Yaël Liesdek

Yaël Liesdek (born 21 October 2001) is a Dutch professional footballer who plays as a right-back for club Telstar.

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.

Personal life
Liesdek is the youngest son of former footballer 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.