Lion Kaak (born 26 June 1991) is a Dutch footballer who plays as a midfielder for Vierde Divisie club MASV.
Club career Kaak played as a youth for Pax Hengelo and then joined local Eredivisie side De Graafschap in 2001. He progressed through the youth system until he was promoted to the first team in 2009. Two years later, Kaak made his professional debut for the club, on 13 March 2011 in a home match against ADO Den Haag, where he replaced Gregor Breinburg.
In June 2012, Kaak signed a two-year contract with AGOVV. Six months later, in January 2013, the club went bankrupt and he joined Go Ahead Eagles on a free until the end of the season. In the summer of 2013, he trained with his former club, De Graafschap. In July 2013, Kaak signed with Spanish club Valencia CF Mestalla, the reserve team of Valencia CF. He also trained several times with the Valencia first team and on the last matchday of the 2013–14 season, he sat on the bench. However, he did not make an appearance.
In 2014, he returned to the Netherlands, where he began playing for second-tier Eerste Divisie club Achilles '29. In the first league match on 9 August against Jong PSV (0–2 away loss), Kaak made his debut in the starting lineup, where he would remain in the following months. On 1 December, he provided an assist from a corner kick to Mehmet Dingil against FC Volendam. Because he played for Achilles '29 on an amateur basis, he was able to sign on a free transfer with his childhood club, De Graafschap, in January 2015, on a one-and-a-half-year contract. On 27 January 2015, Kaak made his official return to the club as a 83rd-minute substitute in a 2–0 away win over SC Telstar.
In the summer of 2017, Kaak moved to FC Oss, which became TOP Oss from 1 July 2018. In 2019, he signed a contract extension, which would keep him in Oss until 2022.
On 20 June 2022, De Graafschap announced that Kaak would return to the club for the 2022–23 season, marking his third spell in Doetinchem.
In May 2025, he announced his retirement from professional football. Kaak chose to continue his career at amateur level with MASV in the Vierde Divisie, having recently accepted a position with his former club De Graafschap as head of youth scouting and under-15 coach for the 2025–26 season. Because of the demands of this role, a planned move to Spakenburg—who compete at a higher level of amateur football—did not materialise.
International career Kaak has represented the Netherlands at under-16 level, gaining his first cap as a starter in a friendly against Italy on 14 March 2007, before being replaced by Cayfano Latupeirissa in the 58th minute of a 2–1 loss.
Style of play Kaak is right-footed. He typically plays as a defensive midfielder. During his time with TOP Oss, he has been described as a strong personality on the pitch who is "guarding the standards, values and mentality of the club".
Career statistics
+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueCupOtherTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsDe Graafschap2009–10Eerste Divisie0030—302010–11Eredivisie2000—202011–12Eredivisie901020120Total1104020170AGOVV2012–13Eerste Divisie13000—130Go Ahead Eagles2012–13Eerste Divisie50004090Valencia B2013–14Segunda División B8000—80Achilles '292014–15Eerste Divisie19010—200De Graafschap2014–15Eerste Divisie1100030202015–16Eredivisie14000001402016–17Eerste Divisie17010—180Total4211030461TOP Oss2017–18Eerste Divisie27010—2802018–19Eerste Divisie36020204002019–20Eerste Divisie28230—3122020–21Eerste Divisie35100—3512021–22Eerste Divisie35110—361Total161470201703De Graafschap2022–23Eerste Divisie20010—2102023–24Eerste Divisie22020202602024–25Eerste Divisie11020—130Total5305020600Career total31251901303444
References
External links