Latest news with #BertEsselink
BBC News
11 hours ago
- Sport
- BBC News
United start pre-season with a victory
Dundee United started their pre-season fixtures with a 3-0 win over Brechin at Glebe out by Ross Graham, the captain for the day nodded in an early opener before young wing-back Scott Constable made it winger Harry Welsh got the third and final goal before the break, and Jim Goodwin made wholesale changes at the break with plenty of youngsters signing Bert Esselink, who only joined yesterday, made his non-competitive debut while Kenyan international Richard Odada made a rare United (First-half): Richards; Iovu, Shields, Graham (c); Constable, Camara, Sibbald, Ferry; Welsh, Sapsford, United (Second-half): Adams; Odada, Dewar, Esselink; Strain, Beattie, Sevelj, Gilligan; MacLeod, Stirton, O'Donnell.
BBC News
a day ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Cyprus move paid off as Esselink reaches UK 'target'
Dutch centre-half Bert Esselink believes his decision to ignore advice not to move to Cyprus when he was 20 has paid off after reaching his "target" of playing in the United Kingdom by signing for Dundee 25, Esselink has joined the Scottish Premiership club at the end of his contract with relegated Polish outfit Stal his first interview with United's club website, he explained that, having come through the youth ranks with De Graafschap and having just finished his university degree, he was given the chance to join PAEEK, then in the Cypriot second tier."My girlfriend and I decided to go to Cyprus even though people said don't do it and I am grateful we made that decision at the time," Esselink paid off with a move to APOEL Nicosia, with whom he got a taste of Europa Conference League football."The step to the biggest club in Cyprus was a big one - it makes you bigger as a player," Esselink said. "But there are bigger stages than playing at APOEL."I did not play many minutes, but it was good to experience how much European football can mean for a club."In addition to the chance to play in Conference League again this season, Esselink was attracted to the "history" and "warmth" he felt from Dundee United."When I was young, I always said I wanted to play in the UK," he said. Esselink is not daunted by the Premiership's tough reputation given the Polish Ekstraklasa "style of play is to be aggressive".
BBC News
a day ago
- Sport
- BBC News
United sign 'transformative' Dutch defender Esselink
Dundee United have signed Bert Esselink after 25-year-old centre-half left Stal Mielec following their relegation from the Polish top manager Jim Goodwin expects the Dutchman, who has signed a a two-year contract with a club-held option to extend for a further 12 months, to have a "transformative impact" on his defence."His mobility and bravery allows him to engage with the opposition higher up the pitch and the statistical data reinforces his intelligence when selecting a progressive passing option," Goodwin told United's website."Bert is also comfortable defending in a deeper block, using his awareness to remain compact and defend the box both on the ground and in the air."Esselink came through De Graafschap's academy in his homeland before making his senior debut for Cypriot club PAEEK, helping the Nicosia-based club secure promotion to the top tier for the first release clause was triggered by APOEL Nicosia, but he moved to Olympiakos Nicosia in search of first-team moved to Poland in 2023 and Unied say that during his two seasons with Stal he ranked among "the division's most successful duel combatants, possession winners and forward-pass completionists".However, playing 28 times last season, 22 of them starts, he could not prevent his side dropping to the second tier after finishing 16th of 18 teams in the Ekstraklasa."Bert's arrival will have a transformative impact on our ability to regain possession in key areas and play on the front foot," Goodwin added.
BBC News
2 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
United close in on centre-back
Dundee United are closing in on the signing of towering centre-back Bert Esselink, 25, after he left Polish side Stal Mielec (Courier - print edition).
