Pascal Struijk

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Pascal Struijk
Struijk playing for Leeds United in 2021
Personal information
Full name Pascal Augustus Struijk[1]
Date of birth (1999-08-11) 11 August 1999 (age 24)[2]
Place of birth Deurne, Belgium
Height 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)[3]
Position(s) Centre-back
Team information
Current team
 Leeds United
Number 21
Youth career
2006–2016 ADO Den Haag
2016–2018 Ajax
2018–2019 Leeds United
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2018– Leeds United 113 (7)
International career
2016 Netherlands U17 3 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 23:59, 26 December 2023 (UTC)

Pascal Augustus Struijk (born 11 August 1999) is a professional footballer who plays as a defender for EFL Championship club Leeds United. Born in Belgium, he has represented the Netherlands internationally at under-17 level. Mainly a centre-back, Struijk can be deployed as a left-back or defensive midfielder.

Early and personal life[edit]

Struijk was born in Deurne in Belgium, but moved to The Hague at the age of three.[4] His paternal grandparents were born in the Dutch East Indies and he is therefore eligible to represent for Indonesia at international level.[5][6]

Club career[edit]

Early career[edit]

Struijk started his youth career at ADO Den Haag at the age of seven before moving to Ajax in 2016.[4][7] In his age group, he would compete with fellow left-sided centre-back and future international Sven Botman and struggled to make an impression, even being tried as a striker in some youth games.[8] With his contract due to expire in the summer of 2018, Struijk joined Leeds United on trial in January of the same year before signing permanently later that month on a three-and-a-half year deal.[8]

Leeds United[edit]

His first involvement with the first team came on 13 March 2018, when he was named on the bench against Aston Villa in a 1–0 defeat.[9] Struijk was a regular for the Leeds United under-23 side over the course the 2018–19 season,[10] and he featured in the team that won the Professional Development League on 6 May 2019, beating Birmingham City on penalties having drawn the final 0–0.[11] He was named on the bench by Marcelo Bielsa for both legs of the Championship play-off semi-final against Derby County, but did not come off the bench for either; Leeds lost 4–3 on aggregate over the two legs.[12]

On 10 December 2019, Struijk made his debut for Leeds United, coming on as a 91st-minute substitute for Hélder Costa in a 2–0 victory at home to Hull City.[13] His second appearance came in the following match as a late substitute in a 3–3 draw at home to Cardiff City, with Struijk failing to clear the ball in the build-up to Robert Glatzel's late equaliser.[14][15] He made his third appearance for the club as a 61st-minute substitute in a 1–0 win against Barnsley on 17 July 2020, with him being praised for his performance as a defensive midfielder.[16] He made his full debut on 19 July 2020, starting in the team that beat Derby County 3–1 in the penultimate game of the season.[17] Another appearance against Charlton Athletic followed in the final game of the season as Leeds finished the 2019–20 season at the top of the Championship, and were thus promoted to the Premier League.[18][19]

Due to an injury to fellow Leeds United centre-back Liam Cooper, Struijk started Leeds' first league game of the 2020–21 season; a 4–3 away defeat to Premier League champions Liverpool.[20][21] He signed a new three-and-a-half-year deal on 20 November 2020, lasting until summer 2024.[22] He scored the first goal of his senior career on 14 February 2021 in a 4–2 defeat away to Arsenal,[23][24] netting a header from a Raphinha corner in the 58th-minute.[24] He scored once in 27 league appearances in his debut Premier League campaign.[23]

On 12 September 2021, Struijk came on in the 33rd minute for the injured Diego Llorente, in a 3–0 home loss to Liverpool. In the 58th minute, Struijk fouled Harvey Elliott, which dislocated Elliott's ankle. Struijk was then sent off in the 60th minute for the tackle.[25] With Leeds in the Premier League relegation places with two matches of the Premier League season remaining, Struijk headed in a 92nd equaliser to draw 1–1 with Brighton & Hove Albion in their penultimate match,[26][27] before a 2–1 final day victory over Brentford, in which Struijk appeared as a substitute, ensured Leeds' Premier League survival as they finished 17th.[28] Struijk made 29 Premier League appearances over the course of the season.[29]

Struijk started the 2022–23 season playing at left-back due to an injury to Junior Firpo.[30][31] He scored his first goal of the season in the club's 2–1 loss to Crystal Palace on 9 October 2022.[32] On 21 December 2022 it was announced that Struijk had extended his contract until the summer of 2027.[33] "It's an amazing club. It was really easy for me to extend because I am really happy here," the BBC cited Struijk as saying.

