Erik Bakker (born 21 March 1990) is a Dutch former professional footballer who played as a midfielder.[2]

Erik Bakker
Personal information
Date of birth (1990-03-21) 21 March 1990 (age 34)
Place of birth Hoogeveen, Netherlands
Height 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)[1]
Position(s) Midfielder
Youth career
0000–2000 WIJC
2000–2007 FC Zwolle
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2007–2011 FC Zwolle 124 (10)
2011–2017 Cambuur 165 (39)
2017–2018 PEC Zwolle 20 (1)
2018–2019 De Graafschap 19 (0)
2019 Honka 1 (0)
2020–2021 Staphorst 13 (2)
Total 342 (52)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Career

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Zwolle

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Bakker was born in Hoogeveen, Drenthe, Netherlands, and grew up in nearby Koekange.[3][4] He started his football career in the youth department of local amateur club WIJC, before joining FC Zwolle's youth academy in 2000.[5]

On 10 August 2007, he made his professional debut for their first team, replacing Anton Jongsma in the 82nd minute of a 1–1 away draw against Haarlem in the Eerste Divisie.[6] On 7 September 2007, he scored his first professional goal in a 4–1 home win over Den Bosch.[7] Bakker then signed a two-year contract extension with an option for an additional year on 26 September 2007.[8] In February 2009, Zwolle extended his contract again, keeping him a Blauwvinger until 2012.[5]

Bakker would play for Zwolle until 2011, making 138 total appearances for the club, in which he scored 11 goals.[9]

Cambuur

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In June 2011, Bakker signed a two-year contract with Cambuur.[10] On the opening day of the season on 8 August, he debuted for the club, starting and scoring his first goal from a penalty in the 77th minute during a 4–2 away victory against AGOVV.[11] He established himself as a key figure in the first team at the club, playing a pivotal role in Cambuur's clinching of the 2012–13 Eerste Divisie title, which consequently earned them promotion to the Eredivisie. He scored in the final game of the season; a 2–0 away win over Excelsior, which secured the first-place finish.[12] At that point, he had developed into a prolific goalscorer while playing in midfield for Cambuur. He netted 11 goals in 19 league appearances during his first season at the club, followed by 10 goals in 29 league games during the promotion season.[9]

Bakker debuted in the Eredivisie on the opening day of the 2013–14 season. He played the full home game against NAC Breda in a 0–0 draw, starting as a defensive midfielder.[13] On 17 August 2013, he scored his first top-level goal, contributing to his team's 2–0 lead in a 4–1 home victory against Groningen. It was their first Eredivisie win since May 2000.[14][15]

In October 2014, Bakker signed a contract extension, keeping him at Cambuur until 2017.[16] At the conclusion of the 2015–16 season, Cambuur faced relegation back to the Eerste Divisie after three consecutive seasons in the Eredivisie.[17] Bakker had made 80 appearances at the top level, scoring eight goals.[9] He played one more season with Cambuur in the Eerste Divisie before departing from the club. During his six seasons in Leeuwarden, Bakker made a total of 184 appearances, including league and KNVB Cup matches, and scored 40 goals.[9]

Return to Zwolle

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On 24 May 2017, it was announced that Bakker would rejoin PEC Zwolle ahead of the 2017–18 season, formerly known as FC Zwolle.[18] There, he was set to replace Danny Holla, who had left for Twente.[19]

Later career

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On 27 December 2019, Bakker joined VV Staphorst after a short one-month spell at Finland with FC Honka from August to September.[20]

Honours

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Cambuur

References

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  1. ^ "E. Bakker: Profiel". Voetbal International (in Dutch). PXR. Archived from the original on 21 May 2023. Retrieved 29 September 2023.
  2. ^ "Silkeborg sender prøvespiller hjem uden aftale". bold.dk. Retrieved 4 August 2019.
  3. ^ Inan, Johan (5 August 2017). "'PEC Zwolle is in alles de perfecte stap voor mij'". De Stentor (in Dutch). Retrieved 29 September 2023.
  4. ^ Drost, Alexander (6 August 2019). "Voetballer Erik Bakker is op zoek naar eerherstel". Steenwijker Courant (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 29 September 2023. Retrieved 29 September 2023.
  5. ^ a b Eijsden, Hans van (12 February 2009). "Erik Bakker verlengt contract". 1Zwolle (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 29 September 2023. Retrieved 29 September 2023.
  6. ^ "HFC Haarlem – FC Zwolle 1:1 (Eerste Divisie 2007/2008, 1. Round)". WorldFootball.net. HEIM:SPIEL. Archived from the original on 29 September 2023. Retrieved 29 September 2023.
  7. ^ "FC Zwolle – FC Den Bosch 4:1 (Eerste Divisie 2007/2008, 6. Round)". WorldFootball.net. HEIM:SPIEL. Archived from the original on 29 September 2023. Retrieved 29 September 2023.
  8. ^ "FC Zwolle verder met Erik Bakker". 1Zwolle (in Dutch). 26 September 2007. Archived from the original on 29 September 2023. Retrieved 29 September 2023.
  9. ^ a b c d "Erik Bakker » Club matches". WorldFootball.net. HEIM:SPIEL. Archived from the original on 29 September 2023. Retrieved 29 September 2023.
  10. ^ Gerner, Anton (21 June 2011). "Erik Bakker naar Cambuur, Van der Haar niet". De Stentor (in Dutch). Retrieved 30 September 2023.
  11. ^ "AGOVV vs. Cambuur 2–4: Summary". Soccerway. Perform Group. Archived from the original on 7 June 2019. Retrieved 30 September 2023.
  12. ^ a b "Cambuur verrast met promotie". NOS (in Dutch). 3 May 2013. Archived from the original on 30 September 2023. Retrieved 30 September 2023.
  13. ^ "Cambuur vs. NAC Breda 0–0: Summary". Soccerway. Perform Group. Archived from the original on 2 August 2020. Retrieved 30 September 2023.
  14. ^ "Cambuur vs. Groningen 4–1: Summary". Soccerway. Perform Group. Archived from the original on 14 November 2013. Retrieved 30 September 2023.
  15. ^ "SC Cambuur walst voor rust over zwak FC Groningen heen". Voetbal International (in Dutch). 17 August 2013. Archived from the original on 30 September 2023. Retrieved 30 September 2023.
  16. ^ "Leonard Nienhuis en Erik Bakker langer bij SC Cambuur". SC Cambuur (in Dutch). 8 October 2014. Archived from the original on 6 June 2023. Retrieved 30 September 2023.
  17. ^ "Cambuur degradeert na dikke nederlaag bij PSV". RTL Nieuws (in Dutch). 1 May 2016. Archived from the original on 30 September 2023. Retrieved 30 September 2023.
  18. ^ "Erik Bakker keert terug bij PEC Zwolle". RTV Oost (in Dutch). 24 May 2017. Archived from the original on 30 September 2023. Retrieved 30 September 2023.
  19. ^ "Erik Bakker keert terug bij PEC Zwolle". PEC Zwolle (Press release) (in Dutch). 24 May 2017. Archived from the original on 10 June 2017. Retrieved 30 September 2023.
  20. ^ Erik Bakker sluit aan bij de 1e selectie, vvstaphorst.nl, 27 December 2019
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