Career
His first professional match was for the Enschede club FC Twente in 1994. After two seasons at Enschede he moved to Vitesse Arnhem where, in the course of three seasons, he developed into a goalkeeper of national stature.
Following the 1998–1999 season, during which he helped Vitesse to qualify for Europe, Westerveld was sold to Liverpool, where he succeeded David James. He became the most expensive goalkeeper in British football when he joined the Reds for a reported fee of £4 million during the summer of 1999. Westerveld made his Liverpool debut against Sheffield Wednesday on the 7 August 1999 in a 2–1 away win. The giant keeper was Gérard Houllier's first choice to succeed James as Anfield's number one, and Westerveld fully justified the manager's confidence by playing a leading role in Liverpool's return to Europe, conceding the fewest goals in the 1999–2000 Premiership season.
He played a key role in the treble season of 2000–2001 for Liverpool, emerging as the hero of Liverpool's League Cup final victory over Birmingham City, making the match winning save from Andy Johnson in the penalty shoot-out.
However, towards the end of his two season spell on Merseyside, he was often subjected to criticism from the media. After a major mistake in a game against Bolton Wanderers on 27 August 2001 he was put on the bench by then-manager Gérard Houllier, who promptly signed two new goalkeepers – the Polish international Jerzy Dudek (who would become a Champions League-winning hero) and the injury-prone but impressive Englishman Chris Kirkland. Westerveld was then sold despite being part of a team that had won three trophies the previous season.
A move abroad saw a successful spell with Spanish side Real Sociedad culminating in Champions League participation and finishing as runner up in La Liga of the 2002–2003 season.
In July 2005 he moved back to England with Portsmouth, being signed by Alain Perrin, where he was to be first choice ahead of Jamie Ashdown and Greek keeper Konstantinos Chalkias. However, after an inconsistent time at Fratton Park, in February 2006 he was allowed to move on a short term loan to Everton, rivals of his former club Liverpool, because of a goalkeeping crisis which saw Nigel Martyn, Richard Wright and Iain Turner all unavailable. Westerveld played only two games.
Once he returned to Portsmouth he remained a substitute and was released by Harry Redknapp in May 2006. During the summer of 2006, Westerveld signed with Spanish Second division club UD Almería for one season, in which he helped them to achieve promotion to the Spanish First division before leaving the club at the end of his contract. In September 2007, he joined Sparta Rotterdam on a short-term contract and in May 2008 he announced that he was to leave Sparta.
During the summer of 2009 he signed for Italian Lega Pro Prima Divisione outfit A.C. Monza Brianza 1912, after a successful trial with the club. He later joined Ajax Cape Town in South Africa where he is the number 1 goalkeeper. He was at Sanlam head office on 25 November 2011 to signed autographs where he was crowded by Liverpool fans for previous achievements and special bond with the club.
Read more about this topic: Sander Westerveld
Famous quotes containing the word career:
“The 19-year-old Diana ... decided to make her career that of wife. Today that can be a very, very iffy line of work.... And what sometimes happens to the women who pursue it is the best argument imaginable for teaching girls that they should always be able to take care of themselves.”
—Anna Quindlen (b. 1952)
“I’ve been in the twilight of my career longer than most people have had their career.”
—Martina Navratilova (b. 1956)
“In time your relatives will come to accept the idea that a career is as important to you as your family. Of course, in time the polar ice cap will melt.”
—Barbara Dale (b. 1940)