Michael Mols

Michael Mols
	Mols before a game with the Netherlands
Personal information
Full name	Michael Alexander Mols
Date of birth	17 December 1970 (age 54)
Place of birth	Amsterdam, Netherlands
Height	1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Position(s)	Striker
Youth career
	Geuzenveld
	Eendracht '82
	Blauw Wit
1984–1990	Ajax
Senior career*
Years	Team
1990–1991	Ajax
1991–1993	Cambuur
1993–1996	Twente
1996–1999	Utrecht
1999–2004	Rangers
2004–2005	Utrecht
2005–2007	ADO Den Haag
2007–2009	Feyenoord
Total
International career
1995–1999	Netherlands
	*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Michael Alexander Mols (born 17 December 1970) is a Dutch former professional footballer who played as a striker.

Club career

Born in Amsterdam to Indo (Eurasian) parents, Mols, a product of local Ajax's youth system, never appeared officially for its first team, making his professional debuts in the second division, with Cambuur, which he helped obtain Eredivisie promotion in 1992. Early into the following year, he signed with another club in the top level, Twente, continuing to score regularly with this and his following team, Utrecht.

In the 1999 summer, Mols signed for Scottish side Rangers, scoring nine times in his first nine Scottish Premier League matches. However, during a UEFA Champions League clash against Bayern Munich, he collided with opposing goalkeeper Oliver Kahn, which resulted in a serious knee injury^[1] – in the same competition, he previously helped his club crush PSV Eindhoven 4–1 at home by scoring twice, whilst in the league, he put four past former Ranger Andy Goram's Motherwell.^[2]^[3]

Mols made his return from the injury on 9 September 2000 in a league game against Dundee.^[4] In the following years, Mols endured a tough rehabilitation process,^[5]^[6] eventually recovering fully and scoring 13 times in 27 matches during the 2002–03 championship-winning season, which earned him a one-year extension in his contract.^[7] In December 2002, he notably scored the winner in the Old Firm contest against Celtic (3–2),^[8] and left club and country in June 2004, having collected a total of five trophies. He got sent off on his final appearance for Rangers against Dunfermline.^[9]

After an unassuming year with Utrecht, Mols signed with ADO Den Haag, where he played two seasons and netted eight league goals combined. At the end of 2006–07, as his side relegated to the second division, he decided to retire, at almost 37.

However, after sacking agent Mark Brandon, he later reconsidered:^[10] He began his attempt to find a new club with an unsuccessful trial with Australian club Perth Glory,^[11] before he signed a one-year deal with Feyenoord, as cover for also recently signed Roy Makaay.^[12]^[13] He retired for good at the end of 2008–09 (18 matches, two goals).

International career

During a four-year span, Mols won six caps for the Netherlands, the first coming on 18 January 1995 in a 1–0 friendly defeat to France, in Utrecht.

Honours

Rangers

Scottish League: 1999–2000, 2002–03
Scottish Cup: 2001–02, 2002–03
Scottish League Cup: 2001–02, 2002–03

Feyenoord

Dutch Cup: 2007–08

Individual

Dutch Golden Shoe: 1999

References

^ "Double blow for Rangers". BBC. 4 November 1999. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
^ "Mols puts Rangers top". BBC. 20 October 1999. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
^ "Mols repays the millions". BBC. 16 August 1999. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
^ "Sara blow for Rangers". BBC. 9 September 2000. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
^ Pars will not rush Rossi; BBC Sport, 21 October 2000
^ On-off debut for Pars' Rossi; BBC Sport, 8 November 2000
^ Mols re-signs for Rangers; BBC Sport, 15 June 2003
^ Gers win Old Firm thriller; BBC Sport, 7 December 2002
^ "Dunfermline 2–3 Rangers". BBC. 16 May 2004. Retrieved 3 May 2012.
^ http://www.nu.nl/sport/1137460/michael-mols-ziet-af-van-perth-glory.html (in Dutch)
^ Mols won't be joining Glory Archived 31 December 2012 at archive.today; The World Game, 2 July 2007
^ Feyenoord presenteert morgen pinch-hitter Mols (Feyenoord presents goal-getter Mols tomorrow), FC Update, 8 July 2007 (in Dutch)
^ Michael Mols toegevoegd aan selectie Feyenoord; Feyenoord's official website, 9 July 2007 (in Dutch)

External links

Beijen profile (in Dutch)
Stats at Voetbal International (in Dutch)
Michael Mols at Soccerbase
Michael Mols at Wereld van Oranje (archived) (in Dutch)
Michael Mols at National-Football-Teams.com

[1] "Double blow for Rangers". BBC. 4 November 1999. Retrieved 20 October 2020.

[2] "Mols puts Rangers top". BBC. 20 October 1999. Retrieved 20 October 2020.

[3] "Mols repays the millions". BBC. 16 August 1999. Retrieved 20 October 2020.

[4] "Sara blow for Rangers". BBC. 9 September 2000. Retrieved 20 October 2020.

[5] Pars will not rush Rossi; BBC Sport, 21 October 2000

[6] On-off debut for Pars' Rossi; BBC Sport, 8 November 2000

[7] Mols re-signs for Rangers; BBC Sport, 15 June 2003

[8] Gers win Old Firm thriller; BBC Sport, 7 December 2002

[9] "Dunfermline 2–3 Rangers". BBC. 16 May 2004. Retrieved 3 May 2012.

[10] ttp://www.nu.nl/sport/1137460/michael-mols-ziet-af-van-perth-glory.html (in Dutch)

[11] Mols won't be joining Glory Archived 31 December 2012 at archive.today; The World Game, 2 July 2007

[12] Feyenoord presenteert morgen pinch-hitter Mols (Feyenoord presents goal-getter Mols tomorrow), FC Update, 8 July 2007 (in Dutch)

[13] Michael Mols toegevoegd aan selectie Feyenoord; Feyenoord's official website, 9 July 2007 (in Dutch)

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

[10]

[11]

[12]

[13]

v t e Dutch Golden Boot Winner
1982: Haar 1983: Schrijvers 1984: Cruyff 1985: Rijkaard 1986: Gullit 1987: Rijkaard 1988: Vanenburg 1989: Vanenburg 1990: Sturing 1991: Meijer 1992: Metgod 1993: Overmars 1994: De Goey 1995: Blind 1996: Blind 1997: Stam 1998: Van der Sar 1999: Mols 2000: Dudek 2001: Vogel 2002: Chivu 2003: Kuyt 2004: Maxwell 2005: Van Bommel
Merged with the Dutch Footballer of the Year award in 2006.