Leroy Fer
Leroy Johan Fer is a Dutch professional footballer who plays as a central midfielder for Gulf United. He formerly represented the Netherlands national team, making eleven appearances between 2010 and 2014.
Fer has various nicknames. In his youth, he was nicknamed "De Uitsmijter" by Feyenoord youth coach Jean-Paul van Gastel for his strong physical appearance. Other nicknames are "Lerra" and "Ferovic". Cor Pot, coach of the Netherlands under-21 national team, compared Fer with Patrick Vieira. According to Pot, both players show many similarities, on and off the field. He has also been compared to Frank Rijkaard.
Early life
Fer was born and raised in Zoetermeer, South Holland. He is the first child of parents from Curaçao. His paternal grandfather was of Surinamese descent. Fer's maternal grandfather was a football player in Curaçao, while his father, Lesley Fer, was a baseball player. Fer has one younger brother, Leegreg, who played for the Feyenoord under-17 team, a sister and his cousin Patrick van Aanholt is a footballer for Galatasaray.Club career
Youth career
Fer started his youth career at the local Zoetermeer club DWO. In his first full season, his team won friendly matches against youth teams from professional sides, like Sparta Rotterdam and Feyenoord. However, he stayed at DWO until age nine. Together with youth friend Kaj Ramsteijn, Fer accepted the invitation to join the Feyenoord's youth academy. He later progressed through the academy and later Jong Feyenoord.Feyenoord
Breakthrough (2007–2009)
Fer had his breakthrough in Feyenoord's first team in the season 2007–08 and was first called up to the first team ahead of the match against FC Groningen on 25 November 2007 but did not play. He made his official debut for the club under the management of Bert van Marwijk and Fer replaced Nuri Şahin in the 84th minute in the Eredivisie home at age 17, in a 6–0 win match against Heracles Almelo on 2 December 2007. Four days later, on 6 December 2007, Fer signed his first professional contract with Feyenoord, keeping him at De Kuip until summer 2012. This led manager van Marwijk comment on his potential, saying: "Leroy is a footballer with a lot of potential, but you have to be careful with a boy like that. He is still a freshman A-junior and I don't want to destroy him immediately. I think he could handle it but that has yet to become apparent in practice. Leroy makes a stable, calm impression and adapts easily. He does not say much, but he is not introverted either. Leroy is well integrated into the group, but that is always the case with good football players." He was active in 13 Eredivsie matches in his first season, mainly coming in as a substitute. Due to injuries in the club's first team squad, Fer made his first appearance in the starting line-up in the Eredivisie away match against rivals, Ajax, losing 3–0 on 3 February 2008. Fer started on the right back position, which he continued to do so for four matches in a row. On 30 March 2008, he scored his first Eredivisie goal in the away match against NAC Breda, as Feyenoord won 3–1. Fer was involved in the squad for the final of KNVB Cup, coming on in the 71st minute as the club were champions by beating Roda JC 2–0, therefore qualified for the UEFA Cup next season. However, Feyenoord was subjected of investigations over claims of his eligibility while playing for Jong Feyenoord, leading an investigation from the KNVB and the club themselves. An investigation was conducted and Jong Feyenoord was deducted points, resulting in Jong Sparta Rotterdam winning the competition.In the 2008–09 season, Fer slowly became a first team regular. New Feyenoord coach Gertjan Verbeek often positioned the player on the central attacking midfielder position behind striker Roy Makaay. On 18 September 2008, Fer made his official European debut, as he was named in the starting line-up in the UEFA Cup home match against Kalmar FF. Feyenoord lost the match 0–1, but in the return match in Sweden, Fer scored the winning goal in the 1–2 victory, securing a place in the group stage, which was later credited as own goal by Emin Nouri. Three weeks later on 29 October 2008, he scored his first official goal for the club, in a 2–1 loss against Sparta Rotterdam. This was followed up by scoring his second goal of the season, in a 4–0 win against Roda JC. After missing one match due to illness, Fer scored on his return, in a 3–1 win against ADO Den Haag on 23 November 2008. A month later on 26 December 2008, he scored a brace, in a 3–1 win against NAC Breda. It wasn't until on 15 March 2009 when Fer scored his sixth goal of the season, in a 1–0 win against PSV Eindhoven. However, Fer played in both legs of the play-offs round against NAC Breda, as Feyenoord lost 7–2 on aggaragate. Despite being minor injuries throughout the 2008–09 season, he made forty–one appearances and scoring six times in all competitions. During the season, various European top clubs showed interest in the Feyenoord talent, including Juventus, but Feyenoord refused any cooperation.
