Lion Kaak

Lion Kaak (born 26 June 1991) is a Dutch professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Eerste Divisie club De Graafschap.

Lion Kaak
Personal information
Date of birth (1991-06-26) 26 June 1991
Place of birth Hengelo, Netherlands
Height 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
 De Graafschap
Number 6
Youth career
Pax Hengelo
2001–2009 De Graafschap
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2009–2012 De Graafschap 11 (0)
2012–2013 AGOVV 13 (0)
2013 Go Ahead Eagles 5 (0)
2013–2014 Valencia B 6 (0)
2014–2015 Achilles '29 19 (0)
2015–2017 De Graafschap 42 (0)
2017–2022 TOP Oss 161 (4)
2022– De Graafschap 20 (0)
International career
2007 Netherlands U16 3 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 21 June 2023

Club career

Kaak played as a youth for Pax Hengelo and then joined local Eredivisie side De Graafschap in 2001.[1] He progressed through the youth system until he was promoted to the first team in 2009. Two years later, Kaak made his professional debut for the club, on 13 March 2011 in a home match against ADO Den Haag, where he replaced Gregor Breinburg.[2]

In June 2012, Kaak signed a two-year contract with AGOVV.[3] Six months later, in January 2013, the club went bankrupt and he joined Go Ahead Eagles on a free until the end of the season.[4][5] In the summer of 2013, he trained with his former club, De Graafschap. In July 2013, Kaak signed with Spanish club Valencia CF Mestalla, the reserve team of Valencia CF.[6][7] He also trained several times with the Valencia first team and on the last matchday of the 2013–14 season, he sat on the bench.[8][9] However, he did not make an appearance.

In 2014, he returned to the Netherlands, where he began playing for second-tier Eerste Divisie club Achilles '29.[10] In the first league match on 9 August against Jong PSV (0–2 away loss), Kaak made his debut in the starting lineup,[11] where he would remain in the following months. On 1 December, he provided an assist from a corner kick to Mehmet Dingil against FC Volendam.[12] Because he played for Achilles '29 on an amateur basis, he was able to sign on a free transfer with his childhood club, De Graafschap, in January 2015, on a one-and-a-half year contract.[13] On 27 January 2015, Kaak made his official return to the club as a 83rd-minute substitute in a 2–0 away win over SC Telstar.[14]

In the summer of 2017, Kaak moved to FC Oss, which became TOP Oss from 1 July 2018.[15][16] In 2019, he signed a contract extension, which would keep him in Oss until 2022.[17]

On 20 June 2022, De Graafschap announced that Kaak would return to the club from the 2022–23 season, his third spell with the club.[18]

International career

Kaak has represented the Netherlands at under-16 level, gaining his first cap as a starter in a friendly against Italy on 14 March 2007, before being replaced by Cayfano Latupeirissa in the 58th minute of a 2–1 loss.[19]

Style of play

Kaak is right-footed.[20] He typically plays as a defensive midfielder.[21] During his time with TOP Oss, he has been described as a strong personality on the pitch who is "guarding the standards, values and mentality of the club".[17]

Career statistics
As of match played 2 March 2023[22]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueCupOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
De Graafschap 2009–10 Eerste Divisie 0030—30
2010–11 Eredivisie 2000—20
2011–12 Eredivisie 90102[lower-alpha 1]0120
Total 1104020170
AGOVV 2012–13 Eerste Divisie 13000—130
Go Ahead Eagles 2012–13 Eerste Divisie 50004[lower-alpha 1]090
Valencia B 2013–14 Segunda División B 8000—80
Achilles '29 2014–15 Eerste Divisie 19010—200
De Graafschap 2014–15 Eerste Divisie 110003[lower-alpha 1]020
2015–16 Eredivisie 1400000140
2016–17 Eerste Divisie 17010—180
Total 4211030461
TOP Oss 2017–18 Eerste Divisie 27010—280
2018–19 Eerste Divisie 360202[lower-alpha 1]0400
2019–20 Eerste Divisie 28230—312
2020–21 Eerste Divisie 35100—351
2021–22 Eerste Divisie 35110—361
Total 161470201703
De Graafschap 2022–23 Eerste Divisie 8010—90
Career total 26751401102924
  1. Appearances in the Eredivisie promotion/relegation play-offs

References
  1. "Eigen volk komt een keer eerst op de Vijverberg" (in Dutch). de Volkskrant. 14 March 2011. Retrieved 3 September 2020.
  2. "Debutant Kaak: "Dit is echt top"". www.soccernews.nl (in Dutch). 14 March 2011. Retrieved 3 September 2020.
  3. Dusseldorp, Wout (18 June 2012). "Lion Kaak gaat naar AGOVV" (in Dutch). De Gelderlander. Retrieved 3 September 2020.
  4. "AGOVV failliet verklaard" (in Dutch). Algemeen Dagblad. 8 January 2013. Retrieved 3 September 2020.
  5. "Clubloze Kaak maakt seizoen af bij Go Ahead". www.fcupdate.nl (in Dutch). 22 February 2013. Retrieved 3 September 2020.
  6. "Lion Kaak tekent contract bij Valencia" (in Dutch). RTV Oost. 30 July 2013. Retrieved 3 September 2020.
  7. Torres, David (26 June 2019). "Todos los holandeses de la historia del Valencia CF" (in Spanish). El Desmarque. Retrieved 3 September 2020.
  8. Arastell, J.M. (16 May 2014). "Lion Kaak es la sorpresa para el partido ante el Celta" (in Spanish). Super Deporte. Retrieved 3 September 2020.
  9. "Valencia vs. Celta Vigo - 17 May 2014". int.soccerway.com. Perform Group. Retrieved 3 September 2020.
  10. Loef, Marco (3 August 2014). "Achilles'29 legt Lion Kaak vast" (in Dutch). Omroep Gelderland. Retrieved 3 September 2020.
  11. Blokland, Bastiaan (9 August 2014). "Achilles verliest seizoensopening van Jong PSV" (in Dutch). Omroep Gelderland. Retrieved 3 September 2020.
  12. "Hoofdrol Zivkovic, Sparta morst in Limburg" (in Dutch). Voetbal International. 1 December 2014. Retrieved 3 September 2020.
  13. "Lion Kaak terug naar De Graafschap" (in Dutch). De Graafschap. 23 January 2015. Retrieved 3 September 2020.
  14. "Telstar vs. De Graafschap - 27 January 2015". int.soccerway.com. Perform Group. Retrieved 3 September 2020.
  15. "Lion Kaak voor twee seizoenen naar FC Oss" (in Dutch). Regio8. 2 June 2017. Retrieved 3 September 2020.
  16. "FC Oss wordt weer TOP Oss!". www.fcoss.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 3 November 2017.
  17. Daniels, Daan (22 March 2019). "Lion Kaak drie jaar langer bij TOP Oss" (in Dutch). Brabants Dagblad. Retrieved 3 September 2020.
  18. "Middenvelder Lion Kaak keert terug bij De Graafschap". De Graafschap (in Dutch). 20 June 2022. Archived from the original on 22 June 2022. Retrieved 22 June 2022.
  19. "Italië O16 – Nederland O16". OnsOranje. Archived from the original on 23 January 2021. Retrieved 5 March 2023.
  20. "Lion Kaak on Instagram". instagram.com. 18 April 2017. Samen alles geven voor de club!#mooiste club van NL!!!
  21. "Lion Kaak voor twee seizoenen naar FC Oss | REGIO8". regio8.nl (in Dutch). 2 June 2017.
  22. "L. Kaak: Summary". Soccerway. Retrieved 4 September 2021.
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