Sem Dirks

Sem Dirks

Dirks in 2022
Personal information
Date of birth	(2001-03-14) 14 March 2001 (age 23)
Place of birth	Beverwijk, Netherlands [1]
Position(s)	Left-back
Team information
Current team	Telstar
Number	5
Youth career
0000–2012	DEM
2012–2020	AZ
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2020–2022	Jong AZ	19	(0)
2022	→ VVV-Venlo (loan)	10	(0)
2022–2024	VVV-Venlo	14	(0)
2024–	Telstar	4	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 17:59, 20 September 2024 (UTC)

Sem Dirks (born 14 March 2001) is a Dutch professional footballer who plays as a left-back for Eerste Divisie club Telstar.

Club career

AZ

Dirks played youth football for DEM before joining the AZ youth academy in 2012. ^[2] He progressed through various of AZ's youth teams before being promoted to the reserves in 2020, competing in the Dutch second-tier Eerste Divisie. ^[3] Dirks made his professional debut with the team in a 6–1 league loss to NAC Breda on 29 August 2020, starting the match at left-back before being replaced by Tijs Velthuis in the 68th minute. ^{[4] [5]}

On 18 June 2021, Dirks signed his first professional contract with AZ; a one-year deal with an option for an additional year. ^{[2] [6]}

VVV-Venlo

On 31 January 2022, Dirks was loaned to VVV-Venlo, following teammate Richard Sedláček who had signed a permanent deal with the club. ^[7] Dirks made his debut for the club as a starter on 4 February in a 5–0 away victory in the regional derby against MVV. ^[8]

On 19 May, his deal was made permanent and he signed a two-year deal with an option for an additional year. ^[9]

Telstar

On 8 August 2024, Dirks joined Telstar on an amateur basis. ^[10] He made his debut for the club the following day, coming on as a substitute in the 76th minute for Mees Kaandorp in a 3–2 away win over Vitesse. ^{[11] [12]}

Style of play

A left-footed defender, comfortable playing both centrally and at the left side, Dirks has described himself as a "technically skilled" and "tactically aware" defender, with good physicality and heading abilities. ^{[6] [1]}

Career statistics

As of match played 13 September 2024 ^[13]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			KNVB Cup		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Jong AZ	2020–21	Eerste Divisie	4	0	—		—		4	0
	2021–22	Eerste Divisie	15	0	—		—		15	0
	Total		19	0	—		—		19	0
VVV-Venlo (loan)	2021–22	Eerste Divisie	10	0	0	0	—		10	0
VVV-Venlo	2022–23	Eerste Divisie	14	0	1	0	2 [lower-alpha 1]	0	17	0
	2023–24	Eerste Divisie	0	0	0	0	—		0	0
	Total		24	0	1	0	2	0	27	0
Telstar	2024–25	Eerste Divisie	4	0	0	0	—		4	0
Career total			47	0	1	0	2	0	50	0

1. Appearances in Eredivisie promotion/relegation playoffs

References

1. Dalsem, Kees van (12 April 2021). "Beverwijker Sem Dirks (20) speelt al bijna zijn halve leven bij AZ en studeert daarbij ook nog Mandarijn: 'Ik doe het niet omdat ik graag in China wil voetballen, maar misschien komt het ooit nog eens van pas'". Noordhollands Dagblad (in Dutch). Retrieved 5 July 2022.
2. Ven, Mark van de (16 August 2021). "Oud-DEMmer Sem Dirks tekent zijn eerste profcontract bij AZ". RKVV DEM (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 18 April 2023. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
3. "Transfers Keuken Kampioen Divisie 2020/21: Mulenga is terug in Nederland". Voetbalzone (in Dutch). 8 October 2020. Archived from the original on 28 April 2023. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
4. "NAC Breda vs. AZ II – 29 August 2020". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
5. "NAC begint jacht op promotie met klinkende zege op Jong AZ". Algemeen Dagblad (in Dutch). 29 August 2020. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
6. "Loek Postma trots op eerste profcontract bij AZ". Noordhollands Dagblad (in Dutch). 27 June 2021. Archived from the original on 27 May 2023. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
7. "VVV-Venlo huurt Dirks met optie tot koop". VVV-Venlo (Press release) (in Dutch). 31 January 2022. Archived from the original on 29 December 2022. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
8. "71' – Doelpunt Sven Braken. MVV Maastricht – VVV-Venlo 0-5". ESPN (in Dutch). 4 February 2022. Retrieved 28 December 2022.
9. Tiems, Job (19 May 2022). "VVV-Venlo licht koopoptie Sem Dirks". 1limburg (in Dutch). Retrieved 5 July 2022.
10. "Sem Dirks overgeschreven naar Telstar" [Sem Dirks transferred to Telstar] (in Dutch). Telstar. 8 August 2024. Retrieved 8 August 2024.
11. "Vitesse vs. Telstar 2–3: Summary". Soccerway. Perform Group. Archived from the original on 20 September 2024. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
12. Janssen, Sander (9 August 2024). "Van den Brom geniet ondanks nederlaag van Vitesse: 'Ben enorm trots'". Voetbal International (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 14 August 2024. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
13. Sem Dirks at Soccerway

External links

• Sem Dirks at Soccerway.com
• Sem Dirks at WorldFootball.net
• Sem Dirks at FBref.com
• Sem Dirks at ESPN FC