The next destination of our alphabetical world tour is Curaçao. Officially owned by the Netherlands, Curaçao play in CONCACAF and are one of 26 FIFA nations who are not sovereign states.
From 1954 to 2010, Curaçao was part of the Netherlands Antilles. Following the dissolution of the Netherlands Antilles, Curaçao played football under their own name and inherited the history and records of the Netherlands Antilles national team.
First Player – Shelton Martis (West Bromwich Albion; 2008-09)
The first Curaçaoan to play in the Premier League, and the only one born on the island, was Shelton Martis. The defender made seven appearances for West Bromwich Albion in 2008/09, in the middle of a career that was spent largely in the Netherlands and England.
Martis won caps for the Netherlands Antilles and Curaçao at international level, before and after the political and footballing reshuffle of the island group, respectively.
Records
- Most Appearances – Leandro Bacuna (96)
- First appearance – Shelton Martis (West Ham 0-0 WEST BROM, March 16th 2009)
- Most goals – Leandro Bacuna (6)
- First goal – Leandro Bacuna (ASTON VILLA 3-2 Man City, September 28th 2013)
Current/Most Recent Players
The most recent Curaçaoans to feature in the Premier League were brothers Leandro and Juninho Bacuna, who both played as recently as 2018/19, but each suffered relegation with their respective sides (Cardiff and Huddersfield). Cuco Martina, Kemy Agustien and Kenji Gorré all featured in the Premier League in the last decade also.
Trivia
- Curaçao are one of 16 CONCACAF nations to have featured in the Premier League.
- Four of the six players to have represented Curacao in the Premier League were born in the Netherlands mainland.
- The six Premier League Curaçaoans have suffered a combined four relegations (L. Bacuna (2), J. Bacuna and Martis).
