The former http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/PSV-c40281 Eindhoven stopper has announced that he will hang up his boots at the end of the ongoing season.
Ajax Amsterdam defender, Andre Ooijer, has announced his retirement as a player and will hang up his boots at the end of the ongoing 2011/12 campaign. The 37-year-old has a successful professional career that spanned around 18 years.
The former http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Netherlands-c753 International, who started his professional career in the summer of 1994 at FC Volendam, enjoyed successful spells with arguably the two biggest Dutch clubs, PSV and Ajax Amsterdam, while also completing a three-year stint with Blackburn
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Rovers-c40385.
He made over 200 appearances for the Eindhoven giants during his two spells at Philips Stadion. He joined the Amsterdam giants in the summer of 2010 and has thus far made 16 appearances for the Amsterdam giants while adding his name to the score-sheet on
two occasions.
The vastly experienced defender’s trophy cabinet includes six Eredivisie titles, two KNVB beker Cups, four Johan Cruijff Shields and a Lancashire Senior Cup.
The 37-year-old has revealed that he has informed the Amsterdammers head coach, Frank de Boer, about his decision.
“In recent months I have already hinted several times that I felt that I could not muster another season. My role has also changed in recent years. I wanted this weekend to talk it over with some people and think carefully about the decision and I have finally
announced it”, Ooijer was quoted as saying to the club’s official website.
De Boer has admitted that the news regarding the veteran defender’s decision did not come as a shock for him.
“It was not a surprise for us, because I speak with Andre on a regular basis. He hadn't made a final decision yet the last time we spoke, but he was already leaning toward retiring. It is a combination of his age and his current situation at Ajax”, the Dutch
mentor said while talking to the media.
Ooijer made 55 appearances for the Oranje and netted three goals.
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