Sydney van Hooijdonk

NAC Breda

Van Hooijdonk made his league debut for NAC Breda on 5 October 2018 in a 2–1 away defeat against Utrecht in the Eredivisie, being substituted on in the 90th minute, replacing Estonian centre back and defensive midfielder Karol Mets. NAC Breda's 2018-19 campaign ended in relegation from the top-flight, securing only five wins and eight draws, and finishing on twenty-three points, with Van Hooijdonk making a total of twelve league appearances from the bench, but failing to score or assist. In the 2019–20 Keuken Kampioen Divisie season Van Hooijdonk started off the bench again, but he very quickly began playing full matches on a semi-regular basis, making twenty-five appearances, with six goals and two assists. A bulk of his goals and assists came during the 1st Period, and he was acclaimed with being a driving force towards NAC Breda winning it. However, the club couldn't take advantage of the playoff spot they'd been allocated, as the season was abandoned by the KNVB on 24 April 2020, following a suspension that the Dutch Government issued on 12 March 2020 due to the global COVID-19 pandemic. In the 2020–21 Keuken Kampioen Divisie season Van Hooijdonk became a key player for NAC Breda despite suffering several minor injuries, securing sixteen goals and two assists in thirty-one appearances (including those in the 2020-21 Eredivisie / Keuken Kampioen Divisie Promotion / Relegation play-offs, where his club were defeated in the Final in a 2–1 home defeat to…

Youth

Van Hooijdonk was called up for the Netherlands national under-21s by then-manager Erwin van de Looi to play friendlies against the Norway national under-21s and Czech Republic national under-21s in March 2023, making his youth debut for the Netherlands on 25 March 2023, in a 3–0 win against the Norway national under-21s.

Analysis

Generally regarded as a poacher and a target man, Van Hooijdonk touches the ball mostly in the attacking third (especially within the penalty box), and generally looks to time runs exploiting pockets of space.

Van Hooijdonk is the son of former Dutch international footballer Pierre van Hooijdonk, who also played for NAC Breda. He is of Moroccan descent through his biological paternal grandfather.