Lion Kaak (born 26 June 1991) is a Dutch professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Eerste Divisie club De Graafschap.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 26 June 1991 | ||
| Place of birth | Hengelo, Netherlands | ||
| Height | 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | De Graafschap | ||
| Number | 6 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Pax Hengelo | |||
| 2001–2009 | De Graafschap | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2009–2012 | De Graafschap | 11 | (0) |
| 2012–2013 | AGOVV | 13 | (0) |
| 2013 | Go Ahead Eagles | 5 | (0) |
| 2013–2014 | Valencia B | 6 | (0) |
| 2014–2015 | Achilles '29 | 19 | (0) |
| 2015–2017 | De Graafschap | 42 | (0) |
| 2017–2022 | TOP Oss | 161 | (4) |
| 2022– | De Graafschap | 36 | (0) |
| International career | |||
| 2007 | Netherlands U16 | 3 | (0) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 11:25, 14 January 2024 (UTC) | |||
Club career edit
Kaak played as a youth for Pax Hengelo and then joined local Eredivisie side De Graafschap in 2001.[1] He progressed through the youth system until he was promoted to the first team in 2009. Two years later, Kaak made his professional debut for the club, on 13 March 2011 in a home match against ADO Den Haag, where he replaced Gregor Breinburg.[2]
In June 2012, Kaak signed a two-year contract with AGOVV.[3] Six months later, in January 2013, the club went bankrupt and he joined Go Ahead Eagles on a free until the end of the season.[4][5] In the summer of 2013, he trained with his former club, De Graafschap. In July 2013, Kaak signed with Spanish club Valencia CF Mestalla, the reserve team of Valencia CF.[6][7] He also trained several times with the Valencia first team and on the last matchday of the 2013–14 season, he sat on the bench.[8][9] However, he did not make an appearance.
In 2014, he returned to the Netherlands, where he began playing for second-tier Eerste Divisie club Achilles '29.[10] In the first league match on 9 August against Jong PSV (0–2 away loss), Kaak made his debut in the starting lineup,[11] where he would remain in the following months. On 1 December, he provided an assist from a corner kick to Mehmet Dingil against FC Volendam.[12] Because he played for Achilles '29 on an amateur basis, he was able to sign on a free transfer with his childhood club, De Graafschap, in January 2015, on a one-and-a-half year contract.[13] On 27 January 2015, Kaak made his official return to the club as a 83rd-minute substitute in a 2–0 away win over SC Telstar.[14]
In the summer of 2017, Kaak moved to FC Oss, which became TOP Oss from 1 July 2018.[15][16] In 2019, he signed a contract extension, which would keep him in Oss until 2022.[17]
On 20 June 2022, De Graafschap announced that Kaak would return to the club from the 2022–23 season, his third spell with the club.[18]
International career edit
Kaak has represented the Netherlands at under-16 level, gaining his first cap as a starter in a friendly against Italy on 14 March 2007, before being replaced by Cayfano Latupeirissa in the 58th minute of a 2–1 loss.[19]
Style of play edit
Kaak is right-footed.[20] He typically plays as a defensive midfielder.[21] During his time with TOP Oss, he has been described as a strong personality on the pitch who is "guarding the standards, values and mentality of the club".[17]
Career statistics edit
- As of match played 19 December 2023[22]
| Club | Season | League | Cup | Other | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| De Graafschap | 2009–10 | Eerste Divisie | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | 3 | 0 | |
| 2010–11 | Eredivisie | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 2 | 0 | ||
| 2011–12 | Eredivisie | 9 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2[a] | 0 | 12 | 0 | |
| Total | 11 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 17 | 0 | ||
| AGOVV | 2012–13 | Eerste Divisie | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 13 | 0 | |
| Go Ahead Eagles | 2012–13 | Eerste Divisie | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4[a] | 0 | 9 | 0 |
| Valencia B | 2013–14 | Segunda División B | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 8 | 0 | |
| Achilles '29 | 2014–15 | Eerste Divisie | 19 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 20 | 0 | |
| De Graafschap | 2014–15 | Eerste Divisie | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3[a] | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 2015–16 | Eredivisie | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 0 | |
| 2016–17 | Eerste Divisie | 17 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 18 | 0 | ||
| Total | 42 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 46 | 1 | ||
| TOP Oss | 2017–18 | Eerste Divisie | 27 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 28 | 0 | |
| 2018–19 | Eerste Divisie | 36 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2[a] | 0 | 40 | 0 | |
| 2019–20 | Eerste Divisie | 28 | 2 | 3 | 0 | — | 31 | 2 | ||
| 2020–21 | Eerste Divisie | 35 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | 35 | 1 | ||
| 2021–22 | Eerste Divisie | 35 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | 36 | 1 | ||
| Total | 161 | 4 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 170 | 3 | ||
| De Graafschap | 2022–23 | Eerste Divisie | 20 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 21 | 0 | |
| 2023–24 | Eerste Divisie | 16 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 18 | 0 | ||
| Total | 36 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 39 | 0 | ||
| Career total | 295 | 5 | 17 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 323 | 4 | ||
- ^ a b c d Appearances in the Eredivisie promotion/relegation play-offs
References edit
- ^ "Eigen volk komt een keer eerst op de Vijverberg" (in Dutch). de Volkskrant. 14 March 2011. Retrieved 3 September 2020.
