Richard Knopper

Richard Knopper

200px Knopper playing for Den Haag in 2009
Personal information
Date of birth	(1977-08-29) 29 August 1977
Place of birth	Rijswijk, Netherlands
Height
Position(s)	Midfielder
Youth career
1984–1988	RVC Rijswijk
1988–1993	Feyenoord
1993–1997	Ajax
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1997–2004	Ajax	67	(19)
2002–2003	→ Aris (loan)	21	(1)
2003–2004	→ Heerenveen (loan)	32	(9)
2004–2006	Vitesse	47	(8)
2006–2010	Den Haag	85	(17)
2010–2011	PSM Makassar	18	(3)
2011–2012	Haaglandia	15	(3)
Total		285	(60)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Richard Knopper (born 29 August 1977) is a Dutch former footballer who played as an attacking midfielder.

Club career

Born in Rijswijk, Knopper began his career with Feyenoord but, still in his youth, moved to rivals AFC Ajax, making his official debut in November 1997 against Sparta Rotterdam. In 1999, he was voted by club supporters as Most Talented Player, receiving the Marco van Basten Trophy. The following year, he scored 15 Eredivisie goals as a midfielder, but the club could only finish fifth.

A regular under Jan Wouters, Knopper saw his playing time reduce when Co Adriaanse took over as head coach in 2000. He was sidelined with injury for almost the entire season, playing only eight matches that year and appearing slightly more in the following, which would be his last.

In May 2002, Knopper had a trial with Premier League side Sunderland and played in that predicament in the testimonial match for Niall Quinn with the Republic of Ireland on the 14th. From 2002 to 2004 he served two loans, first with Greece's Aris Thessaloniki F.C. then with SC Heerenveen, slightly reviving his career with the latter; upon his Ajax release in the 2004 summer, he spent two additional campaigns with Vitesse, appearing regularly.

After some problems with Vitesse manager Aad de Mos, Knopper was forced to leave, joining ADO Den Haag. In July 2007 a three-year link was agreed, with the player netting again in double figures (ten) in 2008–09, crucial to help in a narrow escape from relegation; in the 2010 summer, aged 33, he was released.

In January 2011, Knopper moved to Liga Primer Indonesia team PSM Makassar, leaving after a couple of months and signing with lowly Haaglandia back in his country, where he ended his career.

External links

• Beijen profile (Dutch)
• Stats at Voetbal International (Dutch)