Jill Roord - A Detailed Overview
Early Life
Jill Jamie Roord was born on April 22, 1997 in Oldenzaal, Netherlands. From a very young age, she demonstrated a keen interest in football and her talent was evident. Her father, René Roord, a former professional footballer in the Eerste Divisie, played a crucial role in Roord's early development as a footballer. Inspired by her father's professional career, Roord began playing football in the grounds of her hometown club, FC Berghuizen.
Club Career
Jill Roord began her club career at age six with FC Berghuizen before moving to FC Twente in 2011, where she made her debut at an early age of 16. During her tenure with Twente, she played a significant role in the team's successful campaigns, winning three Eredivisie titles in 2013, 2014, and 2016. In 2017, she made a move to Bundesliga, signing with the German team FF USV Jena. However, less than a year later, she transferred to another German club, Bayern Munich. During her two seasons at Bayern Munich, she demonstrated her midfield prowess, scoring 10 goals in 40 appearances. Her standout performances caught the attention of English club Arsenal, leading to her move to the FA Women's Super League in 2019. At Arsenal, Roord has consistently displayed her incredible skills and ability to score, quickly establishing herself as a key player.
International Career
Roord represented Netherlands at the U-19 level and played an integral part in helping the Dutch team reach the final of UEFA Women's Under-19 Championship in 2014. She made her senior debut for the Dutch national team on November 30, 2015 against Japan. Since then, she has remained an important player for the Netherlands, representing the country at the 2017 UEFA Women's Euro, where they emerged victorious, and the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup, where they finished as runners-up. She has a reputation for always being reliable during moments of pressure and across her international career, has numerous goals and assists to her name.
Playing Style
Roord is a versatile midfielder known for her excellent ball control, technical skills, and vision on the field. She often plays in a deep-lying playmaker role, orchestrating the team’s play with her accurate short and long passes. She also has a knack for drawing defenders and creating spaces for her teammates. Her positioning, tackling, and interception skills make her a key figure in both defensive and offensive plays. In addition, she is known for her shooting accuracy and ability to score goals, especially with her strong right foot.
Achievements and Honours
At club level, Roord has been a part of several successful campaigns. Her major achievements include the Eredivisie titles with FC Twente and the FA Women's Super League title with Arsenal. On the international stage, her defining moment came in 2017 when she helped the Netherlands secure their first ever UEFA Women's Euro championship. This triumph gave them a chance to compete in the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup, where they reached the final. Roord has been recognized for her performances, claiming the UEFA Women's Under-19 Championship Golden Player award in 2014, and being named in the UEFA Women's Euro Team of the Tournament in 2017.
Personal Life
Off the pitch, Roord is quite private about her personal life, rarely sharing details in the public domain. She has been influenced heavily by her father's football career and often credits him for her own success in the sport. Roord maintains a strong professionalism regarding her career and is committed to improving her game, often sharing her training moments on her social media channels. She has also used her platform to advocate for the growth of women’s football and gender equality in sports, becoming a strong role model for the younger generation of female footballers.
