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{{short description|Dutch footballer (born 1970)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name                = Arjan de Zeeuw
| image               =
| fullname            = Adrianus Johannes de Zeeuw<ref name="Hugman 2008–09">{{cite book | editor-last = Hugman
 | editor-first = Barry J.  | title = The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2008–09 | publisher = Mainstream | year = 2008 | isbn = 978-1-84596-324-8}}</ref>
| height              = {{height|ft=6|in=1}}<ref name="Hugman 2008–09"/>
| birth_date          = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1970|4|16}}
| birth_place         = [[Castricum]], Netherlands
| position            = [[Centre back]]
| youthyears1         =
| youthclubs1         = Vitesse '22
| years1              = 1992–1995
| clubs1              = [[Telstar (football club)|Telstar]]
| caps1               = 102
| goals1              = 5
| years2              = 1995–1999
| clubs2              = [[Barnsley F.C.|Barnsley]]
| caps2               = 138
| goals2              = 7
| years3              = 1999–2002
| clubs3              = [[Wigan Athletic F.C.|Wigan Athletic]]
| caps3               = 130
| goals3              = 6
| years4              = 2002–2005
| clubs4              = [[Portsmouth F.C.|Portsmouth]]
| caps4               = 106
| goals4              = 5
| years5              = 2005–2007
| clubs5              = [[Wigan Athletic F.C.|Wigan Athletic]]
| caps5               = 52
| goals5              = 0
| years6              = 2007–2008
| clubs6              = [[Coventry City F.C.|Coventry City]]
| caps6               = 17
| goals6              = 0
| years7              = 2008–2009
| clubs7              = [[ADO '20]]
| caps7               = 12
| goals7              = 0
| totalcaps           = 557
| totalgoals          = 23
}}
'''Adrianus Johannes "Arjan" de Zeeuw''' (born 16 April 1970) is a Dutch former professional [[Association football|footballer]] who played as a [[defender (association football)|centre-back]].

Having begun his career with [[Telstar (football club)|Telstar]] before going on to spend the bulk of his career in [[England]]. He notably played in the [[Premier League]] for both [[Barnsley F.C.|Barnsley]] and [[Portsmouth F.C.|Portsmouth]] and was part of teams promotions to the top flight in 1997 and 2003. He also played top flight football for [[Wigan Athletic F.C.|Wigan Athletic]] during his second spell with the club, as well as playing in the [[Football League]] for [[Coventry City F.C.|Coventry City]]. He retired in 2009 following a brief spell back in the Netherlands with [[ADO '20]].

==Club career==
Born in [[Castricum]], [[North Holland]], De Zeeuw started his career at Vitesse '22 in the Dutch amateur leagues,<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.dichtbij.nl/zaanstreek/sport/artikel/1821006/foto/3/vitesse22-en-ex-profs-bezorgen-jeugd-onvergetelijke-dag.aspx | title=Vitesse'22 en ex-profs bezorgen jeugd onvergetelijke dag | language=nl | date=28 September 2010 | access-date=15 June 2011| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110724054152/http://www.dichtbij.nl/zaanstreek/sport/artikel/1821006/foto/3/vitesse22-en-ex-profs-bezorgen-jeugd-onvergetelijke-dag.aspx| archive-date= 24 July 2011 |url-status= live}}</ref> and studied for a degree in [[medical science]] whilst playing for the club.<ref name="doctorheart">{{cite web | url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2005/nov/20/sport.comment2 | title=Doctor at the heart of Wigan | work=The Observer | first=Paul | last=Wilson | date=20 November 2005 | access-date=15 June 2011}}</ref> At the age of 22, he turned professional and signed for [[Telstar (football club)|Telstar]] in the [[Eerste Divisie]]. In 1995, he considered quitting football after he felt Telstar had priced him out of a move to [[Eredivisie]] side [[FC Utrecht|Utrecht]], but decided to stay with the club for one more year.<ref name="doctorheart" />

