Jason van Blerk explained

Jason van Blerk
Birth Date:1968 3, df=y
Birth Place:Sydney, Australia
Currentclub:Southern Ettalong 45's
Position:Defender / attacking midfielder
Youthyears1:1986
Youthclubs1:AIS
Years1:1987–1989
Years2:1989–1990
Years3:1990–1991
Years4:1991–1992
Years5:1992
Years6:1992–1995
Years7:1994–1997
Years8:1997–1998
Years9:1998–2001
Years10:2001–2002
Years11:2001–2002
Years12:2002–2003
Years13:2003–2004
Years14:2003–2004
Years15:2003–2004
Years16:2003–2005
Years17:2005–2006
Caps1:24
Goals1:3
Caps2:25
Goals2:1
Caps3:23
Goals3:2
Caps4:14
Goals4:2
Caps5:9
Goals5:1
Caps6:48
Goals6:5
Caps7:73
Goals7:2
Caps8:19
Goals8:0
Caps9:109
Goals9:3
Caps10:13
Goals10:0
Caps11:10
Goals11:1
Caps12:23
Goals12:1
Caps13:3
Goals13:0
Caps14:3
Goals14:0
Caps15:12
Goals15:1
Caps16:0
Goals16:0
Caps17:?
Goals17:?
Totalcaps:408
Totalgoals:22
Nationalyears1:1987
Nationalyears2:1990–2000
Nationalteam2:Australia
Nationalcaps2:27
Nationalgoals2:1
Manageryears1:2009–2013
Manageryears2:2013–present
Managerclubs2:Central Coast Mariners Academy
Pcupdate:12 May 2009
Ntupdate:17 December 2007

Jason van Blerk (born 16 March 1968 in Sydney, Australia) is a former Australian footballer. He played primarily as a midfielder, but could also play in defense. He played for clubs, both overseas and locally. He also represented Australia both at youth and senior level.

Club career

Van Blerk started his club career at Blacktown City Demons in Australia. He made his first move to Europe when he signed for Sint Truiden in Belgium in 1990. He then made subsequent moves to Go Ahead Eagles in the Netherlands and Millwall in England.

He was then brought to Manchester City on a free transfer at the start of their 1997–98 campaign by Frank Clark. However, he struggled there and only lasted seven months. West Bromwich Albion then bought him for £250k in March 1998.[1] He ended up playing 109 games for them (scoring three goals). He left West Bromwich Albion in 2001. He then played for Stockport County, Hull City (where he scored once against Rushden & Diamonds),[2] Shrewsbury Town (where he scored twice against Rochdale in the league[3] and Barrow in the FA Cup),[4] Altrincham and Colwyn Bay, before returning home to Australia, where he signed for Wollongong City in 2003. He left Australia again briefly to play for Runcorn F.C. Halton in England, before returning home again to play for APIA Leichhardt. He then retired in 2006.

International career

Jason played for the senior national team 33 times. He scored his first international goal against Croatia in 1992. He made his national team debut against Indonesia after coming on for Tom McCulloch in the 46th minute at the Senayan Stadium, Jakarta. He did not play any games between 1996 and 1999, mostly due to lack of game time at club level (while he was at Manchester City F.C.). He got his last four caps (against Chile, Bulgaria, Czech Republic and Paraguay) in 2000 after regaining form at West Bromwich Albion.

Van Blerk also represented Australia at youth level when played in the 1987 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Chile. He was also an Australian Schoolboy International player in 1986.

Managerial career

In November 2008, Van Blerk was appointed the new coach of GHFA Spirit FC for the club's first season in the NSW Super League in 2009.[5]

In October 2013, Van Blerk was announced as the new head coach for National Premier League side Central Coast Mariners Academy under the guidance of technical director Phil Moss who also works as assistant coach for the Mariners A-League squad.[6]

Personal life

Jason van Blerk is the son of former Socceroo Cliff.[7]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Jason Van Blerk . Svenn A. Hanssen . 2008-06-22 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20080317072014/http://www.uit.no/mancity/players/old/vanblerk.html . 17 March 2008 .
  2. Web site: Hull 2-1 Rushden . . 9 February 2002 . 17 February 2010.
  3. Web site: Rochdale 1-1 Shrewsbury. . 14 September 2002 . 17 February 2010.
  4. Web site: Shrewsbury 3-1 Barrow. . 7 December 2002 . 17 February 2010.
  5. Web site: GHFA Spirit FC ready for NSW Super League in 2009 . Football NSW . 2009-05-12 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110711015525/http://www.footballnsw.com/index.php?id=17&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=1488&tx_ttnews%5BbackPid%5D=1&cHash=f60aed9e75 . 11 July 2011 .
  6. Web site: Moss: "Marriage made in heaven" . Football Australia . 2013-10-25 . 29 October 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131029193138/http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/centralcoastmariners/news-display/Moss-Marriage-made-in-heaven/77490 . dead .
  7. Web site: Australian Player Database - VA . Ozfootball.net . 2008-06-22.