Jason van Blerk

Football player infobox
playername = Jason van Blerk


dateofbirth = birth date and age|1968|3|16
cityofbirth = Sydney
countryofbirth = Australia
height = height|m=1.83
position = Attacking Midfielder
youthyears =
youthclubs = AIS
years = 1987–1989
1989–1990
1990–1991
1991–1992
1992
1992–1995
1994–1997
1997–1998
1998–2001
2001–2002
2001–2002
2002–2003
2003–2004
2003–2004
2003–2004
2003–2004
2004–2005
2006
clubs = Blacktown City
APIA Leichhardt
Sint Truiden
APIA Leichhardt
St. George
Go Ahead Eagles
Millwall
Manchester City
West Bromwich Albion
Stockport County
Hull City
Shrewsbury Town
Altrincham
Colwyn Bay
Wollongong City
Runcan F.C. Halton
APIA Leichhardt
caps(goals) =
nationalyears = 1987
1990–2000
nationalteam = Australia U-20
Australia
nationalcaps(goals) =00?? 0(??)
027 0(1)
pcupdate = 17 December 2007
ntupdate = 17 December 2007

Jason van Blerk (born 16 March 1968 in Sydney, Australia) is a former Australian footballer. He plays primarily as a midfielder, but can also play in defense. He has played for many clubs, both overseas and locally. He has also represented Australia both at youth and senior level.

Club Career

Van Blerk started his club career at Blacktown City Demons in Australia. He made his first move to Europe when he signed for Sint Truiden in Belgium in 1990. He then made subsequent moves to Go Ahead Eagles in Holland and Millwall in England.

He was then brought to Manchester City on a free transfer at the start of their 1997–98 campaign by Frank Clark. However, he struggled there and only lasted seven months. West Bromwich Albion then bought him for £250k in March 1998. [citeweb|url=http://www.uit.no/mancity/players/old/vanblerk.html |title=Jason Van Blerk |publisher= Svenn A. Hanssen |accessdate=2008-06-22] He ended up playing 109 games for them (scoring three goals). He left West Bromwich Albion in 2001. He then played for Stockport County, Hull City, Shrewsbury Town, Altrincham and Colwyn Bay, before returning home to Australia, where he signed for Wollongong City in 2003. He left Australia again briefly to play for Runcan F.C. Halton in England, before returning home again to play for APIA Leichardt. He then retired in 2006.

International Career

Jason played for the senior national team 27 times. He scored his only international goal against Croatia in 1992. He made his national team debut against Indonesia after coming on for Tommy McCulloch in the 46th minute at the Senayan Stadium, Jakarta. He did not play any games between 1996 and 1999, mostly due to lack of game time at club level (while he was at Manchester City). He got his last four caps (against Chile, Bulgaria, Czech Republic and Paraguay) in 2000 after regaining form at West Bromwich Albion.

Van Blerk also represented Australia at youth level. He played in the 1987 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Chile.

Trivia

Jason van Blerk is the son of former Socceroo Cliff. [citeweb|url=http://www.ozfootball.net/ark/Players/V/VA.html |title=Australian Player Database - VA |publisher=Ozfootball.net |accessdate=2008-06-22]

References

External Links

* [http://www.ozfootball.net/ark/Players/V/VA.html Jason Van Blerk career stats]