Fabian de Freitas
Fabian de Freitas (born 28 July 1972 in Paramaribo, Suriname) is a former Dutch footballer who played as a striker. De Freitas played in England with Bolton Wanderers and West Bromwich Albion and in Spain with CA Osasuna.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Fabian de Freitas | ||
| Date of birth | July 28, 1972 | ||
| Place of birth | Paramaribo, Suriname | ||
| Height | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | ||
| Position(s) | Striker | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1993–1994 | FC Volendam | ||
| 1994–1996 | Bolton Wanderers | 40 | (7) |
| 1996–1998 | CA Osasuna | 48 | (11) |
| 1998–2000 | West Bromwich Albion | 61 | (8) |
| 2000–2001 | SC Cambuur | 24 | (14) |
| 2001–2002 | FC Den Bosch | 32 | (8) |
| 2003–2004 | NEC | 19 | (3) |
| Total | 224 | (51) | |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only | |||
Fabian de Freitas is probably best known for his late goals in the 1995 Division 1 Play-off final between Bolton Wanderers and Reading at Wembley which finished 4–3 to Bolton. Wanderers found themselves 2-0 down (although goalkeeper Keith Branagan saved a penalty in the first half to prevent Reading going 3-0 up) with 15 minutes to go before Owen Coyle pulled one back. De Freitas' goal in the 86th minute forced the game into extra-time, before Mixu Paatelainen headed Bolton in the lead. De Freitas then added the winner, firing in from close-range, with a minute to go, promoting Bolton to the Premier League, though Reading responded with a last gasp consolation goal which made the scoreline 4–3.
He made his Albion debut on 22 August 1998 in a 3–0 away win at Port Vale; in the 87th minute he replaced Lee Hughes, who had scored a hat-trick in the game.
He missed a home match against Crewe Alexandra on 5 April 1999 which West Bromwich Albion lost 5-1 due to a misunderstanding over the fact he thought the game was an evening kick-off. The club got through to him by phone at 2.20 PM and he arrived at The Hawthorns just before the 3.00 PM kick-off and by then the team sheet had already been handed in.
