Richard Knopper

Richard Knopper (born 29 August 1977) is a Dutch former footballer who played as an attacking midfielder.

Richard Knopper
Knopper playing for Den Haag in 2009
Personal information
Date of birth (1977-08-29) 29 August 1977
Place of birth Rijswijk, Netherlands
Height 1.77 m (5 ft 9 1⁄2 in)
Playing position(s) Attacking midfielder
Youth career
1984–1988 RVC Rijswijk
1988–1993 Feyenoord
1993–1997 Ajax
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1997–2004 Ajax 67 (19)
2002–2003 → Aris (loan) 21 (1)
2003–2004 → Heerenveen (loan) 32 (9)
2004–2006 Vitesse 47 (8)
2006–2010 Den Haag 85 (17)
2010–2011 PSM 18 (3)
2011–2012 Haaglandia 15 (3)
Total 285 (60)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Club career

Born in Rijswijk, Knopper began his career with Feyenoord but, still in his youth, moved to rivals AFC Ajax, making his official debut in November 1997 against Sparta Rotterdam. In 1999, he was voted by club supporters as Most Talented Player, receiving the Marco van Basten Trophy; the following year he scored 15 Eredivisie goals as a midfielder, but his team could only finish fifth.

A regular under Jan Wouters, Knopper saw his playing time reduce when Co Adriaanse took over as head coach in 2000. He was sidelined with injury for almost the entire season, playing only eight matches that year and appearing slightly more in the following, which would be his last.

In May 2002, Knopper had a trial with Premier League side Sunderland and played in that predicament in the testimonial match for Niall Quinn with the Republic of Ireland on the 14th.[1] From 2002 to 2004 he served two loans, first with Greece's Aris Thessaloniki F.C. then with SC Heerenveen, slightly reviving his career with the latter; upon his Ajax release in summer 2004, he spent two additional campaigns with Vitesse Arnhem, appearing regularly.

After some problems with Vitesse manager Aad de Mos, Knopper was forced to leave and joined ADO Den Haag. In July 2007 a three-year contract was agreed, with the player netting again in double figures (ten) in 2008–09, crucial to help in a narrow escape from relegation; in the 2010 summer, aged 33, he was released.

In January 2011, Knopper moved to Liga Primer Indonesia club PSM Makassar, leaving after a couple of months and signing with lowly Haaglandia back in his country, where he ended his career.[2]

References
  1. "Sunderland 0 Republic of Ireland 3 (Niall Quinn Testimonial)". 1 Sunderland. 14 May 2002. Archived from the original on 7 July 2011. Retrieved 9 March 2011.
  2. "Remon van Bochoven: "Rijnsburgse Boys speelt altijd om de prijzen"" [Remon van Bochoven: “Rijnsburgse Boys always play for prizes”] (in Dutch). Voetbaluitkatwijk. 16 March 2012. Archived from the original on 11 April 2012. Retrieved 27 April 2012.
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