Biography
Who is Edson Braafheid?
Early career and professional start
Edson Braafheid began his professional football path at FC Utrecht in 2003. He remained with this Eredivisie club for several years, eventually making 81 appearances for the side. His early work as a defender helped him gain attention in the Dutch league system. In 2004, he was part of the Utrecht squad that secured the Johan Cruyff Shield.
In 2007, his contract with Utrecht expired, and he moved to FC Twente on a free transfer. Under the guidance of coach Fred Rutten, he adapted to a new role on the field, playing as a central defender rather than his usual position as a left-back. He made his debut for Twente against Feyenoord on February 10, 2007.
International experience and World Cup appearance
Edson Braafheid has represented the Netherlands at various levels, including the U-21 team. In 2006, he was a member of the squad that won the UEFA U-21 Championship held in Portugal. His debut for the full Netherlands national team occurred on February 11, 2009, during a match against Tunisia.
He was selected for the preliminary squad for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. On May 27, 2010, manager Bert van Marwijk confirmed that he would be part of the final 23-man roster. During the final match of the tournament, he entered the game as a substitute. The Netherlands ultimately lost the match, finishing as the tournament runner-up, and he received a silver medal alongside his teammates.
Time with major European clubs
In June 2009, Edson joined the German Bundesliga club Bayern Munich following a transfer deal worth two million euros. He struggled to secure a spot in the starting lineup during the first half of the season. Seeking more playing time to improve his chances for the World Cup, he moved on loan to the Scottish club Celtic in February 2010. He made his debut for Celtic on February 7, 2010, in a Scottish Cup victory against Dunfermline Athletic.
After his time in Scotland, he returned to the Bundesliga, joining 1899 Hoffenheim in January 2011. He debuted for the team in February 2011 during a 3-2 win against 1. FC Kaiserslautern. Later in his career, in August 2014, he signed with the Italian club S.S. Lazio on a free transfer. He stayed with the club and renewed his contract in July 2015.
Later playing years
Following his time in Italy, he returned to his original club, FC Utrecht, signing a one-year contract in August 2016. He eventually ended his tenure there in January 2018 due to family reasons and a desire for more playing time. Later that year, he joined the American club Austin Bold FC as one of their first three signings. He debuted for the team in June 2019.
He continued his career by joining the Palm Beach Stars, a team in the Premier American Soccer League, in November 2020. Currently, he works as a player representative for the Tevreden Group.
Birthday and age
Edson Braafheid was born on April 8, 1983, which makes Edson 43 years old today. That birthday falls under the Aries sign. Edson shares the date with 60 other famous people.
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