Football life
From a very young age I was interested in a ball. It did not matter what size ball as long as I had one I was happy. As soon as I started walking my dad used to hold a balloon in front of me and I would kick it and keep it up. Apparently I would do this until the balloon burst or it was time to eat or sleep.
At the age of 5 I was so into football, that my dad decided to take me to Excelsior to talk to the under 7’s manager, Mr Aad Putters. He was giving a training session at that moment. My dad asked him if I could join his team, but unfortunately I was too young, the manager said I had to be at least 6 years old. My dad was really disappointed and tried to convince him of my qualities and that I would be able to cope, however he simply was not interested. At that same moment somebody kicked the ball my way by accident and I kicked it to the manager. As soon as he saw that he invited me for a training session, but not with the first team, it was with the second team. I trained with them once and never again, he was so impressed that he asked me to play with the first team of the under 7’s.
I spent a lot of time at Excelsior, even if I did not have to be there. I made so many friends there I never wanted to go home. I will always remember a few years later I was even helping that same manager, Aad Putters, give training sessions to the under 7’s., and as soon as it would finish, he would help me practice, at times solely concentrating on my right foot and heading. I still remember those days with joy.
At the age of 12 I faced my first football dilemma. I had just completed my year at Excelsior under the manager Renee Hessel. It was such a great team, we had so much fun together and we ended the season by winning the regional competition. I then had a choice to make, either go to Sparta Rotterdam where most of my friends were playing, or join Feyenoord, as Excelsior was trying to convince me to go there because the two Clubs had a link with one another.
I decided to go to Feyenoord and from the first minute never regretted my decision. The whole team was very close, we all instantly became very good friends. I was captain of that team that year and we won the regional competition.
The year after I had a bad year at the under 15’s. But at the under 16’s I enjoyed playing football again. We had a great team and won the league again.
After this I went to the under 18’s. I did not play much, but just before the winter break my competitor had some personal issues and could not play. I got a chance and grabbed it with both hands. I finished playing every game that season and scored over 20 goals.
After the under 18’s I moved to the reserves of Feyenoord. I played half a season with the second team until Bert van Marwijk gave me the chance with the first team. I trained just one week with the first team before he selected me in the starting 11 against Vitesse. This was my official debut in my professional career.
3 months later I was holding up the UEFA Cup as a starting line up player. It was the most amazing moment, one that I had been dreaming of since I was a kid.
A couple of months after the UEFA Cup I was having a bad spell. I was not playing well at all. Unfortunately this did not change for a couple of months, until I met my wife Bouchra in late Autumn 2002. This was my turning point. I was in love and felt on top of the world. In December I went on a training camp to get ready for the second part of the season. As in the rest of Europe except the UK there is a small winter break. I went with Feyenoord to Las Palmas for 10 days. We played a small tournament of 2 games. Fortunately for me I got to play on my favourite position back then, behind the striker. I really excelled in those 2 games and became player of that tournament. From this moment on I played well again and kept this form going until the end of that season. In the second part of that season my best games were against AGOVV when I scored 5 goals and 3 days later I played against Ajax and scored. These months were my best months at Feyenoord when I look back at it.
I played another year for Feyenoord before I made the move to Arsenal. This was a dream come true. I could not believe it. I was going to play with the best players around at that moment. That was just what I needed in my career, that extra boost. The players and their game lifted me to another level. My debut was the Community Shield against Manchester United. We won that game. My first official goal for Arsenal was against Manchester City in the Carling Cup and a couple of days later I scored my first Premiership goal against Southampton. The game finished 2-2, which meant my goal contributed to continuing our unbeaten run, a run that goes into history now as the 49ers. That same year we won the FA Cup against Manchester United. The game was decided on penalties and I took the 3rd one. My first official penalty ever, I was so nervous haha but I am delighted to be able to say I scored. At the end of that season I made my debut for my national team Holland against Romania in ‘de Kuip’ under the manager Marco van Basten. Four days later I scored my first goal for Holland against Finland.
In 2005-2006 we had a good season with Arsenal. We had a great run in the Champions League and reached the final in Paris, but unfortunately lost to Barcelona. This was also our last season at Highbury. It was a great honour to play at that legendary place. What I loved about that stadium is that the fans were really close to the pitch. You could hear them breath and whisper. That place had a magical thing about it. I could feel the history when I played at Highbury and that made me proud to be a Gooner. In November 2005 I was named Barclays player of the month for the first time. The end of this season I played in the World Cup in Germany. This was my first big tournament. My best game in that tournament was against Ivory Coast. I played against my teammates Kolo Toure and Manu Eboue. In that game I also scored my best ever free kick. I was fouled by Kolo around the 18 yard box. Arjen Robben and I were both keen to take the free kick. Arjan asked me: “what are we going to do, and who is taking it?” I had a great feeling and suggested that I would take it. He agreed and said: “ Ok good luck, in 20 seconds I will be hanging on your shoulders to celebrate the goal.” And this is what exactly happened 20 seconds later. We ended up winning that game 2-1. We stayed in the competition until the 1/8 final. We lost the game against Portugal.
The season 2006-2007 was our first season at the Emirates. We really had to get used to the stadium and the pitch as it is a lot bigger than Highbury. The beginning of that season I had a great run, I was feeling good and strong. The game I remember the most was the 21st January 2007 against Man U at home. I came on that game in the second half. We were 0-1 down. We started a good attack from the right side. I came from behind Neville and ran towards the back line. I managed to score from an impossible angle. This was my first goal against Man U. Unfortunately I got injured scoring that goal. I broke my 5th metatarsal. I was out the rest of the season, but still I felt happy because it was one of my first big goals for Arsenal. We won that game 2-1, with Henry scoring the winner with a great header.
In 2007-2008 I played in the European Championships in Austria-Switzerland. That tournament I scored twice, one against France and one against Romania. We went out of the competition in the ¼ finals against Russia. I was named “Oranje” player of the year.
The season 2008-2009 was a very productive and fruitful season, with 20 goals and 20 assists for Arsenal, playing 44 games in total, my highest total during one season until then.
In 2009-2010 I had a great start. The month my daughter was born I was again on top of the world. I was the happiest man alive. This reflected in my performances. I was named Barclays player of the month October 2009. That year I also won the Player of the Season voted by the Arsenal fans.
After this season ended I played in the World Cup in South Africa. I had never been to South Africa before and I really liked it the people and the country. Away from football, my most treasured memory was visiting Robben Island. Me and the rest of the team got a tour of the Island and got shown the legendary cell of Nelson Mandela. Football wise my best moment was the game against Brazil, which we won 2-1. When we won that game we all believed we could reach the final. We reached the finals against Spain, but unfortunately we lost in the last 4 minutes of extra time.
Early 2011 I scored my first hat trick for Arsenal. This was against Wigan. This was a special moment for me, not just because of the hat trick, but my 5 year old son Shaqueel had scored his first hat trick only two hours before and then told me it was now my turn. I always like a challenge and wasn’t going to disappoint my son! I had scored many braces before and was always really close to a hat trick, but never quite managed it. The pressure was on and by the time I had an opportunity to achieve my target, unfortunately I missed a penalty. I think the occasion got to me. Fortunately for me however it wasn’t over, Theo Walcott soon after gave me the chance to score my third. That evening we celebrated our hat tricks with a glass of apple juice.
16th August 2011 was another special day in my career. This was the day I was officially announced as the Captain of Arsenal Football Club. This is a great honour. I have been at the club for 7 Seasons now and I am humble to be chosen as Captain of our great Club.
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