Sydney van Hooijdonk

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In this Dutch name, the surname is van Hooijdonk, not Hooijdonk.
Sydney van Hooijdonk
Personal information
Full name Sydney van Hooijdonk[1]
Date of birth (2000-02-06) 6 February 2000 (age 24)[1]
Place of birth Breda, Netherlands[1]
Height 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)[1]
Position(s) Centre forward[1]
Team information
Current team
 Norwich City
(on loan from Bologna)
Number 14
Youth career
0000–2017 VV Beek Vooruit [nl]
2017–2018 NAC Breda
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2018–2021 NAC Breda 68 (22)
2021– Bologna 13 (0)
2022–2023 → Heerenveen (loan) 48 (22)
2024– → Norwich City (loan) 4 (0)
International career‡
2023 Netherlands U21 2 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 2 March 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 27 March 2023

Sydney van Hooijdonk (born 6 February 2000) is a Dutch professional footballer who plays as a centre forward for Championship club Norwich City, on loan from Serie A club Bologna.[1]

Club career[edit]

NAC Breda[edit]

Van Hooijdonk made his league debut for NAC Breda on 5 October 2018 in a 2-1 away defeat against Utrecht in the Eredivisie, being substituted on in the 90th minute, replacing Estonian centre back and defensive midfielder Karol Mets.[2] NAC Breda's 2018-19 campaign ended in relegation from the top-flight, securing only five wins and eight draws, and finishing on twenty-three points, with Van Hooijdonk making a total of twelve league appearances from the bench, but failing to score or assist.[3]

The 2019–20 Keuken Kampioen Divisie season saw Van Hooijdonk starting off the bench again, but he very quickly began playing full matches on a semi-regular basis, making twenty-five appearances, scoring six goals and two assists.[3] A bulk of his goals and assists came during the 1st Period, and he was acclaimed with being a driving force towards NAC Breda winning it.[4] However, the club couldn't take advantage of the playoff spot they'd been allocated, as the season was abandoned by the KNVB on 24 April 2020,[5] following a suspension that the Dutch Government issued on 12 March 2020 due to the global COVID-19 pandemic.[6]

The 2020–21 Keuken Kampioen Divisie season saw Van Hooijdonk become a key player for NAC Breda despite suffering several minor injuries, securing sixteen goals and two assists in thirty-one appearances (including those in the 2020-21 Eredivisie / Keuken Kampioen Divisie Promotion / Relegation play-offs, where his club were defeated in the Final in a 2-1 home defeat to NEC).[3] Van Hooijdonk's contract was set to expire at the end of the 2020-21 season, and he was attracting End of Contract interest from clubs including Celtic and Nottingham Forest,[7] likely due to these being clubs his father played at. However, perhaps due to new work permit rules issued by the Home Office in the United Kingdom following Brexit (which is points-based and calculated by several factors, such as youth / senior international appearances, club ranking / league standing and club appearances),[8] these deals failed to materialize and he left NAC Breda at the end of the season, becoming a free agent.[9]

Bologna[edit]

On 3 July 2021, he joined Serie A club Bologna on a free transfer, contracted until the end of the 2024-25 season,[10] and making his debut on 16 August 2021 in a 5-4 Coppa Italia First Round defeat against Ternana Calcio, being substituted on in the 85th minute, replacing Austrian forward Marko Arnautović.[11] The 2021–22 Serie A season saw Van Hooijdonk make only four appearances for his club (each from the bench, and each resulting in no goals or assists).[3]

Heerenveen (loan)[edit]

On 25 January 2022, he joined Eredivisie club Heerenveen on loan until the end of the 2021–22 season,[12] making his debut on 13 February 2022 in a 1-0 defeat against NEC Nijmegen.[13] Despite initial reservations about returning to the Netherlands,[14] the 2021–22 Eredivisie season saw Van Hooijdonk make a definite impact while on loan, obtaining six goals and one assist in thirteen appearances,[3] and piquing the interest of Heerenveen's Technical Director, Ferry de Haan, who approached Bologna to enquire about his availability.[15]

