Dennis Gentenaar to join Ajax as reserve goalie
15 February: Ajax have found the new reserve goalkeeper they
were looking for. Dennis Gentenaar (30), formerly of NEC
but currently second goalie of German Bundesliga
outfit Borussia Dortmund, will join Ajax on
a 'Bosman' as per 01 July 2006. Gentenaar is the
successor of Hans Vonk, who will leave Ajax at season's end,
and penned a contract for three seasons at the Amsterdam
ArenA.
Dennis Gentenaar (born Nijmegen, 30 September 1975) is an
NEC man in heart and soul. Born and raised in the city of
Nijmegen he was scouted by the 'red and black and green' as a
youngster, having played for local amateur club ZOW first. He
made his first team début for NEC in the 1995-1996
season, but only had 9 first team appearances, as Gabor
Babos was the undisputed number one at Goffert
Stadium.
Gentenaar became a starter in 2000 was NEC's number one for
five seasons. In total he was NEC's 'man between the
posts' in 170 Eredivisie games. He became a fan hero in
Nijmegen, where he stole many hearts by taking the
pitch for an edition of the regional grudge game against
Vitesse with his hair dyed red and green.
In the summer of 2005 he left his city of birth for Borussia
Dortmund, where he never managed a starting slot and was
recently deemed surplus to requirements. Dennis Gentenaar is
Ajax's third experienced signing after Jaap Stam and Kenneth
Perez.
"We have landed a goalkeeper with a lot of experience,"
technical director Martin van Geel said. "We already had
Maarten Stekelenburg and Kenneth Vermeer. Dennis Gentenaar
completes our triad of goalkeeper for next season's Ajax-1
squad." (MP)
Sources: Ajax.nl, VI.nl
Related links
