Christopher van Huizen
{{short description|Singaporean footballer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2014}}
{{Family name hatnote|van Huizen|Huizen}}{{Infobox football biography
| name = Christopher van Huizen
| image = Christopher_van_Huizen.jpg
| image_size = 250
| caption = Van Huizen in action for Lion City Sailors in the 2023–24 AFC Champions League
| full_name = Christopher James van Huizen
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1992|11|28|df=yes}}
| birth_place = Singapore
| height = {{height|m=1.70}}
| position = Full-back
| currentclub = Lion City Sailors
| clubnumber = 22
| youthyears1 = –2010
| youthclubs1 = Geylang United
| youthclubs2 = Tampines Rovers
| youthyears2 = 2010–2012
| years1 = 2013–2014
| clubs1 = Tampines Rovers
| caps1 = 4
| goals1 = 1
| years2 = 2015
| clubs2 = LionsXII
| caps2 = 18
| goals2 = 3
| years3 = 2016
| clubs3 = Tampines Rovers
| caps3 = 10
| goals3 = 1
| years4 = 2016
| clubs4 = Young Lions
| caps4 = 6
| goals4 = 0
| years5 = 2017–2018
| clubs5 = Home United
| caps5 = 21
| goals5 = 0
| years6 = 2019–2021
| clubs6 = Geylang International
| caps6 = 53
| goals6 = 4
| years7 = 2022
| clubs7 = Tampines Rovers
| caps7 = 11
| goals7 = 3
| years8 = 2023–
| clubs8 = Lion City Sailors
| caps8 = 31
| goals8 = 2
| nationalyears1 = 2014
| nationalteam1 = Singapore U21
| nationalcaps1 =
| nationalgoals1 =
| nationalyears2 = 2015–
| nationalteam2 = Singapore
| nationalcaps2 = 28
| nationalgoals2 = 1
| club-update = 05:24, 24 December 2022 (UTC)
| nationalteam-update = 5 June 2025
}}
Christopher James van Huizen (born 28 November 1992) is a Singaporean professional footballer who plays as a full-back for Singapore Premier League club Lion City Sailors and the Singapore national team.
Club career
= Youth career =
Van Huizen went for trials with Geylang United when he was young and duly impressed the coaches at Geylang was rewarded with a place at the Geylang under-16 squad. In 2010, he joined rivals Tampines Rovers' Prime League squad when he turned 17 but saw his opportunity derailed by National Service in 2011. Van Huizen rejected the chance to play for the SAFSA team during his 2 years of service and almost gave up on continuing professional football.{{Cite web |url=http://www.fourfourtwo.com/sg/features/van-huizen-firstxi-lionsxii |title=Van Huizen: From FirstXI to LionsXII |access-date=3 November 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924044932/http://www.fourfourtwo.com/sg/features/van-huizen-firstxi-lionsxii |archive-date=24 September 2015 |url-status=dead }}
A second chance came calling for Van Huizen when he entered the professional football scene in Singapore through his involvement in a MediaCorp Channel 5 TV series, First XI.{{cite web|title=Christopher Van Huizen Player Profile|url=http://entertainment.xin.msn.com/en/tv/channel-5/programmes/first-xi-season2/christopher-van-huizen|publisher=xinmsn|access-date=19 July 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140728100933/http://entertainment.xin.msn.com/en/tv/channel-5/programmes/first-xi-season2/christopher-van-huizen|archive-date=28 July 2014|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|title=Football really is a beautiful game|url=http://www.todayonline.com/first-xi-episode-1-football-really-beautiful-game|publisher=TODAY|access-date=19 July 2014}}{{Cite news |date=2015-11-05 |title=Football: 5 things to know about Singaporean midfielder Christopher van Huizen |language=en |work=The Straits Times |url=https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/football-5-things-to-know-about-singaporean-midfielder-christopher-van-huizen |access-date=2023-10-20 |issn=0585-3923}}
=Tampines Rovers=
Following his performance in the reality TV series and the completion of his national service, Tampines Rovers head coach Rafi Ali offered Van Huizen a two-year contract to play for both the Prime League squad and the senior squad that competes in the 2013 S.League.{{cite web|title=Stags arrive in Phonm Penh for pre-season training tour|url=http://tampinesroversfc.com/stags-arrive-in-phnom-penh-for-pre-season-training-tour/|publisher=Tampines Rovers FC|access-date=19 July 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140120063735/http://tampinesroversfc.com/stags-arrive-in-phnom-penh-for-pre-season-training-tour/|archive-date=20 January 2014|url-status=dead}}
Van Huizen scored his first professional career goal during the 2014 Singapore League Cup match against Police SA where he scored and assisted a goal in a 9–0 thrashing win on 19 July 2014. He also scored his first league goal in a 2–0 win over Woodlands Wellington on 31 July.
