Jürgen Locadia

Early career

Locadia, who is of Curaçaoan descent, was born in Emmen, Netherlands, and began playing football with club VV Bargeres, before being discovered by the youth team of FC Emmen. He later said his passion of football began from his uncle, Jerry, who also played football, and took him to street football and FC Emmen matches. Locadia was offered a spot on Willem II, and his whole family resettled in Tilburg. He was at Willem II for a year when Locadia joined PSV Eindhoven on 11 June 2010, signing a two–year contract. Locadia would that season be assigned to Jong PSV, making an impact when they won Beloften Eredivisie and earned a spot in the first team squad in the 2011–12 season. Locadia continued with the first squad and maintain his goal scoring form. Dutch media Voetbal International reported that he agreed to sign a three–year professional contract with the club. On 27 January 2012, it was confirmed that Locadia signed a contract with PSV Eindhoven. Locadia started off the Jong PSV 2012–13 season well making 11 goals in the first six matches, including two braces and a hat–trick. With his first team opportunities coming from the substitute bench, Locadia returned to Jong PSV on 26 November 2012 against Feyenoord U21 and scored twice, in a 5–4 win. He later scored five more goals for the Jong side, including a hat–trick against Jong NEC Nijmegen on 19 February 2013.

PSV Eindhoven

Following his performance in the 2011 Otten Cup, Manager Fred…

Locadia was eligible to play for either Netherlands or Curaçao, but he ended up playing for Netherlands instead. Due to his limited opportunities to represent his homeland, Curaçao manager Remko Bicentini hinted of making an effort of calling up Locadia and Patrick van Aanholt in March 2017. In October 2018, in an interview with De Tafel van Kees, Bicentini revealed that the player had thoughts of representing Curaçao.

Youth career

In September 2009, Locadia was called up to the Netherlands U17 for the first time. He scored his first goal on his U17 debut, in a 2–1 win against France U17 on 24 September 2009. Locadia later scored three more goals for Netherlands U17 by the end of the year. Locadia then scored twice in a match, as U17 team beat Ukraine U17 2–0 on 25 March 2010. This was followed up by scoring in a 2–1 win against Georgia U17. He went on to make eleven appearances and scoring eight times for Netherlands U17. In November 2010, Locadia was called up to the Netherlands U18 squad for the first time. He scored on his U18 team debut, as Netherlands U18 beat Romania U18 on 17 November 2010. This turns out to be Locadia only appearances for the U18 side. In August 2010, Locadia was called up to the Netherlands U19 squad but was placed on standby squad. Two months later on 1 October 2010, he was called up to the U19 squad. Locadia made his Netherlands U19 debut, coming on as a 73rd-minute substitute, in a 2–0 win against Slovenia U19 on 7 October 2010. In a…

When Locadia started playing football, he didn't play as a striker, saying: "I used to be an offside player. In the C-youth the trainer put me at the center. For the time being that is going well for me." Wim Kieft said about Locadia's performance: "He has the qualities with his kicking technique to make at least fifteen to twenty and maybe even thirty in the premier division every year, provided he is used properly." Manager Advocaat also praised Locadia's performance, calling him a "great striker". Teammate Georginio Wijnaldum was impressed with his performance, saying: "When he's finishing, everyone looks up to him. Jürgen scores very easily, the easiest of all of us. When we shoot after practice, he says: ‘'OK, I want it at the bottom right.'’ And then he also hits the ball at the bottom right. And hard huh. It's incredible that he can do that at such a young age". As Locadia was getting first team football at PSV Eindhoven, he said: "I am more playable than before and win more games. That is important for the team, which has time to join. I also feel better than at the start of the season. You have to prove every week that you belong. That starts with hard work. Defending starts at the front. It can be tough, because sometimes you end up on an island between two defenders and you walk from one to the other. Because you put all that energy into defending, you can miss just that one percent freshness in the finish. You have to find balance in that." Manager Phillip Cocu…

Locadia idolised Dimitar Berbatov and Ruud van Nistelrooy growing up and supported Manchester United. Growing up, however, his father left him when he was two years old, leaving his mother to raise him and three younger sisters. Because his mother didn't have a driving license, Locadia had to travel to the training ground by train when he was a youth prospect with Emmen and Willem II. Locadia reflected on his childhood, saying: "We had no money and minimal resources. I always remember what she (his mother) has done for me. We were sometimes hungry. As a child you grow up quickly if your family is suffering. That hurt me and, as the only man in the family and the eldest of four, I felt a duty to my mother and sisters. I blamed myself. Meanwhile, I have forgiven myself for that time." He revealed that he had his first tattoos when he was fifteen and since have lots, including one of his late grandmother. Locadia later credited football as a way from a life of crime.

Musical career

Locadia is also known as a DJ and has cited Diplo and Major Lazer as his influences. In June 2017, he released his debut singles, "Take Off" and "Epok".