Michael Mols

Michael Mols

Personal information
Full name	Michael Alexander Mols
Date of birth	17 December 1970 (1970-12-17) (age 40)
Place of birth	Amsterdam, Netherlands
Height	1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Playing position	Striker
Youth career
	Geuzenveld
	Eendracht '82
	Blauw Wit
1984–1990	Ajax
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
1990–1991	Ajax	0	(0)
1991–1993	Cambuur	43	(13)
1993–1996	Twente	107	(26)
1996–1999	Utrecht	94	(49)
1999–2004	Rangers	98	(38)
2004–2005	Utrecht	14	(1)
2005–2007	Den Haag	60	(8)
2007–2009	Feyenoord	39	(4)
Total		455	(139)
National team
1995–1999	Netherlands	6	(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals).

Michael Alexander Mols (born 17 December 1970) is a retired Dutch footballer, who played as a striker.

Club career

Born in Amsterdam to Indo (Eurasian) parents, Mols, a product of local AFC Ajax's youth system, never appeared officially for its first team, making his professional debuts in the second division, with Cambuur Leeuwarden, which he helped obtain promotion in 1992. Early into the following year, he signed with another first-divisioner, FC Twente, continuing to score regularly with this and his following club, FC Utrecht.

In the 1999 summer, Mols signed with Scottish giants Rangers. Mols made a tremendous start at Rangers, scoring nine goals in his first nine Scottish Premier League matches. He scored twice in a 4–1 win against PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League and scored four goals against Motherwell, who had former Ranger Andy Goram in goal. However, during a UEFA Champions League clash against FC Bayern Munich, he collided with opposing goalkeeper Oliver Kahn, which resulted in a serious knee injury.

In the following years, Mols endured a tough rehabilitation process,^[1][2] eventually recovering fully and scoring 13 times in 27 matches during the 2002–03 championship-winning season, which earned him a one-year extension in his contract.^[3] In December 2002, he notably scored the winner in the Old Firm contest against Celtic (3–2),^[4] and left club and country in June 2004, having collected a total of seven titles.

After an unassuming year with Utrecht, Mols signed with ADO Den Haag, where he played two seasons and netted eight league goals combined. At the end of 2006–07, as his side relegated to the second division, he decided to retire, at almost 37.

However, he later reconsidered; after an unsuccessful trial with Australian club Perth Glory FC,^[5] he signed a one-year deal with Feyenoord Rotterdam, as cover for also recently signed Roy Makaay.^[6][7] He retired for good at the end of 2008–09 (18 matches, two goals).

International career

During a four-year span, Mols won six caps for Holland, the first coming in 1995.

Honours

Rangers

• Scottish League: 1999–2000, 2002–03
• Scottish Cup: 1999–2000, 2001–02, 2002–03
• Scottish League Cup: 2001–02, 2002–03

Feyenoord

• Dutch Cup: 2007–08

References

1. ^ Pars will not rush Rossi; BBC Sport, 21 October 2000
2. ^ On-off debut for Pars' Rossi; BBC Sport, 8 November 2000
3. ^ Mols re-signs for Rangers; BBC Sport, 15 June 2003
4. ^ Gers win Old Firm thriller; BBC Sport, 7 December 2002
5. ^ Mols won't be joining Glory; TheWorldGame.com, 2 July 2007
6. ^ Feyenoord presenteert morgen pinch-hitter Mols (Feyenoord presents goal-getter Mols tomorrow), FCUpdate, 8 July 2007 (Dutch)
7. ^ Michael Mols toegevoegd aan selectie Feyenoord; Feyenoord's official website, 9 July 2007 (Dutch)

External links

• Beijen profile (Dutch)
• Stats at Voetbal International (Dutch)
• Michael Mols career stats at Soccerbase
• Michael Mols at National-Football-Teams.com
• Michael Mols profile and stats at Wereld van Oranje (Dutch)

Persondata
Name	Mols, Michael Alexander
Alternative names	Mols, Michael
Short description	Football player
Date of birth	1970-12-17
Place of birth	Amsterdam, Netherlands
Date of death
Place of death