=LionsXII=
Alongside Sahil Suhaimi, Wahyudi Wayid and Izzdin Shafiq, Van Huizen was unveiled as one of the new LionsXII signings by Fandi Ahmad for the 2015 Malaysia Super League season. This marks a remarkable turnaround for the "boy from the reality series" to a potential national team player.{{Cite web |url=http://www.fourfourtwo.com/sg/features/van-huizen-firstxi-lionsxii |title=Van Huizen: From FirstXI to LionsXII |access-date=3 November 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924044932/http://www.fourfourtwo.com/sg/features/van-huizen-firstxi-lionsxii |archive-date=24 September 2015 |url-status=dead }}
Van Huizen made his LionsXII debut as a substitute in the opening game of the season, coming on to make a brief cameo appearance against PDRM FA in a 5–3 victory for the Lions.{{Cite web |url=http://www.fourfourtwo.com/sg/features/fourfourtwo-player-ratings-lionsxii-5-pdrm-3 |title=FourFourTwo Player Ratings: LionsXII 5 PDRM 3 |access-date=3 November 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924044846/http://www.fourfourtwo.com/sg/features/fourfourtwo-player-ratings-lionsxii-5-pdrm-3 |archive-date=24 September 2015 |url-status=dead }} He was part of the squad that won the 2015 Malaysia FA Cup.
=Tampines Rovers=
Following the exit of LionsXII from the Malaysia Super League, Van Huizen rejoined Tampines Rovers in January 2016. Van Huizen make his AFC Cup debut on 23 March 2016 against Bangladeshi club Shiekh Jamal in a 4–0 win. During a league match against DPMM on 19 March 2016, he assisted twice as Tampines Rovers went on to win 2–1. Van Huizen then scored his first goal of the season in a 1–2 win over Young Lions in the next match on 3 April, helping the Stags climb to joint-top of the 2016 S.League season.{{Cite web|title=Young Lions Give Stags A Run For Their Money|url=http://www.sleague.com/match-report/s-league/2016/april/2016-04-03/garena-young-lions/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160408203205/http://www.sleague.com/match-report/s-league/2016/April/2016-04-03/garena-young-lions|url-status=usurped|archive-date=8 April 2016}}
=Young Lions=
On 1 July 2016, Van Huizen signed for Young Lions midway throughout the 2016 season. This was following a season at Tampines Rovers where he was used sparingly.{{Cite web |url=http://www.fourfourtwo.com/sg/news/young-lions-sign-tampines-winger-christopher-van-huizen#CZJwLddWYHCA4mya.99 |title=Young Lions sign Tampines winger Christopher Van Huizen |access-date=2 July 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160703204100/http://www.fourfourtwo.com/sg/news/young-lions-sign-tampines-winger-christopher-van-huizen#CZJwLddWYHCA4mya.99 |archive-date=3 July 2016 |url-status=dead }}{{Cite web |title=Van Huizen set to revive career with young Lions |url=https://www.todayonline.com/sports/van-huizen-set-revive-career-young-lions |access-date=2023-10-20 |website=TODAY |language=en}}
=Home United=
On 2 January 2017, Van Huizen signed for Home United.{{cite news |last1=Ganesan |first1=Deepanraj |title=Geylang's Chris van Huizen rediscovers the wind beneath his wings |url=https://tnp.straitstimes.com/sports/singapore-football/geylangs-chris-van-huizen-rediscovers-wind-beneath-his-wings |access-date=Feb 21, 2020 |publisher=The New Paper |date=Feb 20, 2020}} He make his debut for the club during the first leg of the 2017 AFC Cup qualifying play-offs against Cambodian club Phnom Penh Crown in a 4–3 away win on 30 January.