Recognition (2009–2011)
Ahead of the 2009–10 season, Fer switched number shirt from twenty–eight to fourteen. In the opening game of the season, he scored his first goal of the season, in a 2–0 win against NEC Nijmegen. For the 2009–10 season, however, Fer lost his status as talent and grew out to be an important player. While he wandered through various playing positions in the previous seasons, from right back to striker, Fer was now constantly placed on the defensive midfielder position by new Feyenoord coach Mario Been. His next goal came on 24 September 2009, in the KNVB Cup away, in a 5–0 win against Harkemase Boys in the second round of the KNVB Beker on 24 September 2009. This was followed up by scoring in the next match, in a 2–0 win against NAC Breda. On 20 October 2009, Feyenoord's new technical director, Leo Beenhakker, criticized the club's first team squad, but at the same time praised Fer for his importance within the team. Three days later, Feyenoord captain Giovanni van Bronckhorst even claimed Fer to be "unmissable" for the squad in Feyenoord TV, while Netherlands national team head coach Bert van Marwijk admitted he was following Fer's development closely and was getting very optimistic about him for a possible call-up. He then played in both legs of KNVB Cup Final against rivals' Ajax, as the club lost 6–1 on aggregate. Despite missing three matches through suspension in the 2009–10 season, Fer went on to make thirty–eight appearances and scoring three times in all competitions.Ahead of the 2010–11 season, Fer was linked with a move away from Feyenoord, as Premier League club Everton and FC Twente were interested in signing him, but he ended up staying at the club. For the 2010–11 season, Fer's importance for Feyenoord was illustrated after being named the vice-captain of the squad. Upon given the captaincy, he said: "I have already played a number of matches. Then you have to look further and you are no longer a talent. That is why the trainer has made me second captain. I don't feel it as pressure, it is positive and gives a good feeling." Fer was also given a number eight shirt, succeeding Giovanni van Bronckhorst. In the opening game of the season, he scored his first goal of the season, in a 3–1 win against FC Utrecht. Fer scored his second goal of the season, in a 1–0 win against Gent in the first leg of the UEFA Europa League's play–off round. After the club's elimination in the return leg losing 2–0, he was able to help Feyenoord bounce back from defeat by scoring his third goal of the season, and setting up one of the goals, in a 4–0 win against Vitesse on 29 August 2010. Since the start of the 2010–11 season, Fer continued to establish himself in the first team, playing in the central midfield position, though at times, he acknowledged not performing well. Vlaar captained his first match of the season after Ron Vlaar suffered an injury and was substituted at half time, as the club lost 2–1 against rivals, Ajax on 19 September 2010. In a follow–up match against Roda JC in the third round of the KNVB Cup, he had his penalty saved at extra time, as Feyenoord went on to lose 4–3 on penalties following a 1–1 draw throughout the 120 minutes. However, in a match against PSV Eindhoven on 24 October 2010, Vlaar suffered a knee injury and was substituted, as the club went on to lose 10–0. Initially out for weeks, he was eventually sidelined for the next four months. After returning to training in January, Fer made his return to the first team from injury, coming on as a 64th-minute substitute, in a 1–1 draw against Vitesse on 6 February 2011. Having his playing time coming from the substitute bench, he slowly began to retain his place in the first team for the rest of the 2010–11 season. It wasn't until on 10 April 2011 when Fer scored his fourth goal of the season, as well as, setting up the fourth goal of the game, in a 4–0 win against FC Utrecht. At the end of the 2010–11 season, he went on to make twenty–six appearances and scoring four times in all competitions.
Earlier in the 2010–11 season, Feyenoord was determined to keep Fer by opening talks over a new contract. On 18 September 2010, the contract talks officially commence. However, the contract talks was put on hold in December, due to needing more time and it has resumed beyond that point. In April 2011, he wanted to still maintain his commitment with Feyenoord. In the summer transfer window, Fer continued to be in the transfer speculation, leading clubs, such as, Napoli, Fiorentina, Sporting CP and FC Twente were interested in him. But the club were determined to keep the hold of Fer and Georginio Wijnaldum. It was reported on 11 July 2011 that he refused to sign a contract with Feyenoord, causing a rift between the two parties. The incident led to his relationship with the club's supporters to be deteriorated, who even sent him an obituary in his letterbox. Fer later said about Feyenoord's supporters: "This club has a large following and they are great supporters. There are only people who do this and that is a shame. They can be supporters with too much emotion, but the real Feyenoord fans are fantastic and always will be. It is purely a sporting choice, because I want to continue to develop. My feeling for the club Feyenoord does not change anything. I continue to love the club, I have been playing there for twelve years." He later said about looking forward to play under the new management of Ronald Koeman. But manager Koeman later issued an ultimatum to Fer that he must either stay at Feyenoord or leave.
Amid the transfer speculation in the summer transfer window of 2011, Fer made his 100th appearance for Feyenoord in the opening game of the season, in a 2–0 win against SBV Excelsior. After the match, RTV Rijnmond named him the Player of the Week. This was followed up by scoring his first goal of the season, in a 3–0 win against Roda JC. Two weeks later on 28 August 2011, he scored his second goal of the season, in a 2–2 draw against SC Heerenveen in what turned out to be last appearance for the club and didn't play for Feyenoord eight years later.