# Yaël Liesdek

Yaël Liesdek (born 21 October 2001) is a Dutch professional footballer who plays as a right-back for Danish 2nd Division club AB.

## Career
### Early years

Liesdek played youth football for GeuzenMiddenmeer, UVV Utrecht, Zeeburgia, Alphense Boys, Roda JC, Hollandia, and De Volewijckers.

### Telstar

In 2020, he joined Telstar after being scouted by head coach Andries Jonker, who had noticed Liesdek at his former club De Volewijckers. On 30 August 2020, Liesdek made his professional debut during a home match against Volendam, which ended in a 2–2 draw. Coming on as a substitute for Glynor Plet in the 85th minute, he stepped onto the field for the first time in his paid football career. In the subsequent game, an away fixture against Eindhoven, he earned his first starting position and provided an assist to Shayne Pattynama's equalizer as Telstar went on to win 3–2. He scored his first professional goal on 22 September in a league game against Excelsior, deciding the game by placing the ball into the bottom corner beyond the reach of the opposing goalkeeper, Alessandro Damen, in the 95th minute. In December 2020, he signed a contract extension with Telstar until 2023. In the second half of the season, Liesdek suffered successive injuries which limited his playing time. He ended his first season in professional football with one goal in 21 appearances.
After playing regularly for the first half of the 2021–22 season, Liesdek was subbed off in the 76th minute of a 2–1 loss to Volendam on 9 January 2022 with an achilles tendon injury which sidelined him for the rest of the season. In October 2022, he dislocated his shoulder which kept him out for two months. His return was short-lived, as he tore his achilles tendon in a 3–1 defeat to ADO Den Haag on 31 March 2023, effectively ending his season.

### Akademisk Boldklub

On 25 July 2024, Danish 2nd Division club Akademisk Boldklub (AB), confirmed that Liesdek had joined the club. He made his debut for the club on 3 August, replacing an injured Hørður Askham shortly after half-time in a 1–1 home draw against Næstved.

## Personal life

Liesdek is the youngest son of former footballer Marcel Liesdek [nl] who captained the Colourful 11, an exhibition team of Surinamese players playing professionally in the Netherlands. Fifteen members of the Colourful 11 tragically lost their lives in 1989 as a result of the Surinam Airways Flight 764 disaster. As Marcel Liesdek was in contract negotiations with his former club Fortuna Sittard at the time, he was not on the plane.

## Career statistics

    As of match played 17 November 2024
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition :
| Club | Season | League | League | League | KNVB Cup | KNVB Cup | Other | Other | Total | Total |
| Club | Season | Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Telstar | 2020–21 | Eerste Divisie | 20 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 21 | 1 |
| Telstar | 2021–22 | Eerste Divisie | 20 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 22 | 0 |
| Telstar | 2022–23 | Eerste Divisie | 13 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 14 | 1 |
| Telstar | 2023–24 | Eerste Divisie | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 3 | 0 |
| Telstar | Total | Total | 56 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 60 | 2 |
| AB | 2024–25 | Danish 2nd Division | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 12 | 0 |
| Career total | Career total | Career total | 68 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 72 | 2 |