When Frenkie de Jong was born, his parents chose to name him after the English pop band “Frankie Goes to Hollywood,” which originated in Liverpool in the 1980s. This choice hints at an interesting story behind the Dutch midfielder’s name. In this article, we’ll explore Frenkie’s childhood and his upbringing in Arkel, a town in South Holland. We’ll also introduce you to his parents: John de Jong, who works as a community service officer managing parking restrictions, and Marjon Schuchhard-de Bruijn, who works in home care.
An important aspect of this article covers Frenkie de Jong’s early football beginnings. He started playing football at six years old when his father enrolled him at the local amateur club ASV Arkel. We’ll also delve into the pivotal events at the age of eight, which marked a turning point in his football career and set him on the path to the fame he enjoys today.
Preamble:
Our biography of Frenkie de Jong delves into his childhood, early life, and family background. You’ll learn about his parents, John de Jong (his father), his siblings (including his brother Youri), and his grandparents.
We’ll also explore his journey before he became famous, how he rose to prominence, his relationships, and his personal life. While many know of his midfield versatility, few have read an in-depth account of his life. So, let’s dive into the intriguing story of Frenkie de Jong.
Frenkie de Jong Childhood Story – Early Life & Family Background:
Super Frenkie De Jong was born on May 12th, 1997, in Arkel, Netherlands, and he shared his birthday with Brazilian football star Marcelo.
Young Frenkie came from a footballing family; his mother played football, and his father, John, was an amateur footballer who played for ASV Arkel’s first team. Additionally, Frenkie’s grandfather was also an amateur footballer, and his younger brother, Youri, plays for the A1 team of ASV.
Frankie grew up playing football in his hometown team, ASV Arkel, to the delight of his sports-loving parents, who admired his interest in the sport. According to the Dutch player:
“I was always found playing football in the village with friends. It was a sport I enjoyed playing whenever I did not have to go to school”
Frenkie was good at playing football, even at an extremely young age, prompting interest from well-established academics who sought to take him from his local club, a fact his father succinctly revealed in the following manner:
“scouts were already at the door When Frenkie was five years old.”
Career Buildup:
The young blonde-haired Frenkie was just seven when his father felt he was ready for serious competitive football.
In 2004, Frenkie had trials with both Dutch giants Feyenoord and mid-table club Willem II. He performed well at both, allowing him the choice of where he wanted to continue his football journey.
Though extremely young, Frenkie instinctively chose mid-table club Willem II over Feyenoord. The choice came off as surprising to his family, given the fact that they were die-hard Feyenoord supporters. A club that once had huge success with Steven Berghuis.
However, it has, in the long run, been proven to be well thought of by the Dutch.
Road to Fame:
It was at the youth systems of Willem II that Frenkie built and developed traits that are characteristics of his present style of play, including his admirable ability to make the hardest of things look ridiculously easy.
The ambitious youngster progressed through the ranks of the club, impressing his coach at different levels, particularly Willem II’s under-15 coach, Jos Bogers, who never ceases to speak of the natural talent that passed through his watch.
“I had an interview for the Willem II website and was asked about my favourite player. Obviously, most coaches name Cristiano Ronaldo or Leo Messi, but I said Frenkie De Jong,” Bogers said. He was fantastic technically.
That is a natural talent. Some guys need to work a lot in order to reach a certain level, but Frenkie didn’t have to train to show his quality.”
Notes Bogers about Frenkie’s impressive beginnings.
Frenkie de Jong Biography – Rise to Fame:
After completing the entire youth system at Willem II, Frenkie made his Eredivisie debut on May 10, 2015, in a match where his team secured a 1-0 home victory against ADO Den Haag (Sem Steijn‘s former team).
Following this promising debut, several clubs, including Ajax and PSV, showed interest in him. Frenkie chose to join Ajax, signing a four-year contract with the club in the summer of 2015.
At Ajax, Frenkie initially played for the club’s reserve team, Jong Ajax, where he quickly made a significant impact. His standout performances led to his promotion to the senior team in 2016.
Once promoted to the first team, Frenkie played a crucial role in leading Ajax to the 2017 Europa League final. His standout season also earned him the Jupiler League’s Talent of the Season Award. Under Erik ten Hag, Frenkie experienced a meteoric rise with Ajax. As of now, ten Hag is interested in reuniting with Frenkie, Noussair Mazraoui and Matthijs de Ligt at Manchester United.
As a result, Frenkie caught the eye of top clubs such as Manchester United, Manchester City, Tottenham, Real Madrid, Barcelona, and PSG, all of which reportedly made bids for him. Manchester United fans often hold out hope that their own Kobbie Mainoo could become the next Frenkie de Jong, offering some consolation if their difficult quest to sign Frenkie doesn’t pan out (ESPN Soccer Reports). The rest, as they say, is history.
Love Story with Mikky Kiemeney:
Super Frenkie has been in a relationship with his lovely girlfriend, Mikky Kiemeney. The two met and started dating while Frenkie was still in the youth system at Willem II.
Mikky is a lover of sports who plays hockey. The young couple lived together in Amsterdam at the time of writing Frenkie’s Bio.
One of the numerous factors that can make fans envious of the couple’s relationship is the fact that they both share the same smile. Aren’t they a perfect pair?
Love For Barcelona:
Frenkie fell in love with Barcelona long before he met his girlfriend. The Dutch grew up loving not just the Spanish side but its star players at the time.
“Puyol, Xavi, Iniesta, Busquets, Pique, Dani Alves, Pedro, Messi, Eto’o, Villa. What a team! Guardiola‘s team was the best of all time. It was a joy to watch them, but I imagine a nightmare to play against.”
Revealed Frenkie.
Of special interest is Frankie’s Love for current Barcelona Star Lionel Messi, whom he dreams of playing with someday.
Of course, I’d love to play with Messi. But he’s almost 31, and I need to hurry up (laughs). I remember when I was a little kid, my grandfather gave me this bright green Barcelona kit with Messi on the back. I wore this shirt until it got too small for me.“
Well, His dreams are much closer than he thinks, as Barcelona is trying to get his signature as at the time of writing this post.
Personal Life Outside Football:
Starting off, Frenkie is an approachable footballer who never fails to identify with his roots. Though he plays football at Ajax and lives in Amsterdam, he is often seen in his hometown twice a week.
Regarding his lifestyle, He is non-materialistic and doesn’t care much for expensive clothes or other belongings. On the flip side, Frenkie could be Stubborn, possessive and uncompromising.
Fact Check:
Thanks for reading our Frenkie de Jong Biography, including his Childhood Story. We strive for accuracy and fairness in our quest to deliver the stories of Dutch Footballers.
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