Football star Stefanie van der Gragt from Heerhugowaard will stop playing football after the World Cup next summer. The 30-year-old central defender says he is looking for new challenges.
The experienced football star has played 101 international matches for the Netherlands so far. “After the summer I can look back on a successful career in which I have experienced everything I wanted to experience as a professional football player. After the World Cup it is time for new challenges,” said Van der Gragt.
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Van der Gragt made her debut for the Orange on March 8, 2013 in the match against Switzerland. After that she became a permanent member of the Dutch team. In 2017 she won the European Championship with the Orange and in 2019 she came second at the World Cup with the Orange Lionesses.
The current national coach Andries Jonker had known for some time that Van der Gragt was going to stop. “A little over a week ago, around the milestone of her 100th international match, I praised her for her intransigence. This typified her throughout her career,” says Jonker.
The 30-year-old football star currently plays for the Italian Internazionale. She previously played for AZ, Telstar, FC Barcelona and Ajax, among others.