De Zeeuw was approached by [[Barnsley F.C.|Barnsley]] later that year, who signed him for a fee of £250,000 during the 1995–96 season. In December 1995, he scored his first goal in English football in a 2–2 draw against [[Ipswich Town F.C.|Ipswich Town]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/barnsley-battle-to-draw-1527162.html | title=Barnsley battle to draw | work=The Independent | date=23 December 1995 | access-date=16 June 2011}}</ref> He was a key player in the side that won promotion to the [[Premier League]] in the 1996–97 season. The club were relegated the following year, and it appeared that De Zeeuw was set to leave the club in the summer after turning down a new contract,<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/LEICESTER+SEEK+A+FREE+DUTCH+TREAT.-a060678291 | title=Leicester seek a free Dutch treat | work=The Mirror | publisher=MGN | date=15 May 1998 | access-date=16 November 2011}}</ref> but was later persuaded by new manager [[John Hendrie (Scottish footballer)|John Hendrie]] to sign a one-year deal.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/1998/aug/10/match.sport4 | title=De Zeeuw double takes the heat off Hendrie | work=The Guardian | first=Derek | last=Potter | date=10 August 1998 | access-date=16 November 2011}}</ref> When his contract expired at the end of the 1998–99 season, he moved to [[Wigan Athletic F.C.|Wigan Athletic]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-second-division-preview--latics-look-to-go-all-the-way-1111010.html | title=Football: Second Division preview – Latics look to go all the way |work=The Independent |date=6 August 1999 |access-date=17 June 2011}}</ref>

At Wigan he soon became a vital team member, proving to be highly dependable at the back, and received the club's Player of the Year award in 2001 and 2002.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.wiganlatics.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10429~655342,00.html |title=Who Gets Your Vote? |date=20 April 2005 |access-date=2 August 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120225084959/http://www.wiganlatics.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0%2C%2C10429~655342%2C00.html |archive-date=25 February 2012 }}</ref> His contract with Wigan expired in the summer of 2002, and the following season, he moved on a free transfer to [[Portsmouth F.C.|Portsmouth]]. He was an integral part of the Portsmouth squad [[2002–03 Portsmouth F.C. season|that claimed the First Division championship]].<ref name="profile" />

He continued to perform to high standards as Portsmouth played well in their debut [[Premier League|FA Premier League]] season, and was recognised by the fans who voted him Portsmouth Player of the Year. He was rewarded with the captaincy for the 2004–05 season, following [[Teddy Sheringham]]'s departure to [[West Ham United F.C.|West Ham United]], and led the team to stave off relegation following the departure of manager [[Harry Redknapp]].

In the summer 2005, after falling out with then-Portsmouth manager [[Alain Perrin]], he returned to Wigan Athletic for the nominal fee of £90,000.<ref name="profile" /> De Zeeuw, who is now advanced in years for the life of a footballer, wanted the guarantee of first-team football which Perrin was unwilling to provide. The majority of Portsmouth supporters lamented this decision and loss of their former captain, who had a very consistent season with Wigan at the heart of their defence, helping them to a better-than-expected mid-table finish and even received praise from then Prime Minister [[Tony Blair]].<ref name="Blair on the ball">{{cite news |title=Blair on the Ball |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/funny_old_game/4414908.stm |publisher=BBC Sport |date=7 November 2005 |access-date=25 May 2007 |first=Chris |last=Charles}}</ref>

De Zeeuw is considered by many to be an excellent example of professionalism in the modern game.{{Citation needed|date=December 2007}} He refused to retaliate after [[El Hadji Diouf]] [[Spitting|spat]] in his face during a match at the [[Reebok Stadium]] in November 2004.<ref>{{cite news|title=Diouf apologises for spitting incident as Bolton impose fine |url=http://sport.independent.co.uk/football/premiership/article22380.ece |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130420134811/http://sport.independent.co.uk/football/premiership/article22380.ece |url-status=dead |archive-date=20 April 2013 |work=[[The Independent]] |author=Ken Gaunt |date=29 November 2004 |access-date=2 December 2007 |location=London }}</ref> His response was to score the winning goal in Portsmouth's 1–0 victory.

