Paul Verhaegh

3.1. Early career and loans

Verhaegh commenced his senior career at PSV Eindhoven, though his initial professional appearances came during a loan spell. In the 2003-04 season, he was loaned to AGOVV Apeldoorn, where he made 33 league appearances and scored his first professional goal. This loan period provided him with crucial first-team experience and allowed him to demonstrate his capabilities in a professional setting.

3.2. FC Den Bosch and Vitesse

Following his loan at AGOVV Apeldoorn, Verhaegh moved to FC Den Bosch in 2004. During the 2004-05 season and part of the 2005-06 season, he made a combined 56 league appearances for the club, scoring 4 goals. His performances led to a transfer to Vitesse after the 2004-05 season. He spent four years at Vitesse, from 2006 to 2010, establishing himself as a reliable right-back. Over his tenure, he played in 138 league matches and scored 6 goals, becoming an integral part of the team's defense in the Eredivisie. He also made 11 appearances in the Eredivisie play-offs for the UEFA Intertoto Cup.

3.3. FC Augsburg

On May 27, 2010, Verhaegh signed a two-year contract with German club FC Augsburg, marking a significant move in his career. He spent seven highly successful years with the club, becoming a key player and eventually serving as the team captain. During his time at Augsburg, he was a consistent performer, making 186 league appearances, 13 cup appearances, and 8 UEFA Europa League appearances, scoring a total of 22 goals across all competitions. His leadership and defensive prowess were instrumental in FC Augsburg's achievements, which included finishing as 2. Bundesliga runner-up in the 2010-11 season and winning the Maspalomas Cup in 2014. His period at Augsburg is often regarded as the most impactful of his career.

3.4. VfL Wolfsburg

After seven years at FC Augsburg, Verhaegh transferred to VfL Wolfsburg in 2017, signing a two-year deal. He continued to play in the Bundesliga with Wolfsburg, making 31 league appearances during the 2017-18 season and scoring 2 goals. He also made 2 cup appearances. In April 2019, it was announced that Verhaegh had been released by the club with immediate effect, concluding his two-year stint at VfL Wolfsburg with a total of 36 appearances and 2 goals across all competitions.

3.5. FC Twente and retirement

On June 5, 2019, Verhaegh returned to the Netherlands to join FC Twente on a one-year contract, following a medical examination. He played in 7 league matches and 1 cup match for FC Twente during the 2019-20 season. On June 3, 2020, Paul Verhaegh officially announced his retirement from professional football, bringing an end to a career that spanned nearly two decades and included significant contributions to both Dutch and German football.

4.1. Youth career

Verhaegh was a prominent member of the Netherlands U-21 squad. He participated in and was part of the team that emerged victorious in the 2006 UEFA European Under-21 Championship. During his time with the U-21 national team, he made 20 appearances and scored 4 goals, demonstrating his potential as a future international player.

4.2. Senior career

Verhaegh made his debut for the senior Netherlands national football team in a friendly match against Portugal on August 15, 2013, which ended in a 1-1 draw. His significant career highlight at the international level came when he was selected as part of the squad for the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil. He made his World Cup debut by starting in the Round of 16 match against Mexico, a game where the Netherlands secured a 2-1 victory with late goals to advance to the quarter-finals. The Netherlands ultimately finished third in the tournament, marking a memorable achievement for Verhaegh and his teammates. In total, he earned 3 caps for the senior national team, without scoring any goals.

5.1. Club

5.2. International