De Guzman doing fine at Feyenoord

Canadian-born 19-year-old Feyenoord midfielder Jonathan De Guzman has emerged as one of the most promising players in the Nethelands.

Professional dreams
De Guzman was brought up in Scarborough, a small town near Toronto, but although Jonathan and elder brother Julian wanted to play basketball, they lacked the height to compete at the top level, and at their father Bobby's suggestion they took up football instead. Having to go abroad to pursue their professional dreams, Julian joined the Olympique de Marseille academy in 1997 and two years later Jonathan, then aged 12, headed for Rotterdam. Within two weeks he had earned a three-year contract with the Feyenoord youth department and moved in with a host family in the Dutch city. After his iniitial deal was up he signed for another three years, and was soon Feyenoord youth captain.

Special award
In 2005 he was named as the brightest young star in the Netherlands, having top the scoring charts at youth level that season. "That was very special to me," he said. "It proved I was on the right path and it was also an honour because, even though I am Canadian, I was seen as the Netherlands' biggest talent. There are not many Canadians playing football at such a high level." He began 2005/06 in the senior squad, making his Eredivisie debut five days after his 18th birthday as a substitute against SC Heerenveen. He started the next game. In December he signed a contract until the summer of 2010 and by the end of the season had played 29 league matches, scoring four goals and making nine assists.

Vital goal
Now he is an established first-team player at Feyenoord, and is already up to five goals for this season. Feyenoord coach Erwin Koeman said: "Everyone thinks he already is in his mid-20s, but he still is only 19. Jonathan is a huge talent. He has the potential to go to a top European club one day."

Cocu recognition
He has also caught the eye of PSV Eindhoven captain Phillip Cocu, who said of De Guzman: "He is an all-rounder. He has already made his mark at Feyenoord even though he is only at the start of his career." Dutch national coach Marco van Basten is another fan, though he rued: "We certainly have been thinking about him [for the national team], but unfortunately he is Canadian." However unlike Julian, now with RC Deportivo La Coruña, who has been capped by Canada, Jonathan has not been called up, and there has been talk of him applying for Dutch citizenship.