Arjan de Zeeuw - Player Profile

Arjan arrived at the JJB Stadium on 2nd July 1999 on a free transfer under the Bosman ruling and was an instant hit with the fans. Manager John Benson had worked with him at Barnsley and he was followed to the club by his Barnsley team mate Darren Sheridan on the same day. He made his League debut on 7th August 1999 at the first ever League game played at the JJB Stadium. Scunthorpe United provided the opposition and Latics won 3-0.

Throughout the season he was an absolute rock and the main part of a Latics defence that was the meanest one since the club entered the Football League. The following season saw him miss just one League game and that was due to a family bereavement. His outstanding displays throughout what turned out to be another heartbreaking season led to him picking up the Player of the Year award.

As at the end of season 2001/02 he had made 126+0 League appearances for the Blues and scored 6 League goals. He was out of contract and ex Latics manager Steve Bruce was eager to bring him to Birmingham City. ‘Arry won his second successive Player of the Year award and Latics were desperate to hold on to their star player. After refusing to sign a new contract, rumoured be the best ever offered to a player by the club, he signed a three year deal with Portsmouth on Thursday 6th June 2002.

The legend that is Arjan returned to the JJB Stadium on 11th August 2005 after a ‘personality clash’ with Pompey’s new manager Alain Perrin. Portsmouth’s loss was Latics’ gain and a fee of £90,000 ensured that ‘Arry had another chapter in his Latics career to look forward to. He made his second League debut for the club on 14th August 2005 in the epic first game in the Premiership against Chelsea at the JJB Stadium which Latics lost 1-0 thanks to Hernan Crespo’s rocket in the third minute of injury time.

He had made 31+0 Premiership appearances before sustaining a broken collar bone in a Premiership game against Sunderland at the Stadium of Light which finished his season prematurely. He was a member of the team that competed in Latics’ first ever major Cup Final and he won the Player of the Year Award for a record breaking third time!

His final season playing for Latics was the following 2006/07 campaign when Latics retained their Premiership status courtesy of a last day win at Sheffield United. His final Latics career total read, 178 appearances (52 in the Premiership) 6 goals scored (0 in the Premiership). He retired from the game in 2009 after a spell playing for Dutch amateurs ADO’20 Heemskerk.