International career[edit]

Eligible to represent Belgium, the Netherlands and Indonesia,[5] Struijk was capped three times by the Netherlands under-17 team in 2016.[4] In September 2022, he was named in a provisional Netherlands squad for international fixtures later that month,[34] before being named in a 39-man provisional Dutch squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.[35]

Style of play[edit]

Struijk is left-footed.[36] He primarily plays as a centre-back, but can also play as a defensive midfielder,[37] and as a left-back.[38] Struijk has been compared to Dutch international Virgil van Dijk due to his imposing physical play and ability on the ball.[39]

Career statistics[edit]

As of match played 26 December 2023
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup EFL Cup Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Leeds United 2019–20[40] Championship 5 0 0 0 0 0 5 0
2020–21[23] Premier League 27 1 1 0 1 0 29 1
2021–22[29] Premier League 29 1 0 0 2 0 31 1
2022–23[41] Premier League 29 2 1 0 1 0 31 2
2023–24[42] Championship 23 3 0 0 2 2 25 5
Career total 113 7 2 0 6 2 121 9

Honours[edit]

Leeds United

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Club list of registered players: As at 18th May 2019: Leeds United" (PDF). English Football League. p. 17. Retrieved 5 September 2019.
  2. ^ Pascal Struijk at Soccerway. Retrieved 9 August 2020.
  3. ^ "Pascal Struijk". WorldFootball.net. Retrieved 12 December 2019.
  4. ^ a b c Groenstege, Minne (19 July 2020). "Basisdebutant Struijk met kampioen Leeds te sterk voor Cocu, Roos en Rooney". Algemen Dagblad (in Dutch). Retrieved 3 February 2020.
  5. ^ a b Baskoro, Faisal Maliki (19 July 2020). "Pascal Struijk, Pemain Keturunan Indonesia yang Bantu Leeds United Promosi". BeritaSatu (in Indonesian). Retrieved 20 July 2020.
  6. ^ Syihabuddin, Mohammad Khalid (14 May 2020). "Berdarah Indonesia, Pascal Struijk Enggan Gabung Timnas Indonesia". INDOSPORT.com (in Indonesian). Retrieved 20 July 2020.
  7. ^ "Jeugdtalent Pascal Struijk van ADO naar Ajax". denhaagfm.nl (in Dutch). 21 March 2016. Retrieved 12 December 2019.
  8. ^ a b "Pascal Struijk – from a 'dead track' at Ajax to winning Bielsa's trust at Leeds". The Athletic. 15 September 2020. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
  9. ^ "Aston Villa 1–0 Leeds United". BBC Sport. 13 April 2018. Retrieved 28 March 2020.
  10. ^ Coombs, Dan (6 March 2019). "Pascal Struijk is shaping up as Leeds United's next breakout star". HITC. Retrieved 28 March 2020.
  11. ^ "U23 Report: Leeds United 0–0 Birmingham City (Leeds win 4–2 penalties)". Leeds United F.C. 6 May 2019. Retrieved 28 March 2020.
  12. ^ "Leeds United 2–4 Derby County (3–4 agg): Jack Marriott scores twice to send Rams to Wembley". BBC Sport. 15 May 2019. Retrieved 28 March 2020.
  13. ^ "Leeds United 2–0 Hull City: Marcelo Bielsa's Whites win to go top". BBC Sport. 10 December 2019. Retrieved 12 December 2019.
  14. ^ Dawes, Olly (14 December 2019). "Leeds fans react to Pascal Struijk's performance". HITC Sport. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
  15. ^ "Cardiff stun Leeds as Robert Glatzel seals draw after being three down". The Observer. 14 December 2019. ISSN 0029-7712. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
  16. ^ Watach, Nestor (17 July 2020). "Pascal Struijk proved Marcelo Bielsa right in his high-pressure Barnsley cameo". LeedsLive. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
