Erik Bakker Explained

Erik Bakker
Birth Date:21 March 1990
Birth Place:Hoogeveen, Netherlands
Height:1.78 m[1]
Position:Midfielder
Youthyears1:–2000
Youthclubs1:WIJC
Youthyears2:2000–2007
Youthclubs2:FC Zwolle
Years1:2007–2011
Clubs1:FC Zwolle
Caps1:124
Goals1:10
Years2:2011–2017
Clubs2:Cambuur
Caps2:165
Goals2:39
Years3:2017–2018
Clubs3:PEC Zwolle
Caps3:20
Goals3:1
Years4:2018–2019
Clubs4:De Graafschap
Caps4:19
Goals4:0
Years5:2019
Clubs5:Honka
Caps5:1
Goals5:0
Years6:2020–2021
Clubs6:Staphorst
Caps6:13
Goals6:2
Totalcaps:342
Totalgoals:52

Erik Bakker (born 21 March 1990) is a Dutch former professional footballer who played as a midfielder.[2]

Career

Zwolle

Bakker was born in Hoogeveen, Drenthe, Netherlands, and grew up in nearby Koekange.[3] [4] He started his football career in the youth department of local amateur club WIJC, before joining FC Zwolle's youth academy in 2000.[5]

On 10 August 2007, he made his professional debut for their first team, replacing Anton Jongsma in the 82nd minute of a 1–1 away draw against Haarlem in the Eerste Divisie.[6] On 7 September 2007, he scored his first professional goal in a 4–1 home win over Den Bosch.[7] Bakker then signed a two-year contract extension with an option for an additional year on 26 September 2007.[8] In February 2009, Zwolle extended his contract again, keeping him a Blauwvinger until 2012.

Bakker would play for Zwolle until 2011, making 138 total appearances for the club, in which he scored 11 goals.[9]

Cambuur

In June 2011, Bakker signed a two-year contract with Cambuur.[10] On the opening day of the season on 8 August, he debuted for the club, starting and scoring his first goal from a penalty in the 77th minute during a 4–2 away victory against AGOVV.[11] He established himself as a key figure in the first team at the club, playing a pivotal role in Cambuur's clinching of the 2012–13 Eerste Divisie title, which consequently earned them promotion to the Eredivisie. He scored in the final game of the season; a 2–0 away win over Excelsior, which secured the first-place finish.[12] At that point, he had developed into a prolific goalscorer while playing in midfield for Cambuur. He netted 11 goals in 19 league appearances during his first season at the club, followed by 10 goals in 29 league games during the promotion season.

Bakker debuted in the Eredivisie on the opening day of the 2013–14 season. He played the full home game against NAC Breda in a 0–0 draw, starting as a defensive midfielder.[13] On 17 August 2013, he scored his first top-level goal, contributing to his team's 2–0 lead in a 4–1 home victory against Groningen. It was their first Eredivisie win since May 2000.[14] [15]

In October 2014, Bakker signed a contract extension, keeping him at Cambuur until 2017.[16] At the conclusion of the 2015–16 season, Cambuur faced relegation back to the Eerste Divisie after three consecutive seasons in the Eredivisie.[17] Bakker had made 80 appearances at the top level, scoring eight goals. He played one more season with Cambuur in the Eerste Divisie before departing from the club. During his six seasons in Leeuwarden, Bakker made a total of 184 appearances, including league and KNVB Cup matches, and scored 40 goals.

Return to Zwolle

On 24 May 2017, it was announced that Bakker would rejoin PEC Zwolle ahead of the 2017–18 season, formerly known as FC Zwolle.[18] There, he was set to replace Danny Holla, who had left for Twente.[19]

Later career

On 27 December 2019, Bakker joined VV Staphorst after a short one-month spell at Finland with FC Honka from August to September.[20]

