Edwin de Graaf
Birth date30 April 1980 (age 46)
Birth placeThe Hague, Netherlands
Height1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
PositionMidfielder
Years 12001–2004
Caps 189
Goals 119
Clubs 1RBC Roosendaal
Years 22004–2006
Caps 26
Goals 20
Clubs 2Feyenoord
Years 32005
Caps 310
Goals 32
Clubs 3→ RBC Roosendaal (loan)
Years 42005–2006
Caps 423
Goals 43
Clubs 4→ ADO Den Haag (loan)
Years 52006–2010
Caps 586
Goals 516
Clubs 5NAC Breda
Years 62010–2011
Caps 619
Goals 60
Clubs 6Hibernian
Years 72011
Caps 75
Goals 71
Clubs 7→ Excelsior (loan)
Years 82011–2012
Caps 827
Goals 80
Clubs 8Excelsior
Years 92012–2013
Caps 930
Goals 94
Clubs 9Lisse
Years 102013–2014
Caps 1023
Goals 100
Clubs 10HBS Craeyenhout
Totalcaps318
Totalgoals45
Manageryears 12013–2015
Managerclubs 1Feyenoord (U14)
Manageryears 22015–2017
Managerclubs 2Feyenoord (U16)
Manageryears 32017–2020
Managerclubs 3ADO Den Haag (assistant)
Manageryears 42021–2022
Managerclubs 4NAC Breda
Manageryears 52023
Managerclubs 5Roda JC

Edwin de Graaf (ˈɛtʋɪn də ˈɣraːf; born 30 April 1980) is a Dutch football manager and former player.

Career

Club career

De Graaf is a midfielder who was born in The Hague and made his debut in professional football, being part of the RBC Roosendaal squad in the 2001–02 season. He also played for Feyenoord and ADO Den Haag before joining NAC Breda.[1]

On 15 June 2010, he signed a two-year deal with Scottish Premier League club Hibernian.[2][3] De Graaf made an "impressive" performance in his home debut for Hibs, scoring two goals in a 3–2 defeat by NK Maribor.[4] His later performances were not as productive, however, as he missed clear goalscoring chances in games against Rangers,[5] Inverness[6] and Kilmarnock.[7]

De Graaf struggled to hold down a place under Hughes' successor, Colin Calderwood, and was loaned to Excelsior for the remainder of the 2010–11 season.[8] Calderwood stated in April 2011 that he had received good reports about De Graaf's performances for Excelsior and confirmed that he would return to Easter Road for the 2011–12 season.[9] His contract with Hibernian was terminated and he signed for Excelsior on 1 September 2011.[10][11]

International career

De Graaf has represented the Netherlands B national football team five times.[3]

Coaching career

Feyenoord

Retiring in the summer 2013, De Graaf was hired as head coach of Feyenoord's U14s.[12]

Drunk driving

In March 2015, De Graaf was arrested after he was driving under the influence of alcohol, causing an accident on the highway half past three in the night. De Graaf drove into his predecessor on the highway near Zoetermeer with his Opel. The victim's car would be a total loss. De Graaf decided not to stop, but shortly afterwards he was put aside by the police.[13] An investigation by Feyenoord later showed that De Graaf had 'slightly exceeded the maximum permitted alcohol level at the time of the incident. For that reason, he only received a 'strong warning' from the club and was not fired. He continued in his position as head coach of the club's U16s.[14] However, shortly before the start of the 2017–18 season, De Graaf decided to leave the club to seek for a new challenge.[15]

ADO Den Haag

A few hours after leaving Feyenoord, it was confirmed that de Graaf had been appointed assistant manager to Alfons Groenendijk at ADO Den Haag.[16] In December 2019, an heated conflict took place between ADO-player, Donny Gorter, and de Graaf. A brawl allegedly started, after which technical manager Jeffrey van As decided to send De Graaf home. On 9 January 2020, the club confirmed that de Graaf's contract had been terminated.[17]

Roda

On 24 January 2023, de Graaf was hired by Roda JC in Eerste Divisie until the end of the 2022–23 season.[18] In April 2023, it was announced that his contract would not be extended, and that he would leave at the end of the season.[19]

References

  1. ^ "Edwin de Graaf" (in Dutch). Voetbal International. Retrieved 5 February 2010.
  2. ^ "Edwin de Graaf signs for Hibernian". Hibernian Football Club. Archived from the original on 27 February 2012. Retrieved 15 June 2010.
  3. ^ "Hibernian sign Dutch midfielder Edwin de Graaf". BBC Sport. 15 June 2010. Retrieved 15 June 2010.
  4. ^ "Hibernian 2–3 NK Maribor (agg 2–6)". BBC Sport. 5 August 2010. Retrieved 5 August 2010.
  5. ^ Campbell, Andy (22 August 2010). "Hibernian 0–3 Rangers". BBC Sport. Retrieved 15 October 2010.
  6. ^ "Hibernian 1–1 Inverness CT". BBC Sport. 11 September 2010. Retrieved 15 October 2010.
  7. ^ "Kilmarnock 3–1 Hibernian". BBC Sport. 22 September 2010. Retrieved 15 October 2010.
  8. ^ "De Graaf swaps Hibs for Excelsior". STV. 31 January 2011. Retrieved 31 January 2011.
  9. ^ Schweitzer-Thompson, Alex (22 April 2011). "De Graaf to figure again for Hibs". Edinburgh Evening News. Retrieved 22 April 2011.
  10. ^ "Edwin de Graaf out, Adam Mitter in at Hibs". BBC Sport. BBC. 1 September 2011. Retrieved 3 September 2011.
  11. ^ "Excelsior trekt transfervrije routinier De Graaf aan" (in Dutch). Voetbal International. 1 September 2011. Retrieved 3 September 2011.
  12. ^ Lisse verliest steunpilaar Edwin de Graaf aan Feyenoord, omroepwest.nl, 8 April 2013
  13. ^ Dronken jeugdtrainer Feyenoord rijdt door na ongeval, 16 March 2015
  14. ^ De Graaf na 'stevige waarschuwing' terug bij Feyenoord, fcupdate.nl, 26 March 2016
  15. ^ Spartaan op stage bij MVV, De Graaf weg bij Feyenoord, fcupdate.nl, 31 July 2017
  16. ^ EDWIN DE GRAAF NIEUWE ASSISTENT-TRAINER ADO DEN HAAG, adodenhaag.nl, 31 July 2017
  17. ^ Conflict met Gorter kost assistent De Graaf de kop bij ADO, ed.nl, 9 January 2020
  18. ^ "EDWIN DE GRAAF NIEUWE HOOFDTRAINER RODA JC" [EDWIN DE GRAAF NEW HEAD COACH RODA JC] (in Dutch). Roda JC. 24 January 2023. Retrieved 3 March 2023.
  19. ^ "Roda JC neemt alweer afscheid van Edwin de Graaf" (in Dutch). Voetbal International. 19 April 2023. Retrieved 3 July 2023.