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The Premier League’s greatest Curacaoan players

Curacao has benefitted a lot from the European football scene. As a sporting nation heavily influenced through being a Dutch dependency, the Caribbean island is often a surprising source of footballing talents. These close links have seen many Curacaoan footballers enjoy thriving careers in top European leagues such as the Premier League. During the Premier League era, 8 Curacao internationals have featured in the English top flight with ranging degrees of success. But just how well have Curacao internationals fared in the Premier League?

Shelton Martis (West Brom)

Curacao had to wait a while to get their first Premier League representative but it was powerful centre back Shelton Martis who did just that. After joining West Brom in 2007 from Scottish side Hibernian in 2007, Martis made his first top flight appearance in March 2009 after The Baggies earnt promotion to the top flight. From there, he would become a regular for West Brom for the rest of the 2008/09 season even though they would be relegated during that season. Martis spent one more season with the club until leaving to join Doncaster Rovers in 2010 ending any chance of earning another Premier League appearance.

Kemy Agustien (Swansea)

A versatile midfielder, Kemy Agustien’s wide ranging skillset made him a useful resource to have anywhere in the middle of the park. It was this diversity that saw Swansea sign Agustien from Dutch side AZ Alkmaar ahead of several rivals in English football. Agustien would find himself regularly used as a squad player during his time in South Wales making just 30 appearances over the course of two seasons in the English top flight. The lack of regular football saw Agustien leave at the end of 2012/13 season where he left to join Brighton before moving on to play for teams in Denmark and Scotland.

Richairo Zivkovic (Sheffield United)

For Richairo Zivkovic, his loan move to English football was a chance to see if he could carry on rich form up to the highest levels of the footballing world. As a quick winger, Zivkovic moved on loan to Sheffield United in 2020 having slammed home 15 goals in 25 games for Chinese side Changchun Yatai in 2019. However, The Blades poor run of form and Zivkovic inability to adapt left his goalless in 5 games at Brammall Lane. He returned to China at the end of his loan spell goalless. Since then, Zivkovic has reinvented himself in The Netherlands helping FC Emmen regain a regular spot in Eredivisie since joining in 2022.

Leandro Bacuna (Aston Villa, Cardiff City)

There are few players that could deployed anywhere on the pitch quite like Leandro Bacuna. With a steely persona, eye for a pass and a decent burst of speed, Bacuna could be deployed anywhere on the pitch. After rising through the ranks at Dutch side Groningen, Bacuna joined Aston Villa in 2013 used mainly as a right-sided player. Bacuna proved his worth to Villa scoring 5 goals in his debut season for the club. From there, he was a regular starter for Villa even after the side were relegated in 2016. Bacuna got a second chance at life in the Premier League when he joined Cardiff in 2018 although The Bluebirds were relegated shortly after his arrival. Bacuna stayed in Wales until 2022 when he left to join Watford in 2022 as The Hornets looked to regain a spot back in the Premier League.

Juninho Bacuna (Huddersfield Town)

After older brother Leandro enjoyed a lengthy spot in the Premier League, it was his younger brother Juninho who got the chance to shine in the spotlight in 2018. Mainly deployed as a central midfielder, Juninho Bacuna moved to Huddersfield in 2018 as the club looked to remain in the Premier League. Despite putting in regular consistent performances, Bacuna was part of The Terriers squad that got relegated as they finished last in the 2018/19 season. He would remain with Huddersfield until 2021 when he left to join Rangers. Bacuna would later return to English with second-tier side Birmingham City cementing his place as a regular star in the middle tiers of English football.

Cuco Martina (Southampton, Everton)

As a steely and physically dominant defender, Cuco Martina would’ve been a good fit for most Premier League clubs. That was why Southampton signed Martina from FC Twente in 2015 as they looked to bolster their defence. Martina’s main highlight came with The Saints as he scored a thunderous long-range effort in a 4-0 win against Arsenal in December 2015. This made him the first ever Curacaoan player to score in the Premier League. Despite this highlight, Martina struggled for game time with Southampton and left to join Everton in 2017. After making sporadic appearances for The Toffees in the 2017/18 season, Martina then went on loan to Feyenoord and Stoke before leaving for good in 2021. From there, Martina returned to The Netherlands playing for the likes of Go Ahead Eagles and NAC Breda.

Vurnon Anita (Newcastle United)

In the case of Vurnon Anita, he was a star that switched allegiance back to his home country. Born in Curacao, Anita emerged through the Dutch system coming in from the famed Ajax Academy. During his time with Ajax, it earned Anita several friendly caps with The Netherlands. At the same time, Anita’s pace and sill made the right-back a key target for English clubs with Newcastle signing him in 2012. Anita become a mainstay for The Magpies making over 100 appearances for the club in the English top flight. He stayed with the club even after they were relegated in 2016. Anita would leave the club in 2016 to join fellow Championship side Leeds. Anita left Leeds in 2019 for a short stint in Bulgaria before returning to Eredivisie in 2020 to play for RKC Waalwijk. Anita also debuted for Curacao in 2021 giving his home island another star to lean upon in North American international matches.

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