| Arjan Ebbinge | |
| Birth Date: | 6 December 1974 |
| Birth Place: | Veendam, Netherlands |
| Height: | 1.87 m |
| Position: | Defender |
| Youthclubs1: | VV De Vogels |
| Youthclubs2: | Robur et Velocitas |
| Youthclubs3: | GVAV-Rapiditas |
| Years1: | 1993–1996 |
| Clubs1: | Groningen |
| Caps1: | 23 |
| Goals1: | 0 |
| Years2: | 1996–2000 |
| Clubs2: | Veendam |
| Caps2: | 106 |
| Goals2: | 5 |
| Years3: | 2000–2004 |
| Clubs3: | Heerenveen |
| Caps3: | 40 |
| Goals3: | 0 |
| Years4: | 2003 |
| Clubs4: | → Helmond Sport (loan) |
| Caps4: | 9 |
| Goals4: | 2 |
| Years5: | 2003–2004 |
| Clubs5: | → NEC (loan) |
| Caps5: | 31 |
| Goals5: | 1 |
| Years6: | 2004–2005 |
| Caps6: | 19 |
| Goals6: | 2 |
| Years7: | 2005–2007 |
| Clubs7: | RBC Roosendaal |
| Caps7: | 19 |
| Goals7: | 0 |
| Years8: | 2007–2009 |
| Clubs8: | Den Bosch |
| Caps8: | 55 |
| Goals8: | 2 |
| Years9: | 2009–2010 |
| Clubs9: | Quick 1888 |
Arjan Ebbinge (born 6 December 1974) is a Dutch former professional footballer who played as a defender.
Born in Veendam, Ebbinge progressed as a youth player at GVAV-Rapiditas where he played as a midfielder, before being signed by Groningen at age 19 as a defender, scouted by Martin Koeman.[1] He never managed a definitive breakthrough, and therefore moved to BV Veendam in the second tier, where he grew into a key player in defense, making 106 league appearances during his four-year span at the club.
As a result of his performances, Ebbinge was signed by Heerenveen,[2] where he made his European debut in his first season at the club. This occurred on 12 September 2000 in a 3–1 away loss to Lyon in the UEFA Champions League group stage, where he came on as a 82nd-minute substitute for Jeffrey Talan.[3] He made his first start in the tournament on 20 September in a 0–1 home loss to Valencia covering Juan Sánchez who failed to make an impact during the game.[4]
Ebbinge would not remain a starter at the club, however, as he lost out the competition to fellow centre-backs Gérard de Nooijer, Tieme Klompe and Petter Hansson. In March 2003 he was sent on a loan to Helmond Sport for the rest of the season, a team coached by Groningen legend, Jan van Dijk.[5] Helmond would finish the season in a highly surprising third place in the league table, but eventually miss out on promotion to the Eredivisie in play-offs.[6]
In June 2003, Ebbinge signed a three-year contract with NEC – coached by Johan Neeskens – to replace the outgoing Danny Hesp.[7] The club had recently reached qualification for the UEFA Cup, and Ebbinge would make two European appearances against the club; both losses to Wisła Kraków.[8] He scored his first goal for NEC against arch-rivals Vitesse on 14 December 2003 after a corner-kick from Resit Schuurman in a 2–0 win.[9] He would eventually make 54 appearances for the club, in which he scored three goals.
In August 2005, Ebbinge signed a two-year contract with RBC Roosendaal, after having lost his starting spot at NEC to recent signing Jonas Olsson.[10] He suffered a serious injury on 30 October 2005 after a collision with Tim Cornelisse from FC Utrecht, and was rushed to the ICU with a tear in his small intestine and a bruised pancreas.[11] He was held in a coma for four weeks, in which he went through five surgeries.[12] He made his comeback almost a year later, coming on as a second-half substitute for Paul de Lange in a match against FC Eindhoven on 18 August 2006.[13] [14]
Ebbinge signed with FC Den Bosch in June 2007.[15] After a season, where he was the undisputed starter in defense, making 39 total appearances and one goal, he would struggle with injuries in his second season at the club.[16] His contract was not extended after the 2008–09 season, and he joined amateur club Quick 1888 in May 2009.[17] There, he announced his retirement in March 2011, citing a lack of motivation to continue.[18]
After his career, Ebbinge became a part of the personnel of Association of Contract Players (VVCS) in the Netherlands, coaching professional players in their career.[19]
Ebbinge is the son of Henk Ebbinge, who was also a professional footballer and would later run a restaurant on Mallorca.