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Theo Janssen

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Dutch footballer (born 1981) This article is about the Dutch footballer. For the Dutch artist, see Theo Jansen.

Theo Janssen
Janssen in 2023 as Vitesse assistant coach
Personal information
Full name Theo Janssen
Date of birth (1981-07-27) 27 July 1981 (age 43)
Place of birth Arnhem, Netherlands
Height 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team Vitesse (assistant coach)
Youth career
0000–1995 Vitesse 1892
1995–1998 Vitesse
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1998–2008 Vitesse 206 (21)
2003–2004 → Genk (loan) 15 (2)
2008–2011 Twente 86 (18)
2011–2012 Ajax 31 (9)
2012–2014 Vitesse 36 (2)
Total 374 (52)
International career
2006–2011 Netherlands 5 (0)
Managerial career
2022– Vitesse (assistant)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Theo Janssen (born 27 July 1981) is a Dutch assistant coach at Vitesse and former footballer who played as a midfielder for various clubs in the Netherlands, including Vitesse, Twente and Ajax, as well as on loan for Belgian club Genk. He spent 10 years with Vitesse before joining Twente in 2008, where he helped them win the Eredivisie and qualify for the Champions League for the first time in their history. After being named Dutch Footballer of the Year in 2011, he played a season with Ajax, before returning to Vitesse in August 2012.

Club career

Vitesse

Janssen began his career at amateur club Vitesse Arnhem 1892 and played from 1995–96 in the reserves of Vitesse. After breaking through in several youth teams Janssen made his professional debut on 9 December 1998 in the first team against NAC Breda, which Vitesse won 2–0. Janssen came in as substitute in 90th minute to replace Marian Zeman. Janssen played 5 games that season for Vitesse. The next season Janssen made 17 appearances for Vitesse. In the 2000–2001 season Janssen became a starter for Vitesse and made 30 appearances, in which he scored once. In September Janssen broke his shin, he played 10 games total that season, and scored 1 goal.

Genk

For the 2003–04 season Janssen was loaned to Genk in Belgium. He made 15 appearances and scored two goals before returning to Vitesse in January 2004.

Return to Vitesse

Janssen played another 16 games in 2004 in which he scored one goal.

He played primarily on the wing in the following season. His leg operation was sometimes troubling him, nevertheless he made 28 appearances in which he scored 8 goals.

In the 2005–06 season he played 30 games for Vitesse and scored 7 goals. Janssen's good performance at Vitesse was not unseen, as he received an invitation for the Netherlands national football team for a friendly game against Ecuador on 1 March 2006. However, Janssen could not play, due to surgery on his tonsils.

Janssen remained a regular starter for Vitesse in the following season, and was again selected to play for Oranje. This time he was able to play and made his debut for Oranje in a friendly against Ireland. He came in the 83rd minute for Stijn Schaars. On 2 September 2006, Janssen started for Oranje in a European Championship qualifier against Luxembourg. Janssen made only 22 appearances for Vitesse that season, due to injuries and suspensions. Vitesse trainer Aad de Mos told Janssen he could search for another club, despite an existing contract until 2009.

During the 2007–08 season, Janssen once again got injured, this time for several months. He returned playing in late 2007.

Twente

Janssen playing with Twente against Zenit, March 2011.

In mid-April 2008 FC Twente announcing the signing Janssen for the upcoming season on a contract until 2012. The transfer fee was approximately worth €1.5 million.

In November 2009 Janssen was suspended by Twente for two months, after a drunk-driving crash. One of his passengers, former professional goalkeeper Kevin Moeliker, ended up in hospital where he was kept in a coma for several days. He lost one of his ears in the crash. Moeliker later recovered, but in 2017 it was revealed that he suffered lasting brain damage from the crash, albeit still being able to function and work. Janssen won the Eredivisie that year with FC Twente.

In the 2010–11 season Janssen had his best season up to that point. He won the Johan Cruijff Schaal and the KNVB Cup with Twente. He scored 20 goals in 46 appearances, which made him club top scorer, among them some important goals for Twente like against Inter Milan, Werder Bremen, Ajax and PSV. He was also voted best player of the Eredivisie of the season 2010–11.

Ajax

Janssen lining up for Ajax, September 2011.

On 23 May 2011, Ajax and Twente agreed on a transfer of Janssen to Ajax. The transfer fee was worth €3.2 million. Janssen signed a contract with Ajax for two years and was handed the number 16 shirt, previously worn by Luis Suárez. His first couple of matches for Ajax were not very successful, as coach Frank de Boer decided that Janssen had to play as a defensive midfielder, which was not Janssen's best position. After he was playing in a more attacking position, Janssen became very important in achieving the league victory in 2012.

Second return to Vitesse

Janssen wanted to leave Ajax, after he had heard from Frank de Boer that he would be playing fewer matches in the coming season. He refused to play a role as substitute. On 27 August 2012, Janssen returned to Vitesse for a fee of approximately €600,000.

End of active football career

After suffering from different injuries of which the latest involved a meniscus operation, Janssen on 4 March 2014 announced that he would immediately end his active football career and that he would pursue a career with Vitesse as a scout for youth players and specialist trainer.

International career

Janssen made his debut for the Netherlands national team against the Republic of Ireland in August 2006.

International appearances and goals
App Date Venue Opponent Result Goal Competition
2006
1 16 August 2006 Lansdowne Road, Dublin  Republic of Ireland 0–4 0 Friendly
2 9 September 2006 Stade Josy Barthel, Luxembourg  Luxembourg 0–1 0 Euro 2008 qualifying
2010
3 11 August 2010 Donbass Arena, Donetsk  Ukraine 1–1 0 Friendly
4 17 November 2010 Amsterdam ArenA, Amsterdam  Turkey 1–0 0 Friendly
2011
5 9 February 2011 Philips Stadion, Eindhoven  Austria 3–1 0 Friendly

Career statistics

Club performance

Club performance League Cup Continental Other Total
Season Club League Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Netherlands League KNVB Cup Europe Other Total
1998–99 Vitesse Eredivisie 5 0 0 0 0 0 - 5 0
1999–00 17 0 0 0 5 0 - 22 0
2000–01 30 1 2 0 4 0 - 36 1
2001–02 10 1 3 1 - - 13 2
2002–03 28 0 2 0 6 0 - 36 0
2003–04 16 1 0 0 - - 16 1
Belgium League Belgian Cup Europe Other Total
2003–04 Racing Genk Belgian Pro League 15 2 0 0 - - 15 2
Netherlands League KNVB Cup Europe Other Total
2004–05 Vitesse Eredivisie 29 8 3 0 - - 32 8
2005–06 30 7 1 1 - - 31 8
2006–07 22 1 1 0 - - 23 1
2007–08 19 2 1 0 - - 20 2
2008–09 FC Twente 28 4 6 2 8 0 - 42 6
2009–10 28 1 2 0 10 1 - 40 2
2010–11 30 13 4 4 11 3 - 45 20
2011–12 Ajax 29 8 2 0 6 0 1 0 33 8
2012–13 2 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 3 1
2012–13 Vitesse 27 1 4 2 0 0 - 31 3
2013–14 9 1 1 1 2 0 - 12 2
Total Belgium 15 2 0 0 - - 15 2
Netherlands 359 50 32 11 52 4 2 0 446 65
Career total 374 52 32 11 52 4 2 0 461 67

International performance

Netherlands national team
Year Apps Goals
2006 2 0
2010 2 0
2011 1 0
Total 5 0

Honours

Janssen (right) with Twente, chasing down Cristian Ansaldi (left) of Rubin Kazan, February 2011.

Club

FC Twente

Ajax

Individual

References

  1. "UEFA Europa League 2011/2012: Booking List before Round of 32, 2nd leg" (PDF). UEFA. 20 February 2012. p. 3. Retrieved 6 October 2024.
  2. "T. Janssen – Profiel". Voetbal International. Retrieved 4 February 2023.
  3. Scholten, Berend (23 May 2011). "Janssen named Netherlands' finest". UEFA. Archived from the original on 26 May 2011.
  4. Vessen, J. (24 August 2012). "Janssen tekent voor twee jaar bij Vitesse". De Gelderlander (in Dutch). Retrieved 4 February 2023.
  5. Kloor, Robin van der (30 November 2009). "Zwaar auto-ongeluk: Theo Janssen had te veel gedronken". Elsevier (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 11 June 2011.
  6. "Situatie Moeliker nog onveranderd". Rijnmond (in Dutch). 23 November 2009. Retrieved 4 February 2023.
  7. Lutkenhaus, Roel (13 August 2010). "Blijvende schade Moeliker na ongeluk Theo Janssen". Tubantia (in Dutch). Retrieved 4 February 2023.
  8. "Vitesse legt Janssen alsnog vast". NOS (in Dutch). 28 August 2012. Retrieved 4 February 2023.
  9. "TWENTE VS. AJAX 1 - 0". soccerway.com. Retrieved 22 March 2022.

External links

Dutch Footballer of the Year
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