=Geylang International=
In January 2019, Van Huizen signed for his boyhood club, Geylang International ahead of the 2019 season. On 5 July, he raked up a brace of assist which helped his team settled to a 2–2 draw against Hougang United. In the next match against Home United on 12 July, Van Huizen again picked up a brace of assist but that was not enough as Geylang suffered to a 3–2 defeat. On 30 August, he raked up his third brace of assist in the season which helped his team to win 2–1 against Young Lions. Van Huizen recorded 10 assists in the league leading the top assist chart in the 2019 season.{{cite news |last1=Ganesan |first1=Deepanraj |title=Geylang's Chris van Huizen rediscovers the wind beneath his wings |url=https://tnp.straitstimes.com/sports/singapore-football/geylangs-chris-van-huizen-rediscovers-wind-beneath-his-wings |access-date=Feb 21, 2020 |publisher=The New Paper |date=Feb 20, 2020}}
On 15 March 2020, Van Huizen scored a brace which helped his team to win 2–1 against Hougang United during a league match.
On 3 October 2021, Van Huizen recorded a hat-trick of assist in a 3–0 win over Balestier Khalsa which won him the 'man of the match' award. However, on 11 November 2021, he left Geylang International, considering retirement from football.{{Cite web|title=The club confirms that we will part ways with Danny Kim, Asshukrie Wahid, Izzdin Shafiq and Firdaus Kasman. We thank them for being part of the GIFC family and wish them the best in their future 🦅|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/CWIgrKQBwfi/ |website=www.instagram.com}}{{Cite web |last=Auto |first=Hermes |date=2021-10-03 |title=Football: Contemplating retirement, super-sub van Huizen delivers for Geylang International {{!}} The Straits Times |url=https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/football/football-contemplating-retirement-super-sub-van-huizen-delivers-for-geylang |access-date=2023-01-10 |website=www.straitstimes.com |language=en}}
= Tampines Rovers =
In January 2022, Van Huizen was given another chance by his former club, Tampines Rovers and signed a one-year deal.{{Cite web |last=Auto |first=Hermes |date=2022-03-31 |title=Football: Stags' renaissance man van Huizen relishing second chance after retirement U-turn {{!}} The Straits Times |url=https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/football/football-stags-renaissance-man-van-huizen-relishing-second-chance-after-retirement-u-turn |access-date=2023-01-10 |website=www.straitstimes.com |language=en}} He went on to make 27 appearances for the club where he scored 3 goals and assisted twice throughout the 2022 season.
= Lion City Sailors =
On 20 January 2023, Van Huizen signed for Lion City Sailors on a 18 months contract ahead of the 2023 season.{{Cite web |date=2023-01-20 |title=At the peak of his powers and relishing his biggest challenge yet: Chris |url=https://www.lioncitysailorsfc.sg/at-the-peak-of-his-powers-and-relishing-his-biggest-challenge-yet-chris/ |access-date=2023-01-20 |website=Lion City Sailors FC |language=en-US}} On 13 August, he scored his first goal for the club in a massive 8–2 away victory against Hougang United.{{Cite web |last=Sailors |first=Lion City |date=2023-08-14 |title=Emphatic end to SPL assignment as Sailors now turn to ACL mission |url=https://www.lioncitysailorsfc.sg/emphatic-end-to-spl-assignment-as-sailors-now-turn-to-acl-mission/ |access-date=2023-10-20 |website=Lion City Sailors FC |language=en-US}} On 20 September, he make his 2023–24 AFC Champions League debut in a 2–1 lost against Thailand club Bangkok United. On 4 October, Van Huizen assisted Richairo Živković in the AFC Champions League group stage match to take the lead against Hong Kong side, Kitchee which would see Lion City Sailors ending up in a 2–1 away win.{{Cite web |date=2023-10-04 |title=Kitchee tripped up by Singapore's Lion City Sailors in AFC Champions League loss |url=https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3236828/afc-champions-league-hong-kong-champions-kitchee-tripped-singapores-lion-city-sailors |access-date=2023-10-20 |website=South China Morning Post |language=en}}{{Cite news |last=Ganesan |first=Deepanraj |date=2023-10-04 |title=Experienced Richairo Zivkovic leads Lion City Sailors to Asian Champions League football victory |language=en |work=The Straits Times |url=https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/football/experienced-richairo-zivkovic-leads-lion-city-sailors-to-asian-champions-league-victory |access-date=2023-10-20 |issn=0585-3923}} In his first season at the club, he won the 2023 Singapore Cup which is his first domestic trophy.