  17. ^ Smyth, Graham (19 July 2020). "Derby County 1 Leeds United 3: Graham Smyth's player ratings". Yorkshire Evening Post. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
  18. ^ "Leeds United 4–0 Charlton Athletic: Addicks relegated after heavy defeat by champions". BBC Sport. 22 July 2020. Retrieved 9 August 2020.
  19. ^ Laurence, Martin (24 July 2020). "The winners and losers in the Championship this season". The Guardian. Retrieved 9 August 2020.
  20. ^ Mewis, Joe (12 September 2020). "Leeds United issue Liam Cooper injury update as Pascal Struijk drafted in". LeedsLive. Retrieved 12 September 2020.
  21. ^ "Salah hat-trick sinks Leeds in thriller". BBC Sport. 12 September 2020. Retrieved 12 September 2020.
  22. ^ "Leeds defender Struijk signs new deal". BBC Sport. 20 November 2020. Retrieved 20 November 2020.
  23. ^ a b c "Games played by Pascal Struijk in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 12 September 2020.
  24. ^ a b Jarred, Martin (14 February 2021). "Leeds forget to take their A-game to London — again". Telegraph & Argus. Retrieved 14 February 2021.
  25. ^ "Harvey Elliott: Liverpool winger suffers serious ankle injury against Leeds". Sky Sports. 12 September 2021. Retrieved 12 September 2021.
  26. ^ "Struijk strike earns draw with Brighton to keep Leeds' survival hopes alive". TheGuardian.com. 15 May 2022.
  27. ^ "Leeds United 1-1 Brighton: Pascal Struijk scores in injury time to give Leeds hope of avoiding relegation".
  28. ^ "Leeds beat Brentford with late winner to avoid drop" – via www.bbc.co.uk.
  29. ^ a b "Games played by Pascal Struijk in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 August 2021.
  30. ^ "Pascal Struijk opens up on Leeds United contract and Junior Firpo competition". 16 October 2022.
  31. ^ "Leeds United: Pascal Struijk growing into left-back role".
  32. ^ "Pascal Struijk explains Leeds United second half at Crystal Palace, main Whites regret and annoyance". 9 October 2022.
  33. ^ "Dutch defender Struijk extends Leeds contract". BBC Sport. Retrieved 21 December 2022.
  34. ^ "Leeds United defender Pascal Struijk named in Netherlands' provisional squad". 2 September 2022.
  35. ^ "Leeds star Struijk makes Holland squad in boost to World Cup hopes". 21 October 2022.
  36. ^ Groenstege, Minne (25 July 2020). "Struijk plots tegenover Rooney bij kampioen Leeds United: 'Ongekend wat hier is losgekomen'". Algemeen Dagblad (in Dutch). Retrieved 29 July 2020.
  37. ^ Urquhart, Joe (20 November 2020). "Pascal Struijk 'living the dream' at Elland Road after penning new deal". Yorkshire Evening Post. Retrieved 20 November 2020.
  38. ^ "Leeds United employee shares Struijk prediction after early team news". Football Insider. 30 July 2022. Retrieved 4 August 2022.
  39. ^ "Leeds United talent is being compared by teammates to Virgil van Dijk". 21 August 2019.
  40. ^ "Games played by Pascal Struijk in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 28 March 2020.
  41. ^ "Games played by Pascal Struijk in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 28 December 2022.
  42. ^ "Games played by Pascal Struijk in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 23 December 2023.
  43. ^ "Leeds United are champions!". leedsunited.com. Leeds United F.C. 18 July 2020. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
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