# Vito van Crooij

Vito van Crooij (born 29 January 1996) is a Dutch professional footballer who plays as a winger, primarily on the left hand side for Eredivisie club NEC. He won the Eerste Divisie Young Player of the Year in 2016 for his performances for VVV-Venlo.
His brother, Delano van Crooij plays professionally as a goalkeeper.

## Club career

Born in Venlo, van Crooij made his debut for VVV-Venlo at the age of 18 in the KNVB Cup against Eindhoven at the start of the 2014–15 Season, however he did not score until the game against MVV in the KNVB Cup, scoring once in the 2–0 victory. His first league game in the Eerste Divisie was in the 3–0 victory against Achilles '29. However, Van Crooy did not score a league goal until February, netting the winner in the 1–0 victory against Almere City.
In the 2015–16 season, van Crooij was part of the VVV-Venlo squad which finished second in the Eerste Divisie. He scored 13 goals and recorded 8 assists throughout the season playing as a left winger. He was part of the VVV-Venlo team which lost in the play off final of the Eerste Divisie. He just missed out on the Eerste Divisie Young Player of the Year Award for the 2015–16 season where he was nominated due to his impressive performances for VVV.
In the 2016–17 season, van Crooij started the season well, scoring the equaliser in the 2–1 victory over SC Cambuur. Since then he has scored more goals, including a penalty in the 2–1 defeat to Helmond Sport.
On 13 July 2018, he became a new PEC Zwolle player.
On 25 August 2020, he returned to VVV-Venlo.
On 25 June 2021, Van Crooij signed a three-year contract with Sparta Rotterdam. On 14 August 2022, he scored the fastest goal in Eredivisie history – after eight seconds against AZ Alkmaar.
On 7 September 2023, van Crooij joined Saudi Pro League club Al-Wehda on a three-year deal.
On 30 September 2024, van Crooij signed a three-season contract with NEC.

## Career statistics

    As of match played 27 August 2023
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition :
| Club | Season | League | League | League | National cup | National cup | Europe | Europe | Other | Other | Total | Total |
| Club | Season | Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| VVV-Venlo | 2013–14 | Eerste Divisie | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| VVV-Venlo | 2014–15 | Eerste Divisie | 31 | 3 | 3 | 1 | — | — | 4 | 1 | 38 | 5 |
| VVV-Venlo | 2015–16 | Eerste Divisie | 33 | 13 | 1 | 1 | — | — | 2 | 0 | 34 | 14 |
| VVV-Venlo | 2016–17 | Eerste Divisie | 36 | 14 | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 38 | 14 |
| VVV-Venlo | 2017–18 | Eredivisie | 31 | 5 | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 33 | 5 |
| VVV-Venlo | Total | Total | 132 | 35 | 8 | 2 | — | — | 6 | 1 | 144 | 38 |
| PEC Zwolle | 2018–19 | Eredivisie | 30 | 9 | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 32 | 10 |
| PEC Zwolle | 2019–20 | Eredivisie | 16 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 5 | 4 | 18 | 0 |
| PEC Zwolle | Total | Total | 46 | 9 | 4 | 1 | — | — | 5 | 4 | 50 | 10 |
| VVV-Venlo | 2020–21 | Eredivisie | 31 | 3 | 4 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 35 | 4 |
| Sparta Rotterdam | 2021–22 | Eredivisie | 33 | 5 | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | — | 35 | 7 |
| Sparta Rotterdam | 2022–23 | Eredivisie | 34 | 12 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 36 | 12 |
| Sparta Rotterdam | 2023–24 | Eredivisie | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| Sparta Rotterdam | Total | Total | 70 | 17 | 4 | 2 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 74 | 19 |
| Al-Wehda | 2023–24 | Pro League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 0 | 0 |
| Career total | Career total | Career total | 263 | 64 | 18 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 5 | 285 | 71 |
* 1 2 Appearances in Eerste Divisie playoffs

## Honours

VVV-Venlo
* Eerste Divisie: 2016–17,
Individual
* Eredivisie Team of the Month: March 2023,