These adventurers play soccer in the most exotic leagues

Do the names Kelle Roos or Thomas Kok mean anything to you? The duo is part of a group of more than a thousand Dutch footballers who are looking for adventure abroad, anywhere in the world. Many people from Brabant are among them.

Dick Teunen (36) from Vlijmen works at FC Utrecht as a content manager. He has been following Dutch footballers abroad closely via his twitter account for about five years now FC The Adventurers.

“Everyone knows names such as Virgil van Dijk and Frenkie de Jong. But there are also footballers who play in the lowest provincial classes in Belgium or in the competition in New Zealand. I could find little information about this on the internet. picked up the glove.”

Especially for the Omroep Brabant radio program WAKKER! Dick put together a team from Brabant. Plate on your lap and enjoy!

Just to lift one tip of the veil: Kelle Roos is 30, comes from Rijkevoort and is a goalkeeper. “As early as 2013, Kelle chose his own goal in football life. He played for years in the English league for various clubs. Today, he plays for Aberdeen FC in the Scottish league,” says Dick.

“Thomas is less known, but he does have a great career.”

The database of FC De Avonturiers is now filled with more than a thousand Dutch players who kick a ball somewhere in the world. “I started with the big names. Then I descended further to the lower classes where some play quite anonymity. I have the strange tic that I want to keep up with all that. With my own research on social media and thanks to tips the list up to date.”

Thomas Kok is 24 and comes from Tilburg. “Thomas is less known, but he does have a great career. He already played in the youth of Royal Antwerp in Belgium. He then moved to the Norwegian league. Today he plays just across the border in Germany at Preussen Münster. Fourth regional league , but a huge stadium.”

Especially for Wake! Dick put together a team from Brabant with adventurers:

Goal:

  • Kelle Roos (30) from Rijkevoort: played in the English league and is now a goalkeeper at Aberdeen FC in Scotland.

Defense:

  • Dragisa Gudelj (24) from Breda: brother of Nemanja, played in Switzerland, Portugal and now in Spain at FC Cordoba.
  • Virgil van Dijk (31) from Breda: plays for FC Liverpool.
  • Ömer Bayram (31) from Breda: has been playing in the Turkish league since 2012. Moved to Galatasaray SK in 2018.
  • Nigel Lonwijk (19) from Goirle: is under contract with Wolverhampton Wanderers FC and is leased to Plymouth Argyle.

Midfield:

  • Mounir el Allouchi (27) from Roosendaal: played in Morocco for FAR Rabat and transferred to Karmiotissa Pano Polemidion in Cyprus.
  • Thomas de Kok (24) from Tilburg: ended up at the German Preussen Münster via the Norwegian competition.
  • Richard van der Venne (30) from Oss: looking for adventure in Australia at Melbourne City FC.

Attack:

  • Alex Schalk (30) from Prinsenbeek: played in Switzerland and Scotland. Now out for Urawa Red Diamonds in Japan.
  • Kevin van Veen (31) from Eindhoven: plays in the Scottish league at Motherwell FC.
  • Sam Lammers (25) from Tilburg: is under contact with Atalanta in Italy, but is on loan to Empoli.

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