Dwelling » Finish of an period: Bart Vriends leaves Sparta June 29, 2024 – 10:00
After eight seasons, 215 official matches, a promotion and three Play-Offs for European Soccer, Bart Vriends is leaving Sparta Rotterdam. The 33-year-old defender is embarking on a international journey.
In the summertime of 2016, Vriends made the change from Go Forward Eagles to Sparta, the then champion of the Jupiler League. After two seasons, he grew to become a daily starter and an vital a part of the workforce that began the best way up underneath the management of Henk Fraser. This began in 2019 with promotion to the Eredivisie, an eleventh place within the season of the return to the very best degree and an eighth place within the 2020/2021 season. This was, at the moment, the membership’s finest season in 25 years. Up to now two seasons, Sparta and Vriends managed to realize an excellent greater variety of factors, which resulted in a sixth and an eighth place within the last rating. Within the final season, Vriends was additionally captain of Jeroen Rijsdijk’s workforce.
Along with his 215 official matches, Vriends has turn out to be a part of the membership’s historical past, and even a little bit of part of the stadium; earlier this month he himself constructed his stone within the Wall of Legends and Followers. It was the primary time in twenty years {that a} participant handed the 200-match mark, present goalkeeper coach Frank Kooiman was the final to take action. Vriends obtained a shirt with 215 from Gerard Nijkamp, Manfred Laros offered a Delft Blue plate for particular providers to the membership.
Vriends responds to his departure: ‘I’ve had a good time at Sparta in current seasons. I used to be in discussions with the membership to remain longer and was open to that, however I’ve at all times had the need to embark on an journey past the borders. Now a fantastic alternative arose that I needed to seize. My interval at Sparta was unforgettable, saying goodbye is tough and I’ll actually miss it. That is due to all of the individuals concerned within the membership, from the gamers, workers, group and supporters, who communicate to me in all places within the metropolis. I believe it is nice that I discover that it’s being awarded to me and I’ll actually proceed to comply with Sparta.’
Gerard Nijkamp: ‘Bart has turn out to be a figurehead for the membership in recent times. As an skilled participant, he has been of nice worth to Sparta, each inside and out of doors the traces, and has left his mark on the efficiency. We might have beloved to maintain him longer, however we perceive that he wish to take this step and we wish to want him all of the luck and success on this excellent journey.’
