Daley Blind is a Dutch professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for AFC
Ajax and the Dutch national team.
He is the son of former Ajax defender Danny Blind.
Club career Ajax
Blind began his career in the youth academy of his hometown club, AFC Ajax; the same club
where his father Danny made his name as a professional.
Daley is a product of the Ajax youth system and, while officially still a B-junior, he
became a mainstay in the A-juniors during the 2007–08 season.
before earning promotion to the Ajax first team for the 2008–09 season.
He signed his first professional contract at age seventeen tying him to the club until
1 July 2010.
On 7 December 2008, Blind made his debut in the Ajax first team in the away match against
FC Volendam.
Blind made an immediate impact when he forced a cornerkick through a Volendam defender,
from which Jan Vertonghen scored the winning goal for Ajax.
On 19 December 2008, he signed a contract extension keeping him with Ajax until 30 June
2013.
Groningen On 5 January 2010 he joined FC Groningen on
loan for the remainder of the 2009–10 season, during the Winter transfer window.
Return to Ajax The following two seasons saw Daley Blind
contribute to two Eredivisie national championships with Ajax, for the 2010–11 season, and the
2011–12 season, the first of which would be Ajax's 30th championship title.
Under newly appointed manager Frank de Boer, Blind would be given more and more trust and
playing time, earning him the place as the first choice left back with a permanent starting
position during the 2012–13 season.
On 23 April 2013, it was announced by Marc Overmars, that Ajax and Daley Blind had reached
an agreement to extend his contract for three years, binding him to the club until the summer
of 2016.
On 5 May 2013, Blind contributed to Ajax's third Dutch Eredivisie title in a row, marking
the clubs 32nd national title, helping to defeat Willem II 5–0 at home, and securing
the top position on the table just one match day from seasons end.
Later that day it was announced that Blind had been declared AFC Ajax Player of the Year
for the 2012–13 season, after playing an outstanding fifth year for Ajax, from the
starting left back position.
During the 2013–14 season, Blind was played as a holding central midfielder and was named
Dutch Footballer of the Year as Ajax won a fourth consecutive league title.
International career Blind was called up to the Netherlands under-17
squad for 2007 European Championships.
After missing out the opening match through suspension, he scored a brace against Iceland
in the second match but picked up an ankle injury in that match that ended his participation
in the remainder of the tournament.
He was called up to the U-21 team for several 2011 European Championship qualifiers but
did not leave the bench.
On 13 October, he made his first appearance in the campaign, coming on as a substitute
for Ajax teammate Siem de Jong in a 4–0 win away at Poland.
Having had previous call-ups, Daley Blind made his debut for the Netherlands senior
team on 6 February 2013, in the starting left back position, against Italy in a friendly
encounter at the Amsterdam Arena.
The match ended in a 1–1 draw, with Blind playing the full 90 minutes.
In June 2014, he was selected in the Netherlands' squad for the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
He was a starter at left wingback for the team's opening match against Spain, assisting
goals for Robin van Persie and Arjen Robben, as Oranje won 5–1.
He scored his first goal for the Netherlands in a 3–0 defeat of Brazil in the third-place
play-off much to the delight of his father and manager Louis van Gaal.
Career statistics As of match played 12 July 2014
Club 1 Includes UEFA Champions League and UEFA
Europa League matches.
2 Includes Johan Cruijff Shield and Play-off matches.
International Statistics accurate as of 12 July 2014.
International goals Score and Result lists the Netherlands goals
first: Honours
Club Ajax
Eredivisie: 2010–11, 2011–12, 2012–13, 2013–14
Johan Cruijff Shield: 2013 Country
Netherlands FIFA World Cup Third place: 2014
Individual AFC Ajax Talent of the Future: 2007–08
AFC Ajax Player of the Year: 2012–13 Dutch Footballer of the Year: 2014
References
External links Voetbal International profile
Official Ajax profile – Blind Ajax Inside Profile
Portrait Netherlands U15 stats at OnsOranje
Netherlands U16 stats at OnsOranje Netherlands U17 stats at OnsOranje
Netherlands U19 stats at OnsOranje Netherlands U21 stats at OnsOranje
Daley Blind Football Wallpapers