Niels Fleuren
Personal information
Date of birth (1986-11-01) 1 November 1986
Place of birth Boxmeer, Netherlands
Height 1.76 m (5 ft 9 in)[1]
Position(s) Left-back
Team information
Current team
 Vitesse '08
Youth career
1991–1997 Vitesse '08
1997–2003 VVV-Venlo
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2003–2016 VVV-Venlo 354 (1)
2016–2017 Emmen 18 (0)
2017–2022 TOP Oss 118 (1)
2022 De Treffers 6 (0)
2023 Gemert 14 (0)
2023– Vitesse '08
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 10:21, 27 December 2023 (UTC)

Niels Fleuren (born 1 November 1986) is a Dutch professional footballer who plays as a left-back for Vierde Klasse club Vitesse '08.

Career

VVV-Venlo

Born in Boxmeer, Fleuren played in the youth departments of Vitesse'08 and VVV-Venlo.[1][2][3] Fleuren made his professional debut at the age of 16 for VVV-Venlo, as a substitute in a 4–0 win at home against Cambuur on 3 October 2003.[4] He made his only league goal for the club on 21 October 2005, at home against HFC Haarlem. In 2008, he received the Jan Klaassens Award, the annual award VVV award for the best talent from their own youth academy.[5] Over the years, the club attracted various players for the left-back position, including Youssef El Akchaoui, Jeffrey Leiwakabessy, Joeri Schroyen and Jason Bourdouxhe, but each time Fleuren emerged as the starter.[6] In a home game against De Graafschap on 13 September 2013, Fleuren was honoured in connection with his 300th official match for VVV.[7] He played his 300th league game against Sparta Rotterdam on 19 October 2014.[8] He played his 400th official game against regional rivals MVV on 8 April 2016.[9] VVV announced on 27 May 2016 that Fleuren's contract would not be extended.[10]

Fleuren left VVV-Venlo in May 2016, after 13 seasons with the senior team. With 354 league appearances he was fifth in the club's appearance list.[11][12] During his time at the club, he grew into a fan favourite and gained the nickname "The Maldini of De Koel".[3][13]

Emmen and TOP Oss

On 15 July 2016, it was announced that Fleuren had signed a one-year contract with Emmen.[14]

Ahead of the 2017–18 season, Fleuren joined TOP Oss on an amateur contract, where he soon developed into a regular starter and was rewarded with a one-year professional contract at the end of the season.[15] In January 2019, he extended his contract in Oss with an extra year.[16]

In the 2020–21 season, Fleuren would again play for TOP Oss in an amateur deal.[17] In October 2020, Fleuren tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 during the COVID-19 pandemic. While in quarantine at home, he continued working as the TOP Oss contact person for social projects, where he organised activities such as a footgolf event for a clothing sponsor. He had been a part of the office staff of the club since signing an amateur playing contract.[18]

Later career

On 22 June 2022, Fleuren joined Tweede Divisie club De Treffers on an amateur contract, after having decided to retire from professional football.[19] After six months, he moved to Derde Divisie club Gemert on 1 January 2023.[20]

In May 2023, he returned to his first club Vitesse '08 in the ninth-tier Vierde Klasse after 26 years.[21]

Honours

VVV-Venlo

References

  1. 1 2 Niels Fleuren at Soccerway. Retrieved 28 May 2016.
  2. ↑ "Profile" (in Dutch). Voetbal International. Retrieved 28 May 2016.
  3. 1 2 Geert-Jan Jakobs (21 April 2016). "Niels Fleuren, de Maldini van De Koel" (in Dutch). Voetbal International. Retrieved 28 May 2016.
  4. ↑ "Vroeg of laat is Fleuren de back". De Gelderlander (in Dutch). 29 November 2011.
  5. ↑ "Jan Klaassens Award". VVV-Venlo (in Dutch). Retrieved 15 February 2021.
  6. ↑ "Clubicoon Fleuren verlaat VVV-Venlo na 13 jaar". De Gelderlander (in Dutch). 27 May 2016.
  7. ↑ "Nederlaag verziekt feest Fleuren". L1 (in Dutch). 13 September 2013.
  8. ↑ "Interview met Niels Fleuren over zijn 300ste competitiewedstrijd!". Venlonaren (in Dutch). 16 October 2014.
  9. ↑ "400ste wedstrijd voor VVV'er Niels Fleuren". L1 (in Dutch). 8 April 2016.
  10. ↑ Pennings, Thijs. "Omroep Venlo - VVV neemt afscheid van Niels Fleuren". omroepvenlo.nl (in Dutch).
  11. ↑ "Clubicoon Fleuren verlaat VVV-Venlo na 13 jaar" (in Dutch). De Gelderlander. 27 May 2016. Retrieved 28 May 2016.
  12. ↑ "Fleuren neemt na dertien seizoenen afscheid van VVV-Venlo" (in Dutch). Voetbal International. 27 May 2016. Retrieved 28 May 2016.
  13. ↑ Jakobs, Geert-Jan (9 August 2020). "De Maldini van De Koel is nu medewerker op een kantoor in Oss". www.vi.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 15 February 2021.
  14. ↑ Fleuren trekt na dertien jaar VVV-Venlo naar FC Emmen (Dutch). Voetbal International. 15 July 2016.
  15. ↑ Pichel, Dominique (24 May 2018). "FC Oss beloont Niels Fleuren met profcontract". De Gelderlander (in Dutch).
  16. ↑ Nolles, Jurriaan (17 January 2019). "Niels Fleuren verlengt contract bij TOP Oss". Brabants Dagblad (in Dutch).
  17. ↑ Pichel, Dominique (18 July 2020). "Niels Fleuren toch door bij TOP: op amateurbasis". De Gelderlander (in Dutch).
  18. ↑ Pichel, Dominique (18 November 2020). "Ook in quarantaine was voetballer Niels Fleuren van waarde voor TOP Oss: 'Kon alleen geen shirtjes drukken'". De Gelderlander (in Dutch).
  19. ↑ Pichel, Dominique (22 June 2022). "Niels Fleuren gaat bij De Treffers het avontuur in het amateurvoetbal aan". De Gelderlander (in Dutch). Retrieved 22 June 2022.
  20. ↑ Pichel, Dominik (1 January 2023). "Opmerkelijke overstap Niels Fleuren: Gennepse ex-prof per direct van De Treffers naar Gemert". De Gelderlander (in Dutch). Retrieved 27 December 2023.
  21. ↑ Pichel, Dominique (16 May 2023). "Op 36-jarige leeftijd en met 550 profduels in de benen keert Niels Fleuren terug naar Vitesse'08". De Gelderlander (in Dutch). Retrieved 27 December 2023.
  22. ↑ "VVV kampioen: collectief met uitblinkende aanvallers". Voetbal International (in Dutch). 24 April 2009. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
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