At six foot five, the 28-year-old FC Twente captain is a towering and commanding presence on the pitch and also one of the tallest players in the Eredivisie. Orlando Engelaar made his international debut for the Netherlands in a friendly against South Korea on June 2, 2007 and his only appearance in the Euro 2008 qualifiers was as a substitute against Belarus. Now he’s a rising star for the Dutch National Team, and an upcoming move to Schalke will surely test his new-found midfield position in the Bundesliga.
On Monday, Orlando Engelaar started and played all 90 minutes against Italy in the Euro 2008 group play, where the Dutch tore apart the 2006 World Cup Champions 3-nil. This was the first time I’ve ever seen him play, and it was love at first sight.
1. I love Orlando’s attacking mentality (I figure it’s only appropriate that I use his first name since we may be married sometime in the near future. I am a Vandervort after all).
2. I love how he combines with this fluid and creative Dutch side.
3. I love his keen sense of balance and pace as a midfielder.
4. I love his vision. His ability see the dangerous spaces between defenders and take advantage of them with penetrating, forward passes.
5. I love the texture and weight he puts on the ball.
6. I love his pure muscle strength.
7. I love how quick he is, especially for such a tall man.
8. I love his fortitude in the air.
9. I love how he broke up the Italians’ attack time and time again.
10. I love that as a forward he was only semi-successful in the Eredivisie for so many years, but a switch to midfield and he’s now a “rising star” at 28-years old.
Check out this article for more following about Netherlands vs. Italy match. Ruud Gullit: Watch Out For Orlando Engelaar. My favorite quote: “With Rino Gattuso foaming in the opposition changing room tomorrow, it will be reassuring to the timid Robben that Engelaar, at 6ft 4in and weighing more than 14st, is on bodyguard duty.”
Let me save you the Google Search on ORLANDO ENGELAAR.
-Engelaar’s Euro 2008 Profile
-World Cup Blog about Orlando Engelaar playing for the Netherlands
-Football.co.uk about his big move to Schalke
-Watch one of Orlando Engelaar’s goals for Twente vs. Ajax on YouTube
-Center Half 12 Blog talks about Italy v Holland Post-Match
-Big Soccer Blog about Orlando Engelaar
-Football Commentator Blog about Orlando Engelaar
-Sky Sports News Archive – all articles about Orlando Engelaar
-Independent.ie News Article Archive about Orlando Engelaar
-Google Image Search
I will be glued to my television for Netherlands vs France this Friday, we’ll see how the big guy does. Is Patrick Vieira going to play? What a match-up that would be in the midfield — 192 cm (Vieira) vs. 196 cm (Engelaar).
I’m anticipating a clash of monumental proportions.
My blog, Soccer Science: The Neurotic Genius of Soccer in the Digital Age, takes a look at the new media technologies that are revolutionizing the way we see the beautiful game. I'm a web geek, former college coach, industry professional and sports fan. 
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Great player isn’t he. I am enjoying him every week on the stands at FC Twente. He will probably leave to Schalke but no contract has been signed just yet.
Popular song in Enschede:
“Engelaar Superstar show us today how good you are!”
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