajax deal of the
midfielder, currently loaned out to Eredivisie outfit NAC
Breda, will expire at season's end. His
contract includes an option for Ajax to extend, but
the Amsterdam club had announced that this option will not be
used. Seedorf can now leave on a free transfer at season's
end.
Stefano Seedorf, a cousin of former Ajax and current AC
Milan superstar Clarence Seedorf, was born on 28 April 1982 in
the town of Zaandam, directly north of Amsterdam. He started
playing football at amateur club SV Lelystad, but was soon
discovered by Ajax scouts and entered the Ajax youth system. In
the 2001-2002 season Seedorf was a key player in the Young
Ajax team that won the Dutch championship for reserves
teams and surprisignly made it to the semi finals of the 'big'
Amstel Cup.
His first team début was a matter of time and was a
fact that same season: on 31 March 2002 Seedorf replaced Andy
van der Meyde in the Eredivisie away game at Vitesse,
thereby becoming a member of the first team that would
eventually win the Dutch championship that season. Seedorf
started the 2002-2003 with Young Ajax, but was officially added
to the first team in January 2003. In total he had
five Eredivisie appearances and two Amstel Cup appearances for
Ajax-1.
At season's end Ajax decided
that a loan spell at an Eredivisie club was best
for Seedorf, in order to get playing time at the highest level.
His situation at Ajax was not too promising, due to stiff
competition from youngsters such as Rafaël van der Vaart,
Wesley Sneijder and Maxwell for his positions in midfield.
Seedorf's departure to NAC Breda was
announced on 11 June 2003. So far he had 22 Eredivisie
appearances for the Breda side, scoring four goals (of which
one against Ajax). He also saw action in three Amstel Cup and
one UEFA Cup fixture. NAC Breda is reportedly keen on signing
the midfielder on a permanent deal.
Ajax stresses that the club did not decide yet whether its
second loanee at NAC Breda, Nourdin Boukhari, is wanted
back at the ArenA for next season. (MP)
Source: Ajax.nl, VI.nl
UPDATE (09 April): Stefano Seedorf has found a new
club for next season. It is not NAC Breda, the club he's
currently loaned out to, but FC Groningen. The
Ajacied signed a contract that will tie him to the 'Pride
of the North' until the summer of 2007. (Source: FC
Groningen.nl)
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