Stijn Schaars

Football player infobox
playername= Stijn Schaars


dateofbirth = birth date and age|1984|1|11
cityofbirth = Gendt
countryofbirth = Netherlands
height = 177 cm
currentclub = AZ
clubnumber = 8
position = defensive midfielder/left-half
youthyears = 2004
clubs = Vitesse Arnhem AZ
years = 2002-05 2005-
caps(goals) = 55(5) 42(6)
nationalyears = 2006
nationalteam = Netherlands
nationalcaps(goals) = 6 (0)
pcupdate = 6 May 2007
ntupdate = 15 November 2006

Stijn Schaars (born January 11, 1984 in Gendt) is a Dutch footballer, currently playing for AZ Alkmaar in the Eredivisie. The left-footed Schaars is a versatile player who can play either as a defensive midfielder or as a left-sided midfielder and has grown into being one of the most important players for AZ being captain of the team on many occasions. He is known for his tough tackling and good passing.

He began his career at Vitesse Arnhem and he made his debut at the club on March 9, 2003 in a 4-1 away defeat to FC Utrecht. In 2005 he transferred to AZ.

His debut for the national team came on August 16, 2006, as he started in a friendly versus Republic of Ireland which the Netherlands won 4-0. Earlier that year he was the captain of the Dutch side that won the UEFA U-21 Championship 2006.

An ankle injury prevented Schaars from taking part in most of the 2006-07 season and he didn't play a single Eredivisie game during the following season. This effectively ruled out his chances of taking part in EURO 2008 with the Netherlands.

There are strong rumours that Schaars is a target of Rangers F.C boss Walter Smith who rates the Dutchman very highly. It has been noted in the Dutch sports magazine Voetbal International that Rangers assistant manager Ally McCoist was sent on a spying mission by Walter Smith and was spotted at an Eredivisie league game between AZ and SC Heerenveen on May 21, 2008 and was believed to be watching Schaars.