Rowan Besselink
{{Short description|Dutch footballer (born 2004)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2024}}
{{Infobox football biography
|name = Rowan Besselink
|image =
|image_size =
|caption =
|full_name =
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|2004|10|11|df=y}}
|birth_place = Rijswijk, Netherlands
|height = 1.83 m{{Soccerway|rowan-besselink/853736}}
|position = Centre-back
|currentclub = De Graafschap
|clubnumber = 3
|youthyears1 = 2020–2022
|youthclubs1 = NAC Breda
|years1 = 2022–2024
|clubs1 = NAC Breda
|caps1 = 33
|goals1 = 0
|years2 = 2024–
|clubs2 = De Graafschap
|caps2 = 10
|goals2 = 0
|club-update = 11:23, 2 November 2024 (UTC)
}}
Rowan Besselink (born 11 October 2004) is a Dutch professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for {{Dutch football updater|DeGraafsc}} club De Graafschap.
Career
Born in Rijswijk, Besselink began his career with NAC Breda,{{Cite web|url=https://www.voetbal.com/speler_profiel/rowan-besselink/|title=Rowan Besselink|website=voetbal.com}} where he made his senior debut in August 2022,{{Cite web|url=https://www.nac.nl/nieuws/velanas-schiet-frivool-spelend-nac-langs-helmond-sport|title=Velanas schiet frivool spelend NAC langs Helmond Sport|first=N. A. C.|last=Breda|website=NAC Breda}} the same month he was linked with a transfer to Italy.{{cite news |last1=Pluijmert |first1=Wout |title=Rowan Besselink in de belangstelling van Italiaanse clubs: 'Heb hier geen invloed op en richt mij op NAC' |url=https://www.ad.nl/regiosport-rivierenland/rowan-besselink-in-de-belangstelling-van-italiaanse-clubs-heb-hier-geen-invloed-op-en-richt-mij-op-nac~afef6530/ |access-date=2 November 2024 |work=Algemeen Dagblad |date=4 August 2022 |language=nl}} He signed his first professional contract in October 2022.{{cite web |title=Rowan Besselink tekent eerste profcontract |url=https://www.nac.nl/nieuws/rowan-besselink-tekent-eerste-profcontract |website=NAC Breda |access-date=2 November 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221011153108/https://www.nac.nl/nieuws/rowan-besselink-tekent-eerste-profcontract |archive-date=11 October 2022 |language=nl |date=11 October 2022}}{{cite news |last1=Blanco |first1=Yadran |title=NAC heeft veel vertrouwen in Besselink, verdediger tekent langjarig contract |url=https://www.bndestem.nl/nac/nac-heeft-veel-vertrouwen-in-besselink-verdediger-tekent-langjarig-contract~af4f5f75/ |access-date=2 November 2024 |work=BN De Stem |date=11 October 2022 |language=nl}}
In January 2023, following a Cup win, he was described as a "hero".{{cite news |title=Besselink schiet NAC naar volgende ronde na krankzinnige bekerthriller tegen FC Eindhoven |url=https://www.destentor.nl/voetbal/besselink-schiet-nac-naar-volgende-ronde-na-krankzinnige-bekerthriller-tegen-fc-eindhoven~a37678d2/ |access-date=2 November 2024 |work=De Stentor |date=10 January 2023 |language=nl}} In October 2023, following an injury to Cuco Martina, Besselink began to play regularly for the first-team.{{cite news |last1=Blanco |first1=Yadran |title=NAC-tiener laat kritiek van zich afglijden en vindt rust in zijn gitaar: 'Mentaal ben ik sterker geworden' |url=https://www.bndestem.nl/nac/nac-tiener-laat-kritiek-van-zich-afglijden-en-vindt-rust-in-zijn-gitaar-mentaal-ben-ik-sterker-geworden~a84010f2/ |access-date=2 November 2024 |work=BN De Stem |date=20 October 2023 |language=nl}} In March 2024 he spoke of "becoming a man" following his first-team experiences.{{cite news |last1=Kas |first1=Dennis |title=De vaste vervanger achterin bij NAC merkt dat hij groeit: 'Ik word meer een mannetje' |url=https://www.bd.nl/breda/de-vaste-vervanger-achterin-bij-nac-merkt-dat-hij-groeit-ik-word-meer-een-mannetje~a77ee96d/ |access-date=2 November 2024 |work=Brabants Dagblad |date=16 March 2024 |language=nl}}
On 27 August 2024, Besselink signed a multi-year contract with De Graafschap.{{cite web|publisher=De Graafschap|url=https://www.degraafschap.nl/nieuws/de-graafschap-contracteert-verdediger-rowan-besselink|title=De Graafschap contracteert verdediger Rowan Besselink|trans-title=De Graafschap signs defender Rowan Besselink|date=27 August 2024|access-date=27 August 2024|language=nl}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{De Graafschap squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Besselink, Rowan}}
Category:Sportspeople from Rijswijk
Category:Footballers from South Holland
Category:Dutch men's footballers
Category:Men's association football central defenders
Category:De Graafschap players