- ^ "Debutant Kaak: "Dit is echt top"". www.soccernews.nl (in Dutch). 14 March 2011. Retrieved 3 September 2020.
- ^ Dusseldorp, Wout (18 June 2012). "Lion Kaak gaat naar AGOVV" (in Dutch). De Gelderlander. Retrieved 3 September 2020.
- ^ "AGOVV failliet verklaard" (in Dutch). Algemeen Dagblad. 8 January 2013. Retrieved 3 September 2020.
- ^ "Clubloze Kaak maakt seizoen af bij Go Ahead". www.fcupdate.nl (in Dutch). 22 February 2013. Retrieved 3 September 2020.
- ^ "Lion Kaak tekent contract bij Valencia" (in Dutch). RTV Oost. 30 July 2013. Retrieved 3 September 2020.
- ^ Torres, David (26 June 2019). "Todos los holandeses de la historia del Valencia CF" (in Spanish). El Desmarque. Retrieved 3 September 2020.
- ^ Arastell, J.M. (16 May 2014). "Lion Kaak es la sorpresa para el partido ante el Celta" (in Spanish). Super Deporte. Retrieved 3 September 2020.
- ^ "Valencia vs. Celta Vigo - 17 May 2014". int.soccerway.com. Perform Group. Retrieved 3 September 2020.
- ^ Loef, Marco (3 August 2014). "Achilles'29 legt Lion Kaak vast" (in Dutch). Omroep Gelderland. Retrieved 3 September 2020.
- ^ Blokland, Bastiaan (9 August 2014). "Achilles verliest seizoensopening van Jong PSV" (in Dutch). Omroep Gelderland. Retrieved 3 September 2020.
- ^ "Hoofdrol Zivkovic, Sparta morst in Limburg" (in Dutch). Voetbal International. 1 December 2014. Retrieved 3 September 2020.
- ^ "Lion Kaak terug naar De Graafschap" (in Dutch). De Graafschap. 23 January 2015. Retrieved 3 September 2020.
- ^ "Telstar vs. De Graafschap - 27 January 2015". int.soccerway.com. Perform Group. Retrieved 3 September 2020.
- ^ "Lion Kaak voor twee seizoenen naar FC Oss" (in Dutch). Regio8. 2 June 2017. Retrieved 3 September 2020.
- ^ "FC Oss wordt weer TOP Oss!". www.fcoss.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 3 November 2017.
- ^ a b Daniels, Daan (22 March 2019). "Lion Kaak drie jaar langer bij TOP Oss" (in Dutch). Brabants Dagblad. Retrieved 3 September 2020.
- ^ "Middenvelder Lion Kaak keert terug bij De Graafschap". De Graafschap (in Dutch). 20 June 2022. Archived from the original on 22 June 2022. Retrieved 22 June 2022.
- ^ "Italië O16 – Nederland O16". OnsOranje. Archived from the original on 23 January 2021. Retrieved 5 March 2023.
- ^ "Lion Kaak on Instagram". instagram.com. 18 April 2017.
Samen alles geven voor de club!#mooiste club van NL!!!
- ^ "Lion Kaak voor twee seizoenen naar FC Oss | REGIO8". regio8.nl (in Dutch). 2 June 2017.
- ^ "L. Kaak: Summary". Soccerway. Retrieved 4 September 2021.
