Damian van Bruggen explained

Damian van Bruggen
Birth Date:18 March 1996
Birth Place:Utrecht, Netherlands
Height:1.85 m
Position:Centre-back
Currentclub:Vejle
Clubnumber:14
Youthyears1:–2011
Youthclubs1:Almere City
Youthyears2:2011–2014
Youthclubs2:Ajax
Years1:2014–2016
Clubs1:Jong Ajax
Caps1:60
Goals1:2
Years2:2016–2018
Clubs2:Jong PSV
Caps2:36
Goals2:0
Years3:2017–2018
Clubs3:VVV-Venlo (loan)
Caps3:26
Goals3:2
Years4:2018–2020
Clubs4:VVV-Venlo
Caps4:22
Goals4:0
Years5:2020
Clubs5:Inter Zaprešić
Caps5:16
Goals5:0
Years6:2020–2022
Clubs6:Slaven Belupo
Caps6:49
Goals6:1
Years7:2022
Clubs7:Olimpija Ljubljana
Caps7:16
Goals7:0
Years8:2022–2024
Clubs8:Almere City
Caps8:68
Goals8:1
Years9:2024–
Clubs9:Vejle
Caps9:0
Goals9:0
Nationalyears1:2011–2012
Nationalteam1:Netherlands U16
Nationalcaps1:4
Nationalgoals1:0
Nationalyears2:2012–2013
Nationalteam2:Netherlands U17
Nationalcaps2:11
Nationalgoals2:2
Nationalyears3:2013
Nationalteam3:Netherlands U18
Nationalcaps3:3
Nationalgoals3:0
Nationalyears4:2014–2015
Nationalteam4:Netherlands U19
Nationalcaps4:10
Nationalgoals4:2
Nationalyears5:2016
Nationalteam5:Netherlands U20
Nationalcaps5:3
Nationalgoals5:0
Nationalyears6:2016–2017
Nationalteam6:Netherlands U21
Nationalcaps6:2
Nationalgoals6:0
Club-Update:13:47, 1 January 2024 (UTC)

Damian van Bruggen (born 18 March 1996) is a Dutch professional footballer who plays for Danish Superliga club Vejle Boldklub. Mainly a centre-back, he can also play as a defensive midfielder or a full-back.

Club career

Van Bruggen moved from Almere City to the Ajax youth academy at the start of the 2011–12 season.[1] In March 2013, Van Bruggen signed his first professional contract with Ajax, at the age of 16.[2]

Van Bruggen made his professional debut for Jong Ajax as a 61st-minute substitute for Ricardo van Rhijn in an Eerste Divisie match against Fortuna Sittard on 16 August 2014.[3]

He moved on a season-long loan to Eredivisie club VVV-Venlo in August 2017.[4] After a successful season, he joined the club on a permanent deal in May 2018.[5]

Between 2020 and 2022, Van Bruggen played for Croatian clubs Inter Zaprešić and Slaven Belupo, then briefly joined Slovenian side Olimpija Ljubljana in February 2022.[6] [7] [8] He returned to his native Netherlands in July 2022, rejoining his first club, Almere City.[9] [10] His stint at the club proved rewarding as he played a crucial role in their historic promotion to the Eredivisie during the 2022–23 season, scoring once in 43 league appearances, including the play-offs. Under Van Bruggen's captaincy, the team secured their promotion after a victory over Emmen in the play-off finals.[11]

On 5 July 2024, Danish Superliga club Vejle Boldklub confirmed that they had signed van Bruggen on a deal until 30 June 2026.[12]

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueNational cupOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Jong Ajax2014–15Eerste Divisie312312
2015–16Eerste Divisie290290
Total602602
Jong PSV2016–17Eerste Divisie360260
VVV-Venlo (loan)2017–18Eredivisie26231293
VVV-Venlo2018–19Eredivisie18020200
2019–20Eredivisie400040
Total22020240
Inter Zaprešić2019–20Croatian Football League16000160
Slaven Belupo2020–21Croatian Football League28130311
2021–22Croatian Football League21030240
Total49160551
Olimpija Ljubljana2021–22Slovenian PrvaLiga16000160
Almere City2022–23Eerste Divisie3712060441
2023–24Eerste Divisie31010320
Total6813060771
Vejle Boldklub2024–25Danish Superliga000000
Career total2936141603137

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Van Bruggen dolblij met overstap naar Ajax. 12 February 2011. Almerecity.nl. 12 April 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20170822220946/http://www.almerecity.nl/ac-1/van-bruggen-dolblij-met-overstap-naar-ajax. 22 August 2017. dead.
  2. Web site: Ajax contracteert jeugdspelers. 15 March 2013. Ajax.nl. 12 April 2016.
  3. Web site: Fortuna Sittard vs. Jong Ajax - 16 August 2014. Soccerway. 16 August 2014. 16 August 2014.
  4. News: Van Bruggen verruilt PSV voor VVV-Venlo . 1 January 2024 . Voetbal International . 11 August 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180501094017/https://www.vi.nl/nieuws/van-bruggen-verruilt-psv-voor-vvv-venlo . 1 May 2018 . nl.
  5. News: VVV neemt Van Bruggen definitief over van PSV . 1 January 2024 . NOS . 28 May 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230331143042/https://nos.nl/artikel/2233943-vvv-neemt-van-bruggen-definitief-over-van-psv . 31 March 2023 . nl.
  6. News: Petrovic haalt Van Bruggen weg bij VVV-Venlo . 1 January 2024 . Voetbal International . 18 January 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230621182745/https://www.vi.nl/nieuws/petrovic-haalt-van-bruggen-weg-bij-vvv-venlo . 21 June 2023 . nl.
  7. Čović, Prce, van Bruggen, Maglica, Boakye i Mlinar novi igrači Slaven Belupa . NK Slaven Belupo . 1 January 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201020111855/https://nk-slaven-belupo.hr/covic-prce-van-bruggen-maglica-boakye-i-mlinar-novi-igraci-slaven-belupa/ . 20 October 2020 . hr . 9 August 2020.
  8. News: U Skenderov široki zagrljaj: Damian van Bruggen novi je igrač Olimpije iz Ljubljane . 1 January 2024 . Telesport . 16 February 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220216173154/https://telesport.telegram.hr/na-prvu/u-skenderov-siroki-zagrljaj-damian-van-bruggen-novi-je-igrac-olimpije-iz-ljubljane/ . 16 February 2022 . sl.
  9. Damian van Bruggen keert na elf jaar terug in Almere . Almere City FC . 1 January 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220716060223/https://almerecity.nl/nieuws/damian-van-bruggen-keert-na-elf-jaar-terug-in-almere/ . 16 July 2022 . nl-NL . 14 July 2022.
  10. News: Wit . Herman de . Damian van Brugge terug op oude nest . 1 January 2024 . Omroep Almere . 15 July 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231003015418/https://omroepalmere.nl/2022/07/damian-van-brugge-terug-op-oude-nest/ . 3 October 2023 . nl-NL.
  11. News: Almere City debuteert volgend seizoen in eredivisie: 'Geweldig ontwikkeld' . 1 January 2024 . NOS . 11 June 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230611202526/https://nos.nl/artikel/2478559-almere-city-debuteert-volgend-seizoen-in-eredivisie-geweldig-ontwikkeld . 11 June 2023 . nl.
  12. Vejle Boldklub henter hollandsk profil . Vejle Boldklub . 6 July 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240706065644/https://vejle-boldklub.dk/vejle-boldklub-henter-hollandsk-profil/ . 6 July 2024 . da-DK . 5 July 2024 . live.