Sem Dirks

Sem Dirks
Dirks in 2022
Personal information
Date of birth (2001-03-14) 14 March 2001 (age 23)
Place of birth Beverwijk, Netherlands[1]
Position(s) Left-back
Team information
Current team
 Telstar
Number 5
Youth career
–2012 DEM
2012–2020 AZ
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2020–2022 Jong AZ 19 (0)
2022 → VVV-Venlo (loan) 10 (0)
2022–2024 VVV-Venlo 14 (0)
2024– Telstar 4 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 17:59, 20 September 2024 (UTC)

Sem Dirks (born 14 March 2001) is a Dutch professional footballer who plays as a left-back for Eerste Divisie club Telstar.

Club career

AZ

Dirks played youth football for DEM before joining the AZ youth academy in 2012.[2] He progressed through various of AZ's youth teams before being promoted to the reserves in 2020, competing in the Dutch second-tier Eerste Divisie.[3] Dirks made his professional debut with the team in a 6–1 league loss to NAC Breda on 29 August 2020, starting the match at left-back before being replaced by Tijs Velthuis in the 68th minute.[4][5]

On 18 June 2021, Dirks signed his first professional contract with AZ; a one-year deal with an option for an additional year.[2][6]

VVV-Venlo

On 31 January 2022, Dirks was loaned to VVV-Venlo, following teammate Richard Sedláček who had signed a permanent deal with the club.[7] Dirks made his debut for the club as a starter on 4 February in a 5–0 away victory in the regional derby against MVV.[8]

On 19 May, his deal was made permanent and he signed a two-year deal with an option for an additional year.[9]

Telstar

On 8 August 2024, Dirks joined Telstar on an amateur basis.[10] He made his debut for the club the following day, coming on as a substitute in the 76th minute for Mees Kaandorp in a 3–2 away win over Vitesse.[11][12]

Style of play

A left-footed defender, comfortable playing both centrally and at the left side, Dirks has described himself as a "technically skilled" and "tactically aware" defender, with good physicality and heading abilities.[6][1]

Career statistics

As of match played 13 September 2024[13]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League KNVB Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Jong AZ 2020–21 Eerste Divisie 4 0 — — 4 0
2021–22 Eerste Divisie 15 0 — — 15 0
Total 19 0 — — 19 0
VVV-Venlo (loan) 2021–22 Eerste Divisie 10 0 0 0 — 10 0
VVV-Venlo 2022–23 Eerste Divisie 14 0 1 0 2[a] 0 17 0
2023–24 Eerste Divisie 0 0 0 0 — 0 0
Total 24 0 1 0 2 0 27 0
Telstar 2024–25 Eerste Divisie 4 0 0 0 — 4 0
Career total 47 0 1 0 2 0 50 0
  1. ^ Appearances in Eredivisie promotion/relegation playoffs

References

  1. ^ a b Dalsem, Kees van (12 April 2021). "Beverwijker Sem Dirks (20) speelt al bijna zijn halve leven bij AZ en studeert daarbij ook nog Mandarijn: 'Ik doe het niet omdat ik graag in China wil voetballen, maar misschien komt het ooit nog eens van pas'". Noordhollands Dagblad (in Dutch). Retrieved 5 July 2022.
  2. ^ a b Ven, Mark van de (16 August 2021). "Oud-DEMmer Sem Dirks tekent zijn eerste profcontract bij AZ". RKVV DEM (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 18 April 2023. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
  3. ^ "Transfers Keuken Kampioen Divisie 2020/21: Mulenga is terug in Nederland". Voetbalzone (in Dutch). 8 October 2020. Archived from the original on 28 April 2023. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
  4. ^ "NAC Breda vs. AZ II – 29 August 2020". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
  5. ^ "NAC begint jacht op promotie met klinkende zege op Jong AZ". Algemeen Dagblad (in Dutch). 29 August 2020. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
  6. ^ a b "Loek Postma trots op eerste profcontract bij AZ". Noordhollands Dagblad (in Dutch). 27 June 2021. Archived from the original on 27 May 2023. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
  7. ^ "VVV-Venlo huurt Dirks met optie tot koop". VVV-Venlo (Press release) (in Dutch). 31 January 2022. Archived from the original on 29 December 2022. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
  8. ^ "71' – Doelpunt Sven Braken. MVV Maastricht – VVV-Venlo 0-5". ESPN (in Dutch). 4 February 2022. Retrieved 28 December 2022.
  9. ^ Tiems, Job (19 May 2022). "VVV-Venlo licht koopoptie Sem Dirks". 1limburg (in Dutch). Retrieved 5 July 2022.
  10. ^ "Sem Dirks overgeschreven naar Telstar" [Sem Dirks transferred to Telstar] (in Dutch). Telstar. 8 August 2024. Retrieved 8 August 2024.
  11. ^ "Vitesse vs. Telstar 2–3: Summary". Soccerway. Perform Group. Archived from the original on 20 September 2024. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
  12. ^ Janssen, Sander (9 August 2024). "Van den Brom geniet ondanks nederlaag van Vitesse: 'Ben enorm trots'". Voetbal International (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 14 August 2024. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
  13. ^ Sem Dirks at Soccerway