Giliano Wijnaldum

PRONUNCIATION

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

2017 (Philadelphia/Bethlehem): Wijnaldum made 13 appearances (13 starts) at leftback for Philadelphia in 2017, with one assist ... he made his first appearance in a Union matchday 18 vs. the New York Red Bulls (May 6), but did not appear ... made his team and league debut with the start at leftback vs. Colorado (May 20) as part of a 2-1 win ... started his second MLS match vs. D.C. United (June 24) and helped the Union keep a clean sheet in a 1-0 win ... made his second consecutive start as part of another clean sheet effort in a 3-0 win over New England (July 2) ... started his third straight match overall and his first road contest at Sporting KC (July 6) ... started in the Union's international friendly vs. Swansea City AFC (July 15) ... continued in the starting lineup at Montreal (July 19) and in every Union match through the contest at San Jose (August 19) ... returned to the starting lineup vs. Atlanta (August 26), where he recorded his first Union assist on Roland Alberg's goal ... continued in the starting lineup at Minnesota (September 9) ... was in the matchday 18 vs. Seattle (October 1) and vs. Orlando (October 22) ... made one appearance (one start) for the Union in the 2017 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup ... started at leftback in the Fourth Round win over Harrisburg (June 14) ... for Bethlehem Steel FC, Wijnaldum made seven regular-season appearances (seven starts) at leftback ... he started the team's season opener vs. Rochester (April 1) ... continued in the starting lineup vs. Cincinnati (April 9), helping Steel FC keep a clean sheet in a 2-0 win ... continued in the starting lineup at Harrisburg (April 15) and in every Steel FC match through the contest vs. Cincinnati (April 29), where he helped Bethlehem register another clean sheet  ... returned to the Bethlehem starting lineup vs. Ottawa (June 4) ... was part of another clean sheet effort in a 1-0 win at Harrisburg (June 20) ... before the season, he joined Philadelphia Union as a Discovery Signing on January 5, 2017.

2015-16 (VfL Bochum): Wijnaldum transferred outside of the Netherlands for the first time when he joined German 2. Bundesliga side VfL Bochum. He made seven league appearances for the side (four starts) as well as two appearances in the 2015-16 German Cup, where he helped Bochum advance to the quarterfinals of the competition.

2014-15 (Go Ahead Eagles): The defender would move within the Eredivisie for the second time as he joined Go Ahead Eagles ahead of the 2014-15 season. He made 19 topflight appearances, registering one assist, against FC Utrecht (October 4, 2014). He made two Dutch Cup appearances and five appearances for Go Ahead Eagles’ Under-21s. He also made two appearances in the promotion/relegation playoffs that followed the season.

2013-14 (FC Groningen): Following the 2012-13 campaign, Wijnaldum joined fellow Dutch side FC Groningen, where he made 26 starts in the Eredivisie. He scored his first professional goal against NAC Breda (November 30, 2013), adding an assist in the contest. He made three appearances in the 2013-14 Dutch Cup and three appearances for Groningen’s Under-21s. He also made a substitute appearance against Vitesse in the season-ending Europa League qualification playoffs as Groningen earned a berth in the 2014-15 UEFA Europa League.

2012-13 (AZ Alkmaar): Making a career-best 36 appearances across all competitions, Wijnaldum appeared 19 times in the first-division Eredivisie for AZ, recording his first senior team assist against FC Utrect (April 14, 2013). He also made three appearances in the 2012-13 Dutch Cup, including a start and 90 minutes played in the final, in which AZ defeated PSV Eindhoven by a 2-1 score, Wijnaldum’s first major trophy. He also made a total of 14 appearances for AZ’s Under-21s across the first and second division reserve leagues.

2011-12 (AZ Alkmaar): The leftback made one first team appearance during the 2011-12 season, a start in the third round of the Dutch Cup against FC Dordrecht (October 27,2011). He also made 12 appearances, all starts, for AZ’s Under-21 squad in the topflight reserve league, registering two assists.

2010-11 (AZ Alkmaar): Wijnaldum made his first team professional debut during the 2010-11 season with Dutch first division side AZ Alkmaar after time in the academies for both Sparta Rotterdam and AZ. While Wijnaldum was at AZ, the club’s Director of Football Affairs was current Union Sporting Director Earnie Stewart. The leftback made one appearance during his inaugural campaign, in the Eredivisie against ADO Den Haag (April 16, 2011).

INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE

A Netherlands youth international, Wijnaldum has appeared for the Dutch Under-17s, 19s and 20s over his career. He scored his first international goal on June 1, 2012 in a friendly against France’s U-20s.

ACQUIRED

Philadelphia Union signed defender Giliano Wijnaldum as a Discovery Signing on January 5, 2017.

Name: Giliano Wijnaldum (pronounced: Gill-ee-AH-no Why-NALL-dum)

Position: Defender

Height: 5’11”

Weight: 168

Born: August 31, 1992 in Rotterdam, Netherlands

Hometown: Rotterdam, Netherlands

Citizenship: Netherlands

Acquired: Philadelphia Union signed defender Giliano Wijnaldum as a Discovery Signing on January 5, 2017.

Previous Experience: VfL Bochum (2015-2016), Go Ahead Eagles (2014-2015), FC Groningen (2013-2014), AZ Alkmaar (2010-2013)

PERSONAL

Away from the game, Wijnaldum likes to play video games, including the FIFA series. In addition to his mother's home cooking, his favorite food is steak. Growing up, he looked up to his brother Georginio, who made his professional soccer debut at age 16. He also has an additional younger brother, Rogerio. He also likes the playing style of Real Madrid's Marcelo and AZ's Ridgeciano Haps. He speaks English, Dutch and a small amount of German. His favorite vacation spot that he has ever visited is Miami, along with Bangkok, Thailand.