Biography
Who is Rafael van der Vaart?
Early life and career beginnings
Rafael van der Vaart was born in Heemskerk, Netherlands, to a Dutch father and a Spanish mother. He grew up on a caravan park and learned how to play football in the streets before joining a local club called De Kennemers in Beverwijk.
At the age of ten, Rafael joined the Ajax youth academy. He worked his way through the youth ranks alongside national teammates and eventually made his debut for the senior team as a teenager.
Club career highlights
Rafael played as an attacking midfielder for Ajax and was voted European Talent of the Year. Despite suffering a serious knee injury that required an operation, he scored many goals and helped the team win league titles.
In 2005, Rafael moved to German club Hamburger SV, where he finished his first season as the team top scorer and won the UEFA Intertoto Cup. He later transferred to Real Madrid, signing a five-year contract, and scored a hat-trick against Sporting de Gijon.
Rafael also played for Tottenham Hotspur before returning to Hamburger SV. In the later stages of his career, he had brief spells playing in Spain and Denmark before announcing his retirement in 2018.
International career and darts
Rafael earned 109 caps for the Netherlands between 2001 and 2013. He represented the country at three UEFA European Championships and two FIFA World Cups, reaching the final in 2010.
In 2019, Rafael began his darts career by joining the British Darts Organisation after previously finishing his professional football playing days.
Rafael van der Vaart height and personal life
Rafael stands at a height of 176 centimeters. Throughout his career, his personal life often attracted media attention during his time playing for various clubs in Europe.
His family includes his spouse Sylvie Meis, his partner Estavana Polman, and his child Damian van der Vaart. Rafael remains well known in Dutch football history for his skill on the pitch.
Birthday and age
Rafael van der Vaart was born on February 11, 1983, which makes Rafael 43 years old today. That birthday falls under the Aquarius sign. Rafael shares the date with 67 other famous people.
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