Paul Mulders

Paul dela Cruz Mulders (born 16 January 1981) is a Filipino professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder. He was last signed by Ceres–Negros of the Philippines Football League. Mulders is also a member of the Philippines national team. He previously played for HFC Haarlem, FC Omniworld, AGOVV Apeldoorn, ADO Den Haag, Global Cebu and Cambuur.

In this Philippine name, the middle name or maternal family name is de la Cruz and the surname or paternal family name is Mulders.
Paul Mulders
Paul Mulders playing for ADO Den Haag
Personal information
Full name Paul de la Cruz Mulders[1]
Date of birth (1981-01-16) 16 January 1981
Place of birth Amsterdam, Netherlands
Height 1.82 m (5 ft 11 1⁄2 in)
Playing position(s) Attacking midfielder
Youth career
1985–1989 A.V.V. Zeeburgia
1989–1997 Ajax
1997–2000 Haarlem
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2000–2005 Haarlem 114 (20)
2005–2007 Cambuur 60 (5)
2007–2009 FC Omniworld 60 (11)
2009–2011 AGOVV Apeldoorn 58 (9)
2011–2013 ADO Den Haag 13 (5)
2013–2014 Global 3 (1)
2014 Cambuur 12 (5)
2014–2017 Ceres 5 (2)
2018 Global Cebu 10 (2)
2018–2019 Ceres–Negros 0 (0)
National team‡
2011– Philippines 44 (2)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 10:23, 7 May 2017 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 15:42, 17 November 2018 (UTC)

Club career

Early years

Born in Amsterdam, Mulders is the youngest son of Dutchman Leo Mulders and Filipina mother Ofelia de la Cruz from Isabela, Ilagan.[2][3] Mulders started youth football at A.V.V. Zeeburgia at age four until he was scouted by Ajax at age eight and trained at the Ajax Academy until he was 16.[4][5]

HFC Haarlem

Mulders continued on to HFC Haarlem in 1997 where many former Ajax youth players have gone to continue their football pursuits.[6] He made his professional debut in the Eerste Divisie at the age of 19 on 14 October 2000 against BV Veendam. Notably, on 6 August 2003, Mulders netted a goal against the opposition team consisting of Zlatan Ibrahimović and Wamberto during a friendly match against Ajax at the Amsterdam Arena.[7] He won 114 appearances and scored 20 goals for Haarlem as a winger from 2000–2005 and impressed upon head trainer, Roy Wesseling.

Cambuur

As a free agent after the 2005 season, Wesseling brought Mulders and co-Haarlem teammate Rick Hooijboer with him to Cambuur. The then 24-year-old Mulders signed a two-year contract with the Frisian club.[4] He would make sixty appearances for the Leeuwarders and score five goals as a forward. Cambuur, bogged by financial problems had failed expectations to climb the Jupiler League rankings in Mulders' second season with the club. As a result, he and six other players' contracts were not renewed.[6][8]

FC Omniworld

Before the 2007–08 season got underway, Mulders had a brief failed pro-adventure in Austria during the summer break before finally signing with FC Omniworld in his backyard of Almere for two seasons.[2][9] Poised to play his naturally preferred position as an attacking midfielder or as a shadow striker, he scored eleven goals in sixty appearances. In Omniworld, he met and clicked with assistant trainer Peter van Vossen who he would later meet again at AGOVV.[6]

AGOVV Apeldoorn

On 3 February 2009, it was announced that Mulders had signed with AGOVV in Apeldoorn for two seasons and began his training in earnest in the summer of that same year with coaches John van den Brom and Peter van Vossen.[10] It was while under the tutelage of Van den Brom that Mulders flourished with the team and in tandem played his best season yet in 2009–10 with the likes of teammates Nacer Chadli, Ramon Leeuwin, Chiró N'Toko, Jeremy Bokila, where AGOVV reached the promotion play-offs.[11] In late April 2011, it was announced that he signed a two-year deal with an option for another year with ADO Den Haag.[12]

ADO Den Haag

It was widely reported in August 2010, that Mulders' former coach at AGOVV Apeldoorn, John van den Brom, wanted to bring him to his new club ADO Den Haag, but talks for a transfer fell through.[13] During the end of the winter transfer window, in January 2011 Zwolle was reportedly pursuing Mulders for a last minute mid-season transfer.[14] In late April 2011, it was announced that he signed a two-year deal with an option for another year with ADO Den Haag.[12]

