Meet Emmanuel Van de Blaak: Nigerian-born defender with a Dutch name
Emmanuel Van de Blaak is one name that will make people pass this PSV defender as a Dutchman by origin but he is a Nigerian.
Emmanuel was born in Lagos , Nigeria but has spent his life in Netherlands and now has Dutch citizenship.
The teenager has gone on to represent the Dutch at U-15 and U-17 level.
In this report, SportsRation introduces this highly-rated young player who is still eligible to represent the Super Eagles of Nigeria.
WHEN WAS HE BORN
Emmanuel Van de Blaak was born in Lagos, Nigeria on the 15th of February, 2005
WHICH POSITION DOES HE PLAY
He plays as a central defender. With his right-foot the strongest, he can also operate as a right-back.
WHERE DID HE START PLAYING FOOTBALL
Emmanuel started playing football at advendo and RKVV Jeka before he signed for Willem 11 in 2015 aged 10.
HIS CAREER TO DATE
It was at Willem 11 that Emmanuel began to flourish and dream of a football career.
After five years with Willem 11 youth teams, the teenager was scouted and signed by Jong PSV and has grown in statue and pedigree through the youth ranks and is now considered ripe for first team action.
Emmanuel Van de Blaak made his PSV senior team debut vs Bodo Glimit in a UEFA Europa League match in 2022.
INTERNATIONAL FUTURE
At the moment, the youngster is representing the Dutch at Youth level.
While he plays for the youth team at PSV, his senior national team career is not up for debate.
That will definitely change when he begins to play regularly for the Ruud Van Nistelrooy tutored senior team.
It will be interesting to see a Van de Blaak on the Super Eagles of Nigeria roster – that is if he changes nationality to his fatherland like William Troost-Ekong who had similar dutch-nigeria switch in 2015 .