On 22 September 2024, Van Huizen scored his first goal of the 2024–25 season in a 3–1 win against Balestier Khalsa.
Van Huizen finished as a runner-up in the 2025 AFC Champions League Two final against Sharjah after a 1–2 defeat.{{cite web|title= Sharjah edge Sailors to savour glory |url= https://www.the-afc.com/en/club/afc_champions_league_two.html/news/sharjah-edge-sailors-to-savour-glory|accessdate=19 May 2025|date=18 May 2025|work=AFC.com}}
International career
= Youth =
Having impressed in his first season in the 2014 S.League, Van Huizen was rewarded with a call-up to the Singapore under-21 squad, by Richard Bok, for the Thanh Niên Cup in Vietnam.{{Cite web |url=http://www.fourfourtwo.com/sg/features/van-huizen-firstxi-lionsxii |title=Van Huizen: From FirstXI to LionsXII |access-date=3 November 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924044932/http://www.fourfourtwo.com/sg/features/van-huizen-firstxi-lionsxii |archive-date=24 September 2015 |url-status=dead }}{{Cite web |url=http://www.fas.org.sg/news/announcement-under-21-squad-vietnam-newspaper-cup |title=ANNOUNCEMENT OF UNDER-21 SQUAD FOR VIETNAM NEWSPAPER CUP |access-date=3 November 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151201213828/http://www.fas.org.sg/news/announcement-under-21-squad-vietnam-newspaper-cup |archive-date=1 December 2015 |url-status=dead }}
= Senior =
In 2015, Van Huizen was called up to the senior team for the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.{{Cite web |last=Auto |first=Hermes |date=2015-10-05 |title=Football: Christopher van Huizen gets call-up as Lions host two key World Cup qualifying ties {{!}} The Straits Times |url=https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/football/football-christopher-van-huizen-gets-call-up-as-lions-host-two-key-world-cup |access-date=2023-01-20 |website=www.straitstimes.com |language=en}} He made his senior team international debut in a 3–0 lost against Japan, coming on with 10 minutes left on the clock.{{Cite web|url=http://www.fourfourtwo.com/sg/news/van-huizen-looking-more-after-dream-debut#:WNC-T5ZQKsNGqA|title=Van Huizen looking for more after dream debut|publisher=FourFourTwo|access-date=26 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151117141125/http://www.fourfourtwo.com/sg/news/van-huizen-looking-more-after-dream-debut#:WNC-T5ZQKsNGqA|archive-date=17 November 2015|url-status=dead}} He earned his third cap in a friendly against Myanmar, coming on for the final 15 minutes of the game.{{Cite web|url=http://www.espnfc.com/blog/football-asia/153/post/2834903/shock-recall-gives-chris-van-huizen-hope-for-suzuki-cup-spot|title=Shock recall gives Van Huizen hope for Suzuki Cup spot with Singapore|publisher=ESPNFC}}
In 2022, Van Huizen was included in the team for the 2022 FAS Tri-Nations Series and 2022 AFF Championship tournament.{{Cite web |last=Auto |first=Hermes |date=2022-03-17 |title=Football: Four uncapped players called up for Singapore's March friendlies {{!}} The Straits Times |url=https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/football/football-four-uncapped-players-called-up-for-singapores-march-friendlies |access-date=2023-01-10 |website=www.straitstimes.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Tan |first=Amanda |date=2022-12-20 |title=Five players in Singapore squad to take part in AFF Mitsubishi Electric Cup 2022 for the first time |url=https://youthopia.sg/read/five-players-in-singapore-squad-to-take-part-in-aff-mitsubishi-electric-cup-2022-for-the-first-time/ |access-date=2023-01-10 |website=youthopia.sg |language=en-US}}
On 12 October 2023, Van Huizen scored his first international goal against Guam in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers scoring from outside the box with his weak foot.{{Cite web |title=Singapore takes a slender lead going into second leg of first round qualifier of World Cup 2026 - Football Association of Singapore |url=https://www.fas.org.sg/singapore-guam-wcq-home-leg-match-report |access-date=2023-10-20 |website=www.fas.org.sg |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=Singapore edge past Guam in World Cup qualifiers |url=https://khelnow.com/football/2023-10-fifa-world-cup-qualifiers-singapore-guam-report |access-date=2023-10-20 |website=Khel Now |language=English}}
Career statistics
= Club =
{{updated|match played 23 June 2024}}{{Soccerway|328788|van Huizen|access-date=11 October 2020}}