Mulders made his UEFA Europa League debut for Den Haag on 4 August 2011,[15] appearing as a substitute for Ahmed Ammi in the 32nd minute against Cypriot club Omonia in the third qualifying round. Den Haag won 1–0 but lost 3–1 on aggregate.[16]

After 11 seasons in the Eerste Divisie, Mulders made his debut in the Eredivisie on 7 August 2011 against Vitesse.[15]

Chiangrai United

In January 2013, it has been reported that Mulders had received an offer from Chiangrai United in the Thai Premier League, but both parties did not reach a final agreement before the winter transfer window closed.[17][18]

Prior to the end of Mulders' contract with ADO Den Haag, and with the support of former teammate Adnan Barakat from Cambuur, Mulders travelled to Thailand in July 2013 to play a test match for Chiangrai United. Chiangrai's new head coach, however, did not extend him an offer to join the team.

Global FC

As a free agent, in July 2013 Mulders lent his services to Global FC ahead their campaign for the Singapore Cup.[19]

Cambuur

On 20 January 2014, Mulders signed an amateur deal with Dutch Eredivisie side Cambuur until the end of the 2013–14 season.[20]

Ceres Negros and Global Cebu

Mulders moved to Ceres Negros, then playing as Ceres in the United Football League, in 2014 after his second Cambuur stint. He later had a second stint with Global (now Global Cebu) and played for them for the first half of the 2018 Philippines Football League season before [21] returning to Ceres in July 2018.[21]

International career

Shortly after the announcement of Mulders' transfer to ADO Den Haag, his friends and a cousin set up a Facebook fanpage for him. The page was then forwarded to the Philippine Football Federation and within a week he was invited to come to Manila to join the national team.[22][23][24] Mulders cited that based on his football resume, video compilations and the fact that he had signed with ADO that he made the selection.[3][23]

In early June 2011, he arrived in Manila and obtained his Philippine passport. He was named into the final squad for their 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification first round match against Sri Lanka.[25] On 29 June 2011, Mulders made his debut for the Philippines in Colombo, as they drew 1–1 with Sri Lanka. Philippines wins the return match in Manila at 4–0 and advances to the second round qualifiers against Kuwait .[26][27] He would miss the Kuwait matches due to a leg wound infection incurred from a sliding tackle in Colombo.[28]

On 7 October 2011, Mulders would again reprise his role in a friendly match against Singapore with a 2–0 loss for the Philippines.[29] Following a friendly match against Nepal on 11 October 2011, the Philippines won 4–0 where Mulders played an instrumental role providing an assist to Phil Younghusband's goal in the 17th minute.[30][31]

Retirement

On 16 March 2016, Azkals team manager Dan Palami confirmed that Mulders has retired from playing at international level.[32] He has since returned to play again for the Azkals.

International goals
Scores and results list the Philippines' goal tally first.[33]
#DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
2012
1.24 November 2012Rajamangala Stadium, Bangkok Thailand1–21–22012 AFF Suzuki Cup
2014
2.28 November 2014Mỹ Đình National Stadium, Hanoi Vietnam1–31–32014 AFF Suzuki Cup
gollark: Factor. The. Prime.
gollark: Shut up it works fine.
gollark: @zogy what is problem??
gollark: Kids these days can't factor a 12-digit prime number, I tell you.
gollark: WHAT?

