Erik Meijer (footballer)

Infobox Football biography
playername = Erik Meijer


fullname = Erik Meijer
height = height|m=1.89
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1969|8|2
cityofbirth = Meerssen
countryofbirth = Netherlands
position = Striker
youthyears =
youthclubs = "SV Meerssen"
years = 1988–1989
1989–1990
1989–1990
1990–1991
1991–1993
1993–1995
1995–1996
1996–1999
1999–2001
2000–2001
2000–2003
2003–2006
clubs = Fortuna Sittard
Antwerp
FC Eindhoven
Fortuna Sittard
MVV
PSV
KFC Uerdingen 05
Bayer Leverkusen
Liverpool
→Preston North End (on loan)
HSV
Alemannia Aachen
"'Total 1988-2006
caps(goals) = 14 (1)
00 0(0)
14 0(5)
26 0(5)
66 0(34)
40 0(13)
32 0(11)
84 0(16)
24 0(0)
9 0(0)
58 0(11)
92 0(19)
"'459 (115)
nationalyears = 1993
nationalteam = Netherlands
nationalcaps(goals) = 01 0(0)

Erik Meijer (born August 2, 1969 in Meerssen, Limburg) is a retired Dutch soccer player. Standing at 189 cm, he was known as a header specialist.

Meijer started his career at Fortuna Sittard (1987-89), and broke through in the early 1990s at Dutch Eredivisie club MVV Maastricht and was transferred to PSV Eindhoven in 1994, where he failed to play much because Ronaldo, Luc Nilis and Wim Kieft blocked the striker positions.

He then moved to German Bundesliga struggler KFC Uerdingen in 1995, where he was one of the few bright spots in a hapless squad, and was picked up by Bayer Leverkusen. There, he was paired up with Ulf Kirsten and formed one of the most intimidating striker duos of the Bundesliga.

After successful years, Meijer moved to Liverpool FC in 1999, where he failed to make an impression next to Michael Owen and Robbie Fowler. He was therefore loaned out to Preston North End for one season. He returned to the Bundesliga and joined Hamburger SV in December 2000. Meijer became a cult hero at Anfield despite rarely making the first team, and he was christened 'Mad Erik' for his never say die attitude and love for the club. He joined Liverpool fans in Dortmund prior to the 2001 UEFA Cup, where he drank and sang with Reds fans.

But it was only after moving to Second Bundesliga club Alemannia Aachen, in 2003, where he finally regained success. In the autumn of his career, his strong play and dressing room presence propelled Aachen into the German Cup finals in 2003-04, losing to Werder Bremen, but earning a ticket into the UEFA Cup (as Bremen were German champions) and rejuvenating Alemannia financially. He was also named captain for the first time in his career. Meijer also was essential for Aachen's promotion into the Bundesliga after 36 years, in 2005-06.

Meijer ended his career that summer, stating he wanted to finish in style after this last big success. He took on a post in the management of Alemannia Aachen. But after a very short time he was appointed assistant coach of the newly arrived Bundesliga team, working with Michael Frontzeck, who succeeded Dieter Hecking in September 2006.

Erik is a patron of the newly formed AFC Liverpool, a club run by the fans of Liverpool FC.

International career

Meijer has collected one cap for the Netherlands, in 1993.

External links

* [http://www.erik-meijer.de Erik Meijer fansite] (In German)