PSV Eindhoven (Netherlands),
FC Barcelona (Spain), Chelsea (England), Middlesbrough (England),
Liverpool FC (England)
Honours
1999 Primera
League Champions (FC Barcelone) 2004 League Cup winner (Middlesbrough) 2002 FA Cup Finals (Chelsea)
Biography
Boudewijn Zenden (Bolo Zenden) (born August 15, 1976 in
Maastricht) is a Dutch footballer; a left midfielder and
occasionally a defender. Zenden currently plays for Liverpool in
the English Premiership.
Prior to joining Liverpool, Zenden played for PSV Eindhoven
(1994-98), Barcelona (1998-2001), Chelsea (2001-03), and
Middlesbrough (2003-05). He joined Barcelona in 1998 from PSV as
part of the large Dutch contingent under then-coach Louis van
Gaal but saw his first-team appearances limited by the form of
Marc Overmars who played in Zenden's favoured position.
In March 2004, he scored the game winner in the League Cup Final
against Bolton Wanderers to give Middlesbrough their first major
trophy. Originally on loan with the club from Chelsea, the move
to Boro was made permanent after the triumph but Zenden stayed
only one more year with the team, signing a contract with
Liverpool on July 4, 2005 after a free transfer.
Zenden has earned 40 caps for the Dutch national team (as of the
end of 2004), and played for his country in the 1998 World Cup,
Euro 2000 and Euro 2004. He even scored a goal in the 1998 World
Cup against Croatia in the 3rd placing playoff with a wonderful
solo run and a rocket of a shot. He was also rather well-known
after scoring the goal for attempting to do a somersault in
celebration but botching it, most probably buoyed by the joy of
scoring. Under current Dutch coach Marco van Basten, however, he
saw himself excluded from selection for the national squad
alongside Mark van Bommel and Clarence Seedorf.
Since late 2004 Zenden has not been called up to the Dutch
national squad. His continued absence raised a few eyebrows
among Dutch soccer fans as Zenden's performances for his club
were being praised by his coaches and fans alike.
In December 2005, Zenden sustained a bad knee injury which has
ruled him out of the game for a long period. A full recovery is
expected to take several months. It has been agreed that
Zenden's chances of World Cup selection for the Netherlands are
now very slim. The World Cup, which is held in Germany, will
start on the 9th of June 2006.
An interesting piece of trivia about Zenden is that he is also a
black-belt in judo and was the regional champion in his hometown.
