Robert Zwinkels

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Robert Zwinkels
Robert Zwinkels (2015).jpg
Zwinkels in 2015
Personal information
Date of birth (1983-05-04) 4 May 1983 (age 42)
Place of birth Kwintsheul, Netherlands
Height 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Youth career
SV VELO
ADO Den Haag
2000-2005 Ajax
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2005–2022 ADO Den Haag 156 (0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals

Robert Zwinkels (born 4 May 1983) is a Dutch former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper. [1]

Contents

Career

Zwinkels joined ADO Den Haag from the Ajax academy in 2005 and made his first‑team debut the following year at the age of 23. He spent most of his career as second‑choice goalkeeper but was the club's regular starter for three seasons, making a total of 155 competitive appearances. [2]

In July 2020 he signed a new deal that carried him into a 16th consecutive season with ADO, the longest active spell by any Eredivisie player at a single club. His position changed after head coach Ruud Brood arrived in October 2021: Zwinkels trained initially but was soon told there was no room for him in the match‑day squad, with Luuk Koopmans and two academy goalkeepers preferred. [3]

Zwinkels went on sick leave late in 2021. When Koopmans suffered an injury in January 2022, Brood said recalling the veteran was "not an option". On 20 May 2022 club and player agreed to terminate the rolling contract that would otherwise have seen him move into a back‑room role after retirement. [4]

After football

In January 2024, Zwinkels returned to the amateur game as a member of the youth‑coaching staff at Loosduinen club GDA, working principally with the club's goalkeepers alongside former team‑mate Ronald Samson. [5]

The following year he took up a civil‑service post as a sports adviser for the municipality of The Hague, focusing on community programmes that promote safe participation and healthy lifestyles among young people. [6]

Career statistics

As of match played 7 March 2020
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueNational CupOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
ADO Den Haag 2005–06 Eredivisie 10000010
2006–07 1500000150
2007–08 Eerste Divisie 1500070220
2008–09 Eredivisie2601000270
2009–10 1200000120
2010–11 10000010
2011–12 10200030
2012–13 70200090
2013–14 60000060
2014–15 20100030
2015–16 10100020
2016–17 1203000150
2017–18 2901010310
2018–19 2202000240
2019–20 50000050
Career total1550140801770

References

  1. "Vol Beloften: Robert Zwinkels". Ajax (in Dutch). Retrieved 3 September 2020.
  2. "Zwinkels draagt stokje als trouwste Eredivisie-speler nog niet over". Voetbal International (in Dutch). 1 August 2020. Retrieved 30 July 2025.
  3. "Robert Zwinkels vertrekt bij ADO Den Haag" [Robert Zwinkels leaves ADO Den Haag]. Omroep West (in Dutch). 20 May 2022. Retrieved 30 July 2025.
  4. "Zwinkels na zestien seizoenen weg bij ADO" [Zwinkels departs ADO after sixteen seasons]. Omroep West (in Dutch). 20 May 2022. Retrieved 30 July 2025.
  5. "Robert Zwinkels en Ronald Samson treden toe tot jeugdkader GDA". Haaglanden Voetbal (in Dutch). 18 July 2023. Retrieved 30 July 2025.
  6. Garnier, Terence (12 May 2025). "Voormalig ADO-keeper en olympisch medaillewinnaar gaan gemeente Den Haag adviseren" [Ex-ADO keeper and Olympic medalist to advise The Hague council]. Algemeen Dagblad (in Dutch). Retrieved 30 July 2025.