Rob Wielaert

Dutch footballer

Rob Wielaert
Wielaert with FC Twente in 2008.
Personal information
Full name Robert Wielaert
Date of birth (1978-12-29) 29 December 1978 (age 45)
Place of birth Emmeloord, Netherlands
Height 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Position(s) Centre-back
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1997–1999 PSV 7 (0)
1999–2001 Den Bosch 53 (2)
2001–2002 PSV 3 (0)
2002–2006 NEC 145 (11)
2006–2009 Twente 83 (3)
2009–2011 Ajax 19 (1)
2010–2011 → Roda JC (loan) 30 (1)
2011–2013 Roda JC 47 (1)
2013–2015 Melbourne City[1] 37 (1)
International career
Netherlands B 2
Managerial career
2016– Box Hill United (youth assistant)
2022 Melbourne Victory U14[2]
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Robert Wielaert (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈrɔp ˈʋi.laːrt], born 29 December 1978) is a Dutch former professional footballer who played as a centre-back.

Club career

Career in the Netherlands (1997–2013)

Wielaert was born in Emmeloord, Flevoland and made his debut in professional football with PSV Eindhoven in the 1997–98 season. He also played for FC Den Bosch and NEC before joining FC Twente.[3] During his FC Twente period he was the captain of the team.

During the 2009 January transfer period he went to Ajax for a transfer fee of 3 million. However, he lost his starting position and was sent on loan to Roda JC at the start of the 2010–11 season. He signed for two seasons with Roda in the summer of 2011. After his contract had expired in 2013, Wielaert was released.

Career with Melbourne Heart / City (2013–2015)

In June 2013, Wielaert was signed by Australian club Melbourne Heart in the A-League. The Dutchman had never played outside of the Netherlands and was optimistic about playing in Australia:

"I have played all of my career in the Netherlands and now it is an exciting time to play abroad. So when Melbourne Heart contacted me, I was enthusiastic immediately. The club sounds great, the city and the country too, so I am looking forward to giving everything for this club and the people around it."[4]

Wielaert scored his first goal for his new club and was the opening goal in the Melbourne Derby against Melbourne Victory on 25 October 2014 in front of 43,729 fans. City went on to lose the match 5–2.[5]

On 13 April 2015, Wielaert was released by the club.[6]

Coaching

Box Hill United

Upon retiring, Wielaert commenced his coaching education, and as of 2018 is assistant coach at Box Hill United, whilst studying for his B-License.

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Season Club Competition Apps Goals
PSV 1997–98 Eredivisie 1 0
1998–99 Eredivisie 0 0
1999–2000 Eredivisie 6 0
Total 7 0
FC Den Bosch 1999–2000 Eredivisie 20 0
2000–01 Eerste Divisie 33 2
Total 53 2
PSV 2001–02 Eredivisie 3 0
NEC 2001–02 Eredivisie 25 1
2002–03 Eredivisie 32 3
2003–04 Eredivisie 32 4
2004–05 Eredivisie 27 2
2005–06 Eredivisie 29 1
Total 145 11
FC Twente 2006–07 Eredivisie 34 2
2007–08 Eredivisie 32 1
2008–09 Eredivisie 17 0
Total 83 3
Ajax 2008–09 Eredivisie 16 1
2009–10 Eredivisie 3 0
Total 19 1
Roda JC 2010–11 Eredivisie 30 1
Roda JC 2011–12 Eredivisie 27 1
2012–13 Eredivisie 20 0
Total 47 2
Melbourne City[a] 2013–14 A-League 26 0
2014–15 A-League 11 1
Total 37 1
Career total 424 20
  1. ^ Known as "Melbourne Heart" until 2014

References

  1. ^ The team was known as Melbourne Heart prior to 2014
  2. ^ "STAFF - FOOTBALL". Melbourne Victory FC. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
  3. ^ "Rob Wielaert" (in Dutch). Voetbal International. Retrieved 15 February 2010.
  4. ^ "Melbourne Heart sign defender Rob Wielaert". SB Nation. Retrieved 11 May 2015.
  5. ^ "MATCH REPORT: Melbourne City FC suffer Derby defeat". Melbourne City FC. Retrieved 11 May 2015.
  6. ^ "Melbourne City FC Player Update". Melbourne City FC. Retrieved 13 May 2015.


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