De Vries: Mark Lyndon Patrick (Mark)

2007-2007 (Leeds Player Details)(Player Details)

Striker

Born: Surinam: 28-04-1975

Debut v Oldham Athletic (a): 02-10-2007

6’3” 13st 5lb (2007)

Mark De Vries was born in Surinam, but when he was six months old his mother took him to live in Den Helder in the Netherlands. The towering striker played youth football for WGW Den Helder and then progressed to the senior game with Hollandia of Hoorn. In 1994, he was recruited by FC Volendam where he gained four seasons experience at the top level in the Dutch Eredivisie, scoring once in twenty-eight games. He spent season 1998-99 in the French Second Division with Chamois Niortais, scoring twice in twenty-four games, and then the Dutch First Division club Dordrecht '90 acquired his services in 1999. In his second season with the club, D Vries really started to hit the goal trail scoring eleven times in 2000-2001 and sixteen times the following season and when he left on 1st Jube 2002 he had scored twenty-seven League goals in seventy-one appearances. De Vries played a massive part in helping Hearts to reach the League Cup semi-final in February 2003 and also to secure third place in the Premier League and UEFA Cup football in successive seasons. He joined Leicester City on 6th January 2005, on a free transfer, becoming then manager Craig Levein's first signing alongside fellow former Hearts player Alan Maybury. He had scored twenty-nine Scottish League goals in seventy-two games, of which ten were as a substitute. In addition he had made three starts in the Scottish Cup without scoring, scored once in six starts in the Scottish League Cup and netted four times in the UEFA Cup where he made eight starts and came off the bench once. The striker made his debut for the Foxes in their 2-2 FA Cup third round draw with Blackpool at the Walkers Stadium. He was employed as a lone striker in the FA Cup fifth round clash against Charlton in 2005, and was instrumental in City's progress to the quarter finals. He was a Cup hero again the next year, scoring the last minute winner to beat Spurs in a memorable Third Round clash. Following the departure of Craig Levein, De Vries returned to Holland to join Division One side Heerenveen on loan until the end of the 2005-06 season, scoring three times in seven games. He then joined Den Haag in August 2006 on a season long loan deal, scoring twice in twenty-seven games. De Vries was placed on the transfer list by then Manager Martin Allen on 7th June 2007. He started the first game of the 2007-08 Championship season against Blackpool and went on to make eight appearances before joining Leeds United on loan on 1st October 2007, for an initial one month, to provide cover for Jermaine Beckford and Tresor Kandol, who had run into suspension problems. De Vries made his debut against Oldham Athletic on 2nd October 2007, which Leeds won 1-0. He scored his first goal for the club against Yeovil Town on 6th October 2007. On 25th October, Leeds terminated De Vries' loan contract after he suffered a broken toe. He had made a total of five appearances for the club, one start and three games from the bench in the League and one start in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy and scoring one League goal. However on 12th November 2007 he rejoined Leeds until 15th January 2008 and was given permission to play in the F.A. Cup, but returned to Leicester at the end of the loan period, having made two further substitute appearances in the League and another start in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy. With Leicester City he had scored eight goals from thirty-four starts and seventeen games from the bench, While in the F.A. Cup he netted once in three starts and three substitute appearances and in the League Cup he scored twice from four starts and two substitute appearances. On 25th January 2008 he rejoined Craig Levein at Dundee United and on 16th March 2008 he played in the Scottish League Cup Final against Rangers and although he was on the losing side he scored his first goal for the club. He scored his first League goal six days later against Motherwell. His contract came to an end on 30th June 2008. With Dundee United he scored twice in eleven starts and three substitute appearances While in the Scottish Cup he started once and came off the bench once, without scoring, and in the Scottish League Cup he scored once from two starts. After trials in July 2008 De Vries joined Dutch club SC Cambuur Leeuwarden on 28th August 2008, on a two year contract. He scored on debut and by the end of his first season he had scored seven times in twenty-nine League appearances but he was substitute on twenty-six occasions and was substituted on his three starts and also played as a substitute in the Cup In 2009-10 he started strongly with five goals in seven games. He finished the season with twenty-two goals in the League and play-offs, playing thirty-four games of which three were as a substitute and he was in turn substituted nine times. He also played one Cup tie without scoring. His contract was extended to 30th June 2012. 2010-11 saw him net sixteen goals in the League and play-offs in twenty-six games, of which seven were as a substitute and he in turn was substituted eight times. He carried on in much the same vein in 2011-12 having scored five times in twelve League games, which included two from the bench and saw him substituted six times as the club tended to use him as a surprise package in short bursts. He also had made one substitute appearance in the Cup, without scoring.