Marcel de Jong

PROFILE
A versatile left back also capable of playing in the midfield, Canadian international Marcel de Jong joined Whitecaps FC on July 11, 2016 after spending the NASL spring season with Ottawa Fury FC. The Ontario-born full back has over 250 appearances at club level in both Europe and North America, with more than 40 senior international caps for Canada. De Jong played one season in MLS prior to joining Whitecaps FC, making 13 appearances for Sporting Kansas City in 2015.  

MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER
2018: De Jong led all WFC defenders with three assists on the season, making 17 starts and 19 appearances. 2017: De Jong started nine of his 13 regular season appearances, including three of the final four matches. He also tallied an assist in the September 13 win over Minnesota United FC. In addition, he started all three matches in the MLS Cup Playoffs. 2016: De Jong finished his first year with Whitecaps FC with five starts in seven regular season appearances after joining the club in July.

CONCACAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
2016-17: De Jong also recorded two assists in his four starts and appearances in the CCL.

CANADIAN CHAMPIONSHIP
2018: De Jong made three starts and appearances to help the 'Caps to a runner-up finish. 2017: De Jong played the full 90 minutes in both legs of the CC semifinal series versus Montreal Impact.

OTTAWA FURY FC
2016: The Ontario native spent the spring of 2016 with Canadian club Ottawa Fury FC. De Jong played nine matches for the NASL side across all competitions, including one against Vancouver in the Amway Canadian Championship semifinal. He scored two goals in his six regular season matches with Ottawa.

SPORTING KANSAS CITY
2015: After Sporting Kansas City signed de Jong ahead of the 2015 season, the left back made his first appearance for the Western Conference side on March 14 against FC Dallas. During his time in Kansas, de Jong started 11 of his 13 appearances, tallied one goal and one assist, and helped the side to five shutouts. He also made two substitute appearances for Sporting in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, a domestic competition the side eventually won.

GERMANY
2010-2015: After four seasons with Roda JC in the Netherlands, de Jong signed with German side FC Augsburg in 2010. In his first season with the side, the full back started 24 matches and helped the side earn promotion to the Bundesliga for the first time since the team was founded in 1907. In all, de Jong made 68 appearances for FC Augsburg, including 41 Bundesliga appearances, and scored five goals.

NETHERLANDS
2006-2010: Signing for Roda JC in the top flight Eredivisie in 2006, de Jong registered 115 league appearances for the Dutch side, and scored three goals through four seasons with the club. During his time there, he played alongside fellow Whitecaps FC player Pa-Modou Kah. 2004-2006:  In two seasons with Dutch second division side Helmond Sport, de Jong made 50 league appearances and scored six goals. 

INTERNATIONAL
De Jong has made more than 50 international appearances for the Canadian men’s national team, scoring three goals and representing Canada at five straight CONCACAF Gold Cups since his debut in 2007. 

YOUTH 
Prior to signing his first professional contract with Helmond Sport in 2004, de Jong played for Dutch club PSV Eindhoven’s youth academy. He began playing soccer at five years old with De Valk, a football club in his Dutch hometown. 

INTERESTING FACTS
A dual citizen of Canada and the Netherlands, de Jong was born in Newmarket, Ontario. At the age of four, he moved to the Netherlands with his family, and did not return to Canada until he was scouted for the U-17 Canadian team after his mother contacted Canada Soccer to inform them that de Jong had Canadian citizenship and that he was currently playing in the Netherlands. His first match with the Canadian U-17 team was in Guadalajara, Mexico, at 16 years old. De Jong also spent some time with the Dutch national program from U-11 to U-14, and had a brief stint with their U-21 team before finally settling on team Canada.