In Wigan's second Premiership season, he struggled to get a regular first team place due to a series of injuries and was released by the club on 17 May 2007. Whilst at Wigan he started in the [[2006 Football League Cup Final]]. In a poll to celebrate the centenary of the [[Professional Footballers' Association]] fans voted De Zeeuw to be the best player of all time for Wigan Athletic.

In June 2007, it was announced that De Zeeuw had signed a one-year contract with [[Coventry City F.C.|Coventry City]]. During pre-season training, a freak accident left the defender sidelined for 6 to 8 weeks. He made his debut against [[Bristol City F.C.|Bristol City]] on 15 September 2007.<ref name="Coventry sign De Zeeuw and Cairo">{{cite news |title=Coventry sign De Zeeuw and Cairo |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/c/coventry_city/6244506.stm |publisher=BBC Sport |date=30 June 2007 |access-date=30 June 2007}}</ref> It was announced towards the end of the 2007–08 season that De Zeeuw would be one of eight first team players whose contracts would not be renewed. His season was hampered by injury and lack of form leading to new manager [[Chris Coleman (footballer)|Chris Coleman]] decided he was surplus to requirements.

In 2009, he signed with ADO'20.

==Personal life==
Following his retirement in 2009, De Zeeuw began working as an investigative detective in [[Alkmaar]], specialising in forensics.<ref name="Best & Worst: Arjan de Zeeuw">{{cite news |title=Best & Worst: Arjan de Zeeuw |url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/article7009480.ece |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604172935/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/article7009480.ece |url-status=dead |archive-date=4 June 2011 |work=[[The Times]] |date=31 January 2010 |access-date=5 May 2010 |location=London}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/av/football/26924839|title=De Zeeuw: Defender turns detective|work=BBC Sport}}</ref>

==Career statistics==
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition<ref name="profile">{{cite web|url=http://www.ccfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/ProfilesDetail/0,,10269~9968,00.html |title=Profiles – Arjan De Zeeuw |publisher=Coventry City F.C. |archive-date=8 July 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070708204218/http://www.ccfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/ProfilesDetail/0%2C%2C10269~9968%2C00.html |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Soccerbase season|8794|1996|name=Arjan De Zeeuw|access-date=12 January 2016}}</ref>
|-
!rowspan="2"|Club
!rowspan="2"|Season
!colspan="3"|League
!colspan="2"|National Cup
!colspan="2"|League Cup
!colspan="2"|Total
|-
!Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals
|-
|rowspan="5"|[[Barnsley F.C.|Barnsley]]
|[[1995–96 Football League|1995–96]]
|[[Football League First Division|First Division]]
|31||1||2||0||colspan="2"|—||33||1
|-
|[[1996–97 Football League|1996–97]]
|First Division
|43||2||2||0||4||0||49||2
|-
|[[1997–98 FA Premier League|1997–98]]
|[[Premier League]]
|26||0||5||0||2||0||33||0
|-
|[[1998–99 Football League|1998–99]]
|First Division
|38||4||5||0||6||0||49||4
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!138||7||14||0||12||0||164||7
|-
|rowspan="4"|[[Wigan Athletic F.C.|Wigan Athletic]]
|[[1999–2000 Football League|1999–2000]]
|[[Football League Second Division|Second Division]]
|42||3||3||0||3||0||48||3
|-
|[[2000–01 Football League|2000–01]]
|Second Division
|46||1||2||0||4||0||52||1
|-
|[[2001–02 Football League|2001–02]]
|Second Division
|42||2||1||0||1||0||44||2
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!130||6||6||0||8||0||144||6
|-
|rowspan="4"|[[Portsmouth F.C.|Portsmouth]]
|[[2002–03 Football League|2002–03]]
|First Division
|38||1||colspan="2"|—||1||0||39||1
|-
|[[2003–04 FA Premier League|2003–04]]
|Premier League
|36||1||4||0||2||0||42||1
|-
|[[2004–05 FA Premier League|2004–05]]
|Premier League
|32||3||2||0||3||0||37||3
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!106||5||6||0||6||0||118||5
|-
|rowspan="3"|[[Wigan Athletic F.C.|Wigan Athletic]]
|[[2005–06 FA Premier League|2005–06]]
|Premier League
|31||0||1||0||3||0||35||0
|-
|[[2006–07 FA Premier League|2006–07]]
|Premier League
|21||0||colspan="2"|—||1||0||22||0
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!52||0||1||0||4||0||57||0
|-
|[[Coventry City F.C.|Coventry City]]
|[[2007–08 Football League|2007–08]]
|[[Football League Championship|Championship]]
|17||0||1||0||1||0||19||0
|-
!colspan="3"|Career total
!443||18||28||0||31||0||502||18
|}