On 21 June 2022, it was reported that Bologna were considering adding players (including Van Hooijdonk) to a potential deal for Groningen's Norwegian forward, Jørgen Strand Larsen.[16] He was quick to distance himself from the rumoured deal, likely due to the club being rivals with Heerenveen.[17] On 30 June 2022, his loan contract with Heerenveen expired, and he returned to Bologna.[18] On 25 July 2022, Van Hooijdonk returned to Heerenveen on loan until the end of the 2022-23 Eredivisie season.[19] The 2022–23 Eredivisie season was another respectable showing for Van Hooijdonk, seeing him net sixteen goals and one assist in thirty-five appearances.[3]

Return to Bologna[edit]

On 30 June 2023, his loan contract with Heerenveen expired, and then-Bologna manager Thiago Motta decided to give him a chance in the First Team. As such, Van Hooijdonk made a total of nine appearances during the 2023–24 Serie A season, struggling to start matches (only two of those appearances were from starting a match, often finding himself losing out to Joshua Zirkzee) and contributing no goals or assists.[3]

Norwich City (loan)[edit]

On 1 February 2024 (Deadline Day in England), after ongoing media speculation for most of the season about his position in the Bologna First Team (which was mostly speculation around a potential move to Celtic, a club his father previously played at), Van Hooijdonk joined Norwich City on loan for the remainder of the 2023-24 season,[20] making his debut on 3 February 2024 in a 2-1 win against Coventry City, being substituted on in the 91st minute, replacing American forward and winger Josh Sargent.[21] The 2023–24 Sky Bet Championship season has currently seen Van Hooijdonk provide zero goals and one assist in four appearances.[3]

International career[edit]

Youth[edit]

Van Hooijdonk was called up for the Netherlands national under-21s by then-manager Erwin van de Looi to play friendlies against the Norway national under-21s and Czech Republic national under-21s in March 2023, making his youth debut for the Netherlands on 25 March 2023, in a 3-0 win against the Norway national under-21s.[22]

Style of play[edit]

Analysis[edit]

Generally regarded as a poacher and a target man, Van Hooijdonk makes the most touches of the ball in the attacking third (especially within the penalty box), coupling agility, pace, and a keen sense of aerial awareness, with intelligent and well-timed runs, which exploit pockets of space.[23][24][25]

Personal life[edit]

He is the son of former Dutch international footballer Pierre van Hooijdonk, who also played for NAC Breda.[26] He is of Moroccan descent through his biological paternal grandfather.[27]

Career statistics[edit]

Club[edit]

As of match played 2 March 2024[3]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup[a] Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
NAC Breda 2018–19 Eredivisie 12 0 0 0 12 0
2019–20 Eerste Divisie 25 6 2 1 27 7
2020–21 Eerste Divisie 31 16 0 0 31 16
Total 68 22 2 1 70 23
Bologna 2021–22 Serie A 4 0 1 0 5 0
2023–24 Serie A 9 0 2 1 11 1
Total 13 0 3 1 16 1
Heerenveen (loan) 2021–22 Eredivisie 13 6 0 0 13 6
2022–23 Eredivisie 35 16 4 3 39 19
Total 48 22 4 3 52 25
Norwich City (loan) 2023–24 Championship 4 0 0 0 4 0
Total 4 0 0 0 4 0
Career total 133 44 9 5 142 49
  1. ^ Includes KNVB Cup, Coppa Italia

International[edit]

As of match played 27 March 2023[3]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team Year Apps Goals
Netherlands U21 2023 2 0
Total 2 0

Honours[edit]