References
  1. "Paul Mulders profile". AFF Suzuki Cup official website. Archived from the original on 25 March 2013. Retrieved 6 July 2013.
  2. van Batenberg, René (25 February 2008). "Leo Mulders en zijn Apengatje". De Telegraaf Sportfamilie (in Dutch).
  3. Gonzales, Mav C. (10 October 2011). "Know your Azkals: Paul Mulders is a mama's boy". GMA News. Global Media Arts. Retrieved 29 January 2012.
  4. De Jong, Rob (30 September 2005). "Mulders heeft zijn draai gevonden bij Cambuur". Friesch Dagblad (in Dutch). Retrieved 8 June 2011.
  5. Hizon, Charles (8 June 2011). "Talk of the Town: Who is Paul Mulders?". Soccer Central Philippines. Retrieved 8 June 2011.
  6. Roos, Yorick (15 September 2011). "De bijzondere zomer van 'Filippijn' Paul Mulders". AD Haagsche Courant (in Dutch). Retrieved 29 January 2012.
  7. "Uitslagen oefenduels voorbereiding". Voetbal International (in Dutch). 9 August 2003. Retrieved 31 January 2012.
  8. "Zeven spellers weg bij Cambuur". Leeuwarder Courant (in Dutch). 28 March 2007. Retrieved 29 January 2012.
  9. "Mulders van Cambuur naar Omniworld" (in Dutch). FC Update. 22 June 2007. Retrieved 29 January 2012.
  10. "AGOVV haalt Mulders en Van Toor" (in Dutch). JupilerLeague.nl. 3 February 2009. Archived from the original on 7 March 2013. Retrieved 29 January 2012.
  11. "AGOVV Apeldoorn alsnog naar play-offs". de Stentor (in Dutch). 25 January 2010. Retrieved 6 August 2011.
  12. De Ruiter, Jurre (26 April 2011). "ADO legt De Vogel vast en verrast met Mulders" (in Dutch). Voetbal Primeur. Retrieved 8 June 2011.
  13. "AGOVV dreigt na Leeuwin ook Suart en Mulders kwijt te raken" (in Dutch). Voetbal Zone. 19 August 2010. Retrieved 9 June 2011.
  14. Oosterheert, Jeroen (28 April 2011). "Paul Mulders vertrekt naar ADO Den Haag". Almere Vandaag (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 3 September 2011. Retrieved 9 June 2011.
  15. Duijzer, Glenn (9 August 2011). "Paul Mulders: "Immers en Bulykin niet vergelijken, het zijn verschillende spelers" (in Dutch). Haaglanden Voetbal. Retrieved 29 January 2012.
  16. "ADO mist legio kansen en kan Europa League vergeten" (in Dutch). Voetbal Zone. 4 August 2011.
  17. Rolloos, Harold (1 February 2013). "Voetballer Paul Mulders Naar Chiangrai United". Hier is Thailand.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 2013-08-016. Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  18. "Transfermarkt: topclubs houden zich gedeisd". de Stentor (in Dutch). 31 January 2013. Archived from the original on 7 August 2013. Retrieved 6 August 2013.
  19. Decena, Karl (23 July 2013). "Azkals midfielder Paul Mulders beefs up Global for Singapore Cup campaign". InterAKTV. Archived from the original on 23 July 2013. Retrieved 23 July 2013.
  20. Voetbalprimeur.nl (20 January 2014). "Filipijns international als 'amateur' naar Cambuur". Voetbalprimeur.nl. Archived from the original on 25 January 2014. Retrieved 20 January 2014.
  21. Co, Adrian Stewart (19 July 2018). "Ceres lets Uesato go, gets 5 new players". Panay News. Retrieved 19 July 2018.
  22. Tupas, Cedelf (29 June 2011). "Stephan Schrock, Paul Mulders proud Filipinos". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved 29 January 2012.
  23. van Boven, Johan (25 January 2012). "International dankzij Facebook". Spits Nieuws (in Dutch). Retrieved 29 January 2012.
  24. Stravers, Wout (25 January 2012). "Mulders door Facebook Filipijns international". Voetbal Primeur (in Dutch). Retrieved 29 January 2012.
  25. Manahan, John Paul (8 June 2011). "Azkals 23-man WCQ lineup unveiled". Soccer Central Philippines. Retrieved 8 June 2011.
  26. "Match report: Sri Lanka – Philippines". FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. Retrieved 29 January 2012.
  27. "ADO-middenvelder Mulders beleeft Filipijns succes". vi.nl (in Dutch). Voetbal International.
  28. Gonzales, Mav C. (18 July 2011). "Azkal Mulders might not play against Kuwait". GMA News.
  29. Tupas, Cedelf (11 October 2011). "Philippine Azkals play host to Nepal side Tuesday night". Inquirer Sports.
  30. Tupas, Cedelf (11 October 2011). "Philippine Azkals crush Nepal, 4–0". Inquirer Sports.
  31. "Mulders wint met Filippijnen" (in Dutch). ADO Den Haag. 11 October 2011.
  32. "Paul Mulders retired from Philippines national team". Football Channel Asia. 18 March 2016. Retrieved 18 March 2016.
  33. "Paul de la Cruz Mulders - Soccerway profile". soccerway.com.
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