Rafael van der Vaart, Netherlands footballer: Profile, Career, News & Videos

Rafael van der Vaart is a Dutch former professional footballer who played as an attacking midfielder. Noted for his exceptional talent and his technical and playmaking abilities, he was considered one of the best midfielders in the world during his playing days. He is widely regarded as one of the best Dutch players of all time.

Van der Vaart began his career at Ajax's youth academy and worked his way into the first team, debuting as a 17-year-old. Known for his playmaking skills, he drew comparisons to Johan Cruyff. He was named Dutch Football Talent of the Year and became the first recipient of the Golden Boy Award while at the club. He moved to Bundesliga club Hamburger SV, then to Real Madrid, then on to Tottenham Hotspur before returning to Hamburger SV in 2012. In the latter stages of his career, Van der Vaart had brief spells playing in Spain and Denmark before announcing his retirement in 2018, and return in 2019 with a testimonial match.

Van der Vaart earned 109 caps for the Netherlands between 2001 and 2013. He represented the country at three UEFA European Championships and two FIFA World Cups, reaching the final in 2010.

In 2019, Van der Vaart began his darts career, joining the British Darts Organisation.