Alex Adrianus Antonius Schalk (born 7 August 1992) is a Dutch professional footballer who plays as a forward or a winger for Eerste Divisie club ADO Den Haag.

Alex Schalk
Personal information
Full nameAlex Adrianus Antonius Schalk[1]
Date of birth (1992-08-07) 7 August 1992 (age 31)
Place of birthBreda, Netherlands
Height1.71 m (5 ft 7 in)[2]
Position(s)Forward, winger
Team information
Current team
ADO Den Haag
Number30
Youth career
Beek Vooruit
NAC Breda
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2011–2014NAC Breda58(10)
2014PSV (loan)0(0)
2014Jong PSV (loan)16(6)
2014–2015Go Ahead Eagles22(4)
2015–2018Ross County87(21)
2018–2022Servette100(29)
2022–2024Urawa Red Diamonds19(3)
2024–ADO Den Haag17(3)
International career
2012–2013Netherlands U204(3)
2011–2013Netherlands U214(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 22:06, 10 May 2024 (UTC)

He scored the winning goal for Ross County in the 2015–16 Scottish League Cup final.

Career

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Schalk came through the youth ranks of NAC Breda, earning the nickname of "Der Bomber van Breda" because of his reputation as a footballer with remarkable goalscoring instincts, comparable to legendary German striker Gerd Müller.[3] On 1 May 2011, he made his senior debut for NAC against Heracles Almelo in the 33rd round of the 2010–11 Eredivisie season, replacing Ömer Bayram in the 85th minute. The match ended in a 2–1 home loss.[4] On 9 August 2011, Schalk agreed to a new two-year contract at NAC until June 2013.[5]

After losing perspective on playing matches for NAC Breda, Schalk was sent on loan to PSV, where he played for Eerste Divisie side Jong PSV. He scored six times in 16 matches for the Eerste Divisie side. On 28 June 2014, Schalk signed a one-year deal with Eredivisie side Go Ahead Eagles on a free transfer.

Schalk moved to Scottish Premiership club Ross County in October 2015.[6] On 13 March 2016, he scored a late winner as Ross County won their first major silverware with a 2–1 victory over Hibernian in the Scottish League Cup final.[7] On 16 April 2017, in the 88th minute of a Premiership match at home to Celtic, he won a penalty which was converted to earn Ross County a 2–2 draw. The act was described as a "clear dive" while Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers accused Schalk of "blatant cheating".[8][9] Days later, he was charged with committing an "act of simulation" and handed a two-game suspension by the Scottish Football Association's compliance officer which both he and his club accepted.[10]

After Ross County were relegated to the Scottish Championship, Schalk was allowed to leave and join the Swiss side Servette. [11] He made headlines in October 2019 after giving the middle finger to FC Sion fans after scoring a goal. As a result, he was suspended for two games.[12]

On 25 March 2022, Schalk signed with Urawa Red Diamonds in Japan.[13] On 15 December 2023, he scored the only goal in a 1–0 victory over León in the FIFA Club World Cup second round.[14]

On 12 January 2024, Schalk signed a contract with ADO Den Haag until June 2025, with an option to extend to 2026.[15]

Career statistics

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As of match played 19 May 2024 [16]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueNational cup[a]League cup[b]ContinentalOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
NAC Breda2010–11Eredivisie100010
2011–12Eredivisie32610336
2012–13Eredivisie20332235
2013–14Eredivisie511061
Total5810526312
Jong PSV (loan)2013–14Eerste Divisie166166
Go Ahead Eagles2014–15Eredivisie204102[c]0234
2015–16Eerste Divisie20002[d]040
Total224102020274
Ross County2015–16Scottish Premiership2554232329
2016–17Scottish Premiership3252043388
2017–18Scottish Premiership301110523613
Total87217212710630
Servette2018–19Swiss Challenge League27910289
2019–20Swiss Super League21720227
2020–21Swiss Super League3110301[d]03410
2021–22Swiss Super League213231[e]0246
Total10029832011032
Urawa Red Diamonds2022J1 League12110003[f]3164
2023J1 League7200423[f]03[g]1175
Total19310426331339
ADO Den Haag2023–24Eerste Divisie173102[h]3206
Career total319762371691037437599
  1. ^ Includes KNVB Cup, Scottish Cup, Swiss Cup, Emperor's Cup
  2. ^ Includes Scottish League Cup, J.League Cup
  3. ^ Appearances in Eredivisie relegation play-offs
  4. ^ a b Appearances in UEFA Europa League
  5. ^ Appearance in UEFA Europa Conference League
  6. ^ a b Appearances in AFC Champions League
  7. ^ Appearance in FIFA Club World Cup
  8. ^ Appearances in Eredivisie promotion/relegation play-offs

Honours

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Club

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Ross County

Servette

Urawa Red Diamonds

References

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  1. ^ "FIFA Club World Cup Saudi Arabia 2023™: List of Players: Urawa Reds" (PDF). FIFA. 6 December 2023. p. 7. Archived (PDF) from the original on 6 December 2023. Retrieved 10 December 2023.
  2. ^ "Alex Schalk" (in Japanese). Urawa Red Diamonds. Retrieved 22 September 2022.
  3. ^ "'Der Bomber van Breda' Schalk blijft langer bij NAC". Voetbal International. 9 August 2011. Retrieved 9 August 2011.
  4. ^ "NAC Breda 1-2 Heracles Almelo". Voetbal International. 1 May 2011. Retrieved 9 August 2011.
  5. ^ "NAC Breda bindt talenten Schalk en Bouwman". Telegraaf. 9 August 2011. Retrieved 9 August 2011.
  6. ^ "Ross County sign Dutch striker Alex Schalk until end of season". BBC Sport. BBC. 6 October 2015. Retrieved 6 October 2015.
  7. ^ a b Wilson, Richard (13 March 2016). "Scottish League Cup Final: Hibernian 1 Ross County 2". BBC Sport. Retrieved 14 March 2016.
  8. ^ Dowden, Martin (16 April 2017). "Ross County 2-2 Celtic - BBC Sport". BBC Sport. Retrieved 19 April 2017.
  9. ^ "Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers accuses Ross County's Alex Schalk of 'blatant cheating'". Sky Sports. 17 April 2017. Retrieved 19 April 2017.
  10. ^ "Ross County: Alex Schalk accepts two-game suspension for diving". BBC Sport. 19 April 2017. Retrieved 19 April 2017.
  11. ^ "Alex Schalk". BN Destem. 10 July 2018. Retrieved 10 July 2018.
  12. ^ Kunz, Alain (1 November 2019). "Servette nimmt "Fall Schalk" nicht so ernst". Blick (in German). Retrieved 26 December 2020.
  13. ^ "アレックス シャルク選手 完全移籍加入クラブ間合意のお知らせ" (Press release) (in Japanese). Urawa Red Diamonds. 25 March 2022. Retrieved 25 March 2022.
  14. ^ "Club León 0–1 Urawa Reds". FIFA. 15 December 2023.
  15. ^ "ALEX SCHALK TEKENT BIJ ADO DEN HAAG" [ALEX SCHALK SIGNS WITH ADO DEN HAAG] (in Dutch). ADO Den Haag. 12 January 2024. Retrieved 15 January 2024.
  16. ^ Alex Schalk at Soccerway. Retrieved 24 August 2016.
  17. ^ "Urawa Reds edge Al Hilal for historic third title". AFC. 6 May 2023. Retrieved 6 May 2023.
  18. ^ Orlowitz, Dan (6 May 2023). "Urawa beats Al Hilal to capture third Asian Champions League title". The Japan Times. Retrieved 6 May 2023.
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