Molenaar: Robert

1997-2000 (Player Details)

Central Defender

Born: Zaandam, Holland: 27-02-1969

Debut: v Leicester City (h): 11-01-1997

6’2” 14st 4lb (2003)

#89 in 100 Greatest LUFC Players Ever

Molenaar started his football career in Holland and signed professional for FC Volendam in August 1992. He was always recognized as a solid and wholehearted defender and was well respected in Dutch football. Leeds Manager, George Graham, signed him for £1 million in January 1997 in an effort to plug a leaky Leeds defence. He scored twice in one hundred and twenty-five games while at Volendam. He went straight into the Leeds team and was a regular from joining until the end of the 1996-97 season. The following season, 1997-98, saw his performances decline and he slipped behind David Wetherall and Lucas Radebe as the first choice central defender. He re-established himself in the following season of 1998-99 and was once more the first choice central defender in place of David Wetherall, but a challenge by Nicolas Anelka in a game against Arsenal in December 1998 saw him suffer ligament damage and he was sidelined until 2000. It proved to be his last game for Leeds and as United had Rio Ferdinand, Lucas Radebe, Jonathan Woodgate, Michael Duberry and Dominic Matteo as central defenders, Molenaar became surplus to requirements and was sold to Bradford City for £500,000 in December 2000 to help their fight against relegation alongside former teammate David Wetherall. He stayed until 2003 when his contract was not renewed. At Valley Parade he scored twice in seventy-one League appearances, including one as substitute, and played three times in the FA Cup and three, including a substitute game, in the League Cup without scoring a Cup goal. He returned to Holland with RBC Roosendaal before retiring in the summer of 2007. He scored six goals in seventy-five games with Roosendaal.