Ruben Schaken

Early career

Having previously trained in the academies of Ajax Amsterdam and AZ Alkmaar, Schaken started his professional career with SC Cambuur where he played 75 matches before being signed by Eerste Divisie side BV Veendam. He spent three seasons with Veendam, making over 100 appearances for the club, and won the Jupiler League Best Player award in the 2007–2008 season. The following season, following the expiration of his contract with Veendam, Schaken was signed by VVV-Venlo on a 2-year contract. In his debut season he helped the team to the league title, thereby earning the club promotion to the Eredivisie.

Feyenoord

Schaken was signed by Feyenoord in March 2010, and he joined the squad on 1 July 2010. The winger made his debut for the club, in the Eredivisie, on 15 August 2010 in a 3–2 defeat to Excelsior. His debut season with Feyenoord was riddled with injuries, preventing him from making a breakthrough into the first eleven. Prior to the 2011-12 season, Schaken changed his squad number from 7 to 27. He had to wait over a year to score his first goal for the club, opening the scoring in a 4–0 defeat of De Graafschap on 17 September 2011. On 4 December 2011, Schaken scored Feyenoord's second, after Sekou Cissé opened the scoring, in a 2–0 defeat of PSV Eindhoven at De Kuip. Schaken scored goals in four of the last five games of the Eredivisie campaign, against De Graafschap, NAC Breda, Den Haag and Heracles respectively, as Feyenoord secured…

On 22 August 2012, Schaken was selected for the 2014 World Cup qualifiers for the Dutch squad. Schaken made his debut for Oranje, aged 30, on 12 October 2012 against Andorra, scoring a goal in the Netherlands' 3–0 home win. With this appearance, he became the 725th player to represent the Netherlands at international level. He played the full game in the Netherlands disappointing 0–0 draw with rivals Germany on 14 November 2012. Schaken ensured the Netherlands continued their perfect record for World Cup qualification, netting the final goal in a 3–0 defeat of Estonia on 22 March 2013. Schaken's goal against Estonia was the 1500th scored by an Oranje player at the senior international level.

The Feyenoord website describes Schaken as "a speedy winger who can provide tempting crosses from either flank"; while former Feyenoord manager Ronald Koeman regularly judged Schaken "to be his most exciting attacker."

Club

VVV-Venlo Eerste Divisie: 2008–09

Individual

Eerste Divisie Player of the Year: 2007–08