Individual

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f "Sydney van Hooijdonk - Worldfootball". Worldfootball. 17 October 2021.
  2. ^ "Game Report by Worldfootball". Worldfootball. 5 October 2018.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Sydney van Hooijdonk » Club matches - Worldfootball". Worldfootball. 3 February 2022.
  4. ^ "Van Hooijdonk helpt NAC aan eerste periodetitel, Cambuur wint topper" (in Dutch). BN DeStem. 4 October 2020. Retrieved 1 February 2022.
  5. ^ "KNVB beslist: Ajax nummer één, geen promotie/degradatie" [KNVB decides: Ajax number one, no promotion/relegation] (in Dutch). NOS. 24 April 2020. Retrieved 5 April 2022.
  6. ^ "tot en met 31 maart geen voetbal in nederland" [Until 31 March no football in the Netherlands] (in Dutch). KNVB. 12 March 2020. Retrieved 5 April 2022.
  7. ^ "Sydney van Hooijdonk, son of ex-Celtic star Pierre, has ripped it up in Holland this season". 67 Hail Hail. 26 May 2021. Retrieved 1 February 2022.
  8. ^ "How footballers qualify for UK work permits following Brexit". 90min. 5 January 2021. Retrieved 17 May 2022.
  9. ^ "Van Hooijdonk kondigt vertrek aan bij NAC Breda" [Van Hooijdonk announces departure from NAC Breda] (in Dutch). Voetbal International. 7 June 2021. Retrieved 5 April 2022.
  10. ^ "Sydney Van Hooijdonk joins Bologna". Bologna. 3 July 2021. Retrieved 1 February 2022.
  11. ^ "Game Report by Worldfootball". Worldfootball. 16 August 2021.
  12. ^ "Sydney van Hooijdonk naar SC Heerenveen" [Sydney van Hooijdonk to SC Heerenveen] (in Dutch). Heerenveen. 25 January 2022. Retrieved 25 January 2022.
  13. ^ "Game Report by Worldfootball". Worldfootball. 13 February 2022.
  14. ^ "'Had weinig zin om naar Nederland te gaan, gevoel dat ik onder vergrootglas lig'" ['I didn't feel like going to the Netherlands, I feel like I'm under a magnifying glass'] (in Dutch). VoetbalPrimeur [nl]. 31 May 2022. Retrieved 2 June 2022.
  15. ^ "Technisch Manager SC Heerenveen: "Het liefst zouden we Van Hooijdonk kopen"" [Technical Manager SC Heerenveen: "We would prefer to buy Van Hooijdonk"] (in Dutch). Omrop Fryslân. 1 June 2022. Retrieved 2 June 2022.
  16. ^ "VI: concrete beweging rondom Strand Larsen, naam Van Hooijdonk valt" [VI: Concrete movement around Strand Larsen, name of Van Hooijdonk dropped] (in Dutch). VoetbalPrimeur [nl]. 21 June 2022. Retrieved 24 June 2022.
  17. ^ "Van Hooijdonk reageert op potentiële ruildeal: 'Zou ik nooit doen, had geen idee'" [Van Hooijdonk responds to potential exchange deal: 'I would never do it, I had no idea'] (in Dutch). VoetbalNieuws. 21 June 2022. Retrieved 24 June 2022.
  18. ^ "Voetballers op vakantie: Argentijnse internationals genieten op Ibiza, De Bruyne en Van Dijk feesten" [Football players on holiday: Argentine internationals enjoy Ibiza, De Bruyne and Van Dijk party] (in Dutch). AD. 2 July 2022. Retrieved 22 July 2022.
  19. ^ "SC Heerenveen on Twitter: "He's back #SydneyNogeenjaar"". Heerenveen. 25 July 2022. Retrieved 27 July 2022.
  20. ^ "City complete loan signing of Sydney van Hooijdonk". Norwich City. 1 February 2024.
  21. ^ "Game Report by Worldfootball". Worldfootball. 3 February 2024.
  22. ^ "Game Report by Worldfootball". Worldfootball. 25 March 2023.
  23. ^ "Finding Bayern Munich a long overdue replacement for Robert Lewandowski – data analysis". Total Football Analysis Magazine. 24 June 2023.
  24. ^ "TFA Scouted: Sydney van Hooijdonk to leave Bologna for Wolfsburg? – scout report". Total Football Analysis Magazine. 23 August 2023.
  25. ^ "Expert view on Sydney van Hooijdonk". Norwich City. 1 February 2024.
  26. ^ Pertijs, Ad (1 September 2018). "Voetbal was nooit ver weg in huize Van Hooijdonk" [Football was never far away in the Van Hooijdonk household]. BN DeStem (in Dutch). Retrieved 7 May 2021.
  27. ^ "Vader Pierre van Hooijdonk overleden". www.rijnmond.nl. March 17, 2019.
  28. ^ a b "8 clubs provide players for Eredivisie team of the month in April". eredivisie.eu. May 6, 2022.
  29. ^ "Xavi Simons named as Eredivisie Player of the Month August". Eredivisie. Retrieved 2022-11-09.

External links[edit]

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