Robin van der Laan

Infobox Football biography
playername = Robin Van Der Laan


fullname = Robertus Petrus Van Der Laan
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1968|09|05
cityofbirth = Schiedam
countryofbirth = Holland
height =
years = ?–?
1990–1991
1990–1995
1995–1998
1996
1998–2001
clubs = SVV Schiedam
Wageningen
Port Vale
Derby County
Wolves (Loan)
Barnsley
caps(goals) = ? (?)
? (?)
176 (24)
65 (4)
7 (0)
52 (14)

Robertus Petrus (Robin) van der Laan (born September 5 1968 in Schiedam, Holland) is a former professional footballer who spent most of his senior career in English football.

He started his career at SVV Schiedam and Wageningen in the Netherlands before signing for English side Port Vale in February 1991 for a fee of £80,000. Initially signed as a striker, John Rudge converted him into a midfielder.

Instantly recognisable for his mane of long blonde hair, Van der Laan soon became a popular figure with the Vale fans, his bustling style and midfield engine enabled him to settle into the English game very quickly. He scored in front of the Kop in a 2-2 draw with Liverpool in the League Cup in 1991/92, and was part of the team which won the Autoglass Trophy in 1993 and promotion from Division Two the following year.

In the summer of 1995 Robin was sold to Derby County for a fee of £475,00 plus Lee Mills. He was made captain by manager Jim Smith and as well as being an influential member of the team, scoring the goal which sealed promotion to the Premiership in 1996, he also became a fan favourite.

Following a loan spell at Wolves, Van Der Laan signed for Barnsley in 1998 for a free of £325,000. After three years with the Tykes a recurring knee injury forced him to retire from professional football.

External links

*Soccerbase|4334|Robin van der Laan