Paul Bosvelt

Paul Bosvelt

Personal information
Full name	Paul Bosvelt
Height	1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position(s)	Defensive Midfielder
Team information
Current team	Retired
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of December 10 2006

Paul Bosvelt (born March 26, 1970 in Doetinchem) is a former Dutch footballer. Bosvelt worked his way through the Dutch leagues with Go Ahead Eagles and FC Twente before making his big move to Feyenoord in 1997. His knee high challenge on Denis Irwin will never be forgiven or forgotten. It could have ended Irwin's career.

Bosvelt went on to develop a reputation as a fearsome midfield general at de Kuip, making 167 top-flight appearances and leading the side to the Eredivisie title in 1999 and in the 2002, guided his team to UEFA Cup victory as a captain. In 2003, Bosvelt joined English Premiership side Manchester City where he became an important player, but after 2 seasons he returned home to play for SC Heerenveen.

Bosvelt obtained 24 caps for the Netherlands national football team. He played for Holland on the European Championships of 2000 and 2004. During Euro 2000, he reached the semi final with the Dutch team, hosted in his home country and Belgium. Bosvelt missed an important penalty kick in the penalty shootout in the semi-finals, which led to defeat against Italy. After Euro 2004, to which he was called as a last-minute substitute, he decided to retire from international football.

Bosvelt retired from professional football on May 13, 2007, after a loss with SC Heerenveen (0-4) against Ajax Amsterdam. He played a total number of 523 games in the Dutch football leagues (Eredivisie and Eerste Divisie).

External links

• Official website/blog (in Dutch)
• Photos and stats at sporting-heroes.net