| class=wikitable style=text-align:center
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition | ||||||||||
| rowspan=2|Club
!rowspan=2|Season !colspan=3|League !colspan=2|National Cup{{efn|Includes Singapore Cup}} !colspan=2|League Cup{{efn|Includes Singapore League Cup & Community Shield}} !colspan=2|Asia !colspan=2|Total | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| rowspan="2" | Tampines Rovers
|2014 |4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 2 | |
| colspan=2|Total
!4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 2 | |
| rowspan="2" | LionsXII
|2015 |18 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 3 | |
| colspan=2|Total
!18 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 3 | |
| rowspan="2" | Tampines Rovers
|2016 |Singapore Premier League |10 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 1 | |
| colspan=2|Total
!10 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 1 | |
| rowspan="2" | Young Lions
|2016 |Singapore Premier League |6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | |
| colspan=2|Total
!6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | |
| rowspan="3" | Home United
|2017 | rowspan="2" |Singapore Premier League |9 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 17 | 0 | |
| 2018
|12 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 18 | 0 | |
| colspan=2|Total
!21 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 35 | 0 | |
| rowspan="4" | Geylang International
|2019 | rowspan="3" |Singapore Premier League |22 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 23 | 1 | |
| 2020
|12 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 2 | |
| 2021
|19 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 1 | |
| colspan=2|Total
!53 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 54 | 4 | |
| rowspan="2" | Tampines Rovers
|2022 |Singapore Premier League |20 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 27 | 3 | |
| colspan=2|Total
!20 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 27 | 3 | |
| rowspan="3" | Lion City Sailors
|2023 | rowspan="2" |Singapore Premier League |17 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 29 | 1 | |
| 2024–25
|15 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 {{efn|2 in ASEAN Club Championship and 1 in AFC Champions League Two}} | 0 | 19 | 1 | |
| colspan="2" |Total
!32 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 48 | 2 | |
| colspan="3" | Career total
!164 | 14 | 18 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 20 | 0 | 207 | 15 |
= International =
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by national team and year | |||
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| rowspan="4" |Singapore
|2015 | 2 | 0 | |
| 2016 | 2 | 0 | |
| 2022 | 8 | 0 | |
| 2023 | 7 | 1 | |
| colspan="2" |Total||19||1 |
= International goals =
: Scores and results list Singapore's goal tally first.
| class="wikitable" style="font-size:100%;"
!No. !Date !Venue !Opponent !Score !Result !Competition |
| 1.
|12 October 2023 |National Stadium, Kallang, Singapore |{{fb|GUM}} |align="center"|1–0 |align="center"|2–1 |
Honours
LionsXII
Lion City Sailors
- AFC Champions League Two runner-up: 2024–25
- Singapore Premier League: 2024–25
- Singapore Cup: 2023, 2024–25
- Singapore Community Shield: 2024
Individual
- Singapore Premier League Player of the Month: July 2019
Notes
{{notelist}}
Personal life
Aside from playing football, Chris enjoys skating as a side hobby and has participated in different skating competitions around Singapore.{{Cite web |last=Admin |date=2014-04-02 |title=Recap: Red Bull Local Hero Tour |url=https://straatosphere.com/recap-red-bull-local-hero-tour/ |access-date=2023-10-20 |website=Straatosphere |language=en-US}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Soccerway|christopher-james-van-huizen/328788|Christopher James van Huizen}}
{{Geylang International FC squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Van Huizen, Christopher}}
Category:Singaporean people of Dutch descent
Category:Singaporean men's footballers
Category:Singapore men's international footballers
Category:Tampines Rovers FC players
Category:Singapore Premier League players
Category:Men's association football midfielders
Category:Singapore men's youth international footballers
Category:Geylang International FC players
Category:Young Lions FC players