Rajiv van La Parra
A pacy and direct Dutch winger who brought unpredictable flair to clubs across Europe, most notably in a surprise run to the Premier League with Huddersfield Town.
Born 1991 (age 35)·Dutch professional footballer·Birthday: June 4·Millennials
Biography
Rajiv van La Parra's career is a map of European football, marked by bursts of speed and moments of individual brilliance. A graduate of the Feyenoord academy, the Rotterdam-born winger never quite settled at his boyhood club, instead embarking on a nomadic journey that saw him test his skills in France, England, and Belgium. His most memorable chapter came in England, where he played a significant role in Huddersfield Town's historic 2017 promotion to the Premier League, using his dribbling and direct running to terrify Championship full-backs. While his top-flight stint was brief, it represented a career high. Van La Parra's game was built on confidence and audacity; when in form, he was a thrilling, if inconsistent, outlet capable of changing a match with a single piece of skill, a profile that kept him in demand across multiple leagues.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Rajiv was born in 1991, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Rajiv Was Born
The biggest hits of 1991
#1 Movie
Terminator 2: Judgment Day
Best Picture
The Silence of the Lambs
#1 TV Show
Cheers
Rajiv's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1991Born
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
1996Started school
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
2004Became a teenager
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2007Could drive
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2009Could vote
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
2012Turned 21
Curiosity rover lands on Mars; Sandy Hook shooting
Gas: $3.64/galHome: $143,200Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Somebody That I Used to Know" — GotyeBest Picture: Argo
2021Turned 30
January 6 Capitol breach; COVID vaccines roll out globally
Gas: $3.01/galHome: $298,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Levitating" — Dua LipaBest Picture: CODA
2026Age 35 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Played a key role in Huddersfield Town's dramatic 2017 promotion to the English Premier League via the Championship play-offs.
- Made over 50 appearances in the English Premier League for Huddersfield Town.
- Represented the Netherlands at the Under-21 level, earning several caps.
- Won the Eerste Divisie (Dutch second division) with SC Heerenveen in the 2010-11 season.
Did You Know?
He is of Surinamese descent.
He scored on his Premier League debut for Huddersfield Town against Crystal Palace in August 2017.
He has played for clubs in four different countries: the Netherlands, France, England, and Belgium.
His first name, Rajiv, is of Sanskrit origin meaning 'striped'.
“My game is simple: take the defender on, get to the line.”
