7. Club Career
Ziyech’s footballing journey began at SV REEAL Dronten and ASV Dronten where he played between 2001 and 2007.
He then switched to Heerenveen academy and lasted there 5 years. Hakim’s steady progress with the juniors prompted Heenrenveen to hand him his senior debut in August 2012.
His exuberant performances attracted FC Twente who swooped in and signed him on a three-year deal in the summer of 2014.
Hakim Ziyech continued his excellent performances at his new club. But it was during his second season there that he shone the most, recording 17 goals and 10 assists in the Eredivisie-it was a career best.
However, all good things do come to an end. Seemingly exasperated and filled with the quest for a new challenge, Hakim Ziyech declared he wanted out!
And Ajax it was! Hakim switched to Ajax, on an €11m fee, signing a five-year deal.
6. Ajax
Since moving to Ajax in 2016, Ziyech was a permanent in the team season after season and by the time of writing this article, he had racked 165 appearances, netting 48 goals in that period.
Ziyech has scored 6 goals and provided 12 assists in 18 league matches for Ajax this season. He has 8 goals and 21 assists in 29 matches across all competitions for Ajax this season.
5. International Career
Hakim Ziyech represented Netherlands at youth level. He featured in a combined 7 matches with the U19s, U20s and U21s Netherlands team.
In September 2015, he announced he would represent Morocco on international level.
To date, he has featured 32 times and has scored 14 goals.
4. Snubbing Netherlands
Hakim Ziyech explained why he chose Morocco instead of Netherlands where he represented at youth level.
“I will not play for the Netherlands. Choosing one’s national team is not done with the brain but with the heart. In my case without hesitation it was Morocco. I have always felt Moroccan even though I was born in Holland. Lots of people will never understand this feeling.”
”My heart told me to choose Morocco. I was at the Netherlands one time but I got injured. I thought of what I wanted and my mum and brothers told me to choose my heart.”
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