==Honours==
'''Wigan Athletic'''
*[[Football League Cup]] runner-up: [[2005–06 Football League Cup|2005–06]]<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/league_cup/4727118.stm |title=Man Utd ease to Carling Cup glory |website=BBC Sport |date=26 February 2006 |access-date=26 March 2024}}</ref>

'''Individual'''
*[[Barnsley F.C.|Barnsley]] Player of the Year: [[1995–96 Barnsley F.C. season|1995–96]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.barnsleyfc.co.uk/club/player-of-the-season/ |title=Barnsley Player of the Season |website=Barnsley FC |access-date=2 January 2024}}</ref> 
*[[PFA Team of the Year]]: [[2000–01 Football League#Second Division|2000–01 Second Division]],<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/1304001.stm |title=Teams of the year |website=BBC Sport |date=29 April 2001 |access-date=15 January 2023}}</ref> [[2001–02 Football League#Second Division|2001–02 Second Division]]<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2002/apr/15/newsstory.sport4 |title=PFA teams send Hatters mad |website=The Guardian |date=15 April 2002 |access-date=15 January 2023}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20120829200506/http://www.wiganlatics.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0%2C%2C10429~1026833%2C00.html Arjan de Zeeuw tribute] at Wigan Athletic official website
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20080704070419/http://www.ccfc.co.uk/page/ProfilesDetail/0%2C%2C10269~9968%2C00.html Arjan de Zeeuw player profile] at ccfc.co.uk
{{col-2}}
*{{Soccerbase}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20110604172935/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/article7009480.ece Sunday Times article 31 January, 2010]
{{col-end}}
{{Navboxes
|bg    = gold
|fg    = navy
|title = Awards
|list1 =
{{2000–01 Football League Second Division Team of the Year}}
{{2001–02 Football League Second Division Team of the Year}}
{{Barnsley F.C. Player of the Year}}
{{Wigan Athletic F.C. Player of the Year}}
{{Portsmouth F.C. Player of the Season}}
{{Portsmouth F.C. Hall of Fame}}
}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Zeeuw, Arjan de}}
[[Category:1970 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People from Castricum]]
[[Category:Dutch police officers]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in England|De Zeeuw]]
[[Category:Dutch men's footballers]]
[[Category:Dutch expatriate men's footballers]]
[[Category:Barnsley F.C. players|De Zeeuw]]
[[Category:Portsmouth F.C. players|De Zeeuw]]
[[Category:Wigan Athletic F.C. players|De Zeeuw]]
[[Category:Coventry City F.C. players|De Zeeuw]]
[[Category:Premier League players|De Zeeuw]]
[[Category:SC Telstar players]]
[[Category:University of Amsterdam alumni]]
[[Category:ADO '20 players]]
[[Category:Men's association football defenders]]
[[Category:Dutch expatriate sportspeople in England]]
[[Category:Footballers from North Holland]]
[[Category:English Football League players]]