Honours

Cambuur

Notes and References

  1. Web site: E. Bakker: Profiel . . PXR . 29 September 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230521161724/https://www.vi.nl/spelers/erik-bakker/profiel . 21 May 2023 . nl.
  2. Web site: Silkeborg sender prøvespiller hjem uden aftale. bold.dk. 4 August 2019.
  3. News: Inan . Johan . 'PEC Zwolle is in alles de perfecte stap voor mij' . 29 September 2023 . De Stentor . 5 August 2017 . nl.
  4. News: Drost . Alexander . Voetballer Erik Bakker is op zoek naar eerherstel . 29 September 2023 . Steenwijker Courant . 6 August 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230929141207/https://steenwijkercourant.nl/sport/Voetballer-Erik-Bakker-is-op-zoek-naar-eerherstel-26462415.html . 29 September 2023 . nl-NL.
  5. News: Eijsden . Hans van . Erik Bakker verlengt contract . 29 September 2023 . 1Zwolle . 12 February 2009 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230929141613/https://1zwolle.nl/nieuws/10556/erik-bakker-verlengt-contract.html . 29 September 2023 . nl-NL.
  6. Web site: HFC Haarlem – FC Zwolle 1:1 (Eerste Divisie 2007/2008, 1. Round) . WorldFootball.net . HEIM:SPIEL . 29 September 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230929135730/https://www.worldfootball.net/report/eerste-divisie-2007-2008-hfc-haarlem-pec-zwolle/ . 29 September 2023.
  7. Web site: FC Zwolle – FC Den Bosch 4:1 (Eerste Divisie 2007/2008, 6. Round) . WorldFootball.net . HEIM:SPIEL . 29 September 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230929140027/https://www.worldfootball.net/report/eerste-divisie-2007-2008-pec-zwolle-fc-den-bosch/ . 29 September 2023.
  8. News: FC Zwolle verder met Erik Bakker . 29 September 2023 . 1Zwolle . 26 September 2007 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230929140748/https://1zwolle.nl/nieuws/4408/fc-zwolle-verder-met-erik-bakker.html . 29 September 2023 . nl-NL.
  9. Web site: Erik Bakker » Club matches . WorldFootball.net . HEIM:SPIEL . 29 September 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230929140443/https://www.worldfootball.net/player_summary/erik-bakker/2/ . 29 September 2023.
  10. News: Gerner . Anton . Erik Bakker naar Cambuur, Van der Haar niet . 30 September 2023 . De Stentor . 21 June 2011 . nl.
  11. Web site: AGOVV vs. Cambuur 2–4: Summary . Soccerway . Perform Group . 30 September 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190607011544/https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2011/08/08/netherlands/eerste-divisie/agovv-apeldoorn/stichting-cambuur-leeuwarden-bvo/1120631/ . 7 June 2019.
  12. News: Cambuur verrast met promotie . 30 September 2023 . NOS . 3 May 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230930184343/https://nos.nl/artikel/503055-cambuur-verrast-met-promotie . 30 September 2023 . nl.
  13. Web site: Cambuur vs. NAC Breda 0–0: Summary . Soccerway . Perform Group . 30 September 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200802204943/https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2013/08/04/netherlands/eredivisie/stichting-cambuur-leeuwarden-bvo/nac-bv/1478336/ . 2 August 2020.
  14. Web site: Cambuur vs. Groningen 4–1: Summary . Soccerway . Perform Group . 30 September 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131114005515/http://int.soccerway.com/matches/2013/08/17/netherlands/eredivisie/stichting-cambuur-leeuwarden-bvo/stichting-fc-groningen/1478353/ . 14 November 2013.
  15. News: SC Cambuur walst voor rust over zwak FC Groningen heen . 30 September 2023 . Voetbal International . 17 August 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230930190121/https://www.vi.nl/nieuws/sc-cambuur-walst-voor-rust-over-zwak-fc-groningen-heen- . 30 September 2023 . nl.
  16. Web site: Leonard Nienhuis en Erik Bakker langer bij SC Cambuur . SC Cambuur . 30 September 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230606071804/https://cambuur.nl/nieuws/leonard-nienhuis-en-erik-bakker-langer-bij-sc-cambuur/ . 6 June 2023 . nl-NL . 8 October 2014.
  17. News: Cambuur degradeert na dikke nederlaag bij PSV . 30 September 2023 . RTL Nieuws . 1 May 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230930190854/https://www.rtlnieuws.nl/sport/voetbal/artikel/602061/cambuur-degradeert-na-dikke-nederlaag-bij-psv . 30 September 2023 . nl.
  18. News: Erik Bakker keert terug bij PEC Zwolle . 30 September 2023 . RTV Oost . 24 May 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230930192102/https://www.rtvoost.nl/nieuws/269481/erik-bakker-keert-terug-bij-pec-zwolle . 30 September 2023 . nl.
  19. Erik Bakker keert terug bij PEC Zwolle . PEC Zwolle . 30 September 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170610060310/http://peczwolle.nl/nl/nieuwsarchief/erik-bakker-keert-terug-bij-pec-zwolle2017-05-24 . 10 June 2017 . nl . 24 May 2017.
  20. https://www.vvstaphorst.nl/1/1746/erik-bakker-sluit-aan-bij-de-1e--selectie/ Erik Bakker sluit aan bij de 1e selectie