Elia was stuck on the bench and the lack of game time was taking its toll on not only him physically but mentally. His call up to the Dutch national team due to a recent string of great games was seen as a major confidence boost for him and ever since he hasnt looked back. Being called on many occasions for International duty and was seen as a key member for the squad. Eventually even making his World Cup debut in South Africa 2010.

After a great world cup Elia was lined up again by the same clubs who had previously wanted him the year before and it seemed his big money move was just around the corner. Hamburg had once again set a price tag that was too heavy for clubs, particularly Juventus & Liverpool.

'We do not want to lose Eljero Elia and we also have no need to sell him. He is a very important player of our team'


It seemed once again Elia was staying at Hamburg though the promises of former coach Martin Jol wernt lived up to in the past how he told Elia he would feature regularly for the club. New coaches came along and Elia was yet again promised the same things that if he stayed he would get regular gametime and play a major role in the squad. Elia later that season was nothing more than a luxury sub. The Aogo/Jansen partnership continued to work and Elia's anger grew, broken promises lead to frustration. Here is a young player who had not so long ago featured in a world cup final for a very successful Dutch NT and was soon after sitting on the bench for a mid table squad.


Adding insult to injury... Elia had a poorly applied tattoo that resulted in a severe infection. Which eventually led to another Bundesliga side Werder Bremen banning all their players from getting tattoo's!!

After enduring a horrible season with Hamburg which was much like the previous one Elia is now linked again with a transfer and yet again would you believe it HSV slap on a massive price tag much to his disatisfaction Elia demands a transfer with Hamburg unwilling to give him up and promise him the same things as in the past. However 2 days left in the transfer market and the Elia/Hamburg relationship is finally broken, Juventus come in with an improved offer and give him a new beginning to a stalled career.



Elia's start to life at Juventus has been poor if not disastrous. 2 months into his new beginning and he has featured only once and has lost his place in the Oranje set up with a spot at the Euro 2012 also looking increasingly unlikely if he continues to not recieve any game time. His career is rapidly spiralling downhill with even recent rumours suggesting that Juventus have given him an ultimatum in which he has 10 days to prove his worth or he can consider himself gone by the flipside of the 2011/12 football calendar.

Its times like these which can make or break a players career. Elia has now hit a crossroads and he must step up if he is ever going to succeed at a top club. Mental toughness is the main attribute needed. An attribute that coach Antonio Conte displayed quite frequently in his playing days and that the environment he has placed himself in now is so renowned for. 2011/12 is make or break for Eljero Elia and although it has started poorly for him there is plenty of time for him to turn it around and possibly even save his career at Juve.

Its time for the phenomenon seen from those youtube videos or highlight reels to come to life and show us all that he not only represents the fun side of the game but the industrial side too and its that industrial side that only once he realises how to bring it out will